Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Tue, Aug 31, 2010
The power of solar energy to change the world is being demonstrated in Portugal and could serve as a model for Lorain County and the U.S. Just five years ago, this small Mediterranean nation sandwiched between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean began a concerted nationwide effort to convert the majority of its energy supplies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Today, solar, wind and hydropower provide 45% of the electricity used in the country’s homes, offices, retail centers and factories. In a country where electricity costs twice as much as we pay in Lorain County, solar arrays are now providing cheap electric power to major metropolitan areas like Lisbon, as well as small, remote mountain villages.
How Portugal Became a “Go Green” Country
In order to accomplish such a major national energy makeover in such a short time, Portugal had to restructure energy utilities to create a dependable power grid suited to renewable energy sources. New transmission lines were built to bring solar and wind energy from remote areas to city centers. Government subsidies, long-term contracts with price protections, and financial incentives were used to lure private firms to Portugal’s growing renewable energy industry. A complex computer system was created that tracks the weather systems that fuel much of the country’s renewable energy. The system constantly adjusts the flow of electricity from myriad energy sources, directing electricity where it is needed most.
Oil Spill Pushes U.S. Towards Using Renewable Energy
The incentive to replace fossil fuel consumption with renewable energy sources is admittedly higher in Europe where countries like Portugal have few fossil fuel natural resources. The disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has emphasized the risk of relying on fossil fuels and may encourage U.S. and Lorain County government officials to do more to develop sustainable power sources. Lorain County residents can take a personal stand and cut their personal energy bill by nearly 50% by installing an energy-efficient solar water heater.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Aug 25, 2010
Want to instantly cut your annual hot water costs in half? Ask your Lorain County plumbing professional to install a solar water heater in your home or business. It’s that easy.
Improve Your Carbon Footprint with a Solar Water Heater
Solar water heaters are one of the exciting, new green-energy appliances coming onto the market today. Powered by the sun, Energy Star-qualified solar water heating systems are an eco-conscious way to reduce your carbon footprint and help protect the environment. And because sunshine is free, solar water heaters are as budget-friendly as they are eco-friendly. According to statistics posted on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star website, installing a solar water heater can cut your Lorain County water bills by 50% or more.
Despite what you may think, Lorain County gets plenty of sunshine to make installation of a solar water heater cost effective. Our gloomy winters do mean that you’ll need a backup gas or electric water heater, but the savings are still considerable. According to the Department of Energy, a typical 4-person family will save $190 annually by combining a solar water heater with a backup gas-storage water heater. Backup your solar water heater with an electric water heater and you’ll save $250 per year. Larger families that use more than the average amount of water will realize even greater savings. Over the average 20-year life of a solar water heating system, you’ll save thousands of dollars on your energy bills!
Solar Water Heaters Qualify for the Federal Tax Credit
The purchase of a solar water heating system pays for itself in 7 to 10 years. Lorain County home and business owners can recoup their investment even faster by taking advantage of Federal tax credits.
While the monetary savings are a powerful incentive to purchase a solar water heater, many Lorain County residents invest in solar power to protect the environment. Use of an energy-efficient solar-powered water heating system can cut carbon dioxide emissions in half, reducing your carbon footprint by 4,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. That’s like garaging your car for 4 months!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Aug 13, 2010
Northern Ohio is Becoming a Mecca for Green Energy Initiatives
Less than 10% of America’s energy needs are supplied by renewable resources, but a growing number of Lorain County heating, cooling and plumbing professionals, home builders, individual residents and newly-minted alternative energy companies are working to increase that figure. Northern Ohio is becoming a Mecca for the state’s green energy initiatives. A solar cell power grid is replacing corn in farm fields near Upper Sandusky. Wind turbines are rising along Lake Erie’s shores to catch the winds crossing the lake. The state’s energy-efficient appliance rebate program has encouraged countless Lorain County residents to invest in Energy Star air conditioners and furnaces, heat pumps and solar-powered water heaters.
A Green House has Sprouted at the Ohio State Fair
Showcasing many of the new energy-efficient technologies and products now available to Lorain County residents, a “green” house has sprouted at this year’s Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Constructed from 21-inch thick earthen blocks that provide natural insulation, the home was designed to minimize heating and cooling requirements. Solar panels adorn the building’s roof to provide electricity. A radiant heat system was built into the floor to keep the home warm in winter while reducing furnace use. And those are just a few of the fascinating technologies on display at the green house.
After the fair, the green house is slated to become a permanent site fixture on the fairgrounds that will be used to promote renewable energy sources and eco-friendly products. In its current demonstration mode (some wall and floor areas have been exposed to reveal the energy-saving technology behind them) the home may not be move-in ready, but add few energy-efficient appliances like an Energy Star air conditioner and a solar-powered hot water heater and it could create a cozy home for a Lorain County family.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Aug 04, 2010
Chicago high school students attending energy-related student leadership workshops sponsored by the Mechanical Contractors Association were surveyed to gauge their understanding of the energy problems and potential solutions that will guide America’s energy future. Conducted by Jerry Katz, president of the National Foundation for Energy Education (NFEE), the survey showed students to be optimistic about the country’s energy 
future and use of renewable energy. Unfortunately, Katz said much of the students’ optimism was based on erroneous perceptions about the current state of U.S. energy resources and not on facts. Katz noted that the student response reflects a nationwide failure to comprehend the energy issues and challenges that face the U.S. known as Mr. Energy, Katz is spearheading a national campaign called “The Great Energy Debate” to improve U.S. energy education.
Taking questions from Katz’ energy survey, we’re giving Lorain County homeowners a chance to test their energy knowledge. Here’s your opportunity to find out if you’re smarter than a 10th grader.
1. What percent of U.S. energy use is used to generate electricity?
2. How much of the petroleum used in the U.S. is imported?
3. In 20 years, what percent of U.S. cars will be powered by alternative fuels (non-gasoline)?
4. On a scale of 0 (no support) to 10 (high support), do you support drilling offshore and in Alaska? What if production royalties went earmarked for conservation and renewable energy programs?
5. How much of the country’s energy is being supplied by renewable energy sources today?
Answers
1. Students guessed 60%. The correct answer is 40%.
2. Students correctly estimated 60%.
3. Students guessed 49%. Industry analysts predict anywhere from 30% to 70%.
4. Students initially voiced just 4.9 support for offshore and Alaskan drilling, but increased support to 6.2 when royalties funded conservation and energy programs.
5. Students guessed 45%. Adults taking the survey said 14%. The correct answer is 8%.
For information on how to decrease your energy use, visit Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Jul 28, 2010
Increasing Global Temperatures Mean Colder Winters and Hotter Summers
If you think this year’s sweltering summer temperatures are an aberration, think again. The intense summer heat wave that has descended on the Northern Hemisphere and sent temperatures soaring into the 90s for weeks at a time is expected to become commonplace in our lifetime, warn climate researchers at Stanford University. Residents from unusually moderate Lorain County to typically cool Fairbanks, Alaska and Moscow, Russia should prepare to cope with increasingly hot summers and weeks of extreme heat.
Within 30 years, average global temperatures are expected to be 3.6 degrees higher than during the mid-1800s when regular temperature tracking was initiated. Global temperature change doesn’t equate directly into local temperatures; the effect is more far-reaching. Increasing global temperatures mean more severe weather on both ends of the temperature scale -- colder winters, hotter summers, longer droughts and more violent storms. Long heat waves are expected to occur 5 times more frequently in the 2020s than at any time during the past 60 years.
Green Energy is Key to Maintaining Your Comfort and Controlling Energy Costs
Sure dire climate predictions mean that Lorain County homeowners can expect to be running their air conditioners a lot more frequently this summer and into the foreseeable future. Ohio rebates on energy-efficient appliances and the federal tax credit for installation of energy star appliances make this an excellent year to replace your aging air conditioner with a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. As energy use goes up, Lorain County residents can expect their cooling bills to climb – and it looks like it’s just going to get worse. Moving to cheap, green, energy efficient air conditioning now is key to maintaining your family’s comfort and controlling your home energy costs in the future.
Looking to purchase energy-efficient equipment? Schedule a FREE estimate now on all installation projects
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jul 16, 2010
Solar Water Heaters In Lorain County
Solar water heaters are among the new green appliances available to increase energy efficiency in Lorain County homes. Lorain County provides plenty of sunshine to make solar water heaters a smart, money-saving investment for Northeast Ohio homeowners.
Leave Installation To The Pros
Several different types of solar water heaters are being marketed. All require installation by a Lorain County plumbing professional experienced in the installation of complex systems such as geothermal heat pumps, backflow devices, radiant floor installations and HVAC systems.
All solar water heaters have two basic components:
- Solar collectors to capture the sun’s energy and heat water.
- Well-insulated storage tanks to store the hot water for use.
Active Solar Water Heater Systems
Transfer of the sun’s heat to household water is accomplished either through “passive” systems using direct heat transfer or via “active” systems that rely on circulating pumps and controls. In climates where the temperatures rarely plummet below freezing, active systems employ direct circulation to pump household water through solar collectors and into the home. However, in climates like ours, active systems that employ indirect circulation work best. In these systems, non-freezing fluid is pumped through the solar collectors and a heat exchanger to transfer heat to household water.
Passive Solar Water Heater Systems
Passive solar water heaters are less efficient than active systems but are somewhat cheaper because they lack the pumps and controls of active systems. Integral collector-storage systems are typical in warmer areas, but in Lorain County thermosyphon systems are more productive. These systems rely on the natural rising of warm water and sinking of cool water to function. Solar collectors are installed below the storage tank, allowing warm water to rise into the tank.
If you’re ready to save money and enjoy unlimited hot water courtesy of the sun, contact an experienced Raymond Plumbing professional today.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, May 10, 2010
The Pacific Ocean to Air Condition the City of Honolulu
Thousands of miles from Lorain County the State of Hawaii is attempting to harness sea water from the Pacific Ocean to air condition the city of Honolulu. Hawaii hopes to cut grid power consumption by 77 million kilowatt hours per year in a city that requires 14 megawatts of power to meet power needs when air conditioners are running at peak capacity and the temperature is climbing past 90 degrees.
Ever-Green Energy is providing the state-of-the-art technology that will drive Hawaii’s new, green air conditioning system. In addition to providing cooling power, the eco-friendly system will reduce sewage from air conditioner cooling towers by 84 million gallons annually and eliminate demand for up to 69,000 pounds of chemicals used in conventional A/C units. The technology being installed in Hawaii will work much like the heat pumps used to heat and cool Lorain County homes. Pipes will bring cold sea water from the ocean depths to onshore cooling stations where heat exchangers will transfer the cold from the 45-degree sea water to fresh water. A closed-loop system will circulate the now cold fresh water through office buildings and hotels in the city. The warmed ocean water will be returned not to its original depth but to a depth that normally shares its warmer temperature to prevent upset to sea life and the ocean environment.
Will Lake Erie Air Condition Lorain County Someday?
Lorain County may not require the same kind of air conditioning power as Honolulu, but northern Ohio residents can certainly identify with the desire to stay cool when temperatures and humidity make life unbearably uncomfortable. If Hawaii’s new air conditioning experiment works, it could lead to similar installations in U.S. coastal cities and even in Lorain County. The technology is popular in Europe and is already in operation on a small lake in Cornell, NY. Until then, Energy Star air conditioners and annual A/C performance checks will keep Lorain County folks cool.
FREE A/C Performance Check
Have you signed-up for a chance to win a FREE A/C Performance Check? If not, Sign-up now! We know how important it is to have your annual air conditioner preformance check so that is why we are giving away 2 for FREE each month!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, May 06, 2010
Decrease Your Home Energy Use and Lower Energy Bills By 40%
Buildings, particularly residential homes built more than 25 years ago, account for 40% of the energy used in the U.S., according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics. If Lorain County homeowners installed energy-efficient furnaces and air conditioners and implemented other energy-saving measures such as using low flow toilets and shower heads and replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving CFL lamps, they could decrease their home energy use – and utility bills -- by 40% or more, Department of Energy experts say. Using energy-efficient home appliances just makes good dollars-and-cents business sense. The more energy-saving appliances and practices you add to your daily life, the greater your savings. Some energy-savvy homeowners have managed to squeeze their utility costs down to a measly $10 to $20 a month!
In an article on rehabbing older homes to increase energy savings, Andrew McCoy, a building construction professor at Virginia Tech, told the Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch, “In the future people will worry less about how their house looks and more about how it performs.” McCoy is one of many predicting a “green revolution” in the construction industry. About the green building market, McCoy said, “It’s just exploding right now – engineering solutions, products and materials. We know the market’s there.”
The Department of Energy estimates that retrofitting residential and commercial buildings in Lorain County and across the United States with currently existing Energy Star furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps and using energy-efficient tools and techniques available today could cut national energy bills by $40 billion a year, that’s $130 for each and every American.
Federal tax credits and Ohio state rebates make this an excellent time to upgrade your Lorain County heating and cooling system to an energy-efficient furnace and air conditioner. The sooner you switch, the more you’ll save.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Apr 29, 2010
Reduce Your Energy Bills with Energy-Efficient Appliances
Environmental awareness is finally coming of age. With the current and past US president encouraging sustainable energy use, it will only be a matter of time before we are all involved in some aspect of “green living”. Some of us will be driving hybrid cars that pollute less or not at all. Others might begin powering their homes with renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. But even the most conservative or skeptical among us, will soon be using smarter, more energy-efficient appliances that will not only help clean up the environment, but will significantly reduce our electricity bills.
This new era of energy-efficiency is being bolstered by efforts like the State of Ohio “Cash for Appliance Clunkers Rebate Program”. This program rewards residents and businesses of Lorain County, Ohio that trade in their old, energy-guzzling appliances for new, energy-efficient ones.
Although buying new appliances might be a hefty, upfront investment, it will save you money in the near-term. For example, if your water heater is not properly working, or is less-than-efficient, you will be paying for energy that you never really benefited from. However, once you have properly installed a new water heating system, you can rest assured that your monthly energy bills reflect the true value of heated water and a warm home.
Among other appliances that you can upgrade to benefit from efficient energy cost-savings are refrigerators, washing machines and dish washers. Newer washing machines use less than 50% of what older models use. Clearly, if you do a lot of laundry, you will make back your investment in no time at all. Some energy-efficient dish washers can slash energy consumption by 31% and water usage by 33%. Not only are you getting better technology that gives you spot-free and squeaky clean dishes, you are really reducing both your water and energy bills. Even your old fridge could be traded in for a newer model that will keep your food fresher and save you unnecessary spending on maintenance and electricity.
Contact Raymond Plumbing today for more information on energy-efficient appliances and schedule a free estimate on all installation projects.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Mar 15, 2010
Lower Home Energy Rating Scores Mean Greater Energy Efficiency
Newly constructed homes come with many energy-efficient features. Energy-saving furnaces and air conditioners, energy-maximizing heat pumps and water heaters, energy-conserving insulation and building materials all contribute to a new home’s HERS rating. A building’s HERS, or home energy rating is a measure of the building’s total energy efficiency from construction materials and techniques to the appliances used to run it. Lower HERS scores mean greater energy efficiency.
The government is now attempting to develop a home energy rating system that could be applied to all homes. Like the miles per hour standard for cars, a universal energy formula would allow consumers to instantly understand the energy consumption of a home. A universal HERS rating would let you know if your home was a Prius or a Hummer and might encourage you to retrofit the more energy-consuming components of your home with energy-efficient products, at least that’s the government’s goal.
Pilot testing of a HERS home energy labeling program is planned for this summer with national launch by the U.S. Department of Energy planned for fall. The program is a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Energy, the White House and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. One DOE official suggested that HERS ratings could be tied to the President’s proposed HomeStar program, also known as Cash for Caulkers. If HomeStar received Congressional approval, the program would provide cash rebates for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient home materials like weatherizing, windows and insulation.
The non-profit Earth Advantage Institute in Oregon has already teamed up with realtors to provide energy-efficient ratings for new and used homes. The Institute’s Energy Performance Score (EPS) takes into account both a home’s energy use and its carbon emissions. Whichever rating system eventually becomes the national standard, your home’s energy-efficient rating is likely to pay a role in its future resale value.