Items in the Energy Efficiency Category
Tankless hot water – a good investment or not?
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home - 18 December 2011Customers looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption often ask about tankless hot water systems, having heard that they are a “greener” option than traditional water heaters. Tankless systems have certainly become popular recently, yet we rarely recommend them (unless for a very specific need). Here is our rationale on the subject: (more…)
Why you should wait on windows.
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Green Building - 16 November 2011We have long explained to our customers that windows are usually not where they should focus their energy when looking to save money. While windows and doors have benefited from a lot of marketing dollars because of their high cost and associated profits, the benefits and savings of these have been grossly exaggerated.
When it comes to energy savings, whether you are a homeowner or a small business, we have always maintained that the best approach is to first understand how you use your energy, then look for ways to reduce the energy you use and finally, look for ways to produce your own energy through renewable energy generation (specifically for the triangle area, solar hot water and photovoltaics) – hence our “Measure – Reduce – Produce” company philosophy.
See this video from the Department of Energy on the Home Performance with Energy Star program, and how a home performance contractor differs from your typical contractor. Home Performance with Energy Star
The Fabricated Controversy Over the Demise of the Incandescent Light Bulb
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Legislative - 10 October 2011We always start by telling our customers that the single most cost effective energy improvement measure out there, is switching out incandescent bulbs for CFLs or better yet, LEDs. So you can understand how this topic is near and dear to me.
As most of you should know by now, there was legislation introduced in 2007 designed to encourage both the adoption and growth of more energy efficient products in the lighting industry. This legislation, entitled the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will phase out less efficient lighting technologies in favor of products which are at least 30% more efficient, starting with the 100 Watt bulb in 2012 and ending with the 40 Watt bulb in 2014. While there are several exemptions for specialty lighting, this will have a dramatic effect on reducing the amount of energy we consume in lighting our homes and businesses.
I must admit, that while I am not surprised, I am constantly amazed at how easily hysteria can be created in the media around any topic by (more…)
Re-Post: “It’s pretty amazing that our society has reached a point where…”
Posted in Energy Efficiency, General - 3 October 2011
Think about the real cost of your spoon, take a minute and really think about it.
A good friend forwarded this to me and I felt it was worth re-posting. It so simply and clearly illustrates how our society has decoupled the true cost of a product from our experiences with it. If we saw first hand what goes into making the stuff we use, we would be more reluctant to dispose of things so casually.The text reads: “It’s pretty amazing that our society has reached a point where the effort necessary to extract oil from the groud, ship it to a refinery, turn it into plastic, shape it appropriately, truck it to a store, buy it, and bring it home is considered to be less effort than what it takes to just wash the spoon when you’re done with it.”
Windows, Solar, Tankless Hot Water and Solar Hot Water, So… Tell Me More!
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Solar Hot Water / Solar Electric - 15 August 2011I was at a “meet and greet” dinner party this past weekend in Carrboro to meet some of the families who, like us, have a kindergartener heading off to school this year. Usually, when people find out that we specialize in energy efficiency and solar, we get asked a lot of questions about how it all works and usually a lot of details on the economics of it all. I’m always surprised at how many misconceptions persist regarding certain so called “energy efficient” upgrades and how little is known about solar technology.
So, as promised, I am writing this as a general informative blog on the topic – let me start with some of the most common misconceptions: (more…)
There Is No Denying It – Solar Hot Water Works
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Solar Hot Water / Solar Electric - 5 August 2011
I’ve just come back from closing out our latest solar hot water installation with a client in Durham and as always enjoyed seeing such a simple technology at work. At 9:30 this morning, their collectors were already at 90F on a fully overcast day, their 80 gallon solar tank had nicely stratified hot water, 114F at the bottom, 135F at the top, and everyone had taken their showers already.In terms of technology and how it works, there are many advantages to solar heating for your water system over traditional water heating. Not the least of which are lower costs of operation, cleaner air and a cleaner conscience. With solar heating you can heat your water well beyond the temperature you need without an energy (cost) penalty thus storing the heat for (more…)
TED – The Energy Detective Can Make All The Difference
Posted in Energy Efficiency, News, Solar Hot Water / Solar Electric - 2 August 2011Sundogs Solutions is happy to announce that we are offering installation of the TED 5000 energy monitoring system to our customers. The TED series of energy monitoring devices allows customers to (more…)
Choosing An Energy Auditor (re-post)
Posted in Energy Efficiency, General, Healthy Home - 15 June 2011We don’t often re-post others work, however I have a lot of respect for the folks over at Energy Vanguard and I figured in the spirit of “reuse” we would link to an excellent post on a popular topic.
Here is an article an instructor of mine wrote on the topic of “choosing a company to do an energy audit“
Why we can’t afford to wait for the government to develop a responsible energy policy
Posted in Community, Energy Efficiency, Legislative - 9 June 2011If you tuned in to watch the President’s last State of The Union address, you may have heard him speak about the need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, further our clean energy research and eliminate the subsidies to our petroleum industries. Encouraging words no doubt, but as history shows us, most likely to be empty and with little substance behind it.
Whether or not you enjoy “The Daily Show“, you can’t argue with the point he is making in this montage of previous President’s commitments to develop a forward looking energy policy, going all the way back to President Nixon.
(more…)The Real (low) Cost Of Certifying Energy Star Homes
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Green Building - 30 May 2011
If there is one thing that sets me off more than anything else, it’s the scams and lies some (production) builders use to get out of certifying homes with the Energy Star label. Does this sound familiar? “Oh, we build the home to Energy Star standards, we just don’t certify it because it’s too expensive.” All too often the home buyer not knowing any better and wanting to believe that he or she is not being taken advantage of doesn’t press the matter. This is no different than a used car salesman trying to sell a potential client the “paint sealing package”.The truth is, that certifying a home for Energy Star, usually costs less than $1,000 and with that certification, the home buyer typically gets a discount (more…)
Breaking Ground On An Old Concept
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Green Building, Healthy Home - 21 May 2011Last week, as we broke ground on the passive solar home we are building in Wendell, it dawned on me that we’ve come full circle on concepts of energy efficient building design. When people ask us about the design of this home, I’m always a little surprised at the perception that this is somehow going to be an exotic looking home, or will be more expensive than a traditional home. If I were to line up 5 different plans, some passive solar some not, most would not be able to pick out the passive solar design. Furthermore, an energy efficient home doesn’t have to cost more, it simply requires some knowledge of building science, attention to detail and proper management of heat and moisture. In many cases, it simply requires that tradespeople do the things they are supposed to do to begin with, like a proper load calculation for the heating and cooling system. Passive solar designs have been around since people began building homes.
In fact, we’re really just building homes the way they should be built. Over the past few decades, our insatiable quest for profits through “efficiency” a.k.a. wringing every penny out of the cost of production/manufacturing and the “Walmart” effect – the disposable product – have driven builders to cut corners and standardize building plans at the expense of sound design and common sense in many cases (like the 6″ overhang). With the downturn in the economy and (more…)
Tackling Phantom Loads – An argument for taking the easy way, at times
Posted in Energy Efficiency - 8 March 2011
I heard a conversation the other evening between two solar system salesmen who were venting about the difficulty in selling solar PV systems. Many potential clients are hesitant to purchase due to initial cost, environmental feasibility issues – even HOA covenants in some cases. But the reason for this particular conte was a customer of theirs who actually had their heart set on purchasing a full PV system and due to their home’s location, a PV system would not have been the best choice for them. Being straightforward about that, they had offered to install a solar hot water system instead – which would have performed better and offered a quicker return. The customers were hesitant and in the end declined to purchase anything. Logically, it might not add up. But being a stubborn person myself, I often over look the most simple solutions. I want to go for the glory, come in first place, in this case, install the larger system. Anything to avoid a dreaded compromise. In reality, sometimes I just end up ordering more than I can eat and missing some really easy solutions in life that can make a large impact. I’ve only just lately come to grasp the difference that unplugging unused devices can make on my electric bills and overall energy consumption.
(more…)Bill Gates Comments on the Energy Crisis
Posted in Community, Energy Efficiency - 1 March 2011Every now and then, I like to watch a few videos on TED.com. If you are unfamiliar with the site, it is dedicated to sharing inspirational ideas. Some of my favorites are from unlikely speakers such as this 12 year old talking about what adults can learn from children.
Bill Gates delivered a speech at the recent TED conference on “Innovating to Zero” – the idea that there are basically four variables in the energy equation — population, services requiring energy, amount of energy per service, and the CO2 being emitted per unit of energy. Bill makes a very simple but convincing argument – those first two variables are increasing, the third perhaps has some wiggle room for decreasing, but it is the fourth factor, CO2 emitted, that could really change the value of the entire equation.
(more…)Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Updated for 2011
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Financial & Incentives - 7 January 2011Some of you may know as a result of the federal recovery funds, homeowners enjoyed a brief but substantial increase in the energy efficiency tax credit and many of you took advantage of it, as evidenced by the flurry of activity in December as many of our customers tried to get work done before the expiration on December 31st, 2010. For those of you who did not make it under the wire all is not lost. The federal government has extended a reduced & modified version of this tax credit through December 31st, 2011.
While all the details aren’t clear yet, we know this: Through December 31st 2011, homeowners may take advantage of up $500 in tax credits for energy efficiency measures put into service this year. There are some differences between this program and the last, so make sure you check out the DSIRE website. Another significant limitation to remember, is anyone who has previously taken advantage of this tax credit in excess of $500 is no longer eligible.
So for those of you who are still eligible, don’t miss this change to save more money (courtesy of your taxes), while saving money and helping the planet.
For more information visit the DSIRE website, it is the most comprehensive site for all rebates, federal, state or local.
There is some additional information on the Energy Savvy website.
Not Just An Insulation Company…What Differentiates the “Performance Contractor”.
Posted in Energy Efficiency - 16 December 2010With the sudden onset of winter after a decidedly mild fall in North Carolina, the phones have been ringing off the hook with people fed up with cold drafty homes and high energy bills, looking to take advantage of the last few weeks left of the federal tax credit for energy efficient upgrades.
We could easily go in and insulate attics (our top request) within a few hours, walk away and leave a home owner thinking they are all set. In fact, many insulation company do just that, happy to take your money and walk away. What differentiates the “Performance Contractor” is the knowledge that insulation alone will not work effectively unless it has been applied against a functioning air barrier. A fact that is well known by the energy efficiency & performance contracting professionals. In fact, Progress Energy with the guidance of Advanced Energy, provide rebates and incentives to their customers who add insulation, will not issue a rebate unless air sealing measures have been applied prior to insulating.
I recently read a blog post which illustrated this principle clearly and in terms we can all relate to, so I can’t claim credit for originating it, but I will share it with you.
Imagine you are heading out for a brisk winter walk and there is a slight breeze outside. You grab your heavy-weight fleece jacket (insulation) the leash and your trusty walking companion. Within minutes of your walk, despite your heavy-weight jacket you find yourself shivering and quickly head back inside. “What gives?” you ask yourself? I’m insulated! (more…)
HVAC Stands for “Headaches for Virtually All Customers”
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home - 11 September 2010When you spend enough time helping home owners diagnose comfort or health issues with their homes it’s easy to get down on the HVAC trade. There are certainly competent and conscientious companies and contractors out there, a few at least, but sadly not enough. We are fortunate to work with one such contractor “Boer Brothers Heating and Cooling” and we rely on them to help us when things are really amiss and we unreservedly recommend them to our customers, knowing full well that our reputation is on the line too. So with that said, why am I so down on the HVAC trade?
I think that the fundamental issue is that your typical residential HVAC system is more forgiving in many respects than say, plumbing, or electrical. If either of those two trades do sloppy work, you either have a light that won’t turn on, your house burns to the ground or you end up with a flooded basement or a big puddle of water on the floor. These are all things that are readily evident to even the most inattentive home owner. Sloppy HVAC work is more subtle. Maybe your house cools, just not very efficiently, (more…)
Before Replacing Your Windows, Ask Yourself Why?
Posted in Energy Efficiency - 28 August 2010Why do you want to replace your windows? Are your windows merely drafty and in need of some new or better locks? do you need some weatherstripping or caulk along the frame? or are your windows really so bad that it’s time to replace them? Windows can be a profitable sale for renovators, carpenters, builders, in fact anyone who sells windows will tell you that it is a profitable business. Unfortunately this leads some to push “new windows” as an important part of making your home more energy efficient. Now I’m not saying that there is never a case for new windows, under the right circumstances, new windows make a lot of sense and it makes even more sense to buy Energy Star rated windows if you already need (more…)
The Cheapest Energy Of All Is The Energy You Don’t Use.
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home - 8 August 2010While not as exciting or as sexy as a solar array, energy conservation is by far the most cost effective way to reduce you energy consumption. As the saying goes, “The cheapest energy of all, is the energy you don’t use.”
Like in so many other areas, the basic blocking and tackling of building sciences will give you the most bang for the buck when it comes to making your home more energy efficient. For example, air sealing and added insulation together are probably the single most effective way to lower your energy bills. New windows may be appealing, but truthfully, they may take as much as 20 years to pay back, while air sealing and insulation can pay back in as little as three to four years.
(more…)Proper HVAC Maintenance can Preserve the Planet (and Save You Money)
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home - 3 August 2010It’s hard to believe that just 50-60 years ago, central heating and air conditioning systems were starting to appear on the scene. How spoiled we have become since then! My wife lived for 2 years in third world country where the temperatures were sweltering – and of course there was no A/C. We are surely fortunate to have air conditioned and heated homes! But those HVAC units come with a price tag. Besides being expensive to purchase, they are one of the biggest consumers of energy in you home.
(more…)Reduce, Reduce, Reduce, Solar Hot Water, Photovoltaics – The Five Rules To Installing Solar Panels
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Solar Hot Water / Solar Electric - 13 July 2010Unless you are an executive at a utility, coal mining or oil company, you probably agree that solar panels are pretty cool. Beyond the science of converting sunlight into electricity or hot water there is an underlying promise of hope for the future. While wind and solar still have some rather large problems to solve before they can replace fossil fuels entirely, the technology is solid and now within reach of homeowners.
That said, there are some important things to consider before investing in a solar system. (more…)
So What Is a HERS Index?
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Green Building - 8 July 2010
If you are in the process of looking for a new home, or inquiring about energy efficient homes, you may have heard of a HERS Index. So what is a HERS Index anyway? Here is the definition taken form the RESNET website: “The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.
Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home (more…)
Progress Energy Prequalified Contractor – What it means to you.
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Financial & Incentives - 4 July 2010
Progress Energy has a program called the HEIP or Home Energy Improvement Program. This program will subsidize the cost of various approved home improvement projects geared to reducing their customers’ energy bills. See the link above for more information on the program. In order to receive the rebates, first you must be an eligible customer for the program and either you or we can confirm this with a quick call to Progress Energy’s HEIP hot-line (1-866-990-4347). Second, the specific project that you have in mind must be included on their list of qualifying projects and meet their installation or product specification requirements. Lastly, the installation must be performed by (more…)Compact Fluorescent Lights – Save $100 per year in 5 minutes
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Financial & Incentives - 22 June 2010I love summertime in North Carolina. Here in the Raleigh/Durham area, the sun sets as late as 8:35pm during the middle of the summer – which is great for kids’ sports and other outdoor activities. But when the sun isn’t shining, it takes energy to light your home – and that energy cost can really add up!
(more…)Home Performance Audit Summer Special
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home - 22 June 2010This special has expired. Check back soon for more specials.
A Home Performance Audit, which includes an energy audit, is a comprehensive approach to evaluating how well a home is performing, including energy use, moisture management, water use and indoor air quality. The analysis typically takes half a day and involves inspecting and testing various building components from the crawl space to the attic and everything in between.
Summary
Cost: $350 – 20% = $280
Duration: 1/2 day
Complexity: Med – HighThe resulting report provides the home owner with a detailed view of how well the home is performing and a prioritized list of recommended improvements. This allows the homeowner to determine the most effective way to improve the home’s energy efficiency and address any air quality issues or other building concerns.
(more…)Why and when should I get a Home Performance Audit?
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home - 22 June 2010Consider a Home Performance Audit if any of the following apply to you:
- Anytime you plan on undertaking renovations or upgrades is a perfect time to establish a baseline for your home. Anytime you modify a part of your home you have an opportunity to do well and also an opportunity to do bad. With a better understanding of how your home behaves, you can either make simple adjustments to the plans or request that the remodeler take the opportunity to improve some aspects of your home performance within the scope of his or her remodeling job. Something as simple as caulking the wall studs before putting in new cabinets can help eliminate cold drafts from circulating up the wall.
Programmable Thermostats – A good first step toward a greener home
Posted in Energy Efficiency - 15 June 2010Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature while keeping your energy bill in reasonable territory can be tricky. One of the easiest solutions – and an great first step toward a greener home — is to install a programmable thermostat. With the old fashioned thermostats, you picked a temperature and it worked to keep you house at that level all of the time. If you wanted to change it, you had to go manually adjust it.
(more…)Your House as a System
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home - 5 May 2010You probably don’t think of your house as a group of interacting components, but taken as a whole your house is actually a system comprised of several elements which at times may have fairly complex interactions, influencing each other in ways you may not expect. Here are three typical scenarios:
(more…)The “free” $259 Refrigerator
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Financial & Incentives - 1 April 2010This is one of my favorite examples of how we think we’re saving money when in fact we’re spending much more than we know.
We all like free, especially when it comes to something functional, like a beer fridge in the garage. Does it keep the drinks cold? Yes, then it’s as good as a new one right? Not always, as we will see. Sometimes “free” costs more than buying new. Below are two tangible examples of what we face daily when dealing with energy consumption and the many products in our homes. The true cost of “free” or “already paid for” can sometimes be greater than buying a more modern and energy efficient replacement. Let me give you two real life examples that we have encountered with our clients:
(more…)
