Why your home solar panels should face west

In the past, most home solar installations have been placed facing the south. This was based on the calculation that the panels receive the most sun overall throughout the day when oriented in that direction. However, several recent studies indicate that we may have been orienting our solar panels in the wrong direction for environmental efficiency all along. West-facing panels are now considered to be the better choice for home solar production.

This shift in ideas was brought on by the realization that solar panels were not providing the majority of their energy during the hours of the day when it was most needed. Southern-facing panels generate the majority of their energy at midday, when the sun is highest, but this is actually the time of least demand, since many people work during the day and leave the lights off in their homes. The more effective time for solar panels to draw their maximum amount of energy is during the peak after-work hours, when people come home, turn on their lights and entertainment systems, and cook meals. West-facing panels produce 49 percent more electricity than south-facing ones during these peak hours, according to a study by the Pecan Street Research Institute.

Utility companies are beginning to implement changes in their compensation programs for solar panel owners in accordance with these new findings. Previously, owners of solar panels were paid a flat rate for each unit of energy throughout the day, but now some companies are considering paying according to demand or offering bonus rebates for installation of west-facing panels.

To see how your home's energy efficiency could be improved, contact Alban Inspections for an energy audit today. We will make customized recommendations based on your particular home and situation. 

6 benefits of green roofs

A green or living roof is a roof on which a garden has been planted using various green technologies to make the plants able to self-sustain and provide benefits for the inhabitants of the home and the public. Here are just a few of the good things green roofs can bring to individuals and communities:

  • Feeds the family: Clippings from a green roof make perfect food for small herbivores like guinea pigs and rabbits. In some cases, homeowners can even grow herbs and vegetables on their roof.
  • Fire-resistant: It may come as a surprise, but covering your roof in vegetation actually helps stop the spread of fires because the soil and plants themselves are more damp than ordinary roofing material.
  • Helps the roof last longer: Most roofing materials dry out and begin to crack within a few years because of their constant exposure to sunlight. Roof gardens protect the surface from the sun and help it to withstand the changing seasons.
  • Increases property value: These days, green home features are all the rage, bringing in a premium on the market compared to homes without such modifications. A green roof is a good investment even if you're planning to sell your home soon.
  • Keeps the home cool: In summer, a green roof absorbs the sun's rays and shades the roof itself, reducing the amount of heat that is absorbed and transferred into the house and helping the homeowner save on air conditioning.
  • Reduces rainwater runoff: Plants need water, so if you install a green roof, about 80 percent of the rainwater that hits your roof will be absorbed immediately by the plants. This helps prevent flooding and excessive runoff collecting in gutters.

For more information on how you can add green features to your home, contact Alban Inspections for an energy audit today. 

4 DIY energy efficiency projects you can get done in an afternoon

Yes, it is possible to completely overhaul your home for increased energy efficiency by hiring contractors and taking days to finish the process. However, not every energy efficiency project has to be a huge time investment. These easy DIY energy-saving projects will take you just hours to complete, leaving you with plenty of time to kick back and reap the benefits.

  • Install door sweeps: To ensure that your doors form an airtight seal against the floor when shut, it can be helpful to install door sweeps. This will keep heat from escaping under drafty doors.
  • Insulate your windows with bubble wrap: Spraying your windows with a thin mist of water will allow you to easily apply bubble wrap to the surface, reducing heat loss through the glass. This may make it difficult to see through the windows, but still allows just as much sunlight through.
  • Put a blanket on your water heater: To reduce your water heating costs by 4 to 9 percent immediately, simply cover your water heater with a water heater blanket or jacket (available at most hardware stores). This will reduce standby heat loss, which occurs when hot water sits in an under-insulated water heater while waiting to be used in the house.
  • Seal heating ducts: A surprising amount of energy is wasted by heat escaping your heating ducts through leaky joints or lack of insulation. Seal all the exposed duct joints you can find with duct mastic to prevent hot air from escaping. This should only take a few hours, but will bring you a substantial chunk of savings over the course of a few years.

To learn more about the energy efficiency possibilities for your own home, schedule an energy audit with Alban Inspections today. 

Solar power now cheaper than natural gas for utility companies

According to experts in the solar industry, the U.S. expects to see the construction of 13 gigawatts worth of new utility-scale solar PV projects in the next two years. This number is impressive on its own, but it becomes even more striking when compared to the state of solar in this country as recently as a year ago. These new projects will provide a power supply equivalent to the total amount of solar power that was available across all sectors at the end of 2013.

So what's behind this explosion in the popularity of solar among utility companies? Apparently, the price of solar power has decreased dramatically for these companies over the past few years. Solar energy currently costs a utility company about 4.5 to 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour. In 2008, the price of solar energy was more than double this amount on average.

This impressive dip in prices is enough to put solar on an equal footing with natural gas when it comes to cost competitiveness, meaning that the old excuse about clean energy being too expensive to be practical is effectively no longer valid. An executive at Xcel Energy explained the company's shift toward solar power this way: "This is the first time that we've seen, purely on a price basis, that the solar projects made the cut — without considering carbon costs or the need to comply with a renewable energy standard."

The drop in prices is due largely to the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which reduces taxes for companies that purchase solar energy and has allowed the sector to grow exponentially since its inception in 2006. Solar power advocates are currently urging Congress to extend the provision; otherwise it will end in 2016.

To learn about green energy options for your own home, contact Alban Inspections for an energy audit today. 

When should you get a home inspection?

Having your home inspected at the right times is a critical part of homeownership and the care of your property. A well-timed inspection can save you money on repairs, give you confidence about your choice to buy a property, or increase your chances of a smooth home sale. Here are three times it's absolutely necessary to call in a professional home inspector:

  • Before buying the home. You wouldn't buy a car without popping the hood and taking it for a test drive, and you shouldn't agree to buy a house until you've had it professionally inspected and know exactly what problems you might be facing once you move in. In many states, you are allowed by law to have the home inspected and to take back your deposit if the seller doesn't want to allow the inspection. For most people, their home is the most expensive purchase they will make in their lives, and the cost of a home inspection is minimal compared to the potential cost of repairs.
  • Before selling the home. If buyers discover problems in your home during their own inspection that you haven't alerted them to, they may lose trust in you and cancel the sale. In order to be an informed seller, have the home inspected for yourself first so that you can point out any deficiencies it may have to buyers far ahead of time. 
  • If you have a crawl space, every two years. Crawl spaces are especially prone to problems like flooding and animal infestation that can wreak havoc on the rest of the home. If your home includes a crawl space, it's a good idea to have it checked regularly.

To schedule a home inspection in D.C., Maryland or West Virginia, contact Alban Inspections today. 

3 New Year’s resolutions for homeowners

We all want to maintain our homes as best we can, but sometimes home maintenance can get forgotten amidst all our other activities and responsibilities. This year, bring your home maintenance goals to the forefront of your mind with these 3 smart resolutions for homeowners:

  • Clear the air. If your home suffers from a lack of good ventilation, this could cause all kinds of problems, from moisture accumulation to health problems due to poor air quality. Make sure your home is well-ventilated going into the new year. And while we're on the subject of clean air, regularly testing your home for deadly radon gas and carbon monoxide is just good common sense.
  • Create a home improvement budget. For many people, home improvements are difficult to schedule because they can be relatively expensive compared to other purchases, so oftentimes there just isn't enough room in the monthly budget to accommodate necessary repairs. Creating a budget for anticipated repairs and improvements throughout the year, rather than scrambling to find the money as problems arise, will ensure you have a stress-free year in your home.
  • Get efficient. As we have often emphasized on this blog, replacing your home appliances with energy- and water-efficient devices can help you save substantially on bills while making your home more eco-friendly. Look for the EPA-certified ENERGY STAR and WaterSense labels on any products you plan to install to ensure they meet national guidelines for energy and water efficiency. 

Going into the new year is a great time to schedule a home inspection with Alban Inspections. Let us help you make sure that your home is safe, functioning and ready for the year to come. 

How to prepare your home for the holidays

During the holiday season, your home goes through a lot of structural stress. From the cold, icy weather on the outside to the swarm of guests using the electricity and plumbing on the inside, your home's infrastructure will be tested during this time. Be prepared for potential holiday problems and make sure your guests stay happy by keeping these tips in mind when preparing your home for holiday visitors:

  • Avoid common plumbing problems: If your home is accommodating a lot of guests for the holidays, chances are one drain or another will become clogged at some point. You can make an effort to prevent this by regularly using an enzymatic cleaner that breaks down the grime that accumulates over time in your pipes. However, if you're having serious problems with clogging drains, it may be a sign of a larger issue, and you should contact a professional home inspector or plumber.
  • Don't overcrowd electrical sockets: With all the Christmas lights blazing, plus guests' devices, your outlets can become overtaxed, causing sparking that can lead to house fires. Make sure you keep track of where everything is plugged in and that if you're using a power strip, you don't exceed the manufacturer's amperage rating.
  • Keep your front walkway clear: Guests shouldn't have to slip and slide to get in and out the door, so make sure you remove all snow and ice from your walkways before hosting.
  • Turn down the thermostat during parties: If you're throwing a large gathering, chances are that the guests' body heat will cause the home to be warmer than usual, so take advantage of this opportunity to give your heating system a break and keep your guests from sweating.

To make sure your home is prepared for the holiday season and beyond, contact Alban for a home inspection today.

Study finds that US has potential to power itself 100 times over with solar energy

In case anyone was still doubting the feasibility of powering the entire country with energy from renewable sources, a new study from the Environment America Research and Policy Center just came along to crush those doubts. The study found that not only could America meet all of its current energy needs easily with solar energy, but solar could even provide up to 100 times the amount of power we currently use. 

Using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the researchers found that the country has the potential to use solar PV and concentrating solar power (CSP) installations to produce enough power to supply not only the current America, but 99 other hypothetical equal-sized Americas as well. Compared to this potential, using solar power to meet only 10 percent of the nation's needs, as recommended by environmental experts, seems almost like underachieving. However, meeting this goal seems realistic based on the strong growth of solar power in past years, and it would reduce the nation's carbon footprint by 280 million metric tons by 2030, the equivalent of taking 59 million cars off our roads.

The researchers' opinion is clear: they state in their conclusions that politicians on the state, federal and local levels "should adopt aggressive goals for solar integration and implement policies that encourage the adoption of solar power." And in case anyone were to assume that this potential is localized in a few very sunny states, the researchers also make it clear that each state has the potential to source enough energy from solar power within the state itself to meet 100 percent of its own needs.

If you're looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and take advantage of green technologies, contact Alban Inspections for an energy audit today. 

3 reasons other than energy savings to use green appliances

If you've been following this blog, you probably know that replacing old appliances in your home with more energy efficient models can save you a substantial amount of money. However, the focus on saving money can overwhelm the many other tangible benefits that come with energy-efficient appliances. Here are three ways living in a green home can improve your life that go beyond the energy and financial savings:

  • Increased comfort. If you're trying to skimp on your energy use for economic reasons, you're probably keeping your home slightly too cold in the winter and slightly too hot in the summer. Switching to energy-efficient heating and cooling systems will allow you to easily keep your home at a comfortable temperature no matter the season.
  • Increased home value. Buyers these days are extremely positive about energy-efficient technologies, so having them in your home will prove to be an advantage if you're considering putting it up for sale. You can often access rebates through various energy-savings programs, so you don't even have to invest much at the beginning to reap the rewards later.
  • More control over your utilities. Sometimes your utility bill can surprise you, jumping dramatically for reasons you don't understand. Green technologies like smart thermostats allow you to keep track of your energy use from your devices, and if you install solar, wind or geothermal systems, you will actually have complete control over the production and use of energy and water in your home.

If you're thinking about making the switch to green appliances in your home, contact Alban for a home energy audit today. Our experienced home inspectors will evaluate your home for potential energy improvements, then walk you through the steps of installing green appliances and accessing rebates through the programs we partner with.

5 steps to prevent mold growth in winter

With all that extra moisture from melting snow and heavy rain worming its way into the crevices of your house, winter is prime mold season. Keeping mold from invading your house is extremely important for your and your family's health, as toxic mold spores have been shown to lead to debilitating symptoms like headaches, nausea and even cognitive effects like disorientation. This is doubly important if your family includes children or anyone with asthma. Here are some steps you can take to protect your home from invading spores this winter:

  • Check on your plumbing system. Make sure there are no leaks that could be causing moisture problems in the walls, and make sure the water flow to any damaged or nonfunctional appliances is turned off.
  • Heat the house. Briefly turning up the heat extra high can dry out moisture in the structure of the building. After the heat blast, open doors and windows or use a fan to get rid of any moist air.
  • Keep everything clean. Remove extra moisture and keep areas that are susceptible to excessive humidity, like bathrooms and basements, extra clean. 
  • Make sure the air circulation is good. Mold and mildew form especially easily in stagnant, humid air. Make sure to use an exhaust fan, if you have one, while showering, cooking or doing any activity that involves releasing a lot of water vapor into the air.
  • Use a dehumidifier: This one device can go a long way in making sure that mold doesn't have the favorable growing conditions it needs. Use it wherever moisture tends to accumulate in the house.

If you believe that you might have a problem with mold in your home, our professional home inspectors can help. Call Alban today for mold testing and inspection.