How to live more energy-efficient this summer

Going green can save the average family more than $500 a year, according to financial reporters at the newspaper USA Today, while reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. This will be particularly important over the summer, as most homes will see a spike in their power usage and costs over the next few months due to an increased reliance on air conditioning.

Here are a few ways to use less energy this summer:

• Change your light bulbs: If you are still using incandescent fixtures, it is time to have them replaced once and for all with CFL or LED bulbs. Although they are a bit more expensive upfront, they will save you money due to their greater energy efficiency and longevity – the average LED light, for instance, can last up to two decades.
• Take public transportation: To reduce your carbon footprint, you should become less dependent on your own car and instead opt for public transportation, such as a subway or bus. If this is not a viable option for you, then try carpooling to work each day so there are less people on the road on a regular basis.

If you are looking for further ways to reduce the power consumption of your home, you should schedule an appointment with Alban Inspections as soon as you can! For Maryland residents, we can come in to your home and perform an energy audit, identifying where you are using an unnecessary amount of energy and how you can cut down on the money that is needlessly being spent.

President Barack Obama is set to announce the long-awaited regulations that will strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to limit the amount of carbon emissions produced by existing coal-fired power plants. Although the president's initiative has been criticized by those on the right, experts project that it will have not only a positive effect on the environment, but also on the country's overall economy.

The president's EPA regulations are also expected to be especially beneficial for the state of Virginia. Opponents have warned, particularly in southern states, that the cost of these carbon emission guidelines will be passed along to consumers, who will ultimately see a rise in energy prices. These messages have been discredited by third-party researchers who have looked into how the implementation of these rules will change the Virginia state economy.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the carbon reduction targets of the Obama administration will improve the state's economic standing as well as being able to meet its own energy goals. The report projects that the regulations will actually result in savings on monthly utility bills for customers, as well as improving the employment rate.

"In Virginia, the adoption of these solutions would result in 13,000 new jobs and an increase in gross state product of $400 million," report author Sara Hayes wrote. "This approach saves ratepayers $800 million."

If you are a Virginia resident and would like to improve the energy efficiency of your home, schedule an appointment with home inspection company Alban Inspections today! The services we offer will help you determine where you can be cutting down on your power consumption, making your residence greener and less costly to live in.

In 2008, the Ohio legislature passed several mandates that would help improve the energy efficiency of the entire state. Lawmakers set a goal of reducing overall power use by 22 percent, as well as increasing renewable energy use to 25 percent, by the year 2025. Now, those in the Ohio House are seeking to freeze those mandates and rollback some of the other provisions that were made into law six years ago.

The proposed legislation – known as Senate Bill 310 – would but an end to the energy efficiency standards that had been agreed upon for a two-year period. During this time frame, the energy efficiency requirement would remain at its current level of a 4.2 percent reduction, while the mandate for renewable sources would be stuck at 2.5 percent. A 12-member committee will also take a serious look at changing the standards that have been put in place, which are greatly opposed by local power companies.

This bill was passed by the House Public Utilities Committee at a 13-9 vote, and will move to the general House floor for a full vote sometime in the next week. Experts expect that the bill will move through the House successfully, essentially shutting down any attempts made by Ohio to improve its energy efficiency. Top Republicans put forth an alternate bill that would decrease the freeze time to one year, but it was rejected by House leadership.

If you are a Maryland resident and you want to improve the energy efficiency of your own household, be sure to schedule an energy audit with leading home inspection company Alban Inspections today!

Energy efficiency has been one of the top priorities for the Obama administration as the president has moved through his final term in office. This June, President Obama will roll out new regulatory responsibilities for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will strengthen the federal agency's ability to curtail pollution across the country. While these actions will be legal under the U.S. Clean Air Act, another one of the president's projects has been getting some attention over the last couple of weeks – the Better Buildings Neighborhood Initiative.

This program was started by the president four years ago, as a way to improve the power consumption of local communities across the country. The Department of Energy – which partnered with 41 state and local governments – has made energy-efficient upgrades to both residential and commercial buildings. The federal government initially invested $508 million into this project, with an additional $1 billion being provided by both private and public partners.

As of the end of May, the Better Buildings initiative has been very beneficial for these communities. More than 100,000 buildings in the United States have been upgraded with energy-efficient retrofits, which has saved an accumulated $730 million in power expenses since the program was first started. Of the 41 communities that first received federal assistance for these projects, only 11 still require financial input from the government.

"Upgrading the energy efficiency of our homes and other buildings will save families and businesses money on utility bills and reduce pollution in our communities, moving the nation closer to our clean energy future," Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said in a statement.

If you are a Virginia resident interested in reducing the power consumption of your home, schedule an appointment for a home inspection with Alban Inspections!

According to a senior analyst for the website Solarbuzz, the United States is on track to have 20 GW of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels installed across the country by the end of 2014. Writing for the website's blog, Michael Barker has looked at several recent trends in the solar energy industry, projecting that the U.S. will double its amount of solar generating capacity over the course of the next seven months.

In his piece, Barker noted that the U.S. solar panel grid reached a cumulative total of 10 GW during 2013, though the industry has since ramped up production during the first half of this year. Barker writes that one of the major reasons for this increasing popularity of PV panels is that they are becoming cheaper to produce and install domestically, making them more affordable for the average person.

In addition to the declining costs of PV panels, another reason for the optimistic outlook is that companies are pushing for their own solar construction and installations in the near future. Solarbuzz notes that these businesses want to take advantage of all the available federal and state tax incentives that are currently being offered, before any possible reductions.

PV panels have been classified as a low-risk long-term investment by Wall Street, which makes them a very valuable and potentially profitable source of income for utility companies and investors. Solarbuzz says that now is the perfect time to put your money into this renewable energy source, where it can offer a high return rate.

If you are a Maryland resident and you want to increase your own home's energy efficiency, be sure to schedule an appointment with Alban Inspections today for our energy audit services!

Summer is just around the corner, ready to bring months of warm weather with it! While this is a favorite time of year for many families, especially for those who have suffered through this past unbearably cold winter, it is also a time where energy use and prices spike. Most people have a tendency to turn on their air conditioning unit and forget about it, just wanting to enjoy the comfortable temperatures and respite from the outdoor heat. While this can be relaxing, you should always keep your monthly utility payments in mind and be on the lookout for ways to reduce your house's energy consumption.

Here are a few window treatments that will increase your home's efficiency:

• Blinds: This kind of window covering remains popular because of its versatility. Not only can they keep the sun's rays from invading your room, they can also allow air to pass through depending on how they are adjusted, so it does not become stuffy and uncomfortable. You have almost total control over how well-lit and airy your interior will be.
• Shades: The best way to keep the heat and light from the sun out of a room is by investing in some thick shades. The stronger and darker the material, the more effectively they will work. The only downside to this product is that when they are pulled down, you will not be able to see outside.

In addition to installing new window treatments in your home, there are plenty of steps that can be taken to have a home that consumes power in a smarter way. If you are a Maryland resident, schedule an energy audit with Alban Inspections today!

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz is going to be in Detroit on Thursday, May 22, to laud the Obama administration's efforts to help the city reduce the amount of power that it consumes on a regular basis. In 2013, officials from the Detroit government said that around 40 percent of its nearly 90,000 streetlights did not function properly, leading to a partnership between the city and the federal and state governments.

As of May, about 6,000 of Detroit's streetlights have been converted to LED fixtures, with a total goal of having 50,500 lights run on this energy-efficient alternative. A spokesman for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan told local reporters that 500 new bulbs are being charged every day to prepare for their installation and use. Moniz is visiting the city to tout the progress that has been made so far, as well as to discuss what further steps can be taken.

"We're not purchasing the lights. We help them match up with manufacturers and hopefully get good prices. We try to bring together the state and local governments, utilities, manufacturers, investors, banks," Moniz told the Detroit News ahead of his visit.

Officials from the city say that the switch to LED bulbs will save Detroit around $1.5 million in annual electrical costs. This initiative is being run by the U.S. Energy Department, which has partnered with the Public Lighting Authority of Detroit, private company DTE Energy and the city government itself. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

If you are a Maryland resident and want to learn how your home can use less power, schedule an appointment with home inspection company Alban Inspections today!

At an event earlier this week, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz expressed his disappointment over the fact that the Senate could not pass a comprehensive energy efficiency bill. The widely-supported Shaheen-Portman legislation – a bipartisan effort – crashed and burned last week due to Republican and Democratic senators being unable to put politics aside to pass the proposed law. This failure of leadership has resonated with Moniz, who believes that it is up to the Obama administration to pick up the slack.

Improving how the country consumes energy has long been said to be a centerpiece of President Obama's remaining years in office, and he appears to be ready to throw his political weight behind this increasingly pressing issue. In June, the administration is expected to rollout new regulations and powers for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), expanding its responsibilities under the U.S. Clean Air Act. Although this move has been criticized by Republicans, Obama seems to be willing to take the heat from the legislature.

Although the House has its own energy bill that was passed last year, it has since languished in the purgatory between the lower and upper chambers of the government. Moniz said at the Alliance to Save Energy event that the legislation will need bicameral support, but did not offer his thoughts on how he thinks the law, sponsored by Vermont Democrat Peter Welch, will fare in the political stalemate that has gripped the Senate.

"We're going to just have to move with as many administrative tools as we can to keep momentum on both the demand and the supply side," Moniz said to those attending the event.

If you are a Virginia resident interested in becoming more energy-efficient, schedule an appointment today an energy audit with Alban Inspections!

According to a new report, policymakers from the European Union (EU) are looking to increase its energy efficiency measures by 30 to 35 percent by 2030. This is in partial response to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, which has recently seen its gas prices spike by 80 percent under order from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The EU aims to be less dependent on just one source of energy, as well as prioritize clean power as an important part of its future.

Two EU sources – who spoke to Reuters anonymously – said there are currently documents making their way through the EU Commission that suggest a target range of energy savings of 30 to 35 percent that would be legally binding for the entire European Union. This is an increase from the current goal of reducing energy use by 20 percent by the end of this current decade, an initiative that is already underway in parts of Europe by constructing more efficient buildings.

The European Commission is the EU's executive body, and the group has already outlined two additional energy goals to be met by the year 2030: Cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent – compared with 1990s levels – and raising the share of renewable energy from 20 to 27 percent. All three of these projects will be taken under consideration from the European Union as a whole, where members will decide whether or not to agree on these new climate goals by October.

No matter where you live in the world, it is important to be mindful of your impact on the planet. Residents of Maryland can schedule a home energy audit with Alban Inspections so they can learn where to cut down on the amount of power they use.

A new program in Pasadena, California, is helping low-income residents make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. The initiative is being run by the Pasadena Housing Department and the nonprofit solar panel installation group GRID Alternatives. Together, they are creating more affordable power for people around the city who could otherwise not afford the equipment and installation necessary for the energy upgrades.

Launched last year, the program – known as Under One Roof – uses a series of green technologies that can be installed in the homes of low- to moderate-income residents. Qualified homeowners may be eligible for a refrigerator exchange, zero interest loans for house improvements and free exterior upgrades from the Housing Department.

Any Pasadena resident who participates in this program will also receive an added $5,000 in water and energy efficiency upgrades for their house. The point of the program is to help reduce the monthly utility payments for those households that are already struggling to make ends meet and might not be able to afford their energy-consumption habits.

"If you get solar and you take out the loan to fix up your window or roof and you get a new fridge and $5,000 in upgrades you really could be looking at like no electricity bill ever. You could be looking at a benefit for the rest of your life," Pasadena Water and Power spokesperson Wendy De Leon told local reporters.

Homeowners across the country should be interested in ways to lower their house's power consumption. If you are a Maryland resident, schedule an appointment with home inspection company Alban Inspections today to learn more about where you could be cutting down on your overall energy use.