Ive been accused of not being the most exciting guy. My wife would no doubt agree, and my granddaughter thinks Im outright boring. I do admit I tend to have a fairly narrow range of subjects that interest me. Good books, long walks and church potlucks come to mind. There is one thing that gets my heart pumping: Energy conservation!

Conserving energy for me is like being in the middle of a CSI episode. I work with people to gather evidence and fit together clues that lead to reducing bills, maintaining system integrity, and cleaning the environment. And every situation is different. Theres nothing boring about chasing energy robbers.

While there are many different culprits that cause us to be inefficient, one in particular seems to be difficult to understand and typically overlooked. Thats insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling can account for up to 70 percent of the energy used in the average home. Lack of insulation is one of the leading causes of energy waste, so it is an important topic. Installing adequate insulation will save money and improve comfort.

Heat flows naturally via conduction, convection, and radiation from a warmer to a cooler space. Our homes lose heat in the winter and gain it in the summer. To maintain comfort, the heat lost in winter must be replaced by your heating system, and the heat gained in summer must be removed by your air conditioner. Insulation decreases your homes heating or cooling need by providing a resistance to heat loss or gain.

All materials resist the flow of heat to some extent. Even air slows heat movement. This, and blocking air infiltration, is why installing window plastic helps during winter. Insulation materials are rated on their ability to resist the flow of heat. This resistance is represented as an R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat flow, and the better job the insulation will do at reducing your bills. The R-value of insulation depends on the type of material, its thickness, and its density.

The effectiveness of insulation depends on how its installed. Insulation which is compressed will not give you its full rated R-value. This can happen if you add denser insulation on top of lighter insulation, place something on top of the insulation, or when the insulation gets wet. It also happens if you place fiberglass blankets rated for one thickness into a thinner cavity, such as placing R-19 insulation intended for 6-inch wall cavity into a 3 1/2-inch wall cavity.

Joists, rafters, and studs have a different resistance to heat flow than does the insulation between. So, the overall R-value of a wall or ceiling will be somewhat different from the R-value of the insulation itself. This uneven heat flow across an area is called thermal bridging. Its important that attic insulation cover the tops of the joists and that insulating sheathing is used on walls.

Fiberglass blankets, loose fill cellulose, and low-density foams such as polyicynene and expanded polystyrene all work by limiting air movement. Still air is an effective insulator because it eliminates convection and has low conduction. This is why insulation works best when not compressed. Some foam insulation products such as polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, and extruded polystyrene are filled with special gases that provide additional resistance to heat flow.

So, which kind of insulation is best? Well, it depends. Basically, the type of insulation to buy and install depends on how much is needed, the accessibility of the space to be insulated, the amount space available for the insulation, the local availability and price of insulation, and homeowner preferences. And not all insulation materials are created the same in terms of R-value. For instance, fiberglass blankets have an R-value of about 3.3 per inch, polystyrene foam board about 3.5 per inch, icynene spray foam about 3.6 per inch, cellulose blow-in about 3.7 per inch, and urethane foam about 5.3 per inch.

The amount of energy you save depends on the climate, the type of insulation you use, and the living habits of your family. Installing any amount of insulation will save energy. However, after a certain amount there is a diminishing return on investment. In Ames (weather zone 5), the Department of Energy recommends an R-value of 38 for ceilings, 20 for walls, and 10 for basement walls, slabs, and crawl spaces. It makes economic sense for a homeowner to reach these numbers by adding insulation. Adding more than this will certainly save additional energy, but the economics are less attractive. These upgrades will provide smaller savings and a longer payback.

See original here:
Energy Guy: Efficient insulation

POSTED AT 10:32 PM ON Feb. 20, 2014

Bloomington Transit has started construction on a new transit center. The center will be on Third and Walnut Streets and should be completed within the next four months.

The center is a joint project between Bloomington Transit and the City of Bloomington, said Lew May, general manager at Bloomington Transit.

The building will have a second floor dedicated to the Bloomington/Monroe County 911 dispatch center, which is currently located at 223 E. Third St.

The city is paying about $2 million in construction costs and Bloomington Transit about $5 million, May said.

Money for the transit portion is coming from federal grants and local Bloomington Transit funds, May said.

May mentioned a number of components Bloomington Transit is adding to the new center.

There will be canopies outside to shelter people from rain while waiting for the buses. The canopies will reach far enough to allow passengers to get on the bus without getting wet, May said.

There will also be more passenger amenities on site, like public restrooms and air-conditioning, which the current Bloomington Transit center on Fourth and Washington Streets does not have, May said.

In an attempt to use more advanced technology, the construction staff is installing free wireless Internet for passengers waiting for buses at the center, May said, as well as digital information monitors with arrival times and bus tracking technologies.

See the original post here:
City transit center construction begins

Water conservation tips

WRITTEN BY : Provided by City of Downey

Landscape Irrigation - Outdoor landscaping can consume 50% or more of the water used at a property. Focus on reducing evaporation, eliminating runoff, and only watering as much as needed. *Water your lawn and garden in the early morning or late evening to reduce water lost to evaporation and exposure to wind *Reduce the number of days and length of time that you water your landscaping. Most landscaping only needs to be watered 2-3 days per week and 6-7 minutes per cycle; Possibly less during winter months. *Use drip irrigation where possible and consider drought resistant native landscaping. *The best time to plant natives is in the fall/winter *Save hundreds of gallons of water a year by using organic mulch around trees and plants to reduce water evaporation and discourage weed growth *Install a smart irrigation controller that adjusts watering based on weather, soil type, amount of shade, and type of landscaping *If using a standard controller, install a rain sensor or turn off sprinklers when it rains *Maximize the amount of water delivered to your landscaping by checking your irrigation system to prevent overspray, replace broken sprinkler heads, and repair leaks routinely *Rotating sprinkler nozzles can result in 20% less water use than conventional spray heads *Plant with finished compost to add nutrients and water holding organic matter to soil Pools, Spas, and Ponds - Due to the automatic fill mechanism on many pools, spas, and ponds, leaks can go undetected resulting in significant water waste. *Check pools, spas, and ponds for leaks *Turn off the automatic fill mechanism, place a weighted bucket filled with water to the same level as the pool/pond on a step, and determine if the water level in the pool/pond is dropping faster which would indicate a leak. *Alternatively, use a grease pencil to mark the pool water level at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later to see if you have a leak Sidewalks, Driveways, Parking, Patios - Using water to wash down sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, patios, or other paved areas except to alleviate immediate fire, sanitation, or health hazards is prohibited in Downey. *Use a broom, not a hose, to clean sidewalks, driveways, and patios; Use a broom or commercial sweeper for parking areas. Indoor Water Use - Indoor water use is primarily determined by the appliances we use, our water use habits, and upkeep of plumbing. Know what is happening with your water and where you can save by performing a quick survey of your property. Toilets, Showerheads, Faucets *Check your toilet for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. After 30 minutes (without flushing) check to see if any color shows up in the bowl. Invisible leaks can waste 100 gallons of water a day. *Use high-efficiency (1.28 gallons per flush or less) toilets, water saving shower heads, and low-flow (1.8 gallons per minute or less) faucet aerators *Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth and shaving, and avoid long showers *Check faucets for leaks; even a slow drip can waste 15-20 gallons per day *Consider waterless urinals for your business Clothes Washers and Dishwashers *Only run full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine. Half-full loads waste water and money. *Use Energy Star clothes washers which use 35-50% less water and energy per load *Use water saving front-load clothes washers *Avoid "permanent press" cycles which can use an extra 5 gallons for extra rinse Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling *Use your water meter to check for leaks. With all water use turned off, check your water meter reading. Then check the meter again in 30 minutes. If the reading has changed, you have a leak. *Close the main shut off valve and run the same test to determine whether the leak is between the meter and shut off valve or downstream of the shut off valve. *Look for unusual wet spots on ceilings, floors, and in the yard indicating a leak *An instant water heater near the kitchen sink will eliminate having to wait for the water to heat up saving time and water *Set HVAC systems and water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save water

********** Published: Feb. 20, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 45

Read more from the original source:
Water conservation tips

Data centers are the massive engines under the hood of the mobile internet economy. And it is no secret that they demand a lot of energy: with energy capacities ranging from 10MW to 100MW, they require up to 80,000 times more than what a typical US home needs.

And yet, you do not have to be a genius to figure out how the enormous energy bills could be reduced. The main energy gobblers are the CRACs, Computer Room Air Conditioners or the alternative, the CRAHs, the Computer Room Air Handlers. Most data centers still rely on some form of mechanical cooling. And to the outsider, it looks pretty wasteful, even stupid, that a data center is consuming energy to cool servers down while the outside air in a mild climate is more than cold enough most of the time (less than 20C/68 F).

Free cooling

There are quite a few data centers that have embraced "free cooling" totally, i.e. using the cold air outside. The data center of Microsoft in Dublin uses large air-side economizers and make good use of the lower temperature of the outside air.

Microsoft's data center in Dublin: free cooling with air economizers (source: Microsoft)

The air side economizers bring outside air into the building and distribute it via a series of dampers and fans. Hot air is simply flushed outside. As mechanical cooling is typically good for 40-50% of the traditional data center's energy consumption, it is clear that enormous energy savings can be possible with "free cooling".

Air economizers in the data center

This is easy to illustrate with the most important - although far from perfect - benchmark for data centers, PUE or Power Usage Effectiveness. PUE is simply the ratio of the total amount of energy consumed by the data center as a whole to the energy consumed by the IT equipment. Ideally it is 1, which means that all energy goes to the IT equipment. Most data centers that host third party IT equipment are in the range of 1.4 to 2. In other words, for each watt consumed by the servers/storage/network equipment, 0.4 to 1 Watt is necessary for cooling, ventilation, UPS, power conversion and so on.

Follow this link:
Free Cooling: the Server Side of the Story

Get Breaking News First

Receive News, Politics, and Entertainment Headlines Each Morning.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) More than 100 people packed a forum in Connecticut where Metro-North commuters complained about problems plaguing the rail service.

Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker attended the commuter speak out Tuesday evening in Fairfield and took questions.

As WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported, there were a lot of complaints.

Riders complained about service delays caused by electrical problems, crowded trains and heating and cooling problems. Some commuters also accused Connecticut and Metro-North officials of not caring about them.

Peter Ziegler commutes from Milford to his job at the World Trade Center. Though he hops the 4:23 a.m., he said he often rushes to get to his job by 7 a.m.

Theyve added five minutes to the schedule and they still cant make it on time, he told Schneidau.

The new M-8 cars, advertised as snowproof have been tripped up by all the snow this winter. Many are in the shop for repairs, Schneidau reported.

That is one of the reasons why trains are so crowded and service is stretched, Schneidau reported.

Here is the original post:
Metro-North Riders Air Complaints In Conn.

City backing restoration project with preservation funds; restaurant expected to open this summer

LOUISVILLE It's all about the grand antique bar made from cherry, birch and mahogany by the Brunswick Co. in Dubuque, Iowa, that dates back to President Grover Cleveland's first term in office.

It's all about the old hand-crank elevator that for a century has lifted and lowered kegs and supplies between the basement and dining room.

It's all about the distinctive red saloon that has sat at the corner of Front and Spruce streets for 110 years, known for the last 46 years as the Old Louisville Inn.

But the survival of that history was very much in question last fall when the Old Louisville Inn closed and the building went dark, its future uncertain. Former owner Garrett McCarthy had tried to keep the creaking building going for the last 20 years but found himself losing that battle to time and the rigors of wear and tear.

"I've tried my best to put brackets in, plaster this, paint that but this is what it needs," he said.

And by this McCarthy means total refurbishment. He is now part of an investment group that will restore the building from top to bottom, even adding a 990-square-foot extension to the south, before bringing the building into its latest incarnation as bar and grill sometime this summer.

Which is about right for the old saloon at 740 Front St. Constructed for its original owner, Tivoli Beer agent E.J. Di Francia, in 1904, the building has stood the test of time as home to a string of watering holes, from DiFrancia's Saloon to Front Street Caf to Primrose Bar to the Old Louisville Inn.

The ownership group, 740 Front Street LLC, got a big boost earlier this month when the Louisville City Council authorized up to $250,000 in historic preservation fund grants to help restore the building. The new owners agreed to landmark it so that it can't be torn down.

John Gstalder, an attorney with The Louisville Law Group and one of five partners in 740 Front Street LLC, said the assistance from the city was critical to following the preservation route rather than demolition.

See more here:
Former Old Louisville Inn building to get new life under new owners

By Johnny Tubbs / Energy Saving Tips

A geothermal heat pump system is a great way to manage your homes interior climate. However, like any HVAC system, a geothermal climate control solution has both advantages and drawbacks. To help you determine whether or not geothermal is the best solution for you, we will compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal.

The overall cost of a geothermal system is usually seen as the biggest disadvantage when compared to other heating and cooling systems. It requires expensive parts that cause it to cost more than double the amount of other HVAC systems.

Fortunately, geothermal heating and cooling is a sustainable renewable energy resource, so state and federal governments offer tax credits that will offset the cost of the system itself.

The initial installation of a geothermal heat pump system requires experienced installers to lay tubing deep underground. This, among other things, makes geothermal expensive to install.

Due to the fact that geothermal systems alter interior temperatures using the constant temperature of the ground, they dont need to consume energy to alter the temperature of the air that they pump. The long-term savings that result from this go a long way toward counterbalancing the cost of installation. You can expect to make back the cost of initial installation within a few years.

Geothermal heat pumps also last about twice as long as most other HVAC systems.

This benefit alone negates the expense of the initial installation.

Because geothermal is a newer system that requires complicated installation, finding an installer can be difficult. When considering an HVAC company for installation, ask about their experience, as well as references to check before you commit.

Concerned the disadvantages of geothermal outweigh the pros for your home? Let the experts at Conroe Air help you decide. We proudly serve the HVAC and home comfort needs of Montgomery County homeowners. Visit http://www.conroeair.com for more.

Continue reading here:
Weighing the disadvantages of geothermal against the benefits

Little Falls, NJ (PRWEB) February 14, 2014

Many parts of the country have experienced extreme winter weather, with deep freezes, snowstorms, and icy conditions. Mike DeJoseph, owner of Bloomfield Cooling, Heating & Electric, Inc. in Little Falls, N.J. said that home generator installations have become more popular during the last couple of years as weather events have become more extreme, taking down power lines, flooding electrical substations, and causing extensive power losses throughout the region.

In the last few years we got hit with Hurricane Irene, a freak October ice-and-snow storm, and Superstorm Sandy, said DeJoseph. Millions of people suffered through the aftermaths of those storms with extended power outages, and the need for alternative power supplies have become more urgent and widespread. Our generator business has really grown in response.

Before last year, DeJoseph said that many people were buying portable generators that run on gas. However, as we saw with Sandy, fuel is not always readily available after a storm. Thats when more customers started asking about automatic standby generators that run on natural gas, he explained.

With rough weather conditions in play throughout the area, DeJoseph cautions homeowners about questions to ask about the installer as well as the generator.

Permits are Required Permanent generators require zoning permits that stipulate the location where generators may be installed. A certified installer will protect the homeowner by performing the required steps involved in choosing and installing the right home generatorand avoid unexpected obstacles problems with the town when its time to sell the home.

Many customers get a rude awakening when they go to sell the house or the equipment breaks down, and they discover they have violated zoning rules and are fined, said DeJoseph.

An installation permit is also required; towns issue these based on several important calculations the installer performs:

About Bloomfield Cooling, Heating & Electric, Inc. Bloomfield Cooling, Heating & Electric, Inc.,located at 127 Paterson Avenue in Little Falls, New Jersey, serves homes and businesses throughout Bergen, Passaic, Essex, and Union counties. A specialist in home and commercial generator installations, the company won three different Angies List Super Service awards in 2013 in recognition of its superior service ratings and reviews in three distinct categories: generator installation and service, heating and air conditioning (fifth year in a row), and sheet metal fabrication and restoration. Its technicians are certified by Generac, the leading manufacturer of generators, to install and service equipment under the Generac label and other brands it produces. Bloomfield Cooling holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and an A rating on Angies List. For more information or a free consultation, contact Mike DeJoseph at (973) 237-0505 or Info(at)BloomfieldCooling(dot)com, or visit http://www.BloomfieldCooling.com. ###

Read this article:
Bloomfield Cooling, Heating & Electric Offers Tips for Homeowners on How to Select Home Generators and Installers to ...

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) February 13, 2014

Phoenix, Arizona Temperatures might be cooler right now, but before too long, it will be the dead of summer again and cooling the home will be a major priority. Air conditioning in Phoenix is one of the best ways to cool a home, but it is not the only option. Its a good thing too: air conditioning is one of the most expensive energy drains on a homeowners budget. As nice as it might feel to walk into a cool home after a long day out in the summer heat, that comfortable coolness will cost a pretty penny.

How can homeowners cool their homes without maxing out on air conditioning costs? There are several options. Remember, these options do not need to be used instead of air conditioning (though thats an option). They are meant to supplement air conditioning to achieve the most efficient cooling in a home.

Ideal Options

First on the list are options for people who are starting from scratch. In an ideal world, homeowners can create their perfect homes with an eye toward saving on cooling costs. They can situate their home on the plot of land at just the right angle to prevent the sun from warming certain rooms too much during the day. They can install state-of-the-art ceiling fans, add tile floors that keep cool, and invest in the most energy efficient air conditioning unit available. They can even choose home dcor items that help keep the house cool. Unfortunately, not everyone has a budget like this or the opportunity to begin their home cooling plans from scratch. What are some of the more practical options to help homeowners avoid overuse of air conditioners?

Insulation

Most people think of insulation as a winter chore. Though it is important for keeping heat in a space, it is also important for keeping a space cool. Every bit of cold air blown from an air conditioner should stay inside of the house. If any is seeping out through holes near the doors and windows or elsewhere, it is creating a less efficient environment. Phoenix homeowner should weather strip the homes to seal doors and windows to keep as much air in as possible when the HVAC system is operating.

It is also important to make sure the ducts are well-insulated. If air is escaping through cracks and seams in the duct system, it might be cooling areas of the home that are not meant to be cooled. For instance, how much air escapes into the super hot attic during the summer when the air conditioning is running? Aeroseal Phoenix can seal the duct system, which can saves hundreds of dollars each year on energy costs.

Fans

Installing fans in the home can also make a big difference. In addition to traditional fans intended to circulate air, ceiling fans can pull warm air up and push cooler air down into the living space. An attic fan is also an efficient way to cool a home. These heavy duty fans create an efficient system of cooling that costs much less than air conditioning.

See more here:
Phoenix A/C Contractor Announces 3 Tips to Help Cool Your Home Without an Air Conditioner

Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) February 11, 2014

The 2014 New American home featured Element Building Company as the builder, Jeffery Berkus Architects as the architectural firm and Marc Michaels Interior Design Inc. The NAHB Leading Suppliers Council heads the showcase home. Vendors within the building industry come together to show their latest products and building techniques. This years home also features design concepts including multi-generational living, indoor-outdoor space, earth elemental tones, and energy efficiency.

As the NAHBs official show home, The New American Home is a symbol of energy efficiency and innovation. The home exhibits cutting-edge products from manufacturers all over the world.

TNAH 2014 is designed to exceed the requirements for certification to the Emerald level of the National Green Building Standard. Its energy-efficient features can be used in homes in a hot-dry climate at any price point with similar energy savings. The home is also certified Platinum under the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED for Homes program, the EPA Energy Star program as well as the Indoor airPLUS program.

Two Trails, Inc. worked closely with NCHI to ensure energy efficiency and innovation in TNAH 2014. This home boasts a HERS Index of 22! It is expected to consume 78% less energy than if it were built to code (2009 IECC). At this level of energy efficiency, the home is designed to provide over $2,000 in annual energy savings to the homeowner.

The New American Home achieves a very high level of energy efficiency. The most noteworthy features of TNAH 2014 include the air tightness of its thermal shell and the use of solar energy. Under blower door testing, the thermal shell achieves 2.69 air changes at 50 Pa, an amount that is considered very airtight and keeps unwanted outdoor dry air from entering the home. Open-cell spray foam insulation is used on the inside of walls and underside of the roof deck, as well as around any penetrations, to prevent air leakage.

The home uses solar energy to power a portion of its electrical systems, space conditioning and hot water systems. The 16KW Photovoltaic (PV) system will provide approximately 83% of the annual energy needs for the home. A synchronized system of (4) Rannai natural gas-fueled tankless water heaters satisfies all of the hot water needs. The home also features both Natural Gas and Electric car charging stations in the Garage.

The systems-engineering approach unites segments of the building industry that have previously worked independently of one another.

The concept is simple: systems-engineering can make Americas homes cost effective to build or retrofit and energy efficient to live in. Energy consumption of new houses can be reduced by as much as 30% with little or no impact on the cost of construction. Similar performance can be achieved in existing homes.

To reach this goal, the Element Building team worked with their building partners to produce a home that incorporates energy and material saving strategies from design through construction. First, the team analyzed and selected cost-effective strategies for improving home performance. Next, the team evaluated design, business, and construction practices within individual partnerships to identify cost savings. Cost savings could then be reinvested to improve energy performance and product quality. For example, a design that incorporates new techniques for tightening the building envelope enabled Element Building to install smaller, less expensive heating and cooling systems. The savings generated in this process can then be reinvested in other high-performance features to further reduce energy use.

Originally posted here:
Two Trails Inc. Green Building Consultants for NAHB 2014 New American Home and the 2015 New American Home