Wind Energy Voice

Duurzaam ondernemen tegen minimale kosten, zonder verlies van functionaliteit. Dát is Energy Efficiency. Samen met u zoeken we naar de meest efficiënte, milieubewuste en energiezuinige oplossingen. Cofely realiseert energiebesparingen tot maar liefst 60%. En we reduceren de CO2-uitstoot aanzienlijk, soms zelfs tot 0. Zo wordt maatschappelijk verantwoord ondernemen rendabel. Meer informatie of een afspraak maken? Bezoek dan eens de website van Cofely: www.cofely-gdfsuez.nl

Technorati Tags: Cofely, efficiency, energieoplossingen, energy, milieuvriendelijke

In recent years, energy efficient products have become more elegantly designed as homeowners increasingly want to improve efficiency without sacrificing the look they want. Today a plethora of options exist for improving the efficiency of a bathroom, from installing low flow faucets to making those seemingly minor repairs that are often buried low on the priority list.

Reducing water consumption is a major way to boost the energy efficiency of a bathroom. Installing low flow shower heads and bathroom sink faucets will help reduce the amount of water used in everyday activities. Older toilets also waste a lot of water, so replacing yours with a high efficiency model is a worthwhile investment. Some cities and organizations offer rebates or other incentives for upgrading appliances and fixtures to approved energy efficient ones, so be sure to research whether you are eligible for any such incentives when making energy efficient updates in your home.

Reducing the use of hot water will help save energy. Depending on your budget for upgrades, you may consider replacing a water heater with a more efficient one, or adding a low cost water heater jacket to help retain heat within the tank for longer periods of time. A water heater on a timer allows you to eliminate needless heating of water during times when it is not needed, such as late at night or while you are at work.

Another way to use less energy in the bathroom is by replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. This simple change can help reduce energy consumption not only in your bathroom, but throughout the entire home.

Although not as exciting as getting new sink and shower fixtures, be sure to repair problems such as water leaks or poor seals on air ducts, which can consume energy unnecessarily. A drafty window is another culprit for wasted energy. Putting off seemingly minor repairs may be costing you money.

Last but certainly not least, make an honest assessment of your habits with regard to water and electricity consumption in the bathroom. Are there any areas that can be improved? Some simple changes are turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving, rather than letting it run when not in use. Another step you can take is avoiding taking unnecessarily long showers.

You do not have to make a heavy investment in a complete bathroom overhaul to improve energy efficiency. Every step counts!

Technorati Tags: Bathroom, efficiency, energy, Updating

IT contributes about 2% of the energy usage in the United States. Justin Rattner, Vice President and CTO of Intel, explores this small, but rapidly growing, part of US energy use and opportunities for energy savings. Series: Summit on Energy Efficiency [11/2009] [Science] [Show ID: 17372]

Technorati Tags: Delivering, efficiency, Future, Innovation

In my early career, I had some success with selling, installing and building energy efficiency system  such as industrial heat recovery heat pumps, condensing heat exchangers, thermal storage and geothermal heat pumps. I also completed studies on low head hydro, biomass, cogeneration and district heating systems. Many good applications were found for these technologies and over the years there have been many government and utility incentive programs for them. These systems can create significant energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emission. However they are complex to design, build and operate, as well, are very expensive.

In many cases, these systems provide an alternative energy source for the end user. In essence, the end user becomes his own energy supplier or power generator. Before making the decision to move down this path the end user has to decide what business am I in? If my company is an industrial, commercial or institutional enterprise does it really want to become a power generator?

The US Department of Energy describes Distributed Energy Resources (DER) as energy generation and storage systems placed at or near the point of use. If implemented properly, these systems can provide the end user with greater reliability, adequate power quality, lower emissions and in combined heat and power (CHP) applications, improved efficiency. Beyond the direct benefits, DER can allow the end user to participate in competitive electric power markets. From a utility infrastructure perspective, DER has the potential to mitigate transmission congestion, control price fluctuations, strengthen security, and provide greater stability to the grid. This is why many utilities and governments support these projects as a means of resolving larger system problems.

Distributed energy encompasses a range of technologies including fuel cells, micro turbines, reciprocating engines, and energy storage systems. Renewable energy technologies—such as solar electricity, solar buildings, small-scale hydropower, geothermal, biopower, and wind turbines—also play an important role.

Distributed Energy
The non-renewable on-site generation technologies usually rely on natural gas as a fuel source. The costs to implement these systems range from $300 to $1,100/ kW for conventional engines and turbines up to $10,000/kW for fuel cells, which are still considered developmental. The cost of electricity produced by these systems is dependent on the cost of gas, system efficiency and operating and maintenance costs, but generally runs in the range of $0.10 to $0.15/kWh.

From the end users perspective, these technologies are good for peak shaving, emergency power generation or for offsetting electricity demand when purchased electricity rates exceed these levels. If waste heat can be recovered from these systems and used to produce usable heat for space or process needs, then the overall efficiency of the systems can improve to the point where it is economical to run them on a continuous basis to supply end-user energy demand. In these cases, there can be significant direct and indirect greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Renewable Energy
For renewable energy technologies, the implementation costs can be significantly higher in the range of $4000 to $10,000 per kW. When the Government of Ontario announced the launch of a Feed-in Tariff Program, renewable energy projects became a desirable subject. The FIT program offers incentives of up to $0.80/kWh and includes renewable energy sources, wind, waterpower, renewable biomass, bio-gas, landfill gas and solar. Implementing renewable energy technologies can displace non-renewable energy consumption and provide significant greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Regardless of which type of distributed energy system the end user selects, he will ultimately become his own energy supplier. Becoming your own energy supplier requires a level of operation knowledge and sophistication, which may be beyond most end users. Granted, many engineers dream about big power projects that will serve as a lasting monument to their technical abilities, however, the decision to embark on these projects has to be taken within the context of the company’s energy management plan.

A good building energy efficiency management plan, as previously discussed will consider large capital projects only after other operational and retrofit opportunities have been implemented. This will help to avoid over sizing distributed energy system. If at this point, it is found that these systems still provide benefits to the end user, I would suggest partnering with a company that will share in the cost and benefits of designing, building and operating a system that meets the end users objectives. This will allow the end user to reap a portion of the benefits consistent with the energy management plan and not lose focus of what business they are in. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.”

If you already have a distributed energy system in your facility, you may have the opportunity to participate in Demand Response programs.

Original Post: building energy efficiency

Technorati Tags: Building, Distributed, efficiency, energy, renewable, Sources

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The green energy movement has now turned to green building. While the concept of green building is still in its infancy, innovators are already doing what was previously thought impossible: energy neutral housing. For Austin energy efficiency experts, this means creating designs that use as much power from the public grid as they can save or produce on their own. One of the driving factors to this growing trend is the fact that buildings are such major consumers of power, accounting for almost 40 percent of energy use in the United States.

Austin energy efficiency doesn’t just help the environment by conserving energy, it also helps inhabitants save money. For a three-bedroom home, energy bills that run more than $2,700 annually can be cut to about $700. The average household can recover the money they spent on the initial investment of building technology in approximately 12 years, after tax incentives and rebates.

While you might not be ready to make the total commitment to an energy neutral design, the first step to Austin energy efficiency can be achieved with the help of a BPI Certified Energy Audit. Through an energy audit, you can find the problem spots in any building, including insulation, shading, seals, and an assessment of HVAC equipment and duct pressure testing. The audit also can be performed in compliance with Austin’s Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure ordinance, which is conducted on all homes to determine their overall energy efficiency. Make sure that your auditor is a Building Analyst Professional, certified by the BPI and registered with the City of Austin.

If your home is more than 10 years old, then the next step is to obtain Performance Certification with Energy Star. This certification is a whole-house evaluation and repair program that is nationally recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. The program comprehensively looks at your entire house as a system whose parts work together, and makes the necessary adjustments so that your system becomes more energy efficient, comfortable, and environmentally-conscious. The evaluation focuses on the efficiency of four main components within your home: air duct sealing or replacement, central air conditioning and heating or heat pump, solar screens, window film, low-E windows, attic insulation, and air seal. The home performance with Energy Star Rebate will cover up to 20 percent, or $1575, of the cost of many of these improvements.

Building Science and Systems is an Austin energy efficiency and upgrade company with a green touch. We apply a 21st century approach utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and cutting edge technology to treat your home as a system. We provide education and skilled professionals to show homeowners how to maintain, improve, repair, and protect the value of their home. Building Science and Systems is a total home care service with a Green touch that takes the hassle out of maintaining your home. We provide custom, hassle free, Energy Audits and Green Home maintenance programs.

Technorati Tags: Austin, efficiency, energy, EnergyNeutral, Goals, Housing

Windows can cause a huge waste in your home. In fact, an average home can lose a large percentage of its heat or air conditioning through windows. Tony Ishairzay from Professional Remodeling located in Virginia, explains that vinyl energy efficient windows can save money every month by decreasing energy loss. With an increasing concern for the environment, even the government has created new ways of encouraging energy efficiency in homeowners. Although the initial cost for energy efficient windows is higher, the cost is offset by energy bill savings, the need for a smaller heating and cooling system, and the $1500 tax credit for energy efficient windows.

Windows lose and gain heat and energy through conduction, convection, radiation and air leakage. Tony Ishairzay uses the illustration of greenhouses, which are made entirely of windows to both trap sunlight and heat as well as cool the space according to the outside atmosphere.

Vinyl windows are energy efficient, durable, insect proof and weather resistant. These types of windows not only inhibit UV-degradations but it also requires no painting. Beginning in 2009 until 2011, homeowners can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost of qualified energy-efficient windows and doors up to $1500. This incentive is a great benefit in offsetting the initial cost of energy efficient windows but will provide greater benefits in the future.

Tony Ishairzay warns, that not all windows will be approved for this tax credit, so it is important to do your homework and shop smart when replacing your windows. Only the most energy-efficient windows and doors will qualify for the tax credit and old requirements such as the Energy Star certification is no longer sufficient. These old requirements are being replaced by newer standards such as meeting certain U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings.

Windows must have a U-Factor of .30 to meet the new requirements. The U-factor measures how well a product prevents heat from escaping the home. The lower the U-factor, the more efficiently it keeps heat. The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient must be .30 or less. The lower the SHGC, the more it blocks the heat of the sun, therefore reducing the need for air conditioning and saving energy.  This very important information should be located on the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) sticker certifying the ratings. The ratings can also be verified in the product ratings at www.nfrc.org.  The certification mark in the left hand corner of the label indicates that the window has been certified in accordance with the NFRC standards. In the right hand corner is a description of the window according to the manufacturer.

To claim the $1500 tax credit, you must purchase and install the replacement window, which meets the above requirements between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. By saving the receipt and window performance label (NFRC label) for each window you can claim the tax credit on your Federal filing for the 2009 or 2010 tax year. Tony Ishairzay reminds homeowners that only the sales price of the window will be included in the cost and installation costs will not be considered. Therefore, replacing windows now will save you money both now (through this tax credit available only through the 2010 tax year), and in the future.

Technorati Tags: Bolstered, efficiency, energy, Excuses, Government, Incentives