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Check Out this Real Home Energy Audit
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Considering a careeer as a home energy auditor? You are on the right track. Home owners are becoming increasingly more savvy about saving money on their energy bills. Check out this short video from Realtor TV and get a glimpse of what a typical day as a home energy survey professional might have in store for you. Read More >>Check Out this Real Home Energy Audit
Intel Tops EPA's List of Renewable Energy Purchasers for 2009
The EPA released its first report of the year on January 25, 2010 on the companies, schools, colleges and government agencies that purchase or generate the greatest amount of renewable energy and paticipate in the Green Power Partnership program.
The EPA's January report looks at green power purchases across the previous year. In 2009, the top 10 Green Power Partners in the U.S. increased their commitments by about 1.5 billion kilowatt hours and brought their purchases to a total of more than 7.3 billion kWh annually.
The top 10 participants in the program based on their purchases and commitments in 2009 are:
1. Intel Corporation
2. Kohl's Department Stores
3. PepsiCo
4. Whole Foods Market
5. The City of Houston
6. Dell Inc.
7. The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc.
8. Cisco Systems Inc.
9. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10. Johnson & Johnson
Source: www.greenbiz.com Read More >>Intel Tops EPA's List of Renewable Energy Purchasers for 2009
What to Expect from a Home Energy Survey
Monday, January 18, 2010
Are you considering a home energy survey? Smart. A home energy survey can provide an eye-opening revelation of how you and your home utilize energy. And once you understand how energy is being used in your home, you can employ a variety of changes - sometimes as simple as shutting off the lights - that may help you dramatically reduce your monthly energy bills.
Interested? Per the U.S. Department of Energy, here's a basic overview of what your home energy survey may include:
Appraisal of the exterior and a room-by-room review of the interior. A home energy survey professional will typically begin their audit by inspecting the outside of a home. This helps them get a feel for the overall size of the home and its features, like the number and location of its windows.
Review of past utility bills. A home energy auditor will analyze a home owner's utility bills and use their assessment as a guide for what to look for during the audit. Analysis of the resident's behavior. Is the home owner an energy waster, or does the home have energy guzzling cracks or leaks? In order to reveal answers to questions like this, a home energy auditor will ask the home owner some basic questions, which could include:-Is anyone home during the day?
-Is every room in use?
-How many people reside in your home?
-What is the average thermostat setting in the summer and winter months?
Home Energy Audit Equipment. For the most comprehensive energy audit, a professional auditor can utilize a variety of energy loss tools. These tools may include a blower door, surface thermometer, furnace efficiency meter and/or infrared camera.Do some prep work prior to your home energy survey appointment. For example, create a list of any existing problems in your home (drafty rooms, condensation, etc.). Also, make copies or create a summary of your home's average, yearly energy bills. In most cases, your utility company can provide this information.
For more information about home energy audits, and a variety of other energy saving tips, visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers Web site at www.energysavers.gov.
Read More >>What to Expect from a Home Energy Survey
The Empire State Building is Going Green
Thursday, January 14, 2010
New York City's famous Empire State Building is undergoing a green makeover. The goal? Increase the building's overall sustainability in order to obtain Gold-EB, which is the LEED certification for an existing building. So far, energy-saving enhancements have included:
-Adding thermal barriers behind existing radiators to prevent excess heat leakage
-Adding a suspended coated film and a gas fill between the building's double pane windows
-Lighting retrofits that utilize more sunlight
-Lighting controls that dim when lights are not in use
And these improvements are just the beginning. In fact, according to climateprogress.com, there are over 60 efficiency projects planned for this iconic, 80-year old building. By 2013, a team of experts aims to reduce the Empire State Building's energy usage by 38 per cent and save tenants approximately $4.4 million per year in avoided energy costs.
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Companies Going Green - Does it Pay Off?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Between watching the nightly news, perusing the Web or unwinding with your favorite print media, you've probably heard about companies across the globe going green. The reason? To save money and be more environmentally friendly (and let's face it, it's a smart public relations move too).
However,are the costs associated with going green worth the trouble? Companies nationwide are giving the thumbs up. Check out this video from BusinessWeek.com and see how one company is successfully using solar technology to cut costs.
And according to a Barometer Survey from PricewaterhousCoopers, leading private growth businesses are addressing energy efficiency and reducing waste. In fact, about 50% of the the businesses surveyed are moving towards greater energy efficiency. Survey highlights included:
-47% of leading private companies are working to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste in their organizations.
-Primary goals are to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and ensure long-term corporate growth.
-Most common efforts include introducing recycling programs, reducing energy usage, and exploring new energy-efficient technologies and equipment.
Read More >>Companies Going Green - Does it Pay Off?
Is California a Green State?
Are you considering a career in green? And after you complete a green career training program, where will you find a job? California might be the right place for you. In fact, according to a recent New York Times article, the State of California had the most clean-energy jobs in 2008 - approximately 125,000. Interested? Check out these facts and learn more:
- In the state of California, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose represent the number one metro region for Clean Tech Jobs.
(Clean Edge's 2009 Survey)- In the state of California, Orange County/Riverside/Los Angeles represent the second metro region for Clean Tech Job activity.
(Clean Edge's 2009 Survey)- In San Francisco, about 20 construction projects have applied for LEED certification
.- Solar company Sun Power is rated #10 in Clean Edge's 2009 survey for top clean-tech employees; the San Jose based company has approximately 5,400 employees.
- San Francisco voters recently approved $100 million in revenue bonds to support renewable energy.
- In the state of California, green businesses increased 45% between 1995 and 2008, while employment in that sector grew 36%. (Many Shades of Green report from Next 10)
- According to the Many Shades of Green Report, the most green-related jobs added were in the following areas: Services, manufacturing, research and private sectors including energy, air and environment.
By the end of 2007, the clean energy sector experienced a 9.1% growth - compared to 3.7% growth rate overall. And with the American Clean Energy and Security Act pushing approximately $30 billion into the clean energy sector, as many as 1.9 million new jobs are projected by 2020 (Huffington Post).
Opportunity to enter this industry is possible - especially for goal-oriented individuals who take the initiative. Why wait? Start evaluating your options, like obtaining green training and/or certification, and become a part of a world-wide movement towards cleaner energy implementation and more cost-effective/environmentally responsible solutions.
Read More >>Is California a Green State?
Starbucks Aiming for LEED Certification
Friday, January 8, 2010
Starbucks second green initiative is to have all new, company owned locations LEED certified. What is LEED certification? It is an internationally recognized green building certification system, according to the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
The USGBC provides LEED certification in America, for both residential and commercial building. They basically look at several issues, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reductions, green building materials, indoor air quality, and energy savings, and then apply a rating based on the level of 'greenness.'
Again, not only will Starbucks benefit from this decision, as their energy costs will decrease dramatically, but the customers who breath the cleaner indoor air, the environment that is less impacted, and other businesses who will now have a model of a major company turning green.
Source: www.examiner.com
Read More >>Starbucks Aiming for LEED Certification
Attention Contractors - Have you Gone Green Yet?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
If you are a contractor, have you reinforced your skills with a background in green? If you haven't, what are you waiting for? The benefits of uniting construction and green building backgrounds could have exciting and long-term implications for your career. Ponder these green building stats for a moment:
-NAHB and McGraw-Hill predict residential green building will double to $40-$70 Billion by 2012. This will account for 12-20% of the entire market.
-NAHB reports approximately 115,000 homes were certified and inspected to local green building codes in 2008. This was an 18.6% increase from 97,000 homes in May 2007 (Residential Design & Build, October 2008).
-Forty percent of those homebuilders surveyed by McGraw-Hill said that the down market has made it easier to market green homes, and 16% said that the housing slump has made it much easier.
-The green material options receiving the most responses for use were high-performance, engineered wood products, allergen-free and chemical-free building materials; recycled building materials, such as those used in decks and sheds; alternatives to wood products; and certified sustainably harvested lumber(Nbnnews.com, June 2008).
And there's more. Right now, there's a variety of attractive federal tax benefits for consumers who make energy efficient improvements to their homes. In the areas you serve, how many home owners are aware of these tax breaks? You could be the one to educate these home owners and help them cut energy costs.
Are you ready to enhance your contractor career? Start with online green career training that allows you to maintain your current responsibilities and work at your own pace. You can even take the first step towards becoming a LEED Green Associate. Don't wait - reinforce your existing knowledge with a background in green.
Read More >>Attention Contractors - Have you Gone Green Yet?
What is a Blower Door Test?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
If you've successfully completed Home Energy Survey Professional training, you're probably familiar with the Blower Door Test. However, if you're considering a home energy survey professional career or are simply a concerned homeowner looking to cut energy costs, than read on.
A blower door test is a method used by professional home energy auditors to assess a building's airtightness and determine the infiltration rate. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, determining a home's airtightness is important for:
-Avoiding moisture condensation issues
-Reducing energy consumption due to air leaking in and out of a home
-Ensuring a home's air quality is not contaminated by indoor pollutants
To perform the test, a professional energy auditor places the blower door within the frame of an exterior door. The blower door is a powerful fan that pulls air out of a home in order to lower the air pressure inside. This process allows the higher outside air pressure to enter the home through any unknown cracks or openings. The auditor will use another tool, like a smoke pencil, to locate possible air leaks.
To prepare for a home door blower test, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends the following:
-Turn down thermostats on water heaters and heaters
-Close all interior doors and windows
-Shut fireplace doors and dampers
-Cover ashes in wood stoves; shut wood stove air intakes
The blower door test is one way a home energy auditor can help a homeowner identify costly energy issues within their home. Not only is it an easy and responsible way to reduce your carbon footprint, it's also a smart way to save money on unnecessary, wasted energy costs.
For more information on home energy audits, visit the U.S. Department of Energy at www.energysavers.gov. And if you interested in learning more about how you can enter this growing industry, consider an online green career training course and work towards your new career in your free time.
Read More >>What is a Blower Door Test?
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