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.