Energy Conscious Consultant

General Contractor Construction May Affect Your Bottom Line

Homeowners who want a turnkey job to build their home will hire a general contractor. That means that once plans are printed, the home owner has little to do with the building of their home.  You may pick out a few items that can range from the paint colors to appliances, but little else. When you hire a general contractor, you hire no one else. That’s where you may run into problems, including money problems.

Energy Consumption In The Home

Earth Day was celebrated in April. It was designed to promote environmental awareness. Have you become alert to what your energy usage is within your home? According to the Energy Information Administration, “energy consumption by household appliances nearly doubled between 1978 and 2005.” Our standard of living has improved due to the advancement of new gadgets.  Back in the 1960’s, many homes had only one TV.  These days, many homes not only have 1 TV per room but also may contain a DVD, DVR, computers and more.

Electrical Circuit Wiring For Homeowners

“A circuit is the path that electricity follows.” When you flip a light switch on and off, it stops the flow of electricity.  You can have several circuits in your house.  But you are limited by the amount of power you can draw on each circuit.  You can’t plug in a window air conditioning unit anywhere.

Solar Power 101

Solar power converts sunlight into electricity.  A solar powered system can be made up of different parts. These parts can include modules, inverter, and a meter.   A grid tie system connects your system to utility power. If a surplus of power is produced, you can sell it back to your local power utility company.

Solar Power Track Racking Device

A solar power system can be placed on your roof as a stationary system or it can be mounted on a pole.  If you mount it on a pole, you can also place a solar tracking device on it.  This tracking device will ‘track’ or follow the sun as it moves around the curvature of the Earth.  The angle of your solar modules is directly related to where you live.

Solar and The Summer Solstice

Solar power is free energy from the sun. It is a clean energy choice and a reliable one. It converts sunlight into electricity. Solar panels can be installed at your home or business. When using solar power for your personal utilities, you are reducing the greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Energy Information Administration, “solar radiation, which is nearly constant outside the Earth's atmosphere, varies with changing atmospheric conditions (clouds and dust) and the changing position of the Earth relative to the sun.” 

Electrical Requirements For Kitchen Appliances

Electrical requirements for kitchen appliances are listed in the National Electric Code, or NEC. When wiring a new construction house, your electrician should wire with energy efficiency in mind. Not all wiring on your house plans will be up to code or energy efficient.  An electrician must be willing to go the extra mile to improve what is stated on your plans and offer suggestions for other improvements.

Alternative Energy Ideas From Germany

Alternative energy “refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels” according to Wikipedia. Instead of nuclear power, it is utilizing other sources for power like solar or wind to power your home and business.  Germany has been called an economic powerhouse because of its energy produced.  Germany announced this week that it plans to eliminate nuclear energy completely.  Presently, they rely on nuclear for its main power source.  But because of the Fukushima disaster that happened in Japan recently, Germany will eliminate nuclear power within the next 11 years.  Instead, they will use renewable energy sources.

Storm Season Here

Hurricane season has officially started.  It runs from June 1^st to November 31^st each year. But you don’t have to live in a hurricane zone to experience a storm.  There are tornadoes, floods, landslides, wildfires, winter storms, and much more all around the country.  There is no way to prepare for what happened with the tornado in Joplin.  According to FEMA, “Every state is at some risk from this hazard.” When the hot air on the surface hits that cool moist air in the clouds, storms are made.  There were several that hit this past month around the country but only a few caused loss of life. Sometimes advanced warning is not possible. Is there anything you can do before a storm?

Information On Solar Power and Alternative Energy

This is an article I wrote that I thought you would be interested in reading.

Information on solar power can be researched online. You can find research on solar powered products and how they will affect you personally. But the biggest question I have been asked is 'how much do I need to power my home?' This question can be answered but it is a little complicated. There are many factors that come into play when considering the answer.