Helping storm-affected towns with energy efficiency

When Hurricane Sandy hit New York City last year and knocked out the power, many buildings were able to keep their lights running thanks to microgrids that used renewable sources of energy, generated onsite rather than derived from the national grid. Now, the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force is looking for ways to extrapolate those methods and implement them onto a larger scale as a key to nationwide energy efficiency.

Last week, the Task Force – led by President Obama and Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan – released its Rebuilding Strategy report, which looks to "rebuild communities affected by Hurricane Sandy in ways that are 'better able to withstand future storms and other risks posed by climate change.'" According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), part of this plan entails strategizing ways in which "smarter, flexible energy" sources can be used to improve the resiliency and recovery of storm-ravaged towns in addition to reducing harmful carbon emissions that ultimately contribute to these storms in the first place.

According to the EDF, the Task Force is aiming to replicate these strategies – and their successful results – in houses, schools, offices and other public buildings, in order to make all kinds of neighborhoods and cities more efficient and sustainable. One of the report's recommendations in moving toward this end is to offer eco-friendly upgrades as part of mortgages or insurance plans.

While lawmakers in the nation's capitol deliberate these measures, homeowners in the area can take green steps of their own by a scheduling for a home inspection. DC home inspectors can assess your property for ways in which your house may be wasting energy and can recommend steps to take to both improve efficiency and cut down on monthly utility expenses.

New energy efficiency education program announced

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) unveiled on on Monday, August 26, a new sustainability initiative designed to both inform and monitor energy efficiency in houses and schools.

The Keystone Energy Education Program (KEEP), according to local news publication The Mercury, is a free series of workshops aimed at area middle schools to help educate students, teachers, administrators and building maintenance managers about how to better implement greener measures onto their property. The workshop lessons will touch on a variety of topics, including electricity generation, energy conservation, transportation fuel, careers in the energy industry and how to create benchmarks for tracking efficiency progress in schools and homes.

"Energy education is critically important for children, teachers and families," Jack Farster, DEP's Director of Environmental Education, told the source. "The KEEP program will enable participants to learn the importance of conserving or natural resources, the economics of energy sources and technologies and the value of clean energy for our environment, while enabling the school district to operate the school building more economically to save taxpayer dollars on utility costs."

The end result will find schools introducing more energy education into their standard curriculums to include lesson plans on teaching students about ways they can reduce energy consumption in their lives.

While the program may be targeting Pennsylvania schools, Maryland residents can work to educate themselves about efficiency by scheduling an appointment for a home inspection. By having your property assessed by Maryland home inspectors, you can learn about the different measures you can take to make your house more eco-friendly and bring down those costly utility bills in the process.

Report: America is only 39 percent energy efficient

While energy efficiency continues to gain traction in the United States, slowly but surely making a transition from controversial debate topic to a full-fledged lifestyle choice, the green movement still has a long way to go. According to a new analysis from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a research center funded by the Department of Energy, despite recent strides made in green living, the country has still only reached 39 percent efficiency.

Greentech Media reports the study's findings, highlighting that a 39 percent efficiency rating also means that 61 percent of the energy generated and used by Americans every day ends up becoming wasted completely. Put numerically, the source documents that out of the 95.1 quadrillion British thermal units of raw energy that were used by the U.S. economy throughout last year, only 37 quadrillion were used constructively.

The study attributes this relatively low rating to the general inefficiency of power plants and gas-engine vehicles, but also points to the fact that the country is simply generating more energy than it's conserving, leading to greater amounts of waste. In other words, because growth among industries like manufacturing and transportation has generated more demand for electricity, there's more energy available to waste. Another significant contributor to this waste, according to the data, can be found on the home front, with efficient use of household energy dropping from an average of 80 percent to 65.

Maryland homeowners can do their part to reverse these figures by scheduling an appointment for a home inspection. By working together with Maryland home inspectors, you can identify just how efficiently your home uses power and take measures to curb those electricity demands, helping the country's greater conservation efforts but also saving you on monthly utility costs as well.

Renewable home energy signals possible end for electrical grid

Since the invention of the light bulb, energy distribution in the United States has followed a very traditional and largely unchanged model in the form of the electrical grid. Every year, utility companies sell $400 billion of electricity to American homeowners using 2.7 million miles of power lines that run throughout the country. It's the largest machine in the world and, according to Bloomberg, it could be coming to an end.

The basic idea behind energy efficiency is improving how a household uses and regulates power, so that it can rely on less electricity supplied from the grid, resulting in cheaper utility bills every month. But as Bloomberg reports, with green power gaining traction and energy efficient homes becoming more commonplace in the U.S., the grid may lose relevancy entirely, especially as homeowners begin moving towards more renewable sources. Solar power, in particular, has become one lucrative example, with tens of thousands of households and businesses across the country generating their own energy thanks to these arrays.

David Crane, CEO of the Princeton, New Jersey-based NRG Energy, says that this trend of "homegrown green energy" represents a decentralized alternative to the traditional grid system and could potentially replace it altogether. Instead of merely paying lower utility bills, there may not be any utilities period, with household power being generated completely onsite from renewable energy sources.

While this scenario is still years away from happening, it does indicate that not only is energy efficiency here to stay but that it will likely end up drastically altering how we perceive power use. In the meantime, Maryland homeowners can have the efficiency capabilities of their houses upgraded by making an appointment for a home inspection. Professional Maryland home inspectors can assess how your property utilizes energy and what measures can be taken to make life a little greener.

How to make affordable housing more energy efficient

In the United States, public housing uses 40 percent more energy than privately owned homes. Consequently, the country spends ten times as much on energy expenses for affordable housing than it does on government investments into sustainability programs that are essentially designed to alleviate those costs. As a result, low-income families who have to live in these homes, and the budget-tight public housing agencies (PHA) that help them, are being burdened with utility bills that are becoming increasingly unaffordable.

So what to do about it? According to Greentech Media, the biggest obstacle lies in the construction of the homes themselves. PHAs typically build affordable housing in bulk and as inexpensively as possible, leaving developers with high operating costs. As PHAs have limited budgets already, which are usually allocated for crucial "life-safety issues," they are not able to afford energy efficient renovations that would make these buildings' utilities cheaper for families.

The source reports that the likeliest and most cost-effective method of circumventing this issue is to build efficient homes right from the start. By front-loading building costs with more eco-friendly measures – like insulation and high-performance windows – developers can ensure that affordable housing is designed with energy efficiency in mind, so that families can expect more reasonable energy bills as soon as they move in.

This method is considerably cheaper than adding retrofits for energy efficient homes later on, with a recent study showing that meeting this green criteria would only contribute an additional two percent to development expenses.

Virginia homeowners looking to reduce their own energy bills are encouraged to meet with Virginia home inspectors for an energy audit, which can determine how efficiently your house uses power and what measures can be performed to improve the eco-friendly nature of your home.

Martha’s Vineyard pursuing energy efficiency

Martha's Vineyard is the latest American community to begin an active pursuit of energy efficiency, looking to invest in alternative sources like wind and solar power. The island, which explodes into popularity during the summer, has already begun outfitting buildings with solar panels and installing wind turbines to generate renewable energy.

According to Earth Techling, one of the most prominent and easily seen of the island's solar arrays sits in the parking lot of the local supermarket, Cronig's. There are approximately 90 such systems running all throughout Martha's Vineyard, in homes, stores and even a town landfill. The source extrapolates that if the rest of the country were to follow this model of implementing solar panels into every parking lot, then those 4,000 square miles of asphalt could help supply half of the nation's electricity.

Solar power has become such a hot commodity among green advocates because of the lowered charges that solar kilowatts place on electricity bills, helping to cut back on monthly utility costs. When coupled with both federal tax credits and state rebates offered by Massachusetts, it's easy to see why solar energy has grown so appealing for residents of the island.

While Martha's Vineyard may be a comparatively small community, it's helping to set an example that hundreds of others are looking to emulate. Earth Techling reports that over 1,000 mayors across the country have made similar pledges for reducing carbon pollution and more than 35 states have set goals for energy efficiency.

Maryland residents interested in going green don't have to wait on their towns or utility companies to start living a more sustainable lifestyle. Contact local Maryland home inspectors for an energy audit of your property, which will help analyze how your house uses power and what measures can be taken to both improve efficiency and reduce energy expenses.

Tea Party lends support to energy efficiency movement

Despite its financial and environmental benefits, energy efficiency has long been a controversial subject among American politicians. While Democrats have supported research into and implementation of sustainability, Republicans have typically opposed this, citing governmental investment into renewable energy as an act of intervention in the free market. The Tea Party, the ultra-conservative movement that came to prominence in 2010, maintains this position. Despite the group's previous stance, right-wing Tea Party activists have joined with environmentalists in a new partnership called the Green Tea Coalition to encourage energy efficient living in Georgia. 

Earth Techling, a news outlet that focuses on green living, reports that "grassroots pressure" from the Green Tea Coalition has convinced Georgia's state utility company to add 525 megawatts of solar power by 2016. While the Tea Party has opposed renewable energy sources in the past, supporters reportedly do not see a contradiction in policies, as this move is intended to both give consumers more options in power choices as well as help break up the monopoly that utility companies hold over state energy production – in line with the Tea Party's general ideals of supporting the free market.

"The success of the Green Tea Coalition proves that despite a partisan divide in the halls of Congress, activists working on-the-ground can see past party labels and work together in the service of ratepayer interests, community health and a safe environment," said the coalition's co-founder, Debbie Dooley, in an official statement. "Embracing renewables is smart energy policy that transcends political party lines."

Homeowners in Washington D.C. are encouraged to meet with DC home inspectors to have their own energy needs assessed. These contractors can determine how green your home is and what steps can be taken to both improve efficiency and reduce long-term utility bills.

Report: Energy efficiency is top recommendation for job growth

We spend a lot of time on this blog discussing the environmental and financial benefits of living in energy efficient homes. Buildings that have been upgraded for sustainability emit fewer carbon emissions, mitigating manmade contributions to climate change, and also reap considerably cheaper utility bills, which helps to cut back on expenses for both homeowners and businesses. But one of the lesser touted features of eco-friendly living is the economic benefit. A new report from a host of labor unions and environmental groups across the country does exactly that, designating energy efficiency as the number one recommendation for increasing job growth and competitiveness among manufacturers. 

According to green news source Earth Techling, a new report entitled "Policy on Industrial Energy Efficiency" asserts that reducing carbon pollution can make the United States' manufacturing industry more globally competitive and help promote job creation.

"At its very essence, pollution is merely wasted energy during the manufacturing process," said David Foster, executive director for BlueGreen Alliance, which published the report, in a press release. "These are common-sense ideas and investments that policymakers can and should implement to reduce carbon pollution, and create and maintain jobs by aiding companies in becoming more efficient and competitive."

The source reports that by using incentives like billion-dollar federal tax credits, the U.S. manufacturing sector could reduce industrial energy consumption by 21 percent by 2020, yielding $47 billion in annual savings, which can, in turn, be re-invested to create new jobs.

Maryland homeowners who would like to take steps toward green living are encouraged to meet with Maryland home inspectors for an energy audit, which can help assess how your home uses power and what can be done to both improve efficiency and reduce utility expenses.

Microgrids represent ambitious development for energy efficiency

On July 24, Connecticut took an ambitious step forward for energy efficiency supporters when state government officials announced plans for its Microgrid Pilot Program, which seeks to upgrade the strength and reliability of electricity grids during severe weather. If successful, the initiative could have positive repercussions for power demands across the entire country.

As green news outlet Earth Techling reports, microgrids are "small-scale electricity generation and distribution systems" that utilize various energy resources so that they can be used locally, and even independently from the main grid. The concept of building a microgrid within an existing power grid has gained momentum in light of recent natural disasters and cyber threats that have prompted a desire for increased security of local power sources.

After Hurricane Irene cut through the mid-Atlantic coast in 2011, leaving a series of crippling blackouts in its wake, state lawmakers tasked the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) with putting a microgrid project into action – a program that gained further support after Hurricane Sandy struck just one year later. Toward the end of 2012, DEEP reported that three dozen cities, schools, hospitals and businesses across Connecticut applied for involvement in the $18 million Microgrid Pilot. Once the project has been fully implemented, these areas will be able to make use of renewable power on a 24/7 basis without having to rely on the larger electricity grid.

If the program is declared a success, it could make sustainable lifestyles dramatically more practical while making green resources more available. 

Virginia residents interested in taking steps for energy efficient homes of their own are encouraged to meet with Virginia home inspectors who will analyze how your property uses energy and what measures can be taken to improve efficiency, which could ultimately reduce utility expenses.

New national campaign to highlight attributes of energy efficient homes

Regular readers of this blog are well aware by now of the benefits of living in energy efficient homes. Not only do these eco-friendly properties offer long-term savings on utility bills, but they also cut back on a typical residence's environmental impact, reducing harmful carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

But for as long as homeowners have known about these pros, they've also been aware of the cons: It's difficult, if not impossible, to reap the investments put into a green home because the seller's market doesn't accommodate for them. Many real estate listings don't have separate fields for properties with an emphasis on energy efficiency – preventing potential buyers from shopping for them – and many appraisers simply don't know how to take into account the added financial value of a green home.

But that's all set to change, as Inman News – a U.S. real estate news outlet – reports that the National Home Council is planning to launch a new nationwide campaign next month, aimed at improving how the market gathers and values data on energy efficient houses. In its research paper, "Blueprint to make Energy Efficiency Improvements Visible in the Real Estate Market," the council asserts the need for the 850 MLS organizations across the country to begin establishing categories for green residences, and will be supplying these groups with data on how to set up these fields inexpensively.

The campaign will also be promoting the Appraisal Institute's "Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum" primer to help educate appraisers and lenders about how to identify and calculate energy efficient improvements made to a home being put on the market.

Virginia homeowners can make these same energy-saving improvements to their own houses by meeting with Virginia home inspectors for an energy audit, which can assess the power usage of your property and recommend steps you can take to increase efficiency.