What is a whole Home Energy Audit / Assessment?

Consider performing a whole home energy audit in order to increase overall energy efficiency of your home. Performing a thorough home energy assessment will help identify sources of energy loss in your home. Your home energy audit contractor will suggest any necessary corrections and energy efficient improvements to your home.

Home Energy Audit

It may be recommended to you to replace your old air conditioners with an integrated energy efficient heating and cooling system, potentially you may even be offered a renewable energy alternative such as geothermal heating and cooling system, which can cut your utility costs by well over a 50% margin, and doing so may eventually even pay for itself.

geothermal heating and cooling

Installing energy efficient windows, doors, and additional insulation in your home’s walls and attic can be another great way to increase overall energy efficiency of your home.

How to Reduce Your Utility Costs with Energy Efficient Appliances?

Did you know that replacing your old appliances can be an effective way to lower the overall cost of your household utilities? Lowering the cost of the utilities by replacing the washer and dryer with newer energy efficient models can help to reduce the wasted water and power that are used within the model and can therefore reduce the expenses for your household.

What should you consider when choosing new appliances?

The first thing that should be considered is the energy star rating of the new appliances that are being purchased. It is important to take into account the usage and overall energy efficiency, in comparison with the usage and energy efficiency of your existing appliances.

There are many ways to save even more while shopping for appliances that are going to be used to replace energy inefficient models in the home. For instance, using grants that may be available through your state, or federal government, manufacturer rebates that are available through your local home improvement store, and incentives offered by your local utility companies.

There are many options that are available for changing the appliances in the home. From the energy efficient laundry machine systems to the dishwashers and other kitchen appliances that can be used to make your home more energy friendly. This way, you are not only going to update a look and feel of your home, but you are also going to decrease the overall costs of running your home.

As an added bonus, replacing old appliances in your home can be an effective way to increase the overall value of your home. This is a great selling point for people who are considering to sell their house in the near future.

Think of energy saving appliances as building blocks on the road to reducing your operating costs of living in your home.

Before we look at pros and cons of metal roofing, let’s first figure out what is wrong with roofing shingles…

The problem with asphalt shingles roofing is that it is a petroleum based product, which means that it is inherently ecologically and environmentally unfriendly choice. There is no easy and effective way to dispose off all the asphalt shingle roofs that require replacement other than to tear off the old shingles, and send it into the landfill where it will be buried in the ground and left there to decompose for many decades to come.

Petroleum based Products should be Eliminated as much as possible, not recycled.

One does not need to be a hardcore environmentalist to see how detrimental asphalt shingles roofing products are to the nature and the environment. So, the big question comes up, what is an environmentally friendly and practical roofing alternative to an asphalt shingle roof? The answer is simple, for the last few years metal roofing has been gaining market share and popularity as a green roofing material of choice.

Metal roofing can last much longer than an asphalt shingle roof, which only averages 10 to 20 years of service life. Metal roofing on the other hand, can last well over 35 years when properly installed.
The key to a long lasting metal roof is strict adherence to the metal roofing manufacturers installation guidelines.

Metal Roofing Installation Video

Installing metal roofing correctly involves preparation of the roof deck, proper application of roofing underlayment, and correct installation of metal roofing system. Whether or not you hire a professional metal roofing contractor, or choose to go do it yourself way, be sure to follow the installation instructions thoroughly. This way your metal roof will last for decades providing energy savings, maintenance free roof protection, and durable and long lasting beauty.

Here are a few reasons to consider metal roofing for your home

Metal roofing is reliable and long lasting green building material, which means that you can earn green building credits for the installation of the energy efficient metal roof that is rated by Cool-Roof council and by Energy Star for its solar reflective properties.

Metal roofing can help lower your homeowner’s insurance by as much as 35%. Metal roofs are fire retardant, which means they do not support fire, which can be a significant factor if you live in a heavily wooded area. Metal roofs can withstand powerful storms and category four hurricane winds. This may be very helpful if you live in a hurricane prone area.

Metal roofs provide excellent protection in the cold climates. Coated with specialty coatings, metal roofs shed snow and ice, which may help you prevent ice dams from forming on your roof.

As far as aesthetics go, modern metal roofs may add a unique touch of modern architecture to your home. You can choose from than traditional metal shingles and shakes profiles available in beautiful metal roofing colors, to the vertically oriented lines of standing-seam metal roofing panels that can easily be enhanced with roof integrated solar roofing panels. This combination will make your house not only energy efficient, but also capable of generating electricity from the sun.

Do not let the initially higher metal roofing costs to deter you from considering installing metal roofing for your home. Metal roofing will help you lower your cooling costs, appraise the value of your property, and provide many years of reliable and worry free service to you.

There’s no place near the “normal” American home that doesn’t reek of conspicuous consumption, and our backyards are certainly no exception. As post-WWII suburbs sprawled across the nation, so did the idea that a happy home was one in which the front and back yards were covered in emerald green turf. Not only does keeping a carefully maintained lawn use up an incredible amount of water (and money!), it also keeps rainwater from making its way through the soil to the ground-water, and causes pesticides and fertilizers to flow into nearby streams and rivers. Here are a few tips to green up your backyard and save a little dough in the process.

With no further delay, here are 6 easy ways to make your backyard more eco-friendly!

1 – Get Rid of the Lawn

What is the alternative to a cushioning green pillow extending from your doorstep to the curb? How about a garden of native shrubs, flowers, and trees? It’ll need to be watered and troubled over much less than a lawn, while allowing water to percolate through the soil, and it will also help attract native wildlife.

2 – Collect Rainwater

Having the sprinklers or the hose running all the time zaps money from your pocket and uses up precious resources. Consider putting barrels in your yard, or under your gutters to catch rainwater to be used for watering your plants, instead.

3 – Mulch Those Plants

Even if you get rid of your water-sucking exotic plants and make the switch to native species, you can still preserve energy by mulching around what you do have. Mulching keeps the sun from sucking up water out of the soil.

4 – Compost

Composting is a low-cost way to generate nutritious soil for your garden and cut down on the amount of household waste you send to a landfill. A tumbler or regular barrel is a great way to start. Check out this Cornell University website for the basics of composting.

5 – Use Earth Friendly Yard Products

Most people maintain their yards to actively enjoy them, by picnicking, letting their kids play outside, etc. But would you really want your kids playing on a lawn that had been cared for with toxic pesticides and fertilizers? Check out organic lawn care options that are safer and easier on mother nature.

6 – Upgrade Your Mower

Some old gas lawnmowers emit an incredible amount of pollution. Switching to a push mower is best, as they use less energy than ride-alongs. If you can’t stand the idea of pushing a mower across your lawn, an electric ride-along is your next best bet.

This eco-friendly “no mow” lawn made of native grasses and plants is more attractive than any suburban turf I’ve ever seen!

Home and Garden Resources

Home and Garden Directory

Landscaping Directory

In-spite all the rage amongst eco-friendly architects, solar panels have become increasingly more popular with the average homeowner over the last decade. In the past, solar panels have often been used to make a statement of innovation and sustainability for an organization to which it mattered, rather than being a true utilitarian measure employed for obtaining a cost-effective electricity in a clean and sustainable way.

Nowadays, we are witnessing a turn around trend, and with solar panels becoming more affordable, we are starting to see far more companies and individuals investing in solar panels for their private uses. This change is by and large motivated by the actual cost savings that individuals and companies can derive through the use of solar panels that generate electricity.

How do Solar Panels work?

The solar panels can often be mounted on top of the roof of a building, where they are angled towards the sun so that they can get the maximum exposure to collect solar UV rays and transform the solar energy into electricity. Here is how the process works; Solar energy gets collected by the Solar panels that generate electricity, which passes through the inverter after which it can be used to power home appliances, and supply electricity for the building. The excess electricity can be stored in the accumulator type batteries, or it can be sold back to the Electric grid for electric credits.

Why are solar panels considered sustainable and green form of energy?

Solar panels generate electricity from solar energy, which constitutes a sustainable energy source, one that is carbon and emissions free. Thus, electricity derived through harnessing of solar energy is considered green and environmentally friendly.

Do solar panels require direct sunlight?

One common misconception of solar panels – that you need direct sunlight, and lots of it, to collect enough energy to make the investment worth it. The simple answer: absolutely not. Solar panels are not just for the sunny states, and work almost anywhere in the United States, even in the typically windy, gloomy cities of the Midwest. Solar energy involves UV rays much more than actual sunlight, and these rays are transmitted and captured even on cloudy days. With further technological advancements, solar panels should have no problem collecting solar UV rays and generating electricity even when it is cloudy, rainy, or cold.

Homeowners in the Midwest and North East need not cite a lack of sunlight outside of summer as a reason not to invest in solar panels. Another reason to consider investing in solar panels is the fact that they are rapidly becoming much more cost effective, and worth a long-term investment due to rapidly improving technology.

In the 1980s, the cost of capturing energy from the Sun was about $100 per watt, or literally one hundred times more expensive than the going rate of electricity. By the 1999, technology had reduced that figure to $4 per watt, and it has been declining steadily since, at an average rate of 5% a year.

Using solar panel derived electricity, can help reduce your regular electricity bill. In order for solar panels to pay for themselves, they need to be in operation for some 10-15 years, while solar hot water panels require some 8 to 12 of operation to cover the initial cost of investment. Thus solar panels are a long-term investment, which can be a great opportunity for the homeowners not looking to change their place of residence anytime soon. Over time, solar panels can really prove to be a solid investment in your home, and a cool one too.

Warranty

Most solar panels come with a 20-25 year warranty, so you will see a return on your investment before they needs to be replaced again.

Solar Incentives and State rebates

Many states, especially California, are investing heavily in solar energy and see it as a means to harness sustainable, and affordable energy. Currently, some 35 US states offer rebates for home and small business owners who invest in solar panels, which helps make them even more cost effective. The government also provides tax breaks and other benefits for those who want to use solar energy and other types of alternative energy sources for their home or business.

Solar energy is the way of the future, but it can also be an affordable and solid investment today. You do not have to live in a sunny state to reap the benefits of solar energy. Solar UV rays can be harvested in gloomier states, and still provide a significant benefit to the environment, and to your utility bill.

Clean coal technology aims to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation by making the coal burn clean.

The importance of clean coal technology is that it could greatly reduce the US dependence on the use of foreign oil thereby providing energy security, and making a positive environmental impact.

If clean burning coal were to become a primary and environmentally clean source for generating electricity, then this technology could be combined with energy storage materials such as high capacity batteries that could be used in the electric vehicles, and other industries.

Although, there is a clean burning coal testing plant that was built in Germany in 2008 by the Swedish firm, it is not clear how economically feasible this technology is today. Another implication is that there is no clear way to dispose off carbon dioxide that is collected from the use of clean coal burning technology.

If the clean coal burning technology does not reach the level of economic feasibility, then there will be a potential for great disruptions due to the limited amounts of crude oil. There’s also a risk that countries that have a lot of coal to burn continue doing so without addressing the problem of greenhouse gas emissions.

Research and development to overcome CCS challenges

The biggest challenge in the clean coal burning technology lies in carbon dioxide capture and storage process (CCS). There are three principal ways to capture CO2 produced in power plants: Oxyfuel combustion, post-combustion and precombustion. There is currently a test plant in operation built by vattenfall in Germany. The tests are performed to evaluate the technology of Oxyfuel combustion before building a larger scale demonstration plant.

Prediction:

It seems likely that there will be more clean burning coal plants built and implemented throughout the world and potentially in the U.S through the governmental push, but it is hard to say if this technology will actually reach the level of economic feasibility, and if a solution can be found to dispose of the collected carbon dioxide gases.

My prediction is that clean burning coal technology may become more advanced, but I do not believe that that will be fully integrated as a viable source of clean electricity generation by 2025. Yet, I think that scientific advances made during this period will make this technology more feasible in the future. Further, just as the ongoing research and development can potentially make clean coal burning technology more feasible in the future, so will the advances in the wind farms, geothermal energy, solar technology, and nuclear power generation.

Other Alternatives to Hedge against potential Coal Technology Failure:

I think wind farms in particular have a strong potential to become a viable source of alternative energy. My belief is supported by the fact that wind power has become the second largest source of alternative energy after biomass derived energy in the United Kingdom. There is no reason why this technology could not become more integrated in the United States.

Also, I believe that nuclear power plants which accounted for 19.6% of the total electric energy consumption in the U.S in 2008, will become even more integrated thereby providing a solid hedge in case the clean coal technology never reaches the level of economic feasibility.

References:

http://www.newenglandmetalroof.com/construction_directory/alternative-energy.html

Biofuels refer to a wide range of fuels derived from organic materials such as grass and wood (cellulosic biomass), and crops such as sugar cane, corn, starch crops (potato and fruit waste), soybeans, vegetable oils, bio-gases e.t.c. These organic based alternative energy material sources are referred to as biomass.

The term biomass can be defined as a source of alternative energy that can be used for the production of biofuels such as ethanol fuel, and biodiesel using the conventional technology.

There is a significant public and scientific interest in advancing the biofuel production technology, driven by the factors such as rapidly rising prices of crude oil, the need for increased Energy Security (lessen the dependence on the use of foreign oil), and increased concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels.

Ethanol fuel is the most widely used biofuel in the world. It is widely integrated as a transportation fuel in Brazil. Ethanol fuel, like many other biofuels, is made from biodegradable materials and products, which makes it an environmentally safe alternative to fossil fuels.

If the United States invests its resources into the development of the cost effective ethanol fuel production technologies, then it could decrease its dependence on the use of foreign oil, strengthen its national energy security, decrease a chance of conflict due to crude oil shortages, and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

The United States is already involved in a marginal production and use of ethanol fuel as the alternative to gasoline. A wider integration of ethanol fuel is quite plausible if it receives some solid governmental support. There is a good chance of resistance from corporate oil giants.

There is also another promising biofuel technology called Algae fuel also known as oilgae. Based on laboratory experiments, it is claimed that algae can produce up to 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans. If this technology becomes commercially integrated, then the United States could fulfill and replace its petroleum needs by allocating the amount of land that is roughly equivalent to the size of Maryland for algaculture (farming algae).

Prediction:

My prediction is that biofuel energy sources will continue to be further developed in the U.S, but not enough to make the U.S. Independent on the use of foreign oil by 2025. It is highly unlikely that the U.S. we’ll actually be able to fully integrate the use of biofuels as the alternative energy source of energy mainly due to the resistance and vested interest in the continuation of petroleum use by the corporate oil giants.

Many world conflicts and tensions are the results of competition for finite resources. Fossil fuels and Oil are the primary sources of energy and the U.S. and in the world in general.

From the geopolitical standpoint, the United States have become increasingly dependent on the use of foreign oil, which is not only bad for the environment, but also threatens our National Security.

The development of Energy Storage Materials Technology could eventually reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help us make a transition towards using electric batteries, supper capacitors and hydrogen fuel cells as energy sources for automobiles, buses, trains, and transportation system in general.

Integrating Energy Storage Materials Technology would strengthen are military by allowing our military vehicles, and weaponry technology devices to operate in a more remote areas with decreased dependence on fuel sources.

The use of super capacitors could also lead to the development of new and improved military weaponry systems.

The advanced electric batteries could make our electric vehicles run further and faster, and help protect the environment by reducing the carbon for print.

The use of hydrogen fuel cells could reduce / and eventually diminish the need to use petroleum products to operate cars, buses, trucks and trains.

The hydrogen fuel cell research is well underway and there is some possibility of developing a technology that would allow split the water molecules to obtain hydrogen in an energy efficient way.

If these technologies are developed and implemented in the near future, then the U.S. will not only benefit in terms off geopolitical independence, but could also assume the leadership in providing this technologies to the rapidly developing countries of Brazil, China, India and Russia.

Although it’s hard to make any sort of accurate prediction as to how the development of these technology will progress, it is clear that it could benefit the U.S. and many other industrialized nations in the world as well as have a positive impact on the world climate.

Countries of the European Union, and Japan are also engaged in the rapid development of Energy Storage Materials. Toyota motor company, a Japanese auto manufacturing Company is planning to introduce a hydrogen fuel cell car by 2015. This a new development from Toyota concept cars that has made its debut during the negative publicity of Toyota Prius Hybrid Vehicle.

Many companies are engaged in the development of advanced batteries that could store a significant amount of Electric Energy to make these batteries viable as a source of energy for the electric vehicles.

Solar Energy, Wind Turbine Farms, and geothermal energy technologies are also being developed, which will help further reduce the dependence on foreign oil, and help the conservation effort. Further development of these technologies and their implementation with green buildings, and energy production plants could mark a gradual shift from fossil fuels to alternative and renewable energy sources.

Light output of an LED lamp is considerably smaller than an incandescent bulb, but can be grouped together to improve the output, and high power LEDs are now available to completely replace the use of incandescent and fluorescent. Since LED uses DC electric power instead of AC, the lamps are equipped with conversion circuits. LED lights also require a driver, which is like a ballast for fluorescent lighting. Most are built into the light. Unlike fluorescent ballasts, the driver for the LED light will not interfere with television or radio signals.

LED lights have many advantages over incandescent and fluorescent. The singular directional output of light from an LED lamp make them a good choice for strip lighting, reading light, ceiling light, artwork lighting, and path lighting. Durable LED lighting comes in a waterproof variety as well, making them a nice choice for outdoor use in gardens and on patios. LED doesn’t attract bugs either! They can handle more wear and tear than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs as they can deal with vibration and they don’t mind being turned off and on repeatedly.

LED lights are sturdy, but they are also sensitive to heat, so the lamps typically include heat sink or some type of cooling mechanism, so be mindful of where you will be using the LED bulbs to ensure they do not become overheated. Using LED in an excessively warm spot can decrease the bulb’s lifespan. On a positive note, they don’t emit heat as incandescent bulbs do. Incandescent bulbs emit about 98% of their energy as heat. Another benefit to LED lighting is that they do not contain any mercury, which means they are non-toxic.

Unlike fluorescent, LED lights do not flicker. LED lights last a long time and unlike other light bulbs, they do not burn out, but rather dim over time. In areas where it is difficult to change the bulb, LED makes sense, as you will not have to replace them nearly as often as their counterparts.

The cost of LED lighting is initially more expensive than other lighting options. As demand grows, the LED lighting manufacturers will produce more and the price will decrease. In addition, there are not a lot of lighting fixtures made for LED lamps. There are retrofit LED bulbs for use in traditional light fixtures, but they are costly. Because LED lasts longer than other types of bulbs, the initial cost can eventually catch up with the cost and operation of incandescent and fluorescent.

The low energy use makes LED lighting an environmentally wise choice and the long life of somewhere between 25 to 30 years, or roughly 40,000 hours of typical operation. When used in warmer climates, LED lamps can reduce the cost of cooling since they do not emit any heat, but when used in cooler climates there is no noticeable change.

Many pilot projects around the world are using LED lighting in different types of applications to increase public knowledge and interest. There are studies that have shown LED bulb manufacturers sometimes overstate the efficiency of their products, but overall, LED technology is a viable replacement for incandescent and fluorescent lighting. In fact, LED lamps last so long and save so much energy, it’s hard to imagine how the manufacturers will get any repeat business!

Resources:

Lighting Directory

Alternative energy can be used on a commercial basis, it is also possible to use it on a small scale, in a single green building. Alternative energy can be very important if you are hoping to create a green building, whether you are working on a new build or converting an existing property. By incorporating some system of producing green energy into a building, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of living in the building.

If you are considering using alternative energy in a green building, then you should spend some time thinking about the range of different options which are available. These include wind, solar and geothermal power. It is possible to use alternative energy to supplement your conventional supply of electricity, to provide all of your electricity, or to heat or pump water.

Wind turbines can be used to convert the power of the wind into electricity, although they are also used to pump water. There can be a lot of variation in the size of wind turbines and in the amount of power which they can produce. Small wind turbines can be an excellent choice for home use, particularly in locations that receive plenty of wind. Some are small enough to mount on a roof, while others are usually placed on a separate structure. However, wind turbines cannot produce any energy when the wind is not blowing, so they cannot be relied upon as a single source of energy, without some type of storage.

In some locations, it may be possible to use a turbine driven by the power of water rather than the wind. Water power can be used when building near moving water. It can provide a reliable source of energy since streams and rivers are constantly moving. Water turbines are available that are designed for small scale use, although they tend to be less readily available than wind turbines since their use is location dependent and only a limited number of building projects will be able to use them.

Photovoltaic solar panels, solar laminates and solar shingles can be used to generate electricity. They tend to be fairly expensive to install although the maintenance costs are low. Photovoltaic cells are usually able to produce electricity on overcast days, but they cannot be used at night. Another source of power or a storage system is, therefore, required. Solar power can also be used to heat water rather than to generate electricity. This usually works best in warm and sunny climates. Installing a solar water heating system can be very cheap.

Geothermal energy can be used to create large amounts of reliable electricity and heat in suitable locations. It uses the thermal energy, which is stored in the earth and which is usually most accessible in areas that are near the boundaries of tectonic plates. However, as the technology develops, it is becoming possible to use geothermal energy in other locations.

Geothermal heat pumps can be used anywhere. The ground is less prone to temperature fluctuations than the air, so the temperature underground is usually warmer than that above ground in the winter and cooler in the summer. By burying pipes underground, it is possible to pump heat up into a building during the winter, or to draw heat out of the house and down into the ground during the summer. Geothermal heat pumps can therefore be used to heat and cool a green building. The pump itself will require a source of energy, which should ideally be a renewable one such as a wind turbine or solar panel.

If you want to be completely reliant on alternative energy, then you will probably want to incorporate a number of different technologies into your green building, and you should also think about investing in some type of storage system if you are using an intermittent source of power, so that you will have power even when it is dark or when the wind is not blowing. Making your building as energy efficient as possible can also help you to ensure that you will be able to meet all of your needs using alternative energy.

Resources:

Alternative Energy Directory

My point of contention is that we can combine the economic prosperity with the betterment of our environment?

I am going to illustrate my point with two examples that are very concurrent and relevant to understanding the current state of affairs in the U.S and learning from the mistakes of the not so distant past.

Death of the electric vehicle or GM kills the electric vehicle… Why?

Whose fault was it that GM was to busy worrying about the price of its stock, and making money by producing fuel hungry cars and SUVs, and suing the state of California, while Toyota and Honda were developing energy efficient hybrids vehicles.

And what happened when the electric vehicle program, although expensive at the time proved to be a success? What did GM do? They decided to kill the electric vehicle program altogether, although there were many people willing to buy those electric cars in the state of California. That was wrong on the part of GM, and displays a clear lock of corporate social responsibility. Not to mention, their greed and obsession with price of the stock is responsible for the current state of affairs of auto-making industry in the U.S today. I am not even going to mention their current stock situation, and the governmental bailouts that we are paying for?

So what was it, excessive corporate greed, lack of foresight, or a little bit of both?

Now GM is losing all the money because of its greed and lack of foresight, in the past. Toyota and Honda on the other hand, are ripping the benefits for investing and building the hybrid vehicles. Toyota and Honda are making money, but also helping the environment by propagating the idea of clean air, ultra low emissions, reduced carbon footprint, low fuel consumption and energy efficiency. It is a win win example of money working to better the environment.

Connection between crude oil, environment and our roofs.

It is not just about ultra low emission cars. In fact, it is about something as mundane as residential building materials that go into the houses we live in. For instance, asphalt shingle roofs are petroleum based products that are heavily marketed by money hungry asphalt shingle roofing manufacturers. Asphalt shingle roof averages a lifespan of only 17 years, then comes the inevitable demise when it gets torn off and dumped into our landfills.

So what is the alternative you may ask, or is there any alternative? Yes there is, and it has been here all along!

Using the types of roofing materials that are environmentally friendly. Tamko a heavy weight asphalt shingle roofing manufacturer has made a switch by purchasing Metal Works metal shingles roofing manufacturer that makes Metal roofing that is an energy efficient and environmentally safe building material. Metal roofing is fully recyclable, and lasts three times as long as asphalt shingle roofs.

Certainteed roofing, another heavy weight of the roofing industry, on the other hand keeps pushing its line of asphalt shingle roofing products despite the fact that they are bad for the environment. And who is there to rebuke them? Who is doing public education and spreading sustainable building awareness?

The U.S green building council is the responsible body for promoting green building practices, but how come their scope of influence so limited? Why do not we hear more about it? What about EPA, and Energy Star? Why are not they doing public education campaigns to influence the corporate giants? Somebody has to do it. A lot of it is about awareness, and PR pressures, so spread the awareness, do not buy asphalt shingle roofs, nor fuel hungry SUVs. Think green and act upon it!  Somebody’s quote comes to mind here… Yes we can! …. So can we?

Written by Aleksandr Biyevetskiy