Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Sep 09, 2010
Global Warming Changes Weather Patterns
Earlier this month a monstrous 100-square mile chunk of Greenland’s massive Petermann Glacier broke off and headed into the North Atlantic. That’s a floating ice island about four times the size of the island of Manhattan in New York City! At the top of the world, the long searched for Northwest Passage opened as the Arctic ice cap melted, opening shipping lanes between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans for the third year in a row. Russia roasted under its hottest summer since the czars began keeping records, temperatures hovering in the high 90s in Moscow where the average summer temperature is 68 degrees. A powerful hurricane devastated Haiti. With forecasters predicting a record number of severe hurricanes this season, more destruction is sure to come. Massive flooding in Asia has caused horrific landslides in China and all but drowned Pakistan. Drought is shriveling crops in Australia and starving people in Africa. And the hits just keep on coming!
Scientists say that global warming is behind the bizarre weather patterns plaguing the world. And they tell us that we should expect increasingly severe weather in Lorain County and around the globe if we don’t start reining in greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. has been chastised in the global press for failing to join worldwide efforts to decrease carbon emissions. President Obama’s environmental initiative has been sidetracked by more pressing economic matters and the pending congressional elections. Little if any progress is anticipated before next year.
The U.S. Energy Report Card
So how does the U.S. rate today on tackling climate change? At SOLAR 2010, the American Solar Energy Society Policy Committee issued a report card grading the government on its energy policies. While the country managed to squeak by with a passing grade, there’s plenty of room for improvement.
Carbon emissions C-
Building efficiency B
Renewable energy C-
Transportation policy C+
Smart-grid and transmission policy B
Green economy and workforce policy B
Federal leadership C+
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Aug 19, 2010
More Lorain County residents are tuning into the benefits of installing a solar water heater in their home. Solar water heaters offer attractive environmental and financial benefits. Electric and gas water heaters are notorious producers of environmentally-destructive carbon dioxide (CO2), Environmentalists say the amount of CO2 produced each year by residential water heaters is equal to the total CO2 produced by cars and light trucks. If just half of U.S. residents switched to solar water heaters, America’s CO2 emissions could be cut in half.
Let’s compare the energy use and cost of electric and gas-powered water heaters to solar water heaters.
Energy use
- Electric water heaters require 6,400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year to heat the water used by a family of four.
- Gas water heaters do not use electricity.
- Solar water heaters do not use electricity. They get their energy from the sun.
Carbon dioxide output
- Water heaters that use electricity generated by a typical U.S. power plant with an average 30% efficiency create 8 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, twice that emitted by a car.
- Gas water heaters emit about 2 tons of CO2 per year.
- Solar water heaters emit no CO2 and do not harm the environment in any way.
Cost
- The purchase price of an electric or gas water heater ranges from $150 to $450, but you also have to figure in monthly fuel costs for the life of the appliance.
- Solar water heaters cost from $1,500 to $3,500 but pay for themselves in fuel savings in 4 to 8 years. After that, all your hot water is free. Considering the average 20-year life of solar water heaters, that’s quite a savings.
More than 1.5 million savvy U.S. consumers already use solar water heaters. To find out more, contact Raymond Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning today.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Mon, Aug 02, 2010
Solar power is the ultimate green resource. It creates clean energy from the sun’s rays without producing harmful byproducts or emissions. No wonder Ohio is rushing to turn itself into a solar power Mecca. Forward-thinking Lorain County homeowners, business owners and property owners are exploring the power of solar energy for they know the cost-benefit ratio will only improve over time.
Solar Energy Offers Significant Benefits And Savings
Large scale solar energy projects are still relatively new, generating the usual uncertainty among those who have yet to become converts. If the experience of Pennsylvania real estate developer L.A. Davis is any indication, putting aside those fears and embracing solar energy use in homes, commercial buildings and multi-family properties offers significant benefits – and savings -- to both property owners and their tenants.
Davis, who has been developing real estate for two decades, has spent the last four years retrofitting properties in Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. to improve energy efficiency. Installation of solar panels to help power heating and cooling systems and generate hot water has brought down not only his energy bills as a property owner, but dramatically decreased the monthly utility bills of his low-income tenants.
Davis’ actions go against the main stream. Because tenants usually pay their own utility bills, most property owners are not motivated to reduce energy costs or improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Davis calls this short-sighted thinking. Davis said providing more affordable housing for his tenants has resulted in a greater number of long-term tenants, fewer costly evictions and utility reconnections and decreased legal fees. He says his investment in energy-efficient solar energy has paid off financially and in improved tenant relations. Davis shares his experience, know-how and advice with other landlords on www.SolarLandlord.com.
Get Started With An Energy Saving Solar Water Heater
Lorain County homeowners who are ready to embrace solar power can get started with an energy-saving solar water heater. Call your Lorain County plumbing professional to discuss installation of a solar water heater today.
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 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.