Major clean energy developments in 2013

While the federal government continues to debate what actions should be taken, if any, over global climate change, there were many significant breakthroughs and accomplishments for clean energy over the course of the last year. People all across the country are now increasingly conscious of how their decisions and actions have a direct effect on the environment, and are making efforts to be more energy efficient. Energy efficiency not only has a positive long-term impact on the planet, but can also help cut down on your utility bills each month, especially during the winter. Here are a couple of the biggest clean energy developments of 2013:

Affordable solar energy: When photovoltaic (PV) panels were first introduced in the late 1970s, a single cell cost $80 per watt. In the first quarter of 2013, according to Bloomberg Energy Finance, PV panels were selling for an average of $.64 across the United States. This cut down very significantly on installation costs, which means that more and more people have access to clean and renewable energy resources. Lower electricity prices have saved money for both consumers and companies, and energy efficiency will be an important part of the future.

Wind power: This is an industry that is now able to seriously compete with fossil fuels to provide energy. New agreements are being signed with wind farms to provide power for as little as $25 per hour for each megawatt used, and the cost of power can be spread among many units. Wind is becoming a powerful source of renewable energy, despite being relatively new in the industry.

To continue this energy efficiency trend in your own home for 2014, contact the professionals at Alban Inspections today. We can provide an energy audit and pinpoint where you are losing money, and what can be done to prevent it.

Television sets to become more energy efficient

A voluntary agreement has been reached between environmental advocates, government regulators and the television industry to make TV set-top boxes more energy efficient. The new deal will save an estimated $1 billion in energy costs and produce enough electricity to power 700,000 homes across the United States, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which helped broker the pledge. Television sets are generally seen as energy sucks because they are constantly running, even when turned off.

The groups are aiming to make 90 million boxes in people's homes up to 45 percent more energy efficient by the year 2017. It is important that the deal remain completely voluntary, says the Consumer Electronics Association, because those types of deals tend to yield faster results than any legal mandates. This way consumers will get the improved product faster than they otherwise would. This deal is also a major turning point because of the big companies who are attached to it.

"It's extremely significant when household names like Comcast, Motorola, DirecTV and AT&T all acknowledge that their TV set-top boxes are using billions of dollars worth of electricity each year," Noah Horowitz, a senior scientist at the National Resources Defense Council's San Francisco office, told the Los Angeles Times.

Regulations for the television industry have already been in the works at the federal and state level in California, with both the US Energy Department and California Energy Commission creating their own proposed ways to improve energy efficiency. These groups said they would monitor the new agreement before they decide whether mandatory standards need to be set in place.

There are plenty of ways for you to increase your home energy efficiency, without intervention from the federal government or television industry. Have an energy audit today from Alban Inspections, or contact us for more information.

A controversial solar plant to be built in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power plans to move ahead with a proposed solar plant, despite objections from both historical and environmental groups. The 200 megawatt plant is set to cost the government $700 million. Those opposed to the project say the plant will damage the wildlife of the area as well as the site of a World War II internment camp.

The state wants to construct one million photovoltaic panels across 1,200 acres it owns in Owens Valley, which is just north of Los Angeles. The new plant would be a mere 3.5 miles from the Manzanar site that was used to hold Japanese Americans during the war. Officials from the National Park Service as well as various Japanese American organizations have expressed concern over building such a major structure so close to the area.

Officials believe it will disrupt and destroy the isolated character of the site, which is important from a historical context to understand what the lives of those internees was like during such a major moment for the United States and the global community. These critics of the plant readily admit they have little legal basis for trying to slow down or outright stop the construction, because there is no federal agency dedicated to preserving the views of an area. But that is not stopping them from trying to appeal to the general population.

"We have moral authority, an appeal to the city's social conscience. We are urging the DWP to consider alternative sites for its solar farm, perhaps on structures in downtown Los Angeles," Bruce Embry, co-chair of the organization Manzanar Committee, told reporters.

While this battle goes on, you can improve the energy efficiency of your home. Alban Inspections, a leading home inspection company, can help. Contact us today for information about our services.

Go green without breaking the bank

There are many ways for homeowners to make their houses greener and more eco-friendly. If you want your home to be more sustainable without having to spend a ton of money on renovations, there are simple things you can do to help the environment that will not cost you a penny. In fact, many of these helpful suggestions will most likely end up actually saving you cash in the long run:

Reusable bags: Cut down on your plastic consumption every time you go to the store by bringing in the same bags each time you shop. Certain stores- such as CVS and Target- will even offer you a discount if you bring in your own bag. In addition to helping the environment, you will also be reducing the amount of trash and clutter in your house. Do not waste the enormous amounts of plastic to just throw the bag away the moment you get home from the store.

Start a compost: Do not throw away old food scraps or coffee grounds, but instead use them to start a compost pile. Grass clippings and paper products can also be added, cutting down on the amount of trash you produce while also creating nutrient-rich soil that can be used in the yard.

Turn down the heat: Especially during the winter months, do not turn the thermostat up more than is absolutely necessary. Using less energy will reduce your carbon emissions, and will save you money each month when you have a smaller utility bill. Keep the heat lower and wear extra layers of clothes or blankets to keep warm. Stay comfortable, but don't go overboard with heating.

Contact Alban Inspections today for a home energy audit and learn how to save money while also helping the environment.

Have an energy audit to take advantage of tax credits

With 2013 rapidly drawing to a close, there is a very limited amount of time left for homeowners to take advantage of tax credits being offered by the federal government that expire at the end of this year. If you work to make your home more energy efficient before we enter 2014, you could be eligible to save hundreds of dollars in home improvements. The first step to saving money is by having an energy audit done, and Alban Inspections is one of the country's leading home energy companies. No matter how old the house, it never hurts to make sure the money you spend on energy is not going to waste.

"We didn't build the house, we bought the house existing and it had been five years old when we moved in and so I think the biggest surprise for us was just pleasantly we didn't have any big issues and many of the small issues we had, we were able to fix without much trouble," homeowner Steve Chase told Angie's List.

But it is important to have your home inspected by professionals before making the commitment to any improvement projects. An in-depth energy audit can run anywhere from $200 to $800, but if there are major, or even minor, problems to be fixed you will end up saving money in the long run. To take advantage of the federal tax credits, be sure to do your research that the products you are going to invest in are actually eligible for the law. Saving the receipts is also a must, as you will need them when you file your taxes early next year.

To have an energy audit conducted on your home today, contact the professionals at Alban Inspections. Do not miss out on the federal government tax rebates!

20 Philadelphia schools to receive solar power in 2014

A new program, the Philadelphia Solar Schools Initiative (PSSI), is going to implement a plan to make 20 schools in the area energy efficient by installing solar panels. The PSSI is made up of two partnering groups, Solar States and Clean Currents, and is currently looking for a full-time director to oversee and expand its operations. While the group is currently being run on an all-volunteer basis, it is still looking to expand its education output programs to more and more schools. When a permanent head is finally chosen, the group will be able to educate children more fully.

The goal of the group is to have solar power panels installed in 20 schools across Philadelphia by the end of 2014. These panels will produce 1.5 megawatts of clean energy each. But environmentally friendly ways to power these schools is not only what PSSI wants to accomplish- they also want to teach kids what they can do to reduce their carbon footprints in all areas of their lives. PSSI wants to do this by giving them hands-on experience with solar technology in courses that will meet the country's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) standards.

PSSI wants to begin offering daily classes through the YouthBuild Charter School, which is a non-profit organization in Philadelphia that educates low-income high school dropouts in one year programs. The classes taught by the energy efficiency professionals will be given to people who were anywhere from 18 to 21 years old and have stopped attending traditional schooling. Students will earn money for on the job experience while learning to design and install the solar panel school installations.

There is a lot that PSSI hopes to accomplish over the next year, but they are confident it can all be done.

Contact Alban Inspections to improve your home energy efficiency.

Renewed hope for Senate’s bipartisan energy efficiency bill

Since lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were able to come together on Capitol Hill this week to support a cloture vote on the budget bill proposed by Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), there is renewed hope in the legislature for the long-stalled Shaheen-Portman energy proposal. While the Shaheen-Portman bill, known officially as the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, has broad bipartisan support both in Congress and in the energy industry, it has languished in the Senate since this past fall due to unrelated debates about the Affordable Care Act. The highly politicized Obamacare has entrenched the already strongly partisan Congress, making the passage of any major legislation all but impossible.

With both parties working together to pass a budget and avoid another government shutdown, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), one of the bill's authors, believes there is new hope to get the proposed law through Congress within the next year.

"I'm optimistic that we can find a way forward," Senator Shaheen told the National Journal this week when she was asked about the legislation's current status.

For the last few months, Shaheen and the bill's co-author Rob Portman (R-OH) along with their staffers have been working behind closed doors in an effort to secure enough votes to invoke cloture and end the debate on the floor of the Senate when the bill is reintroduced. Shaheen told reporters she and Portman hope to make a public announcement regarding the measure within the next week, but does not know when the bill will be put forth again in front of the entire Senate. Shaheen does, however, want to take substantial action on the bill during an early 2014 session.

Alban Inspections is a home inspection company in the Washington, D.C., area that can help make your home energy efficient.

Make your home more energy efficient this winter

The holiday season is upon us, and with Christmas just a week away many folks are making last minute changes to their homes before hosting family and friends. Whether you are the holiday host or travel to be with loved ones, there are plenty of ways to make your home more energy efficient throughout the winter. Cut down on your energy costs and monthly bills by following these tips to make your house greener.

New windows: Old and poorly insulated windows are the greatest cause of heat loss and rising energy rates in homes. Have an energy audit done in your home to determine if it will be worth the long-term investment to install new windows. If you are thinking of this, be sure that the windows you choose are dual pane glass. The added layer of glass will prevent more cold air from entering and heat from escaping, saving you money each month.

More Insulation: The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has stated that insulation in a home prevents heat from leaving it, which will make you more comfortable while saving money. Insulation is relatively inexpensive and homeowners can easily install it themselves. The DOE estimates a family could cut up to 50 percent from their energy bills with a well-insulated attic.

Thicker Drapes: This is the easiest way to keep your home warm and lower your heating bills. Heavier drapes and shades over windows are better at keeping cold air outside than thinner materials. Be sure to keep them closed at night when the temperature drops, particularly during the winter, but open them up during the day to allow sunlight to naturally warm a room. This will save you electricity while also keeping the climate of your house consistent.

Contact Alban Inspections to help increase the energy efficiency of your home.

New German minister to reduce energy efficiency commitments

This past weekend, German Chancellor Angela Merkel unveiled her new grand coalition government. The new cabinet was formed after months of negotiations between the more conservative and liberal wings of the Democratic Party, but a compromise was eventually reached. The new administration is to be sworn in on Tuesday. One of the more interesting development's in Chancellor Merkel's new coalition is the reformed energy ministry, which was combined with economic policy, to be headed under a "super minister" and vice chancellor.

By streamlining these two governmental departments, it is the hope that any conflicts between economic and environmental policy can be dealt with and eliminated. Putting these two powers under the leadership of a person who champions industry over climate concerns underlines Merkel's commitment to the economy of Germany.

Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chairman Sigmar Gabriel, who was the environment minister under Merkel from 2005 to 2009, will take over this expanded role. The new minister is to oversee Germany's continuing transition from nuclear power to alternative sources of energy, but renewable energy is not on the agenda.

Chariman Gabriel has long believed in slowing down the expansion of renewable energy resources because of the rising energy prices in the country. The SDP is a very strong supporter of Germany's coal industry, a tie that many proponents of renewable energy fear will further diminish the government's commitment to clean sources. The SDP, which was gotten major support from the coal industry, has already gotten the new coalition government to agree to support the use of brown coal, which is one of the most polluting forms of this mineral, to help combat the skyrocketing energy prices in the country.

If you would like an energy audit done to see how you can save money, contact Alban Inspections for more information.

$250 million in federal money earmarked for rural energy efforts

The United States Department of Agriculture is allocating $250 million in federal funding to improve energy efficient systems in rural areas across the country. The goal of the Obama administration is to create or renovate existing renewable energy resources in areas where they might be lacking.

The new initiative is based on a system of loans regulated by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), which amended the Rural Electrification Act by creating the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program. Under this additional program, business and residents in rural communities can apply for loans with the sole purpose of using the money to make energy efficient improvements to their homes or commercial spaces. The government hopes to decrease demand for energy that is harmful to the environment.

This directly supports President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce the emissions of power plants, which is the largest contributor of greenhouse gases to the environment in the entire country. The ultimate goal of this loan program is to increase energy efficiency, but the regulators at the Department of Agriculture also recognize the value in creating incentives that will also be beneficial to the atmosphere.

"RUS recognizes that there will be a reduction of green house gases with energy efficiency improvements," the department said in the announcement of its plan.

Tom Vilsack, the secretary of the Department of Agriculture, noted the value in retrofitting homes with energy efficient products. According to his statistics, this can reduce an individual house's energy consumption by as much as 40 percent, greatly reducing utility costs each month. With people saving extra money, they can put it back into the rural community, bolstering the local economy.

Even if  you are not receiving federal money, it never hurts to make your home energy efficient. To learn more, contact Alban Inspections, a home inspection company.