As I continue to learn more about developing my sustainable energy business, a type of business that is new, I am gradually coming to understand some of the ways it can be of service.
About a week ago I went to the home of a woman who is about to have her follow-up energy audit completed. She wanted to make sure that she had covered the bases, and also wanted me to install a fireplace draft stopper. This device alone will likely save her 15 - 25% on her heating bill, and will add to the comfort of her home.
I was saddened when I learned from her that she had purchased a cheaper heat pump that barely met the minimum energy rating required for her energy audit. (In fact the new requirements push many models off of the list.) Had she consulted with me (costing her $25) she could have had a superior product installed for little or no more money than she had paid.
By knowing many who are in the business of installing energy-efficient equipment I know how to find the best value for my clients.
The other benefit for my clients is that if she had had any difficulty with that unit or the company who installed it I could have gone to bat for her. I still can! If companies know that I am looking over their shoulder to see if they do good work and give good value for their customers they are more likely to perform well. I informally call this aspect of my business "an energy insurance program." I increase the likelihood of the client getting good service when it comes to their energy-improving products and services.
Knowing who is good, coupled with accountability in the business world, means that my clients can lower their home or business energy consumption for a reasonable price and have some security in the end-product.
Poorer products and companies will eventually fail; I'd rather that my clients not extend the lives of such!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Saving energy
The heating season has begun. Our furnaces, baseboard heaters, heat pumps and wood stoves are now doing their thing.
What amazes me are the number of people who, when examining how to reduce their ever-increasing energy bills, focus almost solely on reducing the cost of providing the heat, rather than on how to reduce heat losses.
This is a statement about our culture, of course. A culture that fails to appreciate the bigger picture by focusing on individual components (such as heat sources). Yet this narrow focus is the primary cause of most that ails us.
It is a well-known fact that reducing energy usage is usually much cheaper than is changing the heat source. Putting multiple layers of insulation on an electric hot water tank (ideally including some underneath it) makes that tank nearly as efficient as a highly efficient water-on-demand heater. The insulation costs less than $100; a new gas-fired on-demand water heater costs hundreds of dollars.
Examples are unlimited. An inflatable $80 chimney draft stopper can save up to 30% of the cost of heating. Draft-proofing one’s home typically costs less than $100 in materials yet can save both comfort and considerable heating bills. Adding insulation to the hot water lines is an extremely inexpensive method of cutting costs, since water requires a great deal of energy to heat. Changing light bulbs is a well-known example, even though they save very little power in the bigger picture. Replacing (or unplugging) older fridges, drying clothes on a rack or clothesline instead of a mechanical drier, cutting the power at the power-bar to electronics (especially T.V.’s and computers) when not in use, replacing thermostats with EnergyStar rated ones, setting back the heat at night-time (except heat pumps and in-floor systems), wearing more layers and/or getting exercise rather than turning up the heat, and other practises will save hundreds of dollars of energy for very little cost.
Of course some of these mean changing one’s life-style to some degree. This is about as easy as changing a politician’s views on taxation. The difference is that we are in control of ourselves, not others.
By becoming more of a “conserver society” we can make significant differences to the planet and to our own pocket-books. Our grandparents, especially those who are now in their 70’s and up, were raised in this way and so have a great deal of wisdom to share with us.
Perhaps it is time we paid more attention to them.
What amazes me are the number of people who, when examining how to reduce their ever-increasing energy bills, focus almost solely on reducing the cost of providing the heat, rather than on how to reduce heat losses.
This is a statement about our culture, of course. A culture that fails to appreciate the bigger picture by focusing on individual components (such as heat sources). Yet this narrow focus is the primary cause of most that ails us.
It is a well-known fact that reducing energy usage is usually much cheaper than is changing the heat source. Putting multiple layers of insulation on an electric hot water tank (ideally including some underneath it) makes that tank nearly as efficient as a highly efficient water-on-demand heater. The insulation costs less than $100; a new gas-fired on-demand water heater costs hundreds of dollars.
Examples are unlimited. An inflatable $80 chimney draft stopper can save up to 30% of the cost of heating. Draft-proofing one’s home typically costs less than $100 in materials yet can save both comfort and considerable heating bills. Adding insulation to the hot water lines is an extremely inexpensive method of cutting costs, since water requires a great deal of energy to heat. Changing light bulbs is a well-known example, even though they save very little power in the bigger picture. Replacing (or unplugging) older fridges, drying clothes on a rack or clothesline instead of a mechanical drier, cutting the power at the power-bar to electronics (especially T.V.’s and computers) when not in use, replacing thermostats with EnergyStar rated ones, setting back the heat at night-time (except heat pumps and in-floor systems), wearing more layers and/or getting exercise rather than turning up the heat, and other practises will save hundreds of dollars of energy for very little cost.
Of course some of these mean changing one’s life-style to some degree. This is about as easy as changing a politician’s views on taxation. The difference is that we are in control of ourselves, not others.
By becoming more of a “conserver society” we can make significant differences to the planet and to our own pocket-books. Our grandparents, especially those who are now in their 70’s and up, were raised in this way and so have a great deal of wisdom to share with us.
Perhaps it is time we paid more attention to them.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Two bits of news from the provincial government have recently come to light that have highlighted just how much government revenue triumphs over supposedly "green" thinking and acting.
The first bit of news is the plan for B.C. to harmonize its provincial sales tax with that of the federal government, called "HST." What has this got to do with energy efficiency and renewable energy? Because at this point in time the provincial tax is exempted on these products, essentially giving a 7% break on the price of "going green." Bicycles, solar panels, insulation and a whole lot more are currently exempted. After July 1st, 2010, they very likely won't be.
The other, much less publicised, bit of news is that the government is further reducing its royalties on natural gas exploration in a desperate attempt to increase its revenues as a result of increased drilling and selling of leases. There is currently too much natural gas on the market, depressing prices and making it less enticing to explore for new sources. This reduction in royalties will drive down the price even further, making renewable energy less attractive. In the end the planet will pay for this foolishness. So will we.
With these two strokes the current government has shown just how shallow its commitment to a sustainable future truly is. Of course the government is hurting for revenues. If it had the vision of Germany or even China (believe it or not) to push for renewable energy such as tidal and wave, the tax base would be improved and we could be exporting our technologies to other nations. Now we will be even more dependent on a finite fuel.
So it is that I continue to be inspired by those who act with vision -the many homeowners, businesses, and local governments who put their money where their mouth is.
The first bit of news is the plan for B.C. to harmonize its provincial sales tax with that of the federal government, called "HST." What has this got to do with energy efficiency and renewable energy? Because at this point in time the provincial tax is exempted on these products, essentially giving a 7% break on the price of "going green." Bicycles, solar panels, insulation and a whole lot more are currently exempted. After July 1st, 2010, they very likely won't be.
The other, much less publicised, bit of news is that the government is further reducing its royalties on natural gas exploration in a desperate attempt to increase its revenues as a result of increased drilling and selling of leases. There is currently too much natural gas on the market, depressing prices and making it less enticing to explore for new sources. This reduction in royalties will drive down the price even further, making renewable energy less attractive. In the end the planet will pay for this foolishness. So will we.
With these two strokes the current government has shown just how shallow its commitment to a sustainable future truly is. Of course the government is hurting for revenues. If it had the vision of Germany or even China (believe it or not) to push for renewable energy such as tidal and wave, the tax base would be improved and we could be exporting our technologies to other nations. Now we will be even more dependent on a finite fuel.
So it is that I continue to be inspired by those who act with vision -the many homeowners, businesses, and local governments who put their money where their mouth is.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Home energy upgrades
Yesterday I did what I most love doing: I met with an eager couple who are fixing up their newly acquired home, including sorting out how to make it much more energy efficient.
We spent about an hour and a half together. They gave me a brief tour of their new home, which was built in the late 60's, and features a great view of Departure Bay in Nanaimo B.C.
As is often true of many homes that have a view, this home had many large windows facing the water. A lot of modern homes have the brightness that comes from such windows. The down side, of course, is that windows are usually the worst performing surface of any home. It is likely that their windows waste 25% or more of the energy in their home.
This home also has a bit of a cathedral ceiling in the living and dining rooms. It is likely there is no insulation in that structure, another big waster.
One of the real advantages of the house is that it currently has convective hot water heating. They have removed the carpet that was partially blocking the air intake to the baseboard units, and we talked about how much more efficient they are without the covers on (as they then become radiant heaters).
Too often heating specialists ignore the very fine heating system water/hydronic systems are. I have learned from a plumber that water is over a thousand times more efficient at distributing heat than is air.
So one of the options we examined is the possibility of partially providing the hot water from a heat pump. Heat pumps are great at creating hot water! Not well known in North America, but the fact remains.
We looked at a whole variety of ways they could improve the home's energy, and I left feeling satisfied that this motivated couple would see a huge drop in the annual energy bill, plus way lower pollution and emissions.
Now their home will be beautiful in more than one way.
We spent about an hour and a half together. They gave me a brief tour of their new home, which was built in the late 60's, and features a great view of Departure Bay in Nanaimo B.C.
As is often true of many homes that have a view, this home had many large windows facing the water. A lot of modern homes have the brightness that comes from such windows. The down side, of course, is that windows are usually the worst performing surface of any home. It is likely that their windows waste 25% or more of the energy in their home.
This home also has a bit of a cathedral ceiling in the living and dining rooms. It is likely there is no insulation in that structure, another big waster.
One of the real advantages of the house is that it currently has convective hot water heating. They have removed the carpet that was partially blocking the air intake to the baseboard units, and we talked about how much more efficient they are without the covers on (as they then become radiant heaters).
Too often heating specialists ignore the very fine heating system water/hydronic systems are. I have learned from a plumber that water is over a thousand times more efficient at distributing heat than is air.
So one of the options we examined is the possibility of partially providing the hot water from a heat pump. Heat pumps are great at creating hot water! Not well known in North America, but the fact remains.
We looked at a whole variety of ways they could improve the home's energy, and I left feeling satisfied that this motivated couple would see a huge drop in the annual energy bill, plus way lower pollution and emissions.
Now their home will be beautiful in more than one way.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Energy Co-ops
In yesterday's posting I mentioned one solution to our coming energy and environmental crises is through local citizens creating "energy cooperatives."
Energy co-ops can be formed in a variety of ways, and with various kinds of energy production. They can range from a larger energy supplier such as the Toronto co-op that has erected a commercial wind turbine in that city to smaller co-ops such as in Vancouver where the membership works at helping each other put solar hot water systems on their roofs.
Co-ops can be formed between businesses, as well, so as to reduce the cost of purchasing equipment, and in sharing the knowledge base.
A couple of months ago the "Carbon Busters" group in the Duncan area sponsored a fantastic public event designed to kick-start a multiple-household purchasing arrangement to install solar hot water systems there. While this arrangement may not be a co-op as such, it has virtually all the markings of one. By working together the provincial government will further reduce the cost of installing systems on 20 roofs or more. Plus a contractor(s) can enjoy lowered operating costs when involved in a multiple-house installation. Win-win for everyone!
These co-ops (formal and informal) have been increasing in popularity around the world, and under the new administration there are taking off in the U.S. They make a lot of sense, not only on economical grounds, but also because they offer people in similar circumstances to get together and talk about energy in practical terms. The enthusiasm ends up being contagious (in a good way!), resulting in a greater uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Energy co-ops can be formed in a variety of ways, and with various kinds of energy production. They can range from a larger energy supplier such as the Toronto co-op that has erected a commercial wind turbine in that city to smaller co-ops such as in Vancouver where the membership works at helping each other put solar hot water systems on their roofs.
Co-ops can be formed between businesses, as well, so as to reduce the cost of purchasing equipment, and in sharing the knowledge base.
A couple of months ago the "Carbon Busters" group in the Duncan area sponsored a fantastic public event designed to kick-start a multiple-household purchasing arrangement to install solar hot water systems there. While this arrangement may not be a co-op as such, it has virtually all the markings of one. By working together the provincial government will further reduce the cost of installing systems on 20 roofs or more. Plus a contractor(s) can enjoy lowered operating costs when involved in a multiple-house installation. Win-win for everyone!
These co-ops (formal and informal) have been increasing in popularity around the world, and under the new administration there are taking off in the U.S. They make a lot of sense, not only on economical grounds, but also because they offer people in similar circumstances to get together and talk about energy in practical terms. The enthusiasm ends up being contagious (in a good way!), resulting in a greater uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Brief on solutions; long on results
The following is the outline of a 20 minute talk I am about to give on the 27th to an informal "green drinks" group. (These are 'green' minded folk who get together monthly and have a drink while talking about issues of sustainability.) This one meets monthly in Nanaimo.
Problems
· Peak oil
· Increasing demand for fossil fuels
· Green House Gas emissions from fossil fuels (Co2) and from meat production (methane gas)
· Loss of agricultural land
· Running out of chemical fertilisers (especially non-toxic ones)
· Running out of potable water for farms and cities
· Continuing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles
· Waste of energy in buildings
Solutions
· Move away from fossil fuels and toward solar (direct and indirect) and tidal energies
· Move away from meat consumption (to greatly reduce methane gas production)
· Accelerate integrated transportation network
· Build cycle paths everywhere
· Protect agricultural land and encourage back-yard gardens and community gardens
· Encourage local buying (of food and everything!)
· Utilise the sewer waste stream and compost food left-overs to fertilise farm-land and gardens
· Capture rainwater, re-use waste water for toilets
· Institute mandatory waste-heat recovery systems in all buildings; use lending ability of utilities such as BC Hydro to encourage energy upgrades in buildings, give tax credits to greater energy efficiency while taxing carbon
Discussion
The technologies are already available and relatively inexpensive (especially compared to the cost of not acting). If car manufacturers and banks can be bailed out, why can we not invest in the future of our planet home?
I estimate that about half of the votes in the last B.C. (Canada) provincial election were cast in favour of the environment. That means that both the mainstream political parties that have a presence in Victoria should be held to account for their environmental policies.
Here are ways to encourage this to happen:
1. Write letters to government and opposition parties encouraging a better carbon tax and an end to oil/gas subsidies and a moratorium on off-shore drilling and shipping of fossil fuels
2. Offer your vision to elected officials, your friends, family, co-workers, kids, and wherever you have an audience!
3. Lead by example. Make the needed changes not only because it will have a personal pay-back but also because doing so will benefit future generations and the planet as a whole. Don’t ask about the “payback period” for you. Ask about the “payback period” for the planet.
4. Discover the freedom associated with going green. Become liberated! (Garden, cycling, walking, slower pace of life, better food, more ‘grounded’, more interesting, fewer debts –freedom!)
5. Work with others to make the needed changes. Form a “carbon-busters” group here? Form an energy cooperative?
Comments anyone?
Problems
· Peak oil
· Increasing demand for fossil fuels
· Green House Gas emissions from fossil fuels (Co2) and from meat production (methane gas)
· Loss of agricultural land
· Running out of chemical fertilisers (especially non-toxic ones)
· Running out of potable water for farms and cities
· Continuing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles
· Waste of energy in buildings
Solutions
· Move away from fossil fuels and toward solar (direct and indirect) and tidal energies
· Move away from meat consumption (to greatly reduce methane gas production)
· Accelerate integrated transportation network
· Build cycle paths everywhere
· Protect agricultural land and encourage back-yard gardens and community gardens
· Encourage local buying (of food and everything!)
· Utilise the sewer waste stream and compost food left-overs to fertilise farm-land and gardens
· Capture rainwater, re-use waste water for toilets
· Institute mandatory waste-heat recovery systems in all buildings; use lending ability of utilities such as BC Hydro to encourage energy upgrades in buildings, give tax credits to greater energy efficiency while taxing carbon
Discussion
The technologies are already available and relatively inexpensive (especially compared to the cost of not acting). If car manufacturers and banks can be bailed out, why can we not invest in the future of our planet home?
I estimate that about half of the votes in the last B.C. (Canada) provincial election were cast in favour of the environment. That means that both the mainstream political parties that have a presence in Victoria should be held to account for their environmental policies.
Here are ways to encourage this to happen:
1. Write letters to government and opposition parties encouraging a better carbon tax and an end to oil/gas subsidies and a moratorium on off-shore drilling and shipping of fossil fuels
2. Offer your vision to elected officials, your friends, family, co-workers, kids, and wherever you have an audience!
3. Lead by example. Make the needed changes not only because it will have a personal pay-back but also because doing so will benefit future generations and the planet as a whole. Don’t ask about the “payback period” for you. Ask about the “payback period” for the planet.
4. Discover the freedom associated with going green. Become liberated! (Garden, cycling, walking, slower pace of life, better food, more ‘grounded’, more interesting, fewer debts –freedom!)
5. Work with others to make the needed changes. Form a “carbon-busters” group here? Form an energy cooperative?
Comments anyone?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Pain leads to technology adoption
I love watching people's faces when they see what the In'flector see-through window insulation does with my standard window-tester. It is rather amazing to see how radiant energy so easily passes through various types of windows, but gets reflected by this aluminum-sided product.
Currently the world has enough technology, and those who know how to make it work, to completely change our economies from carbon-based to carbon-free energy systems. We need to begin by saving most of the energy we currently waste (mostly in transportation and buildings, plus food production). Then we can tap into such things as tidal power, the sun, wind, and others such as geo-thermal (using the heat from the core of the planet).
The problem is not the technology. The problem is will-power. We are not yet hurting enough, despite the increasing number of droughts, floods, storms, rising oceans, disappearing water sources, etc. Without enough pain we are unlikely to change much.
Pain will be coming. I see that gas prices are again rising. Why? We're running out of cheap oil, and the demand keeps on rising. This pain may help us to save ourselves from a terrible future of rapidly changing weather.
Seems strange to be hoping for pain. But, much like having a dentist repair a cavity, such pain is needed in order to avoid a much greater pain, and loss, later on. We do owe this to our children and grandchildren, and all the other lifeforms that share this earth-ship with us.
Currently the world has enough technology, and those who know how to make it work, to completely change our economies from carbon-based to carbon-free energy systems. We need to begin by saving most of the energy we currently waste (mostly in transportation and buildings, plus food production). Then we can tap into such things as tidal power, the sun, wind, and others such as geo-thermal (using the heat from the core of the planet).
The problem is not the technology. The problem is will-power. We are not yet hurting enough, despite the increasing number of droughts, floods, storms, rising oceans, disappearing water sources, etc. Without enough pain we are unlikely to change much.
Pain will be coming. I see that gas prices are again rising. Why? We're running out of cheap oil, and the demand keeps on rising. This pain may help us to save ourselves from a terrible future of rapidly changing weather.
Seems strange to be hoping for pain. But, much like having a dentist repair a cavity, such pain is needed in order to avoid a much greater pain, and loss, later on. We do owe this to our children and grandchildren, and all the other lifeforms that share this earth-ship with us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
