May 25, 2012

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BRAINERD, Minn. When people in Brainerd run the dishwater, or take hot showers, they not only use energy, they create it.

The water they use and the waste they flush down toilets all flows to the sewer, which not surprisingly can be a pretty warm place - and heat can generate energy.

Brainerd officials say that unconventional source of energy to heat holds huge energy potential for heating and cooling buildings, likely starting with the city police station and a school building.

Under the right conditions that could save the city, the Brainerd School District and residents money.

"Everybody heats water," said Scott Sjolund, technology supervisor for Brainerd Public Utilities. "That's potential energy that could be extracted."

The idea for the project comes from Brainerd-based Hidden Fuels, a company that has been creating a thermal energy map of the city. In 2009, the company began working with the city and the Brainerd School District to seek a $45,000 grant from the federal stimulus package.

In 2010, a team led by Peter Nelson a principal of Hidden Fuels, installed sensors in the city's sewers. For more than a year they measured the temperature and the amount of sewage running through them.

"...There's a significant amount of energy -- literally enough to heat hundreds of homes within the streets of the city of Brainerd."

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Brainerd taps sewers for energy

Officials will spend nearly $800,000 to install new cooling and heating systems in three gymnasiums following Nacogdoches Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Hayess urging during a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday night.

My recommendation is that we make those facilities as appropriate as possible, he said. Currently, we cannot use those gyms in the hot months.

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Cooling, heating systems approved for NISD gyms

Common problems like leaky windows, drafty doors and power-hogging appliances can waste energy in your home and lead to unnecessarily-high utility bills. Thankfully, there are a slew of gadgets on the market that can identify energy drainers and lead to significant savings when it comes to heating and cooling your home.

The amount of energy products promise to save varies, but every little bit adds up to protect your wallet and keep your home cool this summer.

Programmable Thermostats

Experts say having thermostats that cant be programmed is a surefire way to waste money as forgetting to lower the heat or air conditioning while not home quickly runs up your bill.

According to Energy Star, the process of heating and cooling accounts for nearly 50% of energy use in a home. The program also estimates homeowners can save around $180 a year by properly programming their thermostats and maintaining those settings.

Prices of programmable thermostats run the gambit: they can be as little as $25 to more than $400 for high-tech models. Thermostats are available in seven day models that allow you to set air times each day, 5-2 models that use the same schedule every weekday and another for weekends, and the 5-1-1 models that keep the same schedule during the week and different schedules on each day of the weekend.

Ecobees smart thermostat is garnering a lot of interest because it has built in Wi-Fi that enables you to monitor and manage your thermostat online or from your iPhone, iPad or Android-based smartphone.

Ecobee claims customers save 26% on their energy consumption or about $500 a year using its programmable thermostat. Prothermostats.com sells the smart thermostat for $369.

Energy Monitors

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Gadgets that Zap Energy Wasters in Your Home

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

With last years record breaking summer heat and calls for energy conservation fresh on Texans minds, reducing household electricity use while staying cool and minding the family budget will be a key concern for residents this summer. As part of its ongoing focus on customer service, Reliant is offering simple, low-cost/no-cost energy efficiency tips to help Texans conserve their hard earned green and be green as this summer approaches.

Summer is just around the corner and spring is already bringing warmer than usual temperatures. Hotter temperatures mean demanding more from our air conditioners, said Reliant Vice President of Customer Care, Bill Clayton. With cooling costs averaging up to 60% of yearly electricity costs, we want to equip consumers with information about the most effective and cost-efficient ways to save on their electricity bills and conserve energy.

The following are simple, low-cost energy efficiency tips to prepare for the summer. In addition, any consumer, whether they are a Reliant customer or not, can get answers to their energy savings questions from energyexperts@reliant.com.

Less is More: Energy Efficiency Tips to Help You be Green, Save Green

Contact service@reliant.com or call 1-866-RELIANT if you have questions, need information, want to compare prices and/or learn more about Reliant e-Sense smart energy solutions that provide better insight, choice and convenience.

About Reliant

Reliant provides electricity, energy services and smart energy solutions to more than 1.5 million retail customers including homes, businesses, manufacturing facilities, government entities and institutions in Texas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As part of NRG (NYSE:NRG - News), Reliant is backed by a Fortune 500 company that is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. NRG is a pioneer in developing cleaner and smarter energy choices for its customers and its diverse power generating facilities can support over 20 million homes nationwide. For more information about Reliant products and services, visit http://www.reliant.com.

Connect with reliant at facebook.com/reliantenergy and on Twitter @reliantenergy.

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Reliant Provides Energy Efficiency Tips for Upcoming Summer Months

TOWNSEND -- Almost three years after both the Richard and Irene Collette Library and the Roy and Nancy Shepherd Senior Center opened, Sterilite is continuing to upgrade the building.

Plastics manufacturer Sterilite, whicht was established in Townsend in the late 60s, began the project in honor of the town's 275th anniversary. Since the construction, the company has kept an eye on its performance and now, in response to what they consider sub-par energy efficiency, the company has decided to install additional equipment to enhance heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the building.

"They didn't have to do this, it's already better than others in town, but they want to increase effiency and they are putting in the work," Town Administrator Andy Sheehan said.

The upgrades are expected to be finished this month and facilities manager Mark Mercurio said the weather might work out to check both A/C units before the heating is turned off for the summer.

"The temperature unit's on a semi-annual system, they turn over from cooling to heating as a whole so that they are not fighting each other and it can be as efficient as possible," he said.

Mercurio said that the systems react well to outside temperature, and he has heard very few complaints about the temperature of the building.

The upgrades consist mainly of adding more sensors and valves. More sensor points throughout the building mean more information it's central computer can

Valves are installed in the central HVAC units above the facility's kitchen and sensors have been placed on pipes leading from those units and around ceiling vents at the library and senior center. Each individual sensor is designated on a web-hosted program called Niagara, which services the entire building. Lights and temperature can be controlled and scheduled from it.

"By isolating even more areas in the system it can monitor them more effectively and adjust accordingly, it makes for a much more energy efficient operation," Mercurio said.

Sheehan said by having the thermostats talking to one another better, the already efficient building will get even better.

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Sterilite upgrades gift building

SAN ANTONIO, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the weather heating up, Champion AC has seen a dramatic boost in consumer interest of ductless air conditioning systems. Champion AC has installed approximately 75 single- and multi-zone ductless air conditioning units in South Texas.

There has been a significant increase in ductless air conditioning installation requests and the HVAC company expects it to continue. In fact, Champion AC has averaged approximately 100 website visits per month specifically looking for information on ductless air conditioning.

Ductless systems make up more than 90 percent of HVAC sales in Japan and more than 80 percent in Europe, in comparison to less than 5 percent in the United States. That number is alarming considering one of the most common problems Champion AC has found with new customers is improper air duct designs. Ductless systems show great opportunity for the future of air conditioning, because the consumer can cool or heat only the spaces that are occupied and do not have to waste energy cooling areas in the home that are not being used.

"The majority of our ductless AC customers are residential homeowners who are renovating garages or making standard home additions," said Champion AC co-owner Ben Hubbert. "We are starting to install some ductless units in commercial applications as well; however, the tendency of the business owner is to for the most cost effective solution initially rather than long term efficiency."

A room that ismost popular for ductless unit installation is the media room. Because there continues to be a trend of garages being transformed into either bedrooms or party rooms, this is another common area that homeowners are interested in installing ductless systems.

Champion AC forecasts at least a twenty five percent growth in ductless sales this year. For more information on ductless units, visit http://www.championac.com/products/ductless-air-conditioners.

About Champion AC Champion AC is a veteran-owned and operated business specializing in residential heating and air conditioning. Champion AC leads the way in "going green" and is committed to helping San Antonio residents save money through the use of high efficiency, energy saving and environmentally friendly products and services. Headquartered in Helotes, the company is located at 12682 FM Road 1560 and has been in business for nearly five years. For more information on the services and community efforts of Champion AC, visit http://www.championac.com or call 210.888.9506.

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Champion AC Forecasts Significant Increase In Ductless Air Conditioning Systems For Homeowners

Historic downtown buildings that house homeless families from Pasadena and Glendale are now showing the planet some love.

On Thursday, Union Station Homeless Services unveiled the eco-friendly renovation of Euclid Villa, funded by a $1.18 million Los Angeles County Community Development Commission grant.

Among other improvements, the 14-unit complex near the Pasadena Convention Center received solar panels, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, new flooring, a garden makeover with drought-tolerant plants and a padded-cork surface for its playground.

Pasadena Water and Power contributed water- and energy-saving appliances for each apartment.

Euclid Villa serves both the Pasadena and Glendale housing agencies and takes an equal number of families from each city.

Since 1999, 117 families 100 of them led by single moms have spent between six months and two years at Euclid Villa before obtaining permanent housing, said Union Station Executive Director Marvin Gross. Thats 338 people, 211 of them children, he said.

Kassaundra Escobar, 18, her mother and three younger siblings moved into Euclid Villa on Christmas Eve after spending more than two months at the Ascencia shelter in southwest Glendale.

It was a real blessing, said Escobar.

The renovations will improve quality of life for Euclid Villas temporary residents, reduce operating costs for Union Station and extend the lifespan of the facility, said Gross.

Euclid Villa consists of two adjoined buildings a 10,400-square-foot former nursing home built in 1945 and an 8,800-square-foot Colonial Revival home built in 1900 as a school for girls and listed on the National Register for Historic Places.

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Facility for homeless families gets an energy-saving makeover

Written by Matt Dalen, Assistant Editor Sunday, 06 May 2012 00:00

Each year, the town of New Canaan spends millions of dollars heating and powering town and school buildings. On that scale of expense, even a small improvement in efficiency can yield significant savings. And for the past few years, town officials have been doing their best to increase the energy efficiency of all of the town buildings.

"I see this as a continuing effort by the town to identify areas where we can create efficiencies," First Selectman Rob Mallozzi III told the Advertiser. "... As long as we can demonstrate that we're getting them I'm going to keep moving in that direction."

Small steps

The majority of the energy efficiency projects have involved relatively small improvements upgrading lighting and heating fixtures, adding motion sensors that automatically turn off lights after a certain amount of time, and improving insulation, among other projects. Even a simple change like modifying the color of a light bulb can affect the amount of energy required to run a building.

But the savings from these can add up in one project, insulation and energy-efficient windows were added at the New Canaan Nature Center's director house, dropping that building's heating use from about 2,200 gallons per year to about 1,400 gallons, according to town Superintendent of Buildings and Fleet Bill Oestmann.

"That building had no insulation it was a good savings just right off the bat," Oestmann said. "The nature center, we've been having good success at."

Oestmann said that other buildings have seen smaller, but still significant, savings from the improvements. The parks department building saw a 20% drop in its electrical bill after upgrades, and he estimated the highway department offices' savings at about 12 to 15%.

School projects

After performing a variety of upgrades to their lighting, heating and cooling systems, the schools are in the final stages of a project to install building management systems in Saxe Middle School and the three elementary schools. The systems automate the schools' heating systems, automatically adjusting thermostats and air handling systems, which had previously been managed manually.

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New Canaan town, schools look to save energy, money

The NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in collaboration with Montana utilities, named Formula Fabrication the 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year for the state of Montana.

The Libby-based company is known for quality installations, commitment to customer service and educating its community about the energy efficiency benefits of ductless heating and cooling systems.

During the past year the company has installed more ductless heating and cooling systems than any other contractor in Montana.

When the recession hit, our business really suffered, said Frank Sweedman, owner of Formula Fabrication. Ductless heating systems allowed us to tap into a whole new market and grow our business in a way thats great for our customers and our community.

A ductless heat pump is a highly efficient and easily installed primary heating and cooling system for electrically heated homes. These systems are safe, quiet and heat rooms evenly at a fraction of the cost of baseboards or wall heaters.

Since 2008, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, in partnership with Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration and Energy Trust of Oregon, has worked with local businesses like Formula Fabrication to install more than 14,000 ductless heating and cooling systems in the Northwest, at a savings of 49,000,000 kWh per year. That is enough electricity to power 4,400 average homes for an entire year.

Formula Fabrications success is also a success for our local economy, said Ross Holter, Energy Services Supervisor, Flathead Electric. Thanks to their leadership in promoting ductless systems and their quality installations, our customers are enjoying more comfortable homes and are saving on their electric bills during tough economic times.

Each year, in collaboration with its regional utility partners, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project selects one Contractor of the Year representing each of the four states in the region. Winning companies are qualified as Master Installers, and have completed the highest number of ductless heating and cooling system installations in their state.

Currently, 92 utility partners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington are offering customer rebates on energy-efficient ductless systems, up to $1,500, often covering 30-50 percent of the cost of an installed ductless system.

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Formula Fabrication is tops in sales in Montana

It's no secret that it's a buyer's market right now.

While a few cities like Seattle and Austin arecurrently experiencing relatively strong growth, most housing markets are still struggling to recover from the 2008 collapse. But as energy costs have risen steadily over the last decade--with no end in sight-- making a home more energy efficient could give sellers an edge. However, many of these upgrades aren't cheap, and experts say not all the green improvements are worth the added expense.

Where Does Your Money Go?

According to Energy Star, the average American family spends approximately $2,200 per year on utilities. But where does all that money go? Heating costs account for the largest chunk of the pie, encompassing 29% of total utilities expenses. Air conditioning costs account for 17%, water heating eats up 14%, and appliances (such as the refrigerator, washer, and dryer) account for 13%. The remainder is spent on electric appliances, such as the TV, computer, and lighting.

Practical Energy Upgrades

Homeowners looking to save money should focus their efforts on the areas that use up the most utility dollars, mainly upgrades that affect heating and cooling costs. An added bonus is that sometimes these upgrades will also improve the value of your home.

1. Upgrade to a New Furnace "Energy efficient furnaces are a very attractive item for energy savings and for resale," says Linda Barnwell, a certified ecobroker withKeller Williams."Airtight homes that are caulked well and have a roof in good condition really help with the savings and for resale. These upgrades are all worthwhile, and they're features that buyers are looking for too."

Since heating makes up the biggest chunk of your energy expenditures, it makes sense that upgrading here will make the most impact on reducing utility costs. Energy Star rated furnaces are reportedly 16% more efficient on average, and will save an average of $96 per year in energy costs.

Although a new furnace won't necessarily increase your home's value, experts say the upgrade could make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Installing a new furnace isn't cheap, and you should expect to spend $5,000 to $8,000. Experts advise shopping around and getting several quotes. You can also save money by purchasing your furnace directly from the manufacturer and then hiring a good contractor to install it for you--this skips adding the contractor's markup on the furnace.

It's important to keep in mind that although a new furnace won't add to your resale value, it will make it more appealing to buyers. If you're trying to sell your home with a furnace that's 20 or 30 years old, most buyers will insist it be replaced before they move in, or they'll ask for additional money off the sale price so they can replace it themselves. Putting in a new furnace might lead to a quicker sale, which save several months of mortgage payments and reduces the amount of time the house sits on the market.

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Four Tips to Save Money on Energy and Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers