Hot Water Recirculating Pump Installed

This past weekend, I decided to improve the efficiency of our home even more by installing a whole-house hot water recirculating system. I picked up a unit made by Watts Premier at Costco a few months ago for under $200, and spent another $30 or so for plumbing supplies at the hardware store.

The system includes a pump that you install adjacent to the water heater, and a temperature actuated bypass valve that connects the cold and hot water supply lines at the fixture that is farthest away from the water heater. According to the manufacturer's website, this combination creates a pressure differential that allows the cold and cool water in the hot water supply line to "bypass" (at a low volume) into the cold water supply line through the thermostatically controlled sensor valve, keeping the water in the hot water supply line at a "no-wait" temperature throughout the home. The timer on the pump makes it more efficient during downtime.

It's going to take a few months to determine how much this system will save us each year, but most estimates I have come across are in the neighborhood of 11,000-15,000 gallons of water saved per year. Obviously, this is offset somewhat by the additional expense of running the pump, but this can easily be minimized by setting the timer on the pump for peak use.

There are other ways to accomplish the same results, depending on your needs and budget. If you are interested in installing such a system in your home, be sure to bring this up with your builder early in the process to avoid change fees. Better yet, hire me to represent you throughout the purchasing process, and I'll be happy to inform you of other energy-saving features you can ask for.

Next project... a whole house water filtration system!

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended & Expanded

With the new Homebuyer Tax Credit legislation passed on November 6th, now is the perfect time to purchase a new or existing home in NC. The new credit extends the deadline to April 30th of next year, raises the qualifying income limitations, and expands the offer to include current homeowners who have lived in their residence for five consecutive years.

The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reason to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

For more detailed information, please visit the IRS or NAHB websites. I also recommend that you check out this whitepaper, which addresses many of the questions my clients have been asking.

PSNC Energy Offers Discounted Rate to Customers in ENERGY STAR Homes

PSNC Energy recently started offering a discounted rate for residential customers who qualify for service and whose homes meet the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR® for Homes qualification standards, or equivalent.

Homes that meet or exceed the ENERGY STAR rating qualify for Rate 102 (high efficiency residential service). As a result, homeowners pay $.05 per therm less than under otherwise applicable Rate 101.

This discount isn't automatic, however. You must mail, fax or email the ENERGY STAR certificate or equivalent documentation you received from your builder or third-party auditor to PSNC in order to qualify:

Builder/Commercial Group
PSNC Energy
PO Box 1398
Gastonia, NC 28053-1398
Fax: 704-810-3118
E-mail: PSNCBuilderGroup@scana.com

Should you have questions regarding the discounted rate, please contact PSNC directly at 1-877-776-2427. Otherwise, if you're interested in purchasing a highly efficient home in the Triangle and take advantage of this discount, please email or call me at 919-360-1285.

"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it." - Lord Kelvin

In my last post, I told you about the PowerCost Monitor by Blue Line Innovations. This week, I'd like to tell you about what Google is doing with regards to energy monitoring.

Google PowerMeter shows consumers their electricity consumption in a secure Google gadget. This is a relatively new product, so Google is still in the process of testing it with a number of utility partners in the US, India, Germany, and Canada.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, studies show that real-time feedback of your household's personal energy information is likely to save you 5–15% on your monthly bill. Even greater savings are possible if you use this information to see the value of retiring your old refrigerator, installing a new air conditioner or insulating your home. The potential impact of large numbers of people achieving similar efficiencies is even more exciting. For every six households that save 10% on electricity, for instance, we reduce carbon emissions as much as taking one conventional car off the road.

Unfortunately, Google's energy monitoring service is not available in NC yet. However, other monitoring services are becoming available, such as the free one launched by Piedmont Electric a few months ago that uses MyUsage.com.

Real-Time Feedback Saves You Money & Reduces Carbon Emissions

Ever wonder how much power you're using? Want to save money on your electric bill? If so, check out the PowerCost Monitor by Blue Line Innovations. This wireless energy monitor tells you how much electricity your home is using from moment-to-moment and in total.

Energy monitors such as this one encourage you to change your lifestyle and reduce your overall carbon footprint, by showing you just how much power your home is using at any given point in time. In fact, it's believed that households that use real-time feedback can reduce electricity use by as much as 6 to 18 percent.

The PowerCost Monitor is a two-part device. A sensor unit attaches to the face of the power utility meter outside your home. Using an infrared eye, it reads the movement of your meter's dial, then transmits information to a receiver/digital display that you keep indoors. It's not compatible with all meters, so be sure to look your's up before placing an order.

Although it will take you a few months to make up for the cost of the unit (~$110), you'll enjoy saving up to 20 percent on your energy bill with the PowerCost Monitor thanks to the sticker shock of watching your energy use in real time.

5th Annual Green Building Trade Show Tomorrow!

The three NC Chapters of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the NC Solar Center at NC State University are holding the 5th Annual GreenNC Trade Show tomorrow, September 9th from 9am to 5pm at the Raleigh Convention Center.

This one day event will feature nearly 100 exhibitors from across North Carolina, and offer attendees an excellent opportunity to gather information about green building products, practices, and services available in NC. There will also be opportunities for them to network with others who are interested in sustainable buildings. The tradeshow is free to attend.

On the day after the tradeshow, September 10th, the NC Solar Center and the Triangle Chapter of the US Green Building Council will offer a full-day LEED workshop at the Raleigh Convention Center: Green Building Design and Construction. For more info, check out the website above.

Windspire Wind Turbine Modeled After Ancient Egyptian Windmill

As wind power is getting a lot of attention here in NC, both in the mountains and off the Outer Banks, I thought it was fitting to cover Windspire wind turbines, which were present at President Obama’s inauguration festivities.

These 30 foot tall and four foot wide wind turbines are different than propeller-based systems; they generate power when the wind blows against vertical airfoils, which is then converted to AC electricity. Each wind turbine produces about 2,000 kilowatt (KW) hours per year in 12 mph average winds, and includes wireless monitoring software so power production can be checked.

Windspire wind turbines cost $9,000 to $12,000, but after rebates they could cost as little as $3,800. There is a 30 percent federal tax credit available, plus local rebates are available in some areas. The average payback is under ten years for the turbines that are designed to last over 20 years. According to Windustry, a wind turbine that's capable of powering an average home costs $35,000 to $50,000.

To see the Windsphere in action, check out this video:

Founded in 2005, Mariah Power launched its Windspire wind turbines in 2008. A Michigan plant began producing the wind turbines in April. The factory used to make automation equipment for all of the major car manufacturers. They were down to five employees when they met with Mariah Power to show how they could make the Windspire with better quality and for a better price. Most of the people who were laid off have been rehired now to work on the Windspire. The plant was featured on ABC's 20/20 on Friday, June 19th. Watch the clip here: Windspire is creating jobs for Americans.

Insurers Offer Rewards for Going Green

In case you haven't already heard, there are a growing number of insurers who have begun to offer lower premiums on auto, homeowner and property insurance for people who drive less, own hybrid cars, or build green homes. For background, I suggest you check out articles on Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek.

More recently, insurers are offering extra coverage that makes it possible to rebuild a home in an eco-friendly way after a catastrophe. Under the new policy offerings, if a home is totally destroyed, it can be rebuilt completely to green standards. Check out this New York Times to read more.

NC General Assembly Passes Environmental Bills

Earlier this week, legislators at the NC General Assembly passed a bill that strives to make it easier to install solar collectors. More specifically, the bill (H1387) would limit city or county ordinances or deed restrictions that limit installation of solar collectors on residential property. An ordinance could still limit the location of solar collectors so that they are not visible by a person on the ground in public areas. The bill is currently on Gov. Perdue's desk.

In addition, legislators passed bills providing loans for energy improvements and expanding credits for investing in renewable energy. A bill to establish a permitting process for windmills, however, failed amid fears of dotting the tourist-friendly mountains with the wind catchers. A similar debate is going on at the coast.

Durham Named Top 10 Best Place to Live

U.S. News & World Report magazine named Durham one of this year's best places to live. The editors reviewed more than 2,000 locations nationwide, considering such factors as sales taxes, housing prices, average number of children per square mile, proximity to healthcare, and the availability of educational institutions.

Among the winners are (listed alphabetically): Albuquerque, NM; Auburn, AL; Austin, TX; Boise, ID; Durham, NC; La Crosse, WI; Loveland, CO; San Luis Obispo, CA; St. Augustine, FL; Upper St. Clair, PA.

If you need help finding a home in Durham, or anywhere in the Triangle for that matter, please contact me to get started.

Smart Grids Becoming Reality in NC

On March 9th, Duke Energy received approval from the NC Utilities Commision for a pilot project to establish a miniature “smart grid” involving 200 customers in south Charlotte. The initiative will combine 50 kilowatts of solar capacity, smart meters and storage batteries to determine how to use new technology in the most efficient and effective ways to save energy and improve service reliability. Participating customers will receive incentives of up to $10 on each monthly bill, in addition to any energy savings the program produces.

This week, Duke Energy announced it will be working with Cisco Systems to bring smart grid technology to its 11 million customers. The two companies have entered into a three-year partnership that will feature two-way digital communication to increase efficiency and use less energy. The companies are comparing their effort to an "energy internet" that will replace the current analog electric grid with advanced digital technology. The improvements will be added to the electric grid as well as to individual homes in five states.

To learn more about smart grids, check out GE's ecomagination Plug into the Smart Grid or Wikipedia.

Chapel Hill Joins Cree LED City® Program

Chapel Hill recently became one of the newest cities to join Cree's LED City® initiative, an international program to promote and deploy energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lighting.

The town has installed LED streetlights along the high-profile 100 block of Franklin Street. More specifically, ten high-pressure sodium streetlights have been replaced to evaluate the extension of LED street lighting. LED street lighting can reduce energy consumption by 50 percent or more. The town is soliciting feedback from residents about the quality of the lighting during the course of the 12-month pilot program.

Using LEDs for energy-efficient lighting is just one of the many steps Chapel Hill is taking in order to become a more environmentally-friendly community. The town has set an aggressive goal of reducing carbon emissions by 60 percent below 2005 levels, by 2050. To support this objective, Chapel Hill is acting on a comprehensive plan that includes policies to promote compact, mixed-use development; alternative transportation; greenway developments and environmental protection. Since Chapel Hill Transit became fare free in 2001, it has become the second largest transit system in the state. This year it will respond to increased ridership with the addition of 11 new hybrid electric buses, part of a plan to green the municipal fleets. Other sustainable practices establish that all new town-owned facilities be built using sustainable practices as set by the LEED Silver certification program.

Chapel Hill joins a diverse community of progressive LED Cities that are evaluating and deploying LED lighting, including: Raleigh, NC; Ann Arbor, MI; Anchorage, AK; Austin, TX; Indian Wells, CA; Welland, Ontario; Tianjin, China; and Toronto.

To learn more about CREE's LED City program, visit http://www.ledcity.org/.

Governor Perdue Visits SAS Solar Farm

On Thursday, Gov. Perdue toured the SAS Solar Farm in Cary, which was completed last December. The farm's 5,040 solar panels, which swivel to track the sun across the sky, generate 1 megawatt of electric power at peak and is projected to produce 1.7 million KWH per year and eliminate 1,600 tons of carbon emissions annually.

The solar field occupies 4.8 acres of land, which also serves as a pasture for Dorper Sheep; they are shorter than other breeds and therefore able to graze beneath the panels. You can see them in the background of the photo below.

Gov. Perdue also took this opportunity to announce reforms to strengthen NC's green economy. According to a press release by her office, her energy plan refocuses state energy policymaking, makes strategic investments in North Carolina’s green economy and increases green-collar workforce development. More specifically, the governor said she plans to use about $35 million in federal stimulus funds to improve work force training in higher education, boost grants and create loans for small businesses in emerging green energy fields. Funds will also be used to improve energy efficiency in businesses, homes and other buildings.

Duke Energy Acquires its First Wind Farm in Eastern U.S.

Duke Energy took another step in expanding its renewable energy portfolio with the announcement that it is acquiring a 70-megawatt wind power project in Pennsylvania – the company's first in the eastern U.S.

Duke Energy has more than 500 MW of wind-powered generation in operation – a figure that will rise to more than 700 MW by the end of 2009. The company has an additional 5,000 MW in potential wind energy development projects. To read the complete press release, visit Duke Energy online.

DSIRE Launches New Solar Website

DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the NC Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The new DSIRE SOLAR site still has all the features of the DSIRE site, including the interactive map, but now displays solar incentives only. Users can specify whether they want PV or solar thermal (or both) incentives when using the state-by-state map.

4th Annual Green Home Tour Starts Tomorrow!

The 4th Annual Green Home Tour will be held on April 25 & 26 and May 2 & 3. This free, self-guided tour will include 36 green homes in Wake, Chatham, Durham, Orange, Granville, and Alamance Counties.

All homes are enrolled in the green-building certification program administered by the Green Home Builders of the Triangle. Each entry is required to achieve sufficient goals in all of the green building program areas and must conform to at least the bronze level of green certification.

You can pick up a free tour book at a number of local outlets during the week before the tour. Otherwise, visit www.TriangleGreenHomeTour.com for more detailed information.

Water Leaks Cost Money

I know there are many of you out there who are constantly looking for ways to keep monthly water bills down, and help water rates to remain low. One of the most effective ways of accomplishing this is by checking periodically for leaks and repairing them ASAP. Here are a few stats to get you thinking about the cumulative effects of a leak...

Leaking Faucet @ 100 Drips/Minute = 350 Gallons/Month
Leaking Toilet @ 1/2 GPM = 21,600 Gallons/Month

According to the Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations: Transmission and Distribution (3rd Edition, 2003), a leak that is a 1/4-inch in size will waste 14,952 Gallons/Day at 60PSI. This is the equivalent of 463,512 Gallons/Month! Even a small leak that is only a 1/16 of an inch in size will waste 360 Gallons/Day or 11,160 Gallons/Month. All of that water adds up quickly, so make every drop count.

Earth Day 2009 is April 22nd

In celebration of Earth Day 2009 (April 22), Amazon.com is launching a special Earth Day Savings promotion, where customers can save on organic groceries, home products, CFLs and more.

Amazon and ENERGY STAR will also host the Earth Day Sweepstakes. Five first-place winners will receive two ENERGY STAR-qualified powerhouses: a Toshiba laptop and a Brother multifunction printer. Fifteen second-place winners will receive the Brother printer. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter here by April 22, 2009. See Official Rules for details.

Triangle Green Home Tour Coming Soon!

The 4th Annual Green Home Tour has been expanded to two weekends in 2009: Apr 25-26 and May 2-3. This free, self-guided event will feature 36 entries in six counties.

As usual, the tour will allow you to examine a number of green building features in a wide variety of homes in all styles and price points -- ranging from Habitat and entry-level homes to luxury custom entries.

One of the entries is currently under construction at the Streets of Southpoint by Sun River Builders. This green-built home became open to the public this past Saturday, March 28, just one short week after construction began. To learn more, check out their website.

Plug Into the Smart Grid

GE's ecomagination group put together an interactive website to demo Smart Grid technology.

In addition to seeing a digital hologram of Smart Grid technology come to life in your hands, the website explains how it will allow us to manage energy more efficiently, save money by using electricity at off-peak hours, and even distribute alternative energy from one part of the country to another.

Check it out at... PlugIntoTheSmartGrid.com

PSNC Offering Incentives to Go Green

Yesterday, the News & Observer reported that PSNC Energy, the Triangle's natural gas utility, has been given the go ahead to offer customers financial incentives to make their homes and businesses more energy-efficient.

PSNC will immediately offer a discount of about 5 percent to customers who live in homes with the federal Energy Star Efficiency Rating. A similar discount will be offered to businesses whose buildings meet the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification.

In the spring, PSNC will start offering customers a billing credit of $100 for installing energy-efficient water heaters and furnaces. The rebate will help offset the cost of upgrading to high-efficiency appliances, and will be available only for replacing an older furnace or water heater.

Then in the fall, PSNC will offer $25 energy audits for customers whose homes were built before April 15, 1993. The audit will recommend energy-saving upgrades, and the $25 fee can be applied toward the purchase of materials from PSNC.

Read the full story.

6th Annual NC Sustainable Energy Conference

On April 14-15, 2009, the NC State Energy Office is hosting the 6th Annual Sustainable Energy Conference at the McKimmon Conference & Training Center at NC State University in Raleigh.

With energy becoming tied to economic recovery and environmental quality, event organizers plan to include sessions that will provide attendees insight into some of the strategic opportunities that are unfolding in NC. Sessions will cover the following topical areas: Energy Efficiency (Residential, Commercial, Industrial), Economic Development and the Green Economy, Utility Savings Initiative in Public Buildings, Renewable Technologies, and Alternative Fuels and Transportation. Two new sessions will also be presented: Consumer Issues and Linking Investors to New Projects.

Download a brochure or register online for this event.

Solarize Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

Spring is almost here, which means Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival will be here soon! Don't miss this family-friendly festival of music, dance, art, and education. 4 days, 4 stages, and over 40 bands in beautiful, green Chatham County. It will be held April 16-19, 2009.

According to their website, Shakori Hills uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year during 2 festivals, a fiddlers convention, and other events. To offset this usage, they are creating a permanent grid inter-tied solar electric system located permanently on the site, with the hope of making the festival fully-powered by solar energy in the near future.

Announced this past Fall, Shakori Hills and The Abundance Foundation have teamed up to help achieve this goal. Anyone can sponsor a cell for just $10 each, or sponsor on a corporate level for multiple cells.

Learn more about this worthy project.

Green Construction Firm to Open Littleton Plant

Foam and Steel Technology Associates Inc. (FASTA), a Virginia-based company that manufactures steel and foam construction panels and trusses, has announced plans to open a plant in Littleton, NC. The company received a $300,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, and expects to create about 100 jobs over the next three years. Read the full story from the Associated Press.

Triangle Business Journal Green Awards

On Oct. 23rd, the Triangle Business Journal will recognize individuals, businesses, government leaders and entities, and nonprofit organizations in the Triangle who make efforts to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into their businesses and their communities. By doing so, they show others how to strengthen the environmental health of our region.

To be considered, companies must have operations in at least one of 13 counties that comprise the Triangle region: Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, and Warren. Work or projects completed from June 2008 to June 2009 will be considered. To nominate someone or learn more, click here.

Southern Energy Management Wins National EPA Award

Congratulations to Southern Energy Management (SEM) for being named a 2009 EPA Partner of the Year for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its work as a Home Energy Rater for the Energy Star program and promoting energy-efficient homes in our community. They join a short list of companies in the U.S. that have received this award three years in a row.

Award winners were selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in Energy Star, a joint program of the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at helping Americans save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

SEM inspected and verified more than 1,700 new homes and served more than 250 builders across NC in 2008. Read the press release.