Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jul 23, 2010
Solar Energy On The Rise In Ohio
West of Lorain County, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, rows of solar panels line what used to be cornfields in the biggest solar energy project yet in Ohio. The 80-acre solar complex being financed by American Municipal Power is expected to produce 12 megawatts of power. The Columbus-based non-profit utility company has plans to grow this initial investment 25 fold, within the next few years creating the nation’s largest solar power grid with a capacity to produce 300 megawatts of electricity across several states.
Solar energy is experiencing a tremendous growth spurt. AMP, which provides power for many municipalities in Ohio and neighboring states, is just one of the players jumping on the solar band wagon. AMP is focusing on creating alternative power sources to serve peak demand periods such as the summer air conditioning season when electrical use – and expense to consumers – skyrockets. By creating cheaper solar power to handle critical use periods, AMP expects to bring down the cost of electrical power for its consumers.
Solar energy engineers say the idea is definitely doable. Ohio receives an average 4 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of sun per day, ample to effectively power photovoltaic panels, particularly in the summer. According to the Department of Energy, the average U.S. household uses 11,040 kwh of electricity per year, or about 30 kwh per day. At that rate, about 80 square feet of solar panels would be required to power one Lorain County home for a year. However, meeting the needs of summer peak use and using the higher kilowatt-hour output of the summer sun would require fewer solar panels.
Try Out A Solar Water Heater
Solar water heaters now available to Lorain County residents require only a minor solar panel installation to provide year-round hot water. Professional installation is required for these complex systems, but they easily pay for themselves within 7 years after which all of your hot water is free!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Jul 14, 2010
The Advances of Solar Energy
Solar power is one of the hot new green energy sources being applied to everything from home comfort appliances to airplanes! A Swiss pilot just completed a successful night flight in an experimental airplane powered entirely by the sun’s energy! By 2013, scientists expect to have a plane that can circle the globe on solar power. Using the sun’s free energy to power home appliances, create electricity, even power cars and airplanes first postulated by early science fiction writers, but science is bringing the reality into Lorain County homes today. Solar Water Heaters are the newest innovation on the green energy front in Lorain County, Ohio.
Can This Work For Lorain County?
The ultimate energy-saving appliance, solar water heaters use the sun’s free energy to heat the water you use in your home. As Keith Raymond explains in an informative Solar Water Heating YouTube video posted on the Raymond Plumbing website, with a solar factor of 41, Lorain County provides plenty of sunshine to operate a solar water heater year-round. (For comparison, Miami has a solar factor of 51.)
Save Money With Your Solar Water Heater
On average, energy savings realized from installation of a solar water heater in your Lorain County home provide full payback of purchase and installation costs within the first 7 years of use. After that, all of your hot water is free! With solar panels having an average life of 20 to 25 years, a solar water heating system pays for itself in the first third of its life and continues to generate free hot water for the next 15+ years. That’s a real bargain, particularly if your family includes a couple of teenagers.
Not only will Lorain County homeowners shave a nice chunk off their energy bills by installing a solar water heater, but federal tax credits and state energy programs can cut that cost in half.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Dec 23, 2009
While the recently ended 15th Annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP15, did not produce the definitive plan of action to combat global warming that many had hoped for, most analysts agree that it was not the abject failure some would paint it. Considering the politics, economic issues and developmental differences of the 193 nations involved, it seems a herculean task to get such a divergent group to agree on anything. Differences between the big and small, developed and emerging, economic haves and have nots created considerable strife regarding who bears responsibility for global warming problem and who should shoulder the cost to stop it. In the end the agreement reached is unbinding, relying more on the internal efforts of individual nations than on a global plan.
Brokered by President Obama in the final hours of the summit, the agreement requires nations who join the accord to pledge long-term reductions in carbon emissions by the end of January 2010. Forest protection and a massive financial aid package to help developing nations move away from carbon-based energy were also part of the accord. Setting an example to other world powers, the president pledged a hefty reduction in U.S. carbon emissions. A proponent of alternative energy sources, Obama has predicted that the greatest reductions in national carbon emissions will come from energy innovation driven by economic opportunity.
Searching for new industries to put the state’s former auto workers back to work, Michigan Governor Granholm is already trying to position the state as a green energy producer. While Granholm is necessarily concerned about Michigan citizens, others have proposed developing a green energy corridor that could stretch from Detroit to Lorain County and Cleveland, replacing jobs lost to the auto industry collapse and positioning the Michigan-Ohio-Lorain County Great Lakes area as a green energy powerhouse.
Next week: Managing your carbon footprint.
Until then, Merry Christmas to all from the folks here at Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Sat, Aug 01, 2009
Solar water heating is dependable, pollution free and should be a consideration for every home no matter where you live. As we mentioned in our first solar heating blog there are several ways that solar energy can improve your home’s efficiency and consequently, save you money.
This is certainly great news but it still leaves questions lingering in people's minds. How do I know if solar heating is right for my home? There are two basic questions to answer to determine if solar can work well at your location.
- Does your location get enough sun?
- Do nearby obstacles (buildings or trees) at your location block too much sun?
Within the US, almost all locations get enough sun to successfully use solar energy, but some are better than others. This solar resources map gives a rough idea of how good the solar resources are in your area.
Some solar projects never meet expectations because obstacles block the sun. Even if you think you get good sun, take this site obstacle survey to be sure the system has good access to the sun’s path.
While there are many different options when choosing the best system for your home, the drainback and closed loop systems with antifreeze and heat exchangers is a personal favorite here in Ohio.
If you have invested in a house, your next investment should be in solar hot water. Remember, installing a solar water heating system increases the resale value of a home.
At Raymond Plumbing we are able to provide a thorough assessment of the solar access at your home and can determine the best system for your location.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Jul 21, 2009
Nowadays it’s not uncommon to review your utility bills and wonder, “What can I do to lower this cost? I can’t continue to pay this amount.” There’s no need to ask professionals or financial assistants for help. The answer is simple. It’s been beaming you in the face all along.
Many people turn their head when they hear the words “solar water heating,”especially in Ohio. Due to the Buckeye State’s lack of sunny days, many doubt that solar water heating would even work, but perhaps they should turn back around and listen. Solar water heating systems are dependable, flexible and pollution free.
Currently there are over 1.5 million homes in North America using solar energy for their hot water heating. Solar water heating systems can heat much of your home’s interior space and water by using renewable energy from the sun.
There are two types of solar water heating systems, a pre heat solar tank system and a solar combo tank system. The pre heat solar tank system's job is to supplement warm water to an existing tank. This system uses a stratification theory meaning that the water tank is heated using a very slow pump. The top layers of water are always the hottest and this water is used first. This system can supply a daily demand for water easily. This system can also be adapted to tank-less water heaters as well.
The other system is a solar combo tank system. This is a combination system using a solar pre heat tank with an electric back up heater in one single unit. It uses an internal heat exchange at the bottom. There is a solar loop that heats the water. The electric heater element is located at the top of the tank and can heat up water quickly and is useful when there are days with no sun.
A big question many people ask is can we count on solar heating systems to supply power even when the sun is not shining? Technologies allow heat to accumulate during the day and then set aside that heat energy for later consumption. Homes can generate electricity even when the sun isn’t shining; at night or on a cloudy day. Solar water heating is to be used as a supplement to the existing heating system.
Another question that often comes up is, solar heating expensive? The answer is yes, but there are many incentives and tax breaks. With a 30% Federal Tax Credit and the state of Ohio utility incentives, now is the time to purchase the equipment. Not to mention homeowners will be saving money on their monthly utility bills. You can view them in more detail here at, Solar Estimate.
At Raymond Plumbing we are here to help you better understand tax credits, deductions, incentives and rates that may be available to you.
Stay Tuned: In our upcoming blog, could solar heating help Northeast Ohio, part 2 we will be discussing whether the design and structure of your home matters if installing a solar water heating system.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jul 16, 2009
To our valued customers,
Raymond Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning has done a great deal of research on the best available rates for natural gas and have just completed a special arrangement with a company called Consumer Choice Marketing (CCM).
CCM specializes in getting low rates for both residential and commercial users of natural gas.
Currently if you were to compare rates with your neighbors, you would find a variety of gas rates being charged by various suppliers. Now as an added benefit for our valued customers, you are eligible for the lowest rates that we have found.
In order to lower your gas bill, just call our energy consultant, Bill Gibb at 440-986-2655 or e-mail a copy of your bill to billgibb@hotmail.com and he will contact you with the potential savings and take care of the entire change over for you.
The change is easy, your utility company will continue to bill you, read your meter and service your account. By making this change you are only changing the supplier of the actual gas, which is what makes the savings possible. There is no hook up fee, no contract to sign and no risk. If at any point you are unsatisfied with the savings you can change at no cost at any time with a 30-day notice.
Raymond Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning is working to help our customers save money in these challenging times!
If you have any questions about this opportunity please feel free to contact Bill Gibb, this CCM Energy Consultant at (440) 225-9266 or email him at billgibb@hotmail.com.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, May 11, 2009
Save big on purchases this year! Here's answers on how you can save up to $1,500 in Tax Credits.
Can a homeowner claim $1500 in tax credits for improvements made in 2009 and
again for improvements made in 2010?
No. Taxpayers may be eligible for a total of $1500 in tax credits for qualifying HVAC
improvements made in the combined two year period of 2009 and 2010.
Can a homeowner claim the entire $1500 credit for the installation of one
appliance?
Yes. A homeowner may use the entire $1500 tax credit for installing a single qualified
appliance, such as a qualified furnace, air conditioner or heat pump, if the install cost is
at least $5000. If a homeowner replaced multiple appliances at the primary residence
(i.e. two air conditioning systems, etc), the maximum credit would still be $1500.
What happens if the consumer's purchase is not large enough to qualify for the
maximum credit of $1500? Is the remaining credit still available for future
purchases?
The homeowner can claim the remaining available tax credit if he/she purchases
additional qualified improvements for installation before December 31, 2010. Any single
qualifying installation that costs more than $5000 will reach the $1500 tax credit limit.
Does the tax credit apply to the cost of the equipment only or does the cost of
installation labor qualify for the credit too?
The tax credit applies to the installed costs of the qualified equipment, which includes
labor costs properly allocable to the installation of the qualifying equipment.
How will a taxpayer claim the credit and receive their money?
In the past, the IRS has directed taxpayers to use Form 5695 Version 2009 (expected to
be available towards the end of 2009), Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit.
Taxpayers are not required to file anything more than the form, but are instructed to
keep records of their installation.
What's the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?
A tax credit is a direct reduction of the taxpayers' tax liability. A tax deduction is a
reduction of a taxpayer's taxable income, on which the tax liability is calculated. Tax
credits provide a greater benefit to a taxpayer.
What if the homeowners already claimed $500 in tax credits in 2006 or 2007?
The "lifetime caps" that used to be in place have been removed. Any previous claims for
equipment installed before 2009 do not count against the current $1500 tax credit limit.
Can a homeowner claim the credit for improvements to a second home?
No. The tax credit is only available for improvement to the taxpayer's primary residence.
Can a small business that operates out of a townhouse and installs residential
equipment in a commercial setting claim the credit?
No. The tax credit may only be claimed by taxpayers on their personal income taxes for
improvements to their primary residence.
What other types of energy efficiency improvements qualify for the tax credits?
Homeowners may be able to qualify for the tax credits if they make qualified
improvements to: windows and doors including skylights, storm windows and storm
doors; roofing including metal and asphalt roofs; and insulation. All of these
improvements qualify, but the homeowner may only claim $1500 in total for all
improvements (except geothermal, for which there is no cap).
Do water heaters qualify?
Yes, if they have .82 energy factor or 90% thermal efficiency. Qualifying models are typically instanous models.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, May 06, 2009
If you’re aware of the recently signed U.S. Department of Energy’s Recovery Act and Stimulus Package, then you might be wondering, what does this mean for me?
Well, to put it simply, it means that you, as a taxpayer, can receive tax credits for your home and business expenses in 2009-2010. The tax section of the act provides greater tax credits for clean energy projects for homes and businesses.
For homeowners, you can receive tax credits up to $1,500 to help offset the costs of certain qualified energy property. Qualified spending includes various models of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Products meeting the requirements will be eligible for a tax credit equal to 30% of installed cost to a maximum $1,500 tax credit.
The act also provides Geothermal credits up to 30% of the installed cost on equipment, installation labor, loop material and loop labor in the year the system is placed into service. The geothermal credit has a longer term, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016.
Stay tuned for our Tax Credit Frequently Asked Questions blog! Please leave your questions below.