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Our goal as a company is to educate our customers, to help them realize that they have choices. The building industry is (unfortunately) an industry of tremendous inertia. It suffers from the "I do things this way, because the person who taught me did it that way" syndrome.
While you don't have to spend any more money to be energy efficient, you do have to do things differently. This blog seeks to help customers make heads or tails of what's going on in the industry and what to look for when seeking "Green" or "Renewable Energy" services. If ever you have any questions about any aspect of green building or renewable energy, feel free to contact us - we'd love to help.
“Net Metering” vs “Buy-All-Sell-All” How North Carolina Treats Residential Solar Installations
Updated
It’s been over a year since I first wrote this blog post about “net-metering” vs “buy-all-sell-all” and it’s time for an update.
There is no national standard yet when it comes to small generators of renewable energy, i.e. wind and solar, which prompted this original post a while back. To further complicate matters, how these systems are treated varies not only state to state, but even within a state, variations exist between energy service providers. To get the installation that’s best for you, it’s important that your installer look at your particular situation and determine the most advantageous set up.
Let’s start with a few upfront assumptions: 1) since I’m writing from central North Carolina, most of our customers are interested in solar, but how our utilities treat wind powered generators is very similar 2) we are talking about grid-tied systems, not battery based systems, see my other post about when it makes sense to use a battery based system.
Next, before we talk about the difference between “net-metering” and “buy-all-sell-all” you need to first understand that renewable energy production is made up of two parts, each attributed a financial value: 1) the actual electrons produced, measured in kWh and 2) the “clean energy credits” assigned to these electrons, called “RECs” or “Renewable Energy Credits”. While it differs state to state, most states have something called a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, which mandates that electric utilities produce some portion of the electricity they sell to customers from non-polluting, renewable energy sources. These mandates vary in each state and typically increase over time. Utilities have two options to meet these mandates, they can either produce clean energy themselves through large scale wind or solar farms, or they can purchase RECs produced by many small generators such as homeowners and small businesses. These RECs can be traded and purchased on an exchange and the price for RECs varies widely depending on where you live and the applicable regulations governing the sale of RECs in your state.
So now for some definitions:
Buy-all-sell-all means, you buy all of your electricity from the grid and you sell all of your electricity to the grid – which means you have two meters, one to measure what you produce (sell) and another to measure what you consume (buy). While the utilities sell you power at retail prices (anywhere from $0.11/kWh to $0.15/kWh) they are only required to purchase it from you at wholesale prices (about $0.07/kWh). You get a bill from your utility for the power you consume and you get a check from the utility for the power you produce.
Net metering is used with an electric meter that turns both ways, forward (consumption) and backwards (production) and where you are billed or compensated based on whether you use more or less than you produce. Your financial incentive here is “avoided costs”. A special meter is required for this, in order to track production vs consumption. In some cases this can be advantageous, as you are able to “sell” your power at the higher retail price since you are essentially building up “power credits” by “rolling back” the meter during the day.
Grid-Interconnected or Batteries?
Many customers assume that when they install a solar system, they are going to be able to “unplug” from their electric utility and are surprised when we explain that they probably don’t want to do that. Here are a couple of simple reasons why:
- Unless you’ve designed your house to achieve a very high degree of energy efficiency from the outset, you likely can’t afford to completely offset your electric consumption with solar. Most houses use far too much electricity to be able to affordably offset their total use entirely with solar.
- Solar is not consistent minute to minute, hour to hour or even day to day. Solar panels are highly affected by clouds and may be reduced to zero production for days at a time during a period of cloudy or stormy weather and our electric appliances really don’t like power fluctuations, so some way of ”regulating” that power is required.
- As you know, the sun only shines during the day when most people are at work and you are using little electricity at home. Most residential consumption occurs in the late afternoon when the sun’s energy is waning.
- Without storage, all that power you produce during the day will simply go to waste. You need to be able to store the power somehow and storage remains a sticky problem to this day. Batteries are currently the only practical method of storage for residential customers, but batteries present many challenges, such as cost, safety and maintenance.
So unless you are installing solar somewhere far “off grid” and it is prohibitively expensive to bring power to the house, your least expensive and most practical option is to remain tied to the grid. By installing a grid-interconnected system you are essentially buying into an insurance policy that provides you with consistent reliable power year round, regardless of the time of day or season. When the sun is shinning you are sending power to the grid and when the sun is not, the grid is returning you the favor. While most of us would love to “unplug” the reality is a little less dramatic, but nonetheless satisfying. The AC solar systems we install use Enphase microinverters which provide near real-time production data that can be monitored on the internet allowing you to see the positive impact you are having on the environment with your solar system. Contact us today for your free solar consultation.
Canadian Solar.
There are a lot of different ways governments encourage the development and growth of clean energy. While staying with Dawna’s family just outside of Ottawa this Christmas, we had the opportunity to visit a neighbor’s solar installation and talk over the economics of this particular system. In Canada they don’t subsidize the manufacturers (China) or the installers (U.S.A) but rather they subsidize the production in the form of high retail purchasing of kWh produced ($0.802 / kWh)
This particular system was a 10kW system and the owner told us he averages about $12,000 per year in revenue. This for a system he paid $86,000 to install. All in all he’s expecting to have the system paid for in about 10 years, while the contract with the federal government is for 20 years, and the panels are rated at 80% production at 20 years. A pretty good deal for people who take the time to work out the math. This particular system like those we install uses an Enphase micro-inverter for each 200w panel which allows him to look at the performance of each individual panel.
Tankless hot water – a good investment or not?
Customers 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: Read more…
Why you should wait on windows.
We 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
Rid your dryer of chemicals, once and for all.
Often we are marketed a “green” or “natural” product touted to solve some problem we face (e.g. extract of flower used as a mosquito repellent) or replace an effective, if somewhat toxic or less-than-natural product, only to be disappointed with lackluster performance. So when we happen to come across something that actually does work, well… we can’t help but share the information.
At an event last year, we happened to be located next to the ladies from “The Stoney Mountain Farm” who were showcasing their wares. Among the many products on display, were these little wool “dryer balls“. They explained to us the number of chemicals that were in traditional dryer sheets and how these balls effectively replaced these.
Well, with three young kids in the house and a general disdain for unnecessary chemicals in our lives, we figured we’d give it a shot. After more than a year of using them, we are very happy to report that they actually work wonderfully! Along with the benefit of no chemicals, they also seem to last forever. Every once in a while we have to throw them in with the laundry, but once out, they perform as good as new.
Please note that we do not receive any compensation of any kind from the makers of this product. We simply wanted to share a truly effective alternative to placing unnecessary chemicals on your clothing. Over the past year, we’ve purchased these as stocking-stuffers for most of our family. With the holidays fast approaching, we thought we’d offer this little suggestion. We hope you enjoy these as much as we do.
Hot, Flat and Crowded – Thomas Friedman
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—And How It Can Renew America. Thomas Friedman
In this updated version of Thomas Friedman’s book on the future of our planet and it’s prospects for sustainability, Thomas Friedman proposes that the solution for global warming and the best way for America to regain its leadership position globally is to focus on the clean energy. A very compelling and entertaining read.
The Better World Shopping Guide
The Better World Shopping Guide, by Ellis Jones 
Here is a great little book if you ever wanted help making choices about what you buy. One of the best ways to influence a business is with your purchases and this great little helper can guide you through your everyday purchases, from where to buy gas to which credit card and bank is the most earth friendly. With about 170 categories, you can usually find what you are looking for. While you can purchase this online from a number of sources, our very own Twig in Chapel Hill has them available.
A brief excerpt from the introduction of the book: ”The Problem – Money is power. Perhaps more than any generation that has come before us, we understand the deeply-rooted reality of this short phrase and its universal meaning for every human being living on this planet.
It follows that wherever large amounts of money collect, so also new centers of power form. The latest historical manifestation of this is the modern corporation. As trillions of dollars accumulate in the corporte sphere, we witness the growing power of corporations to shape the world as they see fit.
This power is not limited to controlling the face of our own government through consistent, record-breaking, campaign contributions, but also the fate of millions of people and the planet itself through jobs, resource exploitation, pollution, working conditions, energy consumption, forest destruction, and so on.
Make no mistake, these new power centers are not democracies. We don’t vote for the CEO’s or their policies (unless we are rich enough to be significant shareholders, who are informed enough to know what’s going on, and compassionate enough to care about more than just personal profit), yet our destinies are increasingly in their hands.
The Solution: As these power centers shift, we must shift our own voices if we wish to be heard. As citizens, on average, we might vote once every four years if at all. As consumers, we vote every single day with the purest form of power…money. The average American family spends around $18,000 every year on goods and services. Think of it as casting 18,000 votes every year for the kind of world you want to live in… ”
The Fabricated Controversy Over the Demise of the Incandescent Light Bulb
We 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 Read more…
The Great Bicycle Debate – By David Suzuki
Bicycling infrastructure pays dividends
Re-post: By David Suzuki with contributions from Ian Hanington, Communications and Editorial Specialist
Most arguments against bike lanes are absurd. Consider this: We have wide roads everywhere to accommodate cars, most of which carry only one person. On either side of many of those roads, we have pedestrian sidewalks. In most large urban areas, we also have bus lanes and transit systems such as subways and rapid transit. When cyclists ride on roads, drivers often get annoyed. If they ride on sidewalks, pedestrians rightly get angry.
Human-powered transportation will only get more popular as gas prices rise and as the negative consequences Read more…
350.org Raffle Winner
Hot, Flat and Crowded
Thank you to all who signed up for the give-away raffle of ”Hot Flat and Crowded – Why We Need a Green Revolution, and How it Can Renew America” by Thomas Friedman. Using a random number generator, our winner Paul will be receiving his book in the mail shortly.
Re-Post: “It’s pretty amazing that our society has reached a point where…”
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.”
350.ORG Despite Some Rain, A Resounding Success
We had a great time and met lots of interesting people at the recent 350.org event in Durham NC. It’s always nice to get a chance to talk to people about what we do, who we are and answer questions. The thing that excites me most is when we get the younger generation sidling up to the table to ask us about renewable energy like solar thermal and photovoltaics, or even green building.
350.org in Durham
More and more people are becoming aware that the way of the past is no longer sustainable. Even with a global recession, energy prices are still sky high. It wasn’t that long ago that fuel was pushing $4.00 / gallon and the country was aghast. Despite the slow economy, we’re still hovering near that and now we aren’t phased. Once the global economy starts picking up and demand for our precious energy resources gets into high gear, we will no doubt be facing even steeper prices.
The good news is, there are solutions available today in the form of solar, energy efficiency, building sciences, hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles and even cheaper and better technology on the way. The future is bright if we choose to face it with courage and conviction rather than choosing to remain in the dark and hope someone else fixes things for us.
The Critical (And Most Overlooked) Issue of Moisture Management
Example of a roof leak using a thermal imaging camera
Today we were discussing renovation plans with a customer and as we walked through the house and her upcoming plans, we noticed some fairly pervasive and significant moisture issues. As we discussed this in the context of the other work she wanted us to bid on, a recent article in the local Chapel Hill News came to mind.
The article entitled “Home Inspector’s Top 10″, listed the top 10 most common problems inspectors find when examining homes. Two of these were moisture related and the #1 issue was “inadequate drainage”. For anyone who has built any kind of structure, understanding moisture management has always been a critical and sometimes vexing element of successful construction.
We have always maintained that durability is the first principle of ”Green Building” and the single most Read more…
Building It Right From The Start.
Since we founded Sundogs Solutions about two years ago, we’ve had the opportunity to work on over one hundred houses in the greater Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Raleigh area and have seen it all, from well intentioned, though misguided efforts at construction and energy efficiency, to downright fraud, abuse and dangerous practices. No matter what we’ve faced when working on a building, we’ve approached our energy efficiency retrofit work with an eye to understanding our client’s objectives first and then designing a plan using building sciences to best achieve this goal. At times, this has proven extremely challenging, having to work in areas that are difficult to access, are sealed off and completely inaccessible, or sometimes simply not cost-effective to modify.
So it has been a real pleasure to have the opportunity to build something right from scratch. Last year Lori and Mark called us after seeing our ad in the local “Independent”, and asked us if we would be interested in building an energy efficient Read more…
Windows, Solar, Tankless Hot Water and Solar Hot Water, So… Tell Me More!
I 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: Read more…
There Is No Denying It – Solar Hot Water Works
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 Read more…
Why Changing Your Air Filter Regularly Is Important!
Last night on my drive home, a friend called me to ask my opinion on his upstairs A/C unit which was no longer blowing cold air, in fact there was very little air movement at all. My first questions was “have you changed your air filter recently?”
This is a common summer problem for residents in the humid south. When your air conditioner is working properly, a refrigerant is sent to a small “radiator” by the air handler (fan) very similar to the one on cars. This refrigerant is very cold and as a result performs two functions: Read more…
TED – The Energy Detective Can Make All The Difference
Sundogs 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 Read more…
Can’t Help it But I’m Still Like a Kid at Christmas After a Solar Install
The amazing power of the sun
I still get giddy when I see it at work and it was fun to see the excitement in the other installers with me as we heard the system humming and watched the temperature gradually rise to the desired level. The only energy used was a little power to run the controller and the pump. Simply amazing. It’s also really satisfying to simply turn off the switch for the hot water tank and know you’re still getting more hot water than you need, virtually free!
Solar Installations Shown To Increase Property Value
Are you thinking of selling your home and looking for ways to differentiate your home from the others around you? A recent study from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory, has shown that homes with relatively new PV systems installed command a higher sales price than comparable homes without PV.
Read more…
Choosing An Energy Auditor (re-post)
We 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
If 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.
Read more…
Out of the mouth of babes….
This came from my son’s pre-kindergarten class… Its a different world from when I was a kid:
Q: How can you help save the earth?
-I will clean up every piece of litter I see.
-I turn off the water while I’m washing my hands and while I brush my teeth.
-I have three recycling bins, one for bottles, one for cans, one for paper.
-I re-use paper because paper comes from trees and if we cut down trees then we wont have fresh air.
-I turn off lights.
-I clean my room (oh, if only!).
-We can re-use paper
-I make art from things I re-use.
-I don’t waste water.
The Real (low) Cost Of Certifying Energy Star Homes
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 Read more…
Breaking Ground On An Old Concept
Last 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 Read more…
Training for a Cleaner Future – At NCSU
The Solar Center at NCSU offers excellent, hands-on training in renewable energy technologies, as well as residential and commercial green building.
While at a solar thermal session recently, Dawna was interviewed for the school’s College of Engineering magazine.
Learn about opportunities in your community!
Come see Sundogs Solutions at the Durham Tech Sustainability Fair!
House Proposes New Bill to Improve Solar Access for North Carolinians
This week the house introduced House Bill 724 which contains limitations on the ability to restrict solar collectors on residential property, among other things.
Whether or not this bill passes, we can take this as a positive sign that we are seeing increased activity regarding renewable energy technology on the legislative front. We must keep up the pressure and let our state leadership know that we take the health of our state’s environment seriously and that we understand that our security and future prosperity of our state depend on our commitment to responsible energy management. Take a minute and write your representatives to let them know that clean energy development is important to you.
Sundogs Solutions and local businesses discuss the NCSU Solar Center
We were interviewed to relate our experience with the NC State Solar Center. As a small business in North Carolina, we’ve relied on the center for training, online tools and resources and professional guidance from their staff.
Read more…
On Magical Moments.
As most of our clients know, we are a new company just over a year old now and launched at a time of national economic hardship. Unfortunately, we are also in an industry saturated with cynical companies who see”green” and “renewable energy” as simply another marketing campaign to capitalize on. You don’t need to go any farther than some of your local “Green Home” tours which feature 5,000sf homes boasting of energy star appliances and some form of low VOC recycled paint as their only qualifying features. When was the last time you bought an appliance that wasn’t energy star?? Nonetheless, we take heart every time we meet other professionals in the industry who are truly committed to improving the way we use energy.
As with most new companies, we also work long hours covering the many roles larger companies can afford to pay several people to do and these past several weeks have been particularly busy with training, submitting new bids, interviewing and hiring and participating in the recently launched Chapel Hill-Carrboro energy efficiency program named “WISE“.
A few weeks ago now, Chapel Hill and Carrboro jointly unveiled their new energy efficiency incentive program at the Century Center to an eager audience of people from as far away as Raleigh and Pittsboro. By all accounts, the launch was a success and we enjoyed the many conversations with home owners, business owners and other service providers and vendors. It was a room full of people interested in creative and practical solutions to reducing the amount of energy we all use. Topics discussed included new control systems for appliances, the benefits of net metering vs buy all sell all solar plans, the payback on solar hot water systems, the purpose of energy audits, Renewable Portfolio Standards and new construction techniques and building materials. It was both enlightening and heartening to see how informed our customers are and very exciting to see a room full of companies with innovative ideas who are providing legitimate services to their customers. Sometimes we just need to step back a little in order to find the good among the noise.
At the end of the event, we headed home with a renewed sense of optimism for the future, some new friends and new clients. That evening turned out to be a beautiful spring evening as we capped off the day with a glass of wine on the porch and played with the kids. Buoyed by our day with the Chapel Hill WISE program and watching the kids run around the yard, it was easy to forget the stresses of work, the challenges we face and the fears we carry with us about the uncertain future facing our children. For a few moments at least, I felt like our kids running around, without a care in the world.
We all deserve some magical moments.
Tackling Phantom Loads – An argument for taking the easy way, at times
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.
Read more…
Bill Gates Comments on the Energy Crisis
Every 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.
Read more…
Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Updated for 2011
Some 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”.
With 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! Read more…
Sundogs Solutions’ Weatherization Works
We’ve been busy this year, making homes more energy efficient and comfortable through the NC “Weatherization Assistance Program”. We were recently asked to demonstrate our weatherization work in action to Congressman Brad Miller – see the story here: www.easternwakenews.com
Recent winners of a free home energy audit
We’ve been enjoying meeting and talking to folks at some recent local events. These lucky people were the winners of our free home energy audit:
- Sept 25 – Live it Up on Hillsborough St. Raleigh ==> Jessica S
- Oct 10 – Energy & Community Resilience Fair: A Transition Carrboro-Chapel Hill 10-10-10 Event ==> Sandy S
- Oct 16 – Celebrate Green Central at CCCC, Pittsboro ==> Dolores C
Congratulations! And thanks for stopping by to chat with us.
Renewable Energy initiatives at NC’s most prominent schools
Appalachian State University has the reputation of being one of North Carolina’s greenest schools. Nestled in the mountains near Asheville, NC, ASU is a perfect testing ground for what can be accomplished by a community determined to make a positive change. Read more…
HVAC Stands for “Headaches for Virtually All Customers”
When 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, Read more…
Before Replacing Your Windows, Ask Yourself Why?
Why 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 Read more…
Composting
I once heard a farmer poking a little fun at us city folks. We put all of our food waste, lawn clippings, etc. in plastic bags, put them in a big garbage can, and pay the city to pick it up. Then we drive to a garden supply store, and pay for more plastic bags filled with soil or compost. Seems kind of funny, doesn’t it? Read more…
The Cheapest Energy Of All Is The Energy You Don’t Use.
While 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.
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Proper HVAC Maintenance can Preserve the Planet (and Save You Money)
It’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.
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Reduce, Reduce, Reduce, Solar Hot Water, Photovoltaics – The Five Rules To Installing Solar Panels
Unless 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. Read more…
Habitat for Humanity – Orange County
With the work site shut down for the week of the 4th of July, I figured it’s a great time to give a shout-out to a great cause. Habitat for Humanity Orange County is in the process of building about 50 energy efficient homes in a small community off of Rogers Road in Chapel Hill, called “Phoenix Place”. With 5 homes completed, they still have a long way to go before they wrap this location up. Read more…
So What Is a HERS Index?
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 Read more…
Progress Energy Prequalified Contractor – What it means to you.
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 Read more…
Compact Fluorescent Lights – Save $100 per year in 5 minutes
I 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!
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Home Performance Audit Summer Special
This 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 – High
The 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.
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