It is time to make our buildings and homes more energy efficient. Get an energy assessment by a professional and complete your energy upgrades one by one. Visit our website at www.eastcoastenergyconsultants.com for energy saving tips.
Article published on articlesbase.com 09/22/2010
Going Green” What does it mean!
There is much information available today regarding energy efficiency and the benefits we receive by making these choices. The main objectives are to save money by using less energy, diminish our dependency on foreign fuels and reduce the carbon footprint thus helping the environment.
It seems like you can’t open the newspaper, magazine, book or even your desktop computer without reading something about “going green”. I’m not sure that most people even know what “going green” is. Perhaps the best place to start is with an understanding of what is meant generally by "going green". Environmentally friendly activities have been popular for many decades, to conserve energy, reduce pollution and save money. In fact it dates back to the 60’s movement. The catalyst for the recent green movement came from the theory that human-generated release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere was contributing to global warming. Consequently, individuals, businesses and governments started re-evaluating how to reduce their carbon dioxide output.
Today when we speak of “going green”, we generally refer to something broader than global warming. We generally refer to a heightened awareness of using the Earth's natural resources more efficiently. Today, includes efforts to conserve our natural resources, reduce our contributions to landfills, and reduce pollution generally. Going green, then, can be summarized by "conserve, reduce, reuse, recycle"--which means conserve energy, reduce waste, reuse what you can, and recycle what you can't.
Personally I feel that the green movement is a public relations problem with the way it was being marketed. Perhaps individuals and the business community would have embraced the concept of green technologies had the movement been known as "becoming more energy-efficient" rather than "going green".
With that said the results cannot be denied. Whether you embrace the concept of “energy efficiency or “going green”, (conserve, reduce, reuse, recycle) will save you money, reduce our dependency on foreign fuels and help the environment.
Article published on articlesbase.com 09/13/2010
Remodeling?..Consider Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Incorporating energy efficiency into your remodeling project is a smart investment since most efficiency measures pay for themselves through energy savings. They also increase the value of your home or business and create a more comfortable living or working environment.
Energy efficiency is not an all-or-nothing proposition. The beauty is improvements can be staged over time. Consider the measures that make the most sense for your project. the amount of your budget, the return on investment (ROI), etc; You might seal air leaks and upgrade building insulation this year, but wait to replace your water heater until next year.
One can improve air quality and reduce health risks from mold, pollen, dust mites, radon and other pollutants by air sealing your home and ensuring adequate ventilation.
Installing programmable thermostats, an energy management system or just basic control upgrades will improve control over temperature, humidity and energy use. You will also prevent moisture problems and improve overall comfort.
You can save money on water and energy bills without sacrificing comfort or convenience. New, efficient water heaters use less energy than older models. You can also choose from Indirect fired, direct fired or on demand type. Low-flow fixtures, aerators and shower heads deliver less water at comparable pressures. Cutting down on hot water also reduces the energy used to heat the water. Remember energy we don't use we don't pay tax on.
Increasing insulation, sealing air leaks and having proper ventilation will reduce ice dams on roofs and prevent pipes from freezing. These simple measures can avoid costly and complex structural problems in the future.
Energy efficiency saves money and can lighten the load on maintenance personnel. Efficient HVAC systems use less energy, increase comfort and decrease service calls. Fluorescent lamps (CFL's) last 6 to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy.
Article published on articlesbase.com 09/09/2010
Alternative Energy......Have we not learned Anything!
I am quite frustrated with the terminology used to inform the public about renewable and sustainable energy. Have we not learned anything from the recent past! You may recall the attempt to label “Green Energy” aka (high performance and sustainable energy) was not exactly guerilla marketing.
Most people have no idea what “Green Building” means anyway and rightly so. So much so, the government websites that promote this are now accentuating on “energy efficiency” since most individuals understand the concept. So, I ask you why are we still using the term “alternative energy” as mainstream. As long as we keep referring to sustainable and renewable energy sources as alternative energy sources who is going to pay attention. One will continue to think that fossil fuels are main stream and that renewable sources are “pie in the sky”. Perception is everything. Now that I have ranted let me explain where we are.
· Solar Energy: Solar power or the suns energy is used to make electricity or heat hot water through solar collectors by harnessing the suns energy. This energy is renewable and sustainable and by all means very Green.
· Geothermal Energy: This is used as a heating and cooling source by utilizing the earth’s constant temperature. This is accomplished by digging wells or unearthing the ground to a depth where the temperature is constant at which piping is then installed where the earth’s heat is extracted and or conversely put back into the ground.
· Hydroelectric: By building a dam on a river, and only letting the water pass through a small passage, you can use the force of the moving water to spin a turbine to make electricity
· Wind: Giant windmills spin to make electricity from the force of wind moving through the blades of the windmill.
· Biomass: Many plants can be turned into chemical fuels that can be burned. Ethanol is the most common, and usually corn or sugar cane is grown to make ethanol. You can burn ethanol in many cars just like gasoline. However ethanol can be problematic for some engines.
· Cold Fusion: Nuclear energy without the radioactive waste. First, there is palladium, a metal in the platinum family. Second, one needs a kind of hydrogen called deuterium which is found in seawater which there is an endless supply. The third element is an electrical current. Scientists believe there is a nuclear reaction - possibly a fusion process like what happens in the sun, but occurring inside the metal, at a slower rate, and without dangerous radiation. This is still experimental but if proven would revolutionize the energy market.
As you can see there are many types of renewable and sustainable energy sources. Technology needs to improve to bring the cost down to where these are affordable for the masses. Perhaps another spike in fuel costs or an energy shortage will drive the market. In closing, making your home or business more energy efficient is your path to sustainability. For more information visit our website at
www.eastcoastenergyconsultants.com.
Article published on articlesbase.com and ezinearticles.com January 13, 2011
PV Solar Electricity "Solution or Hype"
We need to explore and produce renewable sources of energy which the Solar Industry in part is providing. Other renewable sources such as Geo-thermal, Hydro-power and Wind Turbines contribute as well. The Solar Industry is marketing Photo-voltaic Solar Electric systems where one can lease the solar installation and equipment. When taken into consideration the tax credits from various States, Federal Government and Utility Companies are providing it makes it more attractive for individuals and businesses to buy in. The concern of many is if the tax credits were eliminated these industries could not sustain the hit and would go dormant as what happened on or about 1986 when then President Regan eliminated the Investment tax credits for renewable energy.
Even now with the incentives the Return on Investment or ROI aka (payback period) is 18 to 20 years. So why do you think solar energy has become very popular. Let us examine. In part President Obama has made renewable energy sources mainstream and part of his energy agenda. The awareness of Green Building Initiatives. Also, something most amazing. There is something very powerful about someone creating their own electricity from the sun at their house or place of business. Independence. Keep in mind that most solar systems cannot provide enough electricity to supply enough kilo-watt hours (KWH) or electrical requirement to run a household or business without being supplemented by the power companies. Approximately one needs one square foot of collector to produce 10 watts of electricity. A 6KWH solar system would require 600 sq/ft of surface area. This number can change if the output in watts of the collector increases. As well as a cost factor which is between $7 to $9 per watt, there is a space factor also.
So given the cost of producing your own electricity which in most cases will not make you energy independent, would your money be better spent toward improving the energy efficiency of the major components of your home or business so less energy is used to give you the same level of comfort.
I would rather spend a little to save a "watt" then spend a lot $$ to create one. By the way, I believe in all types of renewable energy sources, Green Building principals and sustainable materials and technologies. Dave Borgaro is president of East Coast Energy Consultants. Visit us at http://www.eastcoastenergyconsultants.com
Article Source: www.articlesbase.com
