ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

ENERGY CONSERVATION IDEAS   courtesy of New Breed Energy


Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing like a sweater Set the thermostat back to 55 degrees or off at night or when leaving home for an extended time, saving 5-20 percent of your heating costs
    
Seal up leaks. Caulk leaks around windows and doors, pipes, vents or electrical conduits that go through the wall, ceiling or floor. Check the bathroom, underneath the kitchen sink, pipes inside a closet, etc. If you find a gap at the point where the pipe or vents goes through the wall, seal it up. Caulk works best on small gaps.

Let the sunshine in. Open drapes and let the sun heat your home for free (get them closed again at sundown so they insulate).

Rearrange your rooms. Move the furniture around so you're sitting near interior walls - Exterior walls and older windows are drafty. Don't sit in the draft.

Traditional fireplaces are an energy losers. Keep them shut. It's best not to use them at all because they pull heated air out of the house. When not in use, make sure the damper is closed. Before closing the damper, make sure that you don't have any smoldering embers. If you decide not to use a fireplace, then block off the chimney with a piece of rigid insulation that fits tightly into the space.

Eliminate wasted energy. Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Unplug 2ndrefrigerator e if you don't really need it. This adds 10-25 percent to your electric bill. Turn off kitchen and bath-ventilating fans after they've done their job - Kitchen exhaust fans can blow out a house-full of heated air if left on. Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning to prevent up to 8 %of your fheated air from going up the chimney.

Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Fluorescent lights should be turned off whenever you'll be away for more than15 minutes.
 
Wash & dry full loads. If you're washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
 
Replace your current tank water heater with a tank-less one,  only heating water when you need it. (There are some caveats here, and some (differing opinions)

Install a programmable thermostat. If you have a heat pump, select a model designed for heat pumps.

Seal up leaks. Caulk leaks around windows and doors, pipes, vents or electrical conduits that go through the wall, ceiling or floor. Check the bathroom, underneath the kitchen sink, pipes inside a closet, etc. If you find a gap at the point where the pipe or vents goes through the wall, seal it up. Caulk works best on small gaps.
 
Replace your five most used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These light bulbs use less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

Use light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow the daylight to penetrate while preserving privacy.

Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.

Computers and chargers use power even when turned "off". Use a power strip w/ith a switch to turn them completely off when not in use.

Take short showers and turn off the faucet when you're brushing your teeth to save water.

Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer after every load.

Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.

Reduce air drag by placing items inside the car or trunk instead of on roof racks. A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel efficiency by 5%.

Activate "sleep" features on computers so they power down when not in use.

Only use air conditioning to achieve neutral temperatures. Lower temperatures use significantly more energy.

If you pull your refrigerator 10" away from the wall you will save energy.
 
5% of an average homes energy goes to heating water. Lower the temperature on your water heater so you don’t add cold water to shower.

Check your furnace or air conditioner filter each month. Dirty filters increase energy use.

In the summer, use fans whenever possible instead of air conditioning. Fans use considerably less energy.

As the seasons change, remember to dress appropriately for the weather so you're not using heating or air conditioning unnecessarily.

Shortening shower time by a few minutes can save hundreds of gallons of hot wate/month for a family of 4. Showers account for 2/3 of your water heating costs. Cutting your showers in half will reduce your water heating costs by up to 33 percent.

Full loads only! for the dishwasher and washing machine. Use the cold water setting on your  washing machine whenever possible. Using cold water reduces your washer's energy use by 75 %.

Clean your clothes dryer's lint trap after each use.  If you have one, use the moisture-sensing automatic drying setting on your dryer.

Many new TVs, VCRs, chargers, computer peripherals and other electronic convenience items use electricity even when they are switched "off." Although these "standby losses" are minimal, they typically add up to over 50 watts 24/7.   If possible, unplug electronic devices and chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when they are not in use. For scanners, printers and other devices that are plugged into a power strip, switch off the power strip after shutting down your computer.

Choose ENERGY STAR® Products. Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGTY STAR compact fluorescent light bulbs, especially in high-use light fixtures. Compact fluorescent lights use 75% less energy than incandescent lights.

Plug your home's leaks. Install weather-stripping or caulk leaky doors and windows and install gaskets behind outlet covers. Savings up to 10 percent on energy costs.

Install low flow shower heads. Low-flow shower heads and faucets can drastically cut your hot water expenses. Savings of 10-16 % of water heating expenses.

Wrap the hot water tank with jacket insulation. This is especially valuable for older water heaters with very  little internal insulation.Leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater. Savings up to 10% on water heating costs.

Choose ENERGY STAR-certified appliances. A new ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses about 20% less energy than a standard new refrigerator, and 46% less than one made in 1980. A new Energy Star® clothes washer uses nearly 50% less energy than a standard model.

Increase ceiling insulation.  Increasing your insulation to up to R-38  reduces heating costs by 5-25 %.

High-efficiency windows. If you're planning to replace your windows, choosing ENERGY STAR windows can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 15 %.

SOLAR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
courtesy of SuNation Solar

1. How do I know what size system I'll need?

The optimal grid-connected system size takes into account your current and expected electricity consumption. The best place to start is with your past 12 months' consumption, in kilowatt-hours. This can be found on your utility bills or by calling your utility's customer service line (also on your utility bill).

The other variables that will influence the size of your system are:

    * the directional orientation of your home
    * shading
    * available roof space.

2. Can I sell power back to my utility?

Yes. This is one key factor that makes  Solar Systems so attractive. Once connected, the entire process is automatic. When your  system is generating more power than you're consuming, your meter spins backwards as it tracks the amount of power your utility company is buying from you - at full retail price. You can't go into business as a power company but you can almost always sell back enough power to cover your system costs.

3. What does a system cost?

In other states, there are different incentives. However on Long Island NY, the smallest systems can cost as little as $6,000, net of the LIPA Buy down cash rebates and tax credits.  Larger systems cost more. In general, costs for smaller systems range from $7.50 to $8.00 per watt installed, while larger systems range from $6.50 to $7.00 per watt installed.

4.  Does a solar system generate electricity when it's cloudy?

Yes. Photovoltaic solar modules are less efficient in low sun and cloudy conditions, but the output of any industrial PV module is reduced by only 5-20% of its full sun output when under cloudy conditions. Many successful installations are in areas with occasional daytime cloudiness. SUNation typically factors coastal cloudiness and its impact into your system sizing requirements.

5. Do I need southern exposure?

No. While a southern exposure is ideal, shallow pitched roofs facing east and west may be OK. SUNation takes this into account when designing a system to maximize output for your conditions.

6. How much roof space will this occupy?

The size of the system will determine how much space.  As a rule of thumb, each AC kilowatt of power production (DC power produced by the panels then converted to AC by the inverter) requires about 100 square feet of space.

7. What about batteries so I can have power during blackouts?

Batteries are an easy option to add.  This requires the batteries themselves and the use of a special inverter and power controller to handle the near-instantaneous switchover to battery power should it be required, and the charging and conditioning of the batteries.

Unfortunately, battery technology hasn't improved much and there are a few resulting penalties of choosing this option. First, is a small degradation in efficiency of the system (to charge and maintain the batteries).  Second, is the limited battery life - they typically last only ten years before needing to be replaced.  Finally, the cost of the batteries themselves is not covered under the LIPA Buy down rebate program. But if you have a critical need or want to ensure power in the case of a blackout, let us know and we can design an efficient solution to meet your needs.

8. What is the lifespan of the equipment?

Most major solar panels sold today carry a 5-year warranty for workmanship and defects and a 25-year warranty on output. The manufacturers expect their products to have a lifespan of 30+ years. DC/AC inverters typically carry a 10-year warranty and are expected to have at least a 20-year life.

9. I still have questions. How can I get answers?

That's easy. Just email or call us at (888) 650-5353 and we will arrange a consultation.


ENERGY EFFICIENCY STUDIES

Green Building Energy Efficiency Tax Deductions (Section 179D)

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 added section 179D to the Internal Revenue Code. Section 179D permits a deduction for the costs of installing certain energy efficient building systems in commercial buildings.

To claim the deduction, a taxpayer must obtain a certification of energy savings. The certification process must be performed by a qualified firm or individual that performed an on-site inspection of the building. The energy savings must be calculated using qualified software from the Treasury Department’s list of certified software programs.Staff includes engineers that are qualified and certified to perform Green Building studies.

Green Building 179D Energy Efficiency Tax Deductions

A tax deduction is available for improving the energy efficiency of existing commercial buildings or designing high efficiency into new buildings. Investments that appreciably reduce the heating, cooling, water heating, and interior lighting energy cost of new or existing commercial buildings are eligible for a tax deduction.

Overview of Green Building Study Process
    * Review specifications and determine if building qualifies
    * Site visit
    * Certified engineer performs the energy modeling and analysis
    * The study is completed and turned over to the building owner and their  financial adviser.

Audit Support
As with many tax incentives, there is a chance for an IRS audit. In the event of an audit, fees for a study include predetermined hours of audit support. We feel comfortable in providing audit support because our engineers are experienced and follow all the rules and regulations as required by the IRS. In addition we feel our studies will withstand IRS scrutiny because we follow the methodologies recommended by the IRS.

The Next Step
If you are a building owner or a CPA firm with clients that you think might qualify, let a certified engineering professional help you determine if you can take advantage of this great tax incentive and if so, maximize your deductions.

TELECOMMUTING
Telecommuting significantly reduces energy use and saves money.

Over the course of a year, the average American worker could save about 340 gallons of gas, more than one thousand dollars in commuting costs, and more than three tons of carbon-dioxide emissions by teleworking.

Annually, a worker with a one-way commute of twenty-two miles could save 81,000 Megajoules of energy by teleworking five days a week--which is equivalent to 50 percent of the annual energy consumption of an average household.

Going Green Is Easy With the Good Sam Club

Everyone is talking about going green like it’s the hottest new trend. Yet the Good Sam Club, providing services to RVers for more than 40 years, has long been offering benefits that encourage members to preserve the environment. Join the Good Sam Club today and join other RVers who are dedicated to becoming better global citizens.

Along with money-saving benefits like 10% discounts on camping, Good Sam Club members make a difference in the environment. Here’s how you can do your part:

Pick up Litter. Good Sam Club offers members many opportunities to volunteer and contribute to your community and environment. One of the Club's largest cleanup efforts is the Good Sam National Cleanup Day. For the past 12 years, Club members across the country join in a shared effort to improve the appearance of our public lands before the summer travel season begins. Interested in participating in this year’s cleanup effort that clears our highways, parks, beaches and mountains? Become a Good Sam Club member today!

Think Global, Act Local. With more than 2,000 local Good Sam Chapters, many of them have implemented Adopt-a-Highway and Adopt-a-Park Programs. Chapters have adopted more than 600 miles of byways and 126 federal, state and municipal parks across the United States and Canada. When you join the Good Sam Club, you have the chance to join a dedicated group of RVers who make a positive impact on your local community.

Plan Your Trips. Plan your trip and avoid getting lost, which wastes fuel. Tools like the Good Sam Club's online trip routing can help you prepare. This service is simple to use. Type in your origination and destination, and you’ll get RV-specific routing that includes bridge and tunnel restrictions and state towing laws. You can also get road advisories, an estimate on fuel costs and map out locations that offer Good Sam member discounts. Good Sam Club benefits like these are good for the environment; Plus, they save you time and money.

Drive Smarter. How? Keep your RV and towed vehicle well tuned, the tires inflated properly; avoid overloading your RV; use the cruise control as often as possible; and drive smoothly. Driving smarter means less fuel consumption.

Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle. Before throwing anything out, consider whether it can be reused, repaired or recycled. And before you make a new purchase, consider purchasing something used – that includes RV parts. Good Sam members get the members-only monthly magazine – Highways – packed with RV maintenance and technical tips to keep your RV running smoothly. Plus, you’ll get the Good Sam e-newsletter, CyberSam, which delivers helpful tips directly to your in-box.

The Good Sam Club offers many resources to help members save the planet – while saving money. Join today and start saving money with member benefits like these: 10% Discount at the network of more than 1,700 Good Sam Parks Free subscription to Highways magazine, the official publication of the Good Sam Club RV Emergency Road Service Enrollment Discount Members-Only Rates on RV and Auto Insurance Discounts on Trailer Life Directory and RV related books & publications Good Sam Continued Service Plan (CSP) can save you thousands on RV repairs