With a goal to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent over the next decade, Penn State will tighten its leaky faucets, install LED light fixtures and replace outdated heating systems as part of the U.S. Department of Energys Better Buildings Challenge.

In its third year, the Better Buildings Challenge has committed three billion square feet to improving infrastructure efficiency throughout the United States. It involves 190 different organizations and 600 manufacturing facilities, according to its website .

Penn State has been focused in this area for a long time, Assistant Vice President of Office of Physical Plant Steve Maruszewski said. Being involved in something like this allows us to team up with our peers to find better solutions to learn from each other so we can be more effective at conserving energy.

Penn State is the largest university in the program, with 23,000 acres of land and 32 million square feet of buildings , Alex Novak, director of Communications for the Office of Physical Plant and the Sustainability Institute , said. Other universities in the challenge include University of Virginia and University of Michigan .

Joining the Better Buildings Challenge is part of a longstanding effort to improve the universitys utility functions and replace its outdated infrastructure, Novak said.

Our energy density has already been dropping over the last 10 years, Novak said. This is a pledge to continue with that trend.

Since 2003, Penn State has invested $75 million in energy improvement programs. The university is also making a $60 million investment in energy savings over the next five years. Of a $2.7 billion capital plan, 60 percent is dedicated to building renovations , Novak said.

Participating in the Better Buildings Challenge furthers Penn States energy conservation initiatives.

Really, all of this has been going on for more than 10 years and its gone on under the radar, Novak said. People just dont know whats happening, but were becoming more and more efficient and thats really positive.

Rob Cooper, director of Energy and Engineering for the Office of Physical Plant, said of the projects include improving Penn States heating and air conditioning units, increasing ventilation in laboratories and installing carbon dioxide sensors.

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Penn State to reduce energy usage through Better Buildings Challenge

LAS VEGAS - The temperature is cooling down, but crime is heating up. Police say criminals are targeting easily accessible homes and cars.

Metro Police says auto theft is up nearly 19 percent this year. While home break-ins are slightly down, police urge homeowners not to get complacent.

Police say criminals mostly target open doors and windows. Many homeowners leave garage doors open, providing a tempting target for thieves. Open car windows also present an open invitation.

Take all your items out of your vehicle. If anyone is looking at vehicles and they're looking to commit an auto theft or an auto burglary, they will look in that vehicle, said Metro Police Officer Larry Hadfield. If they see high-valued or high-tag items in there, such as an iPod, tablets, laptops or cell phones, they can get in that vehicle. If given the opportunity to get in the vehicle, then they also have the opportunity to steal the vehicle."

They're looking at the house that's easiest to get into, that they, that they're not going to get caught, Hadfield said. They're not motivated by violence. They're in there to get things of value, so they can pawn them or hawk them off to gain profit."

According to Scout.com, the most common areas for crime are in the central part of the valley. Scout.com says there is a one in 31 chance of becoming a property crime victim. Las Vegas also has one of the highest rates in the country for vehicle theft.

Technology can help. In addition to monitoring high-crime neighborhoods on websites like Scout.com, people can download smart phone apps like Next Door, which creates a neighborhood watch online.

Surveillance cameras have also become affordable and easy to install. While criminals who are caught on camera may still get away with stolen property, the cameras help police identify and catch them.

If you forget to close your garage door, a smart phone app can help. Several apps enable users to open and close their garage doors when they aren't home. There are also apps that enable people to shut and lock their doors.

Bear in mind, criminals have access to technology too. Some criminals can use universal remotes to open locked doors.

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Police warn of crime as temperatures cool

An efficient heating or cooling system is essential for the comfort of your home. Regardless of location, some form of climate control is a fundamental feature of every home. Prices for heating and cooling installations are affected by a number of variables-- considering them can help you plan for an effective system and a smooth installation.

Heating and cooling systems vary in their types, fuels, and installation methods. The type of system you choose will determine the materials, skills and equipment needed for installation, but in general you can expect an average heating system installation to cost about $1059, compared to $1588 for a cooling system and $1557 for a combination heating and cooling appliance.

The size and layout of homes often differ from apartment and business facilities, requiring different types of systems for efficient operation. Installations in single-family home are often straight-forward and cost an average of $626. Planning and installing heating and cooling systems for apartment and commercial buildings can be more complex and require substantial equipment, costing about $1123 for apartments and $1347 for businesses.

Most home system installations are simplest during construction, when walls and floors are open and unfinished. Installing a new heating or cooling system during construction or where one has never been installed typically costs $1210. Fitting a replacement system may require the removal of old equipment or modifications to accommodate the new one. Extra considerations for installing a replacement system contribute to average prices of $1083.

Natural gas, propane, oil, and electricity are typically used to power heating and cooling systems. An important factor in choosing your new system is whether it will use the same fuel as the current system or if conversion will be necessary. Average prices for replacing a unit of the same type include $1235 for natural gas, $1218 for propane, $1322 for oil and $1072 for electric appliances.

The age of a heating or cooling system can affect the price of installing a replacement, since removal and modifications can range in complexity. Replacing a system less than 5 years old generally requires little modification unless you are changing fuels, and may cost about $814. An 8 year old appliance may cost $1127 to replace, while replacing any system over 10 years old costs an average of $1378. Old heating and cooling systems may require extensive labor to dismantle and remove, and needed upgrades to ductwork or plumbing can add to overall costs. Converting to a new heating method can be a complex and expensive addition to your project as well, since switching from radiators or ducts to radiant tubing or baseboard heat may require substantial modifications to your home.

The type of fuel you will use for your new heating or cooling system is an important factor of installation costs. For new installations, wiring, venting, and supply lines can usually be run easily during construction, and fitting a replacement system that can use existing connections is generally straight forward. Installing a natural gas system may cost about $1177, while other units average $1148 for propane installations, $1386 for oil, and $814 for electric. Converting to a new fuel source for a replacement system may involve several modifications to your home, so be sure to confirm whether your installer will perform or contract for any needed changes or if you will need to hire additional contractors to handle any wiring or plumbing upgrades.

The type, age, and fuel of your existing system are important factors in selecting and installing a replacement, just as similar considerations are important in new installations. Your contractor can help you choose a system that is appropriate for your home and plan for conversions, modifications, or upgrades that may be needed for its operation.

Excerpt from:
Heating & Cooling System Installation Cost | Redbeacon

Ecovent

Cambridge, Mass.-based startup, Ecovent, was founded by Dipul Patel and developed at MIT. Although Ecovent is a new name in home heating and cooling, Patel told me that he has been toying around with this idea since 2008. Back then, he was working at Lockheed Martin and trying to save money for his upcoming wedding.

One ill-fated cost-saving strategy involved shutting off the air vents in select rooms throughout his house. It worked, but then his mom came to visit and ended up spending quite an uncomfortable night in one of Patel's unventilated rooms. This simple mistake prompted him to re-examine the entire concept of whole-home temperature control and eventually turned into Ecovent.

Rather than trying to remember to open and close your vents as needed, Ecovent's solution automatically adjusts them for you. And, instead of a pricey professional install, Ecovent says its wireless, DIY-friendly products can get the job done for roughly $200 a room.

Ecovent manages this with its own temperature, humidity and motion-sensing wall plugs (outfitted with USB ports for good measure), custom vents and an Android and iOS app. Stick the sensor plugs throughout your house, replace your current vents with Ecovent's app-enabled ones, label the various plugs and vents, tell the app your ideal temperature settings by room, and let the system re-route your heat and AC to suit your exact specifications.

According to Ecovent's official press release, it "applies aeronautical engineering principles to optimize airflow and preserve HVAC system integrity. It also adjusts to changes in the home and learns from users' input over time." Sounds good to me.

While Ecovent will work with a plain ol' thermostat, it's optimized for smart versions. And although Patel didn't share specifics, he mentioned that Ecovent was planning ahead as far as APIs and third-party partnerships. Pre-orderable kits are available now; check out Ecovent.com for more details.

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Ecovent takes smart heating and cooling seriously

As winter temperatures drop, the potential for higher utility bills goes up. Taking steps ahead of the cold season can help you trim costs and make your home more energy-efficient, keeping those utility bills in check even as the winter weather rages.

Many homeowners just assume the winter season means their bills will go up as systems work harder to keep their home regulated, says Francois Lebrasseur, marketing manager of water products for GE Appliances. In reality, there are many steps one can take to improve energy efficiency and minimize the added expense that comes with extreme winter temperatures.

Before winter weather sets in, take some time to assess your home for potential problem areas and improvements that can help lower your energy costs.

Water heaters. Heat isnt the only system that gets an extra workout come winter. Cooler house temperatures may require water heaters to work harder, so ensuring you have a model well-suited to your familys year-round needs is key. In fact, heating water is the second source of energy use in the residential home after space heating and cooling, with standard electric water heaters costing the average homeowner $585 every year to operate. One energy-efficient option is the 50-gallon GE GeoSpring hybrid electric water heater, which can save the average household $365 every year (using 1,514 kilowatt-hours per year and national average electricity rate of 12 cents per kWh) compared to a 50-gallon standard electric water heater (using 4,646 kWh per year), as based on a test comparison.

Thermostat. A programmable thermostat is easy to install and saves energy (and money) by automatically adjusting to pre-determined temperature settings. This allows you to drop the temperature during the day when no one is home, but have a comfortable environment ready when you arrive home from work each day. According to Energy Star, when used properly, a programmable thermostat can save as much as $150 a year.

Air leaks. An airtight house is critical to managing your heat-related expenses. You take time to close windows and doors to prevent heat from escaping, but thats only half the battle. Sealing cracks around those windows and doors, and other leak-prone areas such as the basement and attic, will help keep heat inside and costs down.

Family Features

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Head off bigutility bills

WACO, Texas (PRWEB) October 09, 2014

Mold thrives in cool, dark moist places like crawl spaces or basements where there is a strong likelihood of leaky plumbing, humid air conditions, and poor drainage. The experts at Rainbow International say the formation of mold in these places can lead to the spread of mold that not only affects home air quality but also could lead to structural damage in the home. Taking preventive steps to prevent mold in crawl spaces and basements is vital for protecting a home and the familys health.

How can homeowners know if their homes crawl space or basement has mold? Rainbow International recommends paying attention to the following signs:

To reduce the risk of mold in crawl spaces or a basement, consider these suggestions:

To learn more about crawl space or basement mold prevention in the home, contact your local Rainbow International specialists. The specialists can inspect and remove the mold to prevent future issues.

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Take Care of the Air Down Under: Rainbow International Explains Mold Infiltration in Crawl Spaces and Basements

MUSCATINE, Iowa Major repairs on the Muscatine County Courthouse's clock tower have been completed and all four clock dials are back in operation.

Muscatine Couny Budget Coordinator Sherry Seright reported the news to the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors during its weekly meeting Monday morning. Seright said that while repairs to the clock mechanism were completed, some lighting in the tower still needed to be replaced, but that would be done at a later date by county personnel.

After months of the clock being out of operation and research by the board, members voted in August to award a repair contract to Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the amount of $26,149. Work on the project began soon afterward.

HVAC

On another construction matter, Seright also reported to the board that work on a new heating, venting and air conditioning project for the Muscatine County Administration Building, 414 E. Third St., was ahead of schedule. She anticipated that project being completed by the end of October.

The project will install a new $1.02 million geothermal HVAC project for the building. Contractors are tapping into the existing geothermal system currently in operation at the Muscatine County Courthouse across the street from the administration building to provide heating and cooling to those buildings through underground wells and pumps to heat and cool buildings without the need for conventional boiler systems, providing an energy cost savings to the county.

Voting

Muscatine County Auditor Leslie Soule, who also serves as county election commissioner, noted during the meeting that early voting for the Nov. 4 general election had begun in Muscatine County.

She reminded county voters who are receiving absentee ballots by mail that they are required to sign the back of the envelopes for their ballots to have a valid vote. Soule noted that the auditor's office has had to contact some of those voters to make sure those envelopes are signed.

Soule also announced locations for satellite voting in the Muscatine County area during the next two weeks. She noted that those who have requested ballots by mail should wait for those ballots, but any other residents who have not voted were encourage to vote. (See info box elsewhere with this story for the list of satellite voting locations.)

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All hands on deck at the courthouse: Clock is back in operation

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If you're thinking about installing a geothermal system, the initial cost is certainly one of the factors that plays a role in the decision-making process. Although geothermal heating and cooling will probably save you money in the long run, it is more expensive than conventional systems. The equipment isn't much more expensive, its the underground portion known as the loop-field which adds to upfront cost. Consumers should first become acquainted with the geothermal installation process to understand how the cost is derived.

The short answer to how cost is calculated is as follows:

Indoor Portion + Underground Loop Field = Total System Cost

The inside portion is composed of the price of the geothermal heat pump, its installation, and possible duct work modification. This is done by an HVAC contractor properly trained in geothermal.

The Underground Loop Field involves drilling (or sometimes escavating) and materials. This is usually done by a well driller. The loop field is approximately 50% of the total cost, although many factors effect this generalization.

For your particular situation the following variables are considered:

The first factor that we'll take a look at is the size of the home or other building for which you'd like to install geothermal. Look at it like this - a 2000 sq. ft. home isn't going to require the same amount of heating and cooling as a 6000 sq. ft. church. The larger the area covered, the more heating and cooling it is going to demand. That said, a major variable of pricing is the insulation factor, which has a direct effect on how much heating and cooling is needed. Do you live in a well insulated home or a cardboard box?

Based on the size of the home, insulation, and climate the amount of heating and cooling needed is calculated, which in turn enables a contractor to calculate the size of the heat pump for the job. Needless to say, a larger heat pump is going to be a little pricier than one that's smaller in comparison.

Next, the size of the loop field that's to be installed in the ground comes into play. The size of the system (3-ton, 4-ton, etc.) along with the climate in which your located will dictate the amount of pipe that needs to be inserted into the earth. A loop field contractor will usually charge a price per foot; therefore, the larger the system, the more pipe that needs to go into the ground, the more expensive the loop field becomes. The loop field cost can vary by region because of the availability of contractors, the ground conditions, and also the price of fuel.

In most cases, this shouldn't be too large of a factor, as most existing ductwork requires little to no adjustment to be suitable for geothermal heating and cooling. That said, if you don't have existing ductwork then you'll have the full expense of installing it. However, it's important to consider that this is a cost for which you are going to be responsible for regardless of what type of heating and cooling you install. Ductwork is simply a necessity of almost all HVAC systems - not an exclusive monetary addition to your geothermal system pricing.

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Average Cost of a Geothermal Heat Pump Installation | No ...

Two York Affinity modulating gas furnaces win Best Buy awards

MILWAUKEE Consumers Digest recently named Johnson Controls Best Buy award winners for two York Affinity Series modulating gas furnaces models for outstanding efficiency ratings, fuel-conserving features and improved homeowner comfort. The designation also considered ease of use, maintenance requirements and quality and reliability.

The variable-speed model features an electronically commutated motor (ECM) that delivers up to 98 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), positioning the unit among the industrys most efficient gas furnaces. The second Affinity model recognized by Consumers Digest uses a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor to deliver a 97 percent AFUE.

For dealers and homeowners searching for efficient heating systems that are easy to install and service in tight spaces while contributing to sustainable home design, the York Affinity furnaces are a great choice, said Liz Haggerty, vice president and general manager, Unitary Products Group, Johnson Controls.

Both units are conveniently compact and stand at just 33 inches, making them the ideal solution for applications where space is limited, including closets, attics and basements with low ceilings. Homeowners who install one of the furnaces in their homes will also appreciate the units quiet operation.

These York Affinity furnaces are ENERGY STAR qualified and come with a lifetime limited warranty on the heat exchanger from Johnson Controls. All other model components include a 10-year limited warranty. York products from Johnson Controls include energy-efficient, residential central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and accessories and innovative light-commercial, packaged heating and cooling systems marketed through a national distribution network and delivered to home- and building-owners through qualified York heating and cooling contractors. For more information about York, visit: http://www.york.com.

Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

Please Direct Reader Inquiries to:

Steve Hoffins Director of Marketing Unitary Products Johnson Controls 507 E. Michigan Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202

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Consumers Digest Recognizes York Gas Furnaces for Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings