Americans are in favor of stronger energy efficiency regulations

Energy efficiency is an issue that more and more people are paying attention to these days, especially since the polar vortex that swept through the country in January is back for a second round this week. Homeowners need to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature, but are on the lookout for ways to help reduce their home's overall energy consumption to keep their bills from skyrocketing. Improving the energy efficiency of the country has been a priority for two senators in particular — Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) — who this week reintroduced their energy bill to the Senate floor. Having a more energy efficient country is something most voters can support.

According to a new poll out from National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), nine out of 10 likely voters support government efforts to create and implement energy efficient programs across the country. The poll surveyed 1,000 potential voters and found that the vast majority want federal and state leaders to address the energy issues that the United States faces, an issue that they believe is important for the nation's future.

"Energy efficiency will continue to play a critical role in our nation's ability to succeed economically, and commonsense energy-efficiency legislation is a win-win that means savings for manufacturers and their communities," said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. "These results show that consumers from across the political spectrum agree that energy efficiency is a key part of our nation's energy future."

If you are looking to increase the energy efficiency of your own home, schedule an energy audit with Alban Inspections. As a leading home inspection company, we can help you identify the areas of that are wasting unnecessary amounts of energy.

A majority of Americans now believe that, as a country, we should be taking greater steps to reduce our overall energy consumption. While the government is still working on ways to increase the energy efficiency of the United States, there are plenty of steps a homeowner can take to ensure they are having a minimal impact on the environment. Homeowners who are aware of their own sustainability and work to increase it will notice that they will end up paying less in utility costs each month.

Here are a few ways you can live a greener life:

• Cut out bottled water: The plastic used for those bottles is harmful for the environment, so invest in your own personal filter and keep refilling it straight from the tap.
• Full loads when cleaning: If you are running your dishwasher or washing machine, make sure that it is filled to its maximum capacity before running a cycle. These appliances consume a large amount of energy, so you should space out the cleaning as much as possible and try to do as few loads as possible.
• LED bulbs: At the beginning of this year, it became illegal for light bulb manufacturers to produce traditional incandescent light bulbs. So, while stores might still have them in stock, you should not purchase them and instead opt for the energy efficient LED or CFL light bulbs. While they are more expensive upfront, you will save money in the long run because they consume much less energy and last for many years.

There are more extensive ways you can upgrade your home to make it more energy efficient. Schedule an energy audit with Alban Inspections today and our team can help you fix the areas where energy is being wasted.

Two major power companies in the state of Connecticut – UIL Holdings and Northeast Utilities – are coming together to help reduce the state's overall energy consumption. They have started a new low-interest loan program for qualified residents, called the Energize Connecticut Heating Loan Program. This initiative is designed to help homeowners finance energy efficient upgrades to their homes.

The loans will be funded by UIL and Northeast and can be used to replace existing heating systems that might be outdated in favor of more energy efficient equipment. Residents are eligible for this program if they get their power from any of either company's subsidiaries and have paid their monthly utility bills on time for the past six months. The loans will be given at a fixed 2.99 percent interest rate on any loan of up to $15,000 and can be paid off over the course of three to 10 years. Customers have the option of adding the payments directly to their energy bills.

In a public statement after the announcement of this loan program, the VP of customer services for UIL said these loans will be very beneficial for those homeowners who want to cut down on their home's energy consumption, but might not have the financial means to make the initial investment. Because energy efficient upgrades can often be expensive, the company is using the loan program to pay the upfront costs.

If you are looking to improve the energy efficiency of your home, contact Alban Inspections today. As a leading home inspection company, we can perform an energy audit on your home and help you fix all of the problem areas where you are wasting unnecessary energy.

Last year, Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced an energy legislation bill known officially as the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, but commonly referred to as Shaheen-Portman. The bill was intended to reduce the overall energy consumption of the United States while working to increase our use of renewable energy sources. The proposed law became controversial when it was first introduced in the Senate, and Republicans immediately weighed it down with amendments that were not even related to the bill. Most notably, Senate Republicans attempted to use the Shaheen-Portman bill as a way to defund Obamacare.

This week, Senators Portman and Shaheen have finished crafting the latest version of their key legislation which includes 10 provisions that were not previously included. Sources indicate that Shaheen and Portman are going to reintroduce the bill to the Senate as early as Thursday, and the additional amendments to the law all have at least one Republican co-sponsor, meaning the bill has more than the 60 votes required to avoid a filibuster.

While the bill might be able to avoid being filibustered, that does not mean it has a clear path to being passed. The toxic atmosphere of the Senate has stalled bills for year, with members of both parties often unwilling to reach across the aisle. Some Republican senators have indicated they would like additional amendments included in the bill and will not vote for the entire legislation without their amendments at least being considered for inclusion. Any agreement on the floor will have to be brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

If you are interested in reducing the energy consumption of your home, have an energy audit today from Alban Inspections!

California Assemblyman Das Williams (D) has introduced a new bill into the California State Assembly that seeks to tighten regulation for energy efficient building measures. The bill, known as AB 1918, would improve ways for companies to comply with the existing Title 24, which created energy efficient standards for windows, lighting, insulation and HVAC systems in the state of California. AB 1918 seeks to reduce the overall energy consumption of individuals and California as a whole.

"Energy efficiency is a top priority in California. We are recognized as leaders in the nation, and we must continue to uphold that reputation by staying proactive and enforcing the laws we have," Williams said in a public statement.

Williams went on to talk about how the region he represents in the state government, Santa Barbara, has a great compliance rate with energy standards, but other parts of California have to follow the example they are setting. The standards will only be effective if they are enforced adequately. Environmental groups in the state have praised the work Williams is trying to do, believing that the country is at a crucial point in our pursuit of energy independence and actions must be taken to protect the environment.

The measure is not only good for the environment, but it makes economic sense. As Victoria Rome, the California legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council told local reporters, Williams' bill will result in energy savings for all consumers, reducing what they have to pay to keep their homes warm or cool throughout the year.

Whether or not you live in California, it is a good idea to improve the energy efficiency of your own home. Alban Inspections recommends the usage of LED bulbs instead of the traditional incandescent models.

For the first time in its almost four decade history, Habitat for Humanity has built its first home that runs on solar energy for hot water as well as heating and cooling. The home was finished at the end of last week and was constructed in north Minneapolis by the volunteer group along with architecture students from the University of Minnesota.

The architecture students designed the house to produce at least as much energy as it consumes, making it what is known as a "net zero" home. The Habitat for Humanity house is the beginning of a much larger-scale project that aims to construct at least 100 energy efficient homes within the next five years.

While the average Habitat for Humanity house has a value of $160,000, the eco-friendly model cost $213,000 to construct. According to a report from Minnesota Public Radio, the additional costs of the house partly came from insulation. The energy efficient model is insulated three times as much as a standard home in an effort to ensure that no air leaks out.

The architecture students took several steps to ensure the home was as efficient as possible. The windows were angled at certain positions to ensure they would get the maximum amount of sunlight during the day. The home is taller with a steep roof to allow the solar panels better access to the sun. And it was equipped with an energy recovery ventilator that extracts the heat from air being filtered out of the home and circulating it back inside.

If you are looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency of your own home, have an energy audit from Alban Inspections done as soon as possible.

In 2013, China overtook the United States as the global leader in energy efficiency spending. The Chinese government allocated $4.3 billion for new energy technology last year, making up nearly one-third of global energy investments. Worldwide energy efficiency spending rose nearly 5 percent in 2013 – bringing the total up to $15 billion – though spending in North American countries fell 33 percent to $3.3 billion.

A major reason for the rise in energy efficiency investments around the world is the creation of new technology that is specifically designed to monitor energy consumption. In 2012, $4.4 billion was used to fix various issues in power grids, a figure that jumped by $1 billion in 2013. The reason for such a massive spike in such a short period of time has been partly attributed to an increased dependence on renewable energy sources.

China has emerged as a global leader on efficient spending and will remain a driving force between now and the end of the decade. A report from Bloomberg Finance found that there is a shift in focus in the United States, as it is concentrating more on making money through power grid data that is already available, instead of working on the development of new technology. Asian and European markets will be the ones to make advances in the energy market for the foreseeable future.

While the United States is ceding ground to China in the energy efficiency market, there are plenty of things an individual can do to reduce the energy consumption of their own home. For an easy way to increase your home energy efficiency, Alban Inspections recommends the use of LED bulbs.

Many areas of the United States – particularly the Midwest and East Coast – have suffered particularly brutal weather patterns over the past few months. The extreme weather conditions have left thousands without power, sometimes for days on end, and sent the cost of energy skyrocketing. It is becoming more and more expensive for people to keep their homes comfortable, with monthly utility bills becoming unsustainable for families across the country.

There are steps a homeowner can take to ensure their houses are prepared for what the weather has in store. To avoid high energy costs and minimize energy losses, here are a couple upgrades that can be made to your home:

• Added insulation: While all homes are built with insulation, sometimes the original amount is not adequate enough. To prevent your warm air from seeping out into the cold, you can buy insulation and add it to the walls yourself. This is especially useful if you live in an older house, which were built with less insulation than homes built today.
• New windows: Having windows that are improperly insulated is the biggest waste of a home's energy. Counteract this problem by having new windows installed, after determining what style will look best for your space and where to improve your home's energy efficiency.

If you need help determining what steps you should take to improve the energy efficiency of your home, contact Alban Inspections today. As a home inspection company, we can give your home an energy audit and determine the areas that could be improved. Our team of highly-trained professionals will allow you to reduce your energy consumption.

This week, a new bill was introduced in the Arizona state Senate regarding energy efficiency regulations. If the law passes, it would prohibit the government from enforcing energy mandates on new homes that are built. Senator Chester Crandell (R), the person who introduced the legislation, says it is a way to keep construction costs and home prices low.

Senator Crandell argues that it should be up to the construction company what features should be included in a new home. Crandell wants the bill to address what he sees as the main issue with adopting international environmental standards: The cost of a home being driven up under the assumption that any energy saving measures will ultimately pay for themselves in the long run by saving homeowners money on their monthly utility payments.

The proposed law has local Arizona astronomers concerned. Arizona is an international leader in low levels of light pollution and scientists are worried that by barring government requirements for low-intensity outdoor lighting the bill could hurt their efforts to protect the skies. Crandell says he would be open to an amendment to add exemptions for dark sky ordinances, but this has not lessened the fears of those who oppose the amendment. The bill has cleared the first Senate subcommittee and is currently waiting for further action from the state legislature.

While the Arizona Senate debates what steps to take with energy efficiency, you can work to reduce your own home's daily energy consumption. The simplest place to begin is to have your existing light bulbs replaced with CFL bulbs. Having an energy audit from home inspection company Alban Inspections is another way you can see where you waste unnecessary energy.