INTERGRATED CONSERVATION SYSTEMS
Sustainable Planet Solutions and Powerhouse Integrated Conservation Systems have partnered with the Downtown Business Partnership, First Security Bank, NorthWestern Energy and the Yellowstone Business Partnership for a special workshop on how to leverage available funding and rebates to make your business more energy efficient.
Join us March 26, 2012 from 11AM-2PM at the Bozeman Public Library. Cost is $15 for Downtown Business Association members and $25 for non-members with lunch included. Registration deadline is March 19th, 2012. For more information call 406-290-0058 or email questions to info@powerhouse-ics.com.
Many worthy home energy upgrade projects are cancelled or put on hold because the owners feel they won' get their investment back if they should sell soon. Likewise for new construction, many builders in the speculative home market feel forced to build to the lowest performance standard, because energy upgrades won't "appraise out."
Plainly put, the appraisers are not doing their job, which should be to give a valuation adjustment for each feature of the home that is either above or below average, as compared to recent comparable sales in the area. Is it right for a house to receive additional value for granite coutertops, glass mosaic tile and a whirlpool tub, but no additional value for a 95% efficient furnace, 19 SEER air conditioner and third-party verification to a high performance national certification? Of course not, but that is the current state of affairs. However, help is on the way....
The Appraisal Institute recently released a three-page form called the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum to collect information about energy efficient and green features, such as insulation values, efficiency of heating and air conditioning equipment, high performance windows, geothermal heat pumps, ENERGY STAR qualifications or a HERS Rating, etc. The form is meant to be used by appraisers, lenders, home energy raters and builders. The Appraisal Institute is encouraging Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to use the form and even request it from appraisers. This form should be extremely helpful by somewhat formalizing the process, and also by educating all of the stakeholders.
Few people realize that they have a right to request that their lender assign an appraiser who is skilled and competent at performing valuation adjustments for energy efficiency features. It is perfectly acceptable to provide documents and information to the lender or appraiser about features of your home that you think are above average. it is the appraiser's job to verify that information, and give it an appropriate value.
While the appraisal industry may be getting a little pressure to change from above, it certainly won't hurt to apply some pressure from the grassroots. For your next involvement in any aspect of a special, high performance home, remember to put the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum in someone's hands, and say, " This house is above-average....price it that way!"
(Originally posted on Home Energy Consultants Blog)
Whether you believe or don't believe in climate change, it is still interesting to see the changing weather patters seen in this video: A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never!
Take your time, think about your actions, and implement change.
Current solar equipment costs and government rebates make it possible to install a 2 kW solar system on your home for $4000 after tax credits and grants. In the Bozeman area, a 2 kW system saves $210/year on average. These savings generate an ROI of 5.25% while increasing your home's value. Contact PowerHouse now to get your solar system started!
By the end of this summer homeowners in the bozeman area will be able to apply for energy efficient mortgages. The energy efficient mortgage equates to comfort and savings. When you are buying, selling, refinancing, or remodeling your home, you can increase your comfort and actually save money by using an EEM. It is easy to use, federally recognized, and can be applied to most home mortgages. EEMs provide the borrower with special benefits when purchasing a home that is energy efficient, or can be made efficient through the installation of energy-saving improvements.
EEMs can drastically improve a homeowner's ability to invest in their home's energy efficiency. In order to qualify, a home must receive a HERS rating to determine its potential for efficiency improvements. PowerHouse can make this process easy by performing the HERS rating and offering solutions to improve your home's efficiency.
The following video is an episode of WxTV, an educational program created by the Montana Weatherization Training Center to promote resource efficiency, health and comfort in the home. The video features two PowerHouse projects and provides a lot of helpful information for anyone interested in building an energy efficient home.
http://weatherization.org/wxtv18/
Eagle Mount has just received $1.2 Million dollars in donations with a major portion being Infinia Sterling Engine Solar Electric dishes. PowerHouse's audit was instrumental in determining the power consumption to size the solar array Eagle Mount creates therapeutic recreation opportunities for people of all ages and disabilities. Persons with special needs are challenged to enjoy activities such as skiing, ice skating, swimming, horseback riding, golfing, and more. Children with cancer are given the opportunity to participate in one of three summer oncology camps. Eagle Mount loosens the grip of disability, providing life-changing opportunities for all involved. Infinia's donation of 4 PowerDish units to Eagle Mount is an impressive gift. Each dish will provide electricity and educational opportunities for years to come. PowerDish engines use no lubricants as they operate on thermal energy in a completely self-contained unit. Installation and maintanence is a breeze so Eagle Mount will be enjoying the sun's direct energy in no time! What a great place for these donations to be utilized!
According to a recent study from the International Energy Agency, global subsidies for fossil-fuel energy amount to $550 Billion. That is 75 percent more than previously thought. Visit http://www.grist.org/article/2010-06-07-iea-stunner-global-subsidies-dirty-energy-top-550-billion-year/ to learn more.
Looking to kill some time with an interesting, inexpensive and eco-friendly project? Consider making the winning entry of the 2009 Climate Change Challenge - The Kyoto Box - a simple solar oven designed by Jon Bohmer. Visit http://www.ehow.com/how_6541908_build-kyoto-solar-oven.html for a materials list and instructions. Its a quick and educational project for any age group, so include the kids!
19 BILLION - number of catalogs mailed annually in the United States - visit www.catalogchoice.org to opt out of over 1000 catalogs for free. Pick and choose which catalogs you no longer wish to receive. This process will reduce the number of catalogs produced and discarded which saves on energy use, pollution and trees.
Last week the House of Representatives passed legislation to help the construction industry. Since 2006, over 2 million construction trade jobs have been lost leading to a 25% unemployment rate. The legislation, known as Home Star, would rapidly bring $6 billion to the residential contracting and home performance industries while providing substantial energy efficiency rebates and financing options for homeowners.
It is well known that energy efficiency improvements create local jobs through installation, but the manufacturing of these materials does its part too. According to a recent study by the nonprofit Home Performance Resource Center, more than 90 percent of insulation, caulking and other energy efficient products are made in the United States.
The federal government is developing a program to incentivize residential efficiency renovations! The program is called Homestar and at this point in the legislative process, consists of the following:
· Rebates delivered directly to consumers: Consumers would be eligible for direct HOMESTAR rebates at the point of sale for a variety of energy-saving investments in their homes. A broad array of vendors would market the rebates, provide them directly to consumers and then be reimbursed by the federal government.
· $1,000 - $1,500 Silver Star Rebates: Consumers looking to have simple upgrades performed in their homes would be eligible for 50% rebates up to $1,000 - $1,500 for doing any of a straightforward set of upgrades, including: insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing and doors. Under Silver Star, consumers can choose a combination of upgrades for rebates up to a maximum of $3,000 per home. Rebates would be limited to the most energy efficient categories of upgrades—focusing on products made primarily in the United States and installed by certified contractors.
· $3000 Gold Star Rebates: Consumers would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate for a whole home energy audit and subsequent retrofit tailored to achieve a 20% energy savings in their homes. Consumers could receive additional rebate amounts for energy savings in excess of 20%. Gold Star would build on existing whole home retrofit programs, like EPA’s successful Home Performance with Energy Star program.
· Oversight to Ensure Quality Installations: The program would require that contractors be certified to perform efficiency installations. Independent quality assurance providers would conduct field audits after work is completed to ensure proper installation so consumers receive energy savings from their upgrades. States would oversee the implementation of quality assurance to ensure that the program was moving the industry toward more robust standards and comprehensive energy retrofit practices.
· Support for financing: The program would include support to State and local governments to provide financing options for consumers seeking to make efficiency investments in their homes. This will help ensure that consumers can afford to make these investments.
The program will result in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs while achieving substantial reductions in energy use – the equivalent of the entire output of three coal-fired power plants each year. Consumers in the program are anticipated to save between $200 - $500 per year in energy costs, while improving the comfort and value of their homes.
Prepare to take advantage of this program! Funding is limited and likely to go quickly when the program is enacted.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno are developing a solar technique that will take care of the ecosystems of terminus lakes around the world. This new solar distillation system will help in removing the salinity of the lake water. This will be possible with the help of a specialized low-cost solar pond and patented membrane distillation system deriving power by renewable energy. Francisco Suarez is a doctoral student in hydrological sciences at the University. He is of the view, “These lakes — hundreds worldwide — such as the Great Salt Lake, the Salton Sea, the Aral Sea and Walker Lake here in Nevada, see a decline in water levels and an increase in salinity from both human and natural processes. The high levels of salinity are dangerous and unsustainable for aquatic life.”
He presented a portion of his solar pond research at the annual Fall AGU (American Geophysical Union) Conference in San Francisco that was attended by 16,000 geophysicists from around the world. A paper on his project will be published in the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer in early 2010.
Currently Suarez is working on a mechanism to create an artificial salt-gradient stratification process. This stratification process entraps solar heat at the bed of the solar pond and utilizes the collected energy to power the membrane distillation system. This system is patented by the University. The aim of developing such a system is to maintain the ecosystems of the closed water bodies. There is no system for an outflow of water. But the processes of nature such as evaporation still occur in these closed water bodies. This leads to high concentration of minerals and salts in the closed-basin regions.
The hot salt water is present in the lower storage zone of a pond. This temperature of this bottom area of a pond can rise up to more than 195 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat can be utilized for heating, thermal desalination, or for other low-temperature thermal applications.
Suarez explained about his experiments, “Our model results show that in a two-week period, the temperature in the bottom of the solar pond increased from 68 to 126 degrees Fahrenheit and, even though the insulating layer is being eroded by double-diffusive convection, the solar pond remained stable.”
The whole experiment was met with a roaring success in the laboratory on a small level. They carried out the 400-gallon tank. They had put the dissolved solids and installed a precise fiber-optic temperature sensor. The temperature sensor keeps tabs on the process as desalination of the water. Creating a low-temperature desalination system that works in an open environment on a demonstration scale is going to be the next pilot project of Saurez and the research team.
Suarez is working on this project in collaboration with Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Professor and Chair Amy Childress and Professor Scott Tyler of the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering. Childress and colleagues woked on the patented membrane distillation system and Tyler put his energies on the development of the distributed temperature sensing system. The temperature sensing system consists of a laser and fiber-optic cable to record temperatures in the solar pond.
Tyler shares his enthusiasm, “We’re working on funding and permissions to build a system at Walker Lake where dissolved solids have increased by a factor of five to an unhealthy level for aquatic life, and water levels have dropped 140 feet in the past 100 years.”
The icing on the cake is the cost related to run this system. Actually it is negligible because it uses the renewable energy of the sun, trapped as heat in the bottom, to power most of the system.
Suarez said, “This can operate 24 hours a day using the stored energy. Very little electricity would be used. For every surface acre of solar pond we can make three acre-feet of freshwater in about one year. The major advantages of this system are that renewable energy is used, the system is low maintenance and the stratification process that helps drive the process uses the salts from the lake itself.”
In most parts of the world safe and clean drinking water is unavailable for daily consumption and industrial use. Currently to desalinate water two kinds of technologies are being used. First is known as reverse osmosis and the second is electro-dialysis. Both of these processes need huge amounts of energy. A team of scientists from China and U.S.A are working to eliminate ninety percent of the salts from seawater or brackish water. They are also trying to generate electricity from wastewater. “Water desalination can be accomplished without electrical energy input or high water pressure by using a source of organic matter as the fuel to desalinate water,” reported in a recent online issue of Environmental Science and Technology.
Bruce Logan, Kappe Professor of Environmental Engineering, Penn State talks about the main highlights of the project, “The big selling point is that it currently takes a lot of electricity to desalinate water and using the microbial desalination cells, we could actually desalinate water and produce electricity while removing organic material from wastewater.”
The team is putting its efforts on a modified a microbial fuel cell for desalinating salty water. Microbial fuel cell is a device that cleverly utilizes naturally occurring bacteria to convert wastewater into clean water and producing electricity in the process.
Currently they are testing the theory and not trying to do something on commercial scale but practical results are quite encouraging for the team. Logan explains the purpose of the whole experiment, “Our main intent was to show that using bacteria we can produce sufficient current to do this. However, it took 200 milliliters of an artificial wastewater — acetic acid in water — to desalinate 3 milliliters of salty water. This is not a practical system yet as it is not optimized, but it is proof of concept.”
A distinctive microbial fuel cell has two chambers. One chamber is filled with wastewater or other nutrients. The second chamber has water. An electrode was inserted in both the chambers. Naturally occurring bacteria becomes active in the wastewater, devours the organic material and generates electricity.
Later on the research team modified the microbial fuel cell by adding a third chamber between the two existing chambers. They also put certain ion specific membranes between the central chamber and the positive and negative electrodes. The ion specific membranes permit either positive or negative ions to pass but not both. Now they place salty water to be desalinated in the central chamber.
Logan is explaining how to kill two birds with a single stone, “When we try to use microbial fuel cells to generate electricity, the conductivity of the wastewater is very low. If we could add salt it would work better. Rather than just add in salt, however in places where brackish or salt water is already abundant, we could use the process to additionally desalinate salty water, clean the wastewater and dump it and the resulting salt back into the ocean."
We Can Lead.org and the Clean Energy Works Campaign have asked Pete Strom and Dennis Steinhauer to go to again meet with Senators and other policy leaders in Washington D.C. to advocate for strong climate and energy legislation now.
Ladies and Gentlemen Boys and Girls, Children of all ages,
It's me Pete again, entertaining the silly notion that we can make a difference in the world.
As many of you know Dennis Steinhauer and I went to Washington D.C. last week representing our business, PowerHouse- Integrated Conservation Systems, as well as the groups Climate Solutions.org and WeCanLead.org. We met with our Senators Tester and Baucus as well as White House meetings with Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Energy and Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Commerce, and Ken Salazar, Secretary of the interior, We joined a group to 150 plus business leaders from around the country there at the same time to advocate for strong comprehensive Climate and Energy legislation NOW.
We presented a letter from more than 100 MT businesses to Sen. Tester and Sen. Baucus and met with them and their staff later in the day. Meetings with Sec. Chew and Sec. Locke were very encouraging. The administration officials breadth of knowledge on the issue was very impressive. The trick now will be getting sixty votes in the Senate for the American Clean Energy Leadership Act.
Overall D.C. was a great experience. We learned a ton about the legislation and the challenges to passage of the bill. If passed as is, it would go a long way toward increasing national security through energy independence, creating clean energy jobs in MT and across the country, give our country the chance to lead instead of follow (particularly in relation to China) and most importantly mitigate the catastrophic potential of climate change. Senator Tester would prefer to see a straight carbon tax, which frankly would be much more fair and not susceptible to market speculation and fluctuation. Unfortunately, the American public and legislators are so allergic to the word tax, no one is seriously pursue that avenue. However we get there, the key is establishing a price for carbon as soon as possible. It is exciting to see possibilities available at this moment and at the same time terrifying when we look honestly at the consequences of not taking bold action now.
The part that is hardest to accept is that even if we get the strongest most comprehensive climate and energy legislation passed, AND even if that results in the strongest viable international treaty at Copenhagen in December there is still only a 50/50 chance of it being enough to avoid the 2 degree tipping point that we are heading toward at an alarming rate. If that threshold is passed the compound effects will quickly take us from manageable bad (floods, hurricanes, corral bleaching, loss of species, population relocation, crop failure, etc) to Unmanageable bad (all of those things on a massive scale that lead to political instability, major disruption of food supply and water, and wars). In addition to the legislation and international treaties, we will need some major technological breakthroughs. These technological advances are what the American capitalist machine does best, but only when the stable long term market signals are present. The Venture capitalists and Wall street, and entrepreneurs are all clamoring for a price on carbon. Whether that occurs via cap and trade or a simple carbon tax doesn't matter much because either one will establish a market signal that will unleash major investment into new technologies that we create and manufacture here in the U.S. and export around the world instead of importing it from the Chinese, who are investing massively in renewable energy technology and manufacturing for both national use and export to the rest of the world.
Look, we will be burning coal for years to come, and the bill pumps tons of money into "clean-coal" technology and if coal companies believe their own marketing that clean coal is right around the corner, then they have nothing to worry about
Not true. The CBO shows the cap and trade portion would lead to an increase in 2020 of less than a postage stamp a day or $160 a year, but it also shows that the energy efficiency portion of the bill would lead to a utility savings of $215 in 2020. So, it is actually a net gain of $55 per household when averaged nationally
(The conservative projection by PERI-CAP for Montana is $460 million in investment revenue and over 6000 jobs created. Nationally, they estimate 1.7 million jobs created as a result of this bill. Not to mention $317 net annual household savings for Montana consumers. We talked to many businesses in MT like ourselves that are already creating clean energy and efficiency jobs. One of PowerHouse's average home retrofits employs 5 clean energy and efficiency workers and there are over 450,000 homes and building in the state that could benefit from this work being done.