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Energy Efficiency And Solar Power Systems Help San Diego Homeowners Cut Energy Costs

When it comes to balancing comfort and savings, industry experts recommend combining cost-effective energy efficiency measures with smaller solar power systems. The powerful benefit of solar power systems to create electricity added to reducing energy loss not only saves money, but also costs San Diego homeowners far less in the long run.

Electricity bills have skyrocketed lately everywhere, and San Diego is no exception to the trend. The average electricity consumption rate for a single family detached home in San Diego County is about 675 kWh per month. In June of 1999, that meant an electric bill of $71 but now, thanks to rising costs, that same consumption will result in an electric bill of $150.

For many San Diego homeowners, solar power systems have provided at least some relief from astronomical electricity costs. While the systems require an upfront investment, most solar panels come with a substantial warranty and will produce electricity for up to 40 years at practically no operating cost. The savings on electric bills from a solar power system will cover the investment in 6-8 years for most homeowners, leaving them with free electricity for another 20-30 years.

For example, a homeowner with a $150 average electricity bill today can either buy a solar power system for $17,500 after state and federal incentives or pay $150,000 over the next 30 years for the same amount of electricity. Over the last five years, more than 8,000 homeowners in San Diego have installed solar power systems. New financing options, such as third-party Power Purchasing agreements, allow homeowners to install solar power systems with little or no money down.

While solar power systems yield moderate savings for San Diego homeowners, a combination of solar power and energy efficiency can lead to even better results. By focusing on basic adjustments like insulation, duct sealing and LED bulbs, consumers can drastically cut the amount of energy wasted on heating, cooling and lighting. All it takes is a custom energy audit to figure out the right efficiency improvements. San Diego homeowners can invest 10-40% less than what is needed to install an average solar power system into energy efficiency measures and smaller-scale solar installations and reap the benefits of bigger financial savings and better energy efficiency for many years to come.

Each home uses energy differently and there are no generic solutions that are cost effective for everyone. But with the help of an expert energy auditor, homeowners can identify the custom solution that combines the right energy efficiency measures and solar power system size.

Just Can’t Wait For The Next Best Thing in the Mid-Size Sedan Hybrid Segment!

When it comes to the field of hybrid and electric vehicles there is one adage that is holding true… if you want better performance and efficiency, then just wait a little bit for the next new thing.

When it comes to mid-size hybrid sedans, you’ve got a selection of the 2012 Ford Fusion, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Currently the Camry gets 43 mpg (miles per gallon) city and 39 mpg highway, the Fusion gets 41 mpg city and 36 mpg and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and the Kia Optima Hybrid get 35 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.

The base price for the Camry Hybrid is $25,900, while the Sonata Hybrid is $26,650, the Optima Hybrid starts at $27,250 and the Fusion’s starting price is $28,775. From reviewing the “Build to Order” pages each manufacturer has on the internet, it appears the Ford offers the most in technology and luxury upgrades (and of course, the highest price).

The Sonata Hybrid and the Optima Hybrid both offer 1.4 kilowatt hour lithium-polymer battery packs working with a 2.4L inline-four cylinder gas engine. Currently Ford and Toyota offer four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gas engines working with nickel-hydride battery packs.

However at the January 2012 North American International Show, Ford introduced its 2013 Fusion Hybrid (which should be available by fourth quarter 2012). Ford’s revised Hybrid will have a higher voltage, lighter weight lithium-ion battery pack coupled with a more efficient, higher output 2.0L four-cylinder gas engine. Although it’s not officially got its EPA rating yet, Ford is projecting its new model to have 47 mpg city and 44 mpg highway. With a combined 46 mpg rating, that’s way better than Camry’s current combined 41 mpg and Sonata’s 37 mpg rating.

Ford will also be introducing the Fusion Energi – a plug-in hybrid which will get a combined mpg rating of more than 100 mpgE (miles per gallon equivalent). The mpgE is a new rating and so with plug-in or all-electric vehicles, this will be the new EPA standard rating. This means the Fusion will have a better economy rating than the Toyota Prius (at 95 mpgE) or the Chevrolet Volt (at 93 mpgE). Also, Ford will also be introducing a new C-Max Engeri, a compact multi-passenger van, which will also be a plug-in hybrid.

But let’s get back to this 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid… this vehicle is set up so that under the right conditions, it can operate off battery power at speeds up to 62 mph. Then it will use its gas engine to add its power to the mix. The four-cylinder engine is estimated to be 180 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque. This is a front wheel drive with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

Also, Ford is not relenting on its quest to be at the top of the technology heap. The Fusion Hybrid can come equipped with the newly redesigned MyFord Touch voice-activated touch-screen navigation system, the active park assist system, push button start, eight airbags, adaptive cruise control with collision warning, blind-spot information system and the new lane-keeping system. That’s a lot of technology! Each new owner may need to take a class just to be able to drive their new vehicle.

On top of all of this, Ford’s redesigned this vehicle and it definitely has styling cues reminiscent of the Aston Martin, so we can’t wait to see more of this vehicle. We are awaiting more information from Ford on this new vehicle and if it turns out the way they’ve projected… then this will mean a whole new level of efficiency and performance for mid-size sedan hybrid segment.

How to Prepare Your Home for a Ground Source Heat Pump

A ground source heat pump harnesses the solar energy in your garden soil and uses it to heat your home. This process is more natural than burning fossil fuels or even using an electrical system. You can use controls to turn the heat pump on and off just as you would with another system. If you want to put in this type of heating system, it is quite an investment. Prices range for parts and installation, but you should be prepared to pay around 10,000 pounds or more in total. Because this is such as major investment, its necessary to make preparations before you actually get the heat pump system installed. Here are just a few of the ways you can prepare your home for a ground source heat pump.

Inspect the Garden Soil

The soil in your garden must be suitable for digging. While you dont need to have a huge garden space to install a ground heat pump, if the soil is very rocky or difficult to dig under you may not be the ideal candidate for a ground source heat pump. If you do choose to install the system, you will need to notify the installer about the type of soil that you have and it may become necessary to make special arrangements for digging the trench or borehole when there is a lot of rock or hard clay. Your garden must also be accessible to the necessary drilling equipment, so figure out a way that the installer can get large drilling machinery into your garden.

Install Insulation

You can save more energy with your ground source heat pump when the heated air doesnt easily escape through poorly insulated walls and flooring. Prepare your home now by installing better insulation in the walls, and consider adding floor insulation if you have access to a cellar where you can put the insulation beneath a floor. Flooring insulation is most easily installed in homes with timber flooring, but you can also install it when you have a concrete base. You can reduce lost energy by a significant degree by adding wall and floor insulation before your new heating system is installed.

Reduce Drafts

Similar to adding insulation, reducing the drafts in your home in preparation for a ground source heat pump will help you eliminate wasted energy. Drafts are most often the result of windows and doors that are not properly sealed or fitted. While you may not be able to entirely replace the doors and windows in your home you dont need to in most cases. Go to a do it yourself store and pick up some sealant. Sold in a tube, the caulk or other sealant that you choose should be weather proof. If the draft is coming from a substantial opening, you may also want to add some rubber stripping along the perimeter of the door or window so that it closes more tightly and shuts out all drafts.

Combine the Work with Other Remodeling

Your preparation plans for a ground source heat pump should also factor in other remodel work. If you are already planning on doing other work in the garden or one of your propertys outbuildings, schedule the work to be done at the same time as the heat pump when it makes sense. In the very least, you should invite the heat pump installer and other construction contractors to work together to figure out a work schedule that is sensible for everyone. You dont want to damage your new pump with unrelated excavations that are necessary for a separate project.

Ground source heat pumps are an expensive but energy efficient way to keep your home heated all year round. Even though they require a large initial investment, you can save hundreds of pounds on energy costs each year that you use the pump to heat your house. However, you must always prepare your home for the heat pump if you want the installation job to go as smoothly as possible and the heat pump to work to reduce energy costs. When in doubt, consult with an experienced installer to find out the best ways to get your home ready for a new ground source heat pump.

Save Money With These Great Home Improvement Tips

Do you enjoy improving upon your home? If you answered “yes,” then great! You have stumbled onto an article that can reaffirm your home improvement knowledge and may even improve your skills. Incorporating the knowledge in this article into your next job can help you out.

Removing dated wallpaper is a home improvement that can completely transform the interior of your house. If you have money to spend, the best way to remove wallpaper would be to buy a commercial stream wallpaper stripper. If, however, you are on a limited budget, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of hot water and fabric softener and completely saturate the wallpaper. Leave the wallpaper for a few minutes then carefully peel off with a putty knife.

One of the best ways to increase value in a home, is to add additional rooms. This can be done by reducing the size of the back yard and increasing the size of the living room or another family area. This is a great advantage to selling your home.

Taking good care of your home is as important as putting money in your savings account on a regular basis. Well maintained homes are worth more money than those which need lots of deferred maintenance. By keeping up with small fixes, you will keep your home at it’s prime market value.

Remove an old vinyl tile with heat. Old vinyl tiles often need to be replaced. Getting them up without damaging the tiles around them, however, can be a challenge. Place a dry towel over the tile and then heat it with an iron. The adhesive should loosen and the tile can then be easily removed using a putty knife.

Windows

Is your home getting to hot in the day or is your home too bright for your liking? If so, you should try tinting the windows in your home. This is a fairly easy process that most people can do on their own. Additionally, tinting your windows saves a lot on your cooling bill.

Making your home improvements energy efficient will be good for the environment and for your bills. You should use money to block drafts, seal windows, and insulate walls before doing any aesthetic renovations and then take the money you save on your bills and put it away towards the renovations you dream of.

New Windows

Are your windows outdated? Do they provide the right insulation? Maybe one or two of them are cracked or perhaps the style and design just doesn’t fit the times anymore. Updating to new windows improves the beauty of your home as well as the value. Consider getting new windows if it is time.

To increase energy efficiency and save significantly on your utility bills, consider replacing single pane windows with newer energy efficient ones. The investment you make in new windows now will easily pay for itself over time as your utility bills will be lower and, of course, your home will be more comfortable.

Did you enjoy going through information on an activity that you enjoy? Did you find anything that you can use on your next job? This article was written to help people like you reaffirm their enjoyment of the activity, along with learning a few pro tips and tricks to improve your home.

It is also useful to read about Velfac energy windows ( Velfac energiruder in Danish) advantages.

Flexidry Enhancing Energy Efficiency For Modernahus, The New Green Housing Solution For The Uk

ModernaHus, the new generation of energy efficient green homes for the UK, will have 9500sm of its underfloor heating screeded with FlexiDry F1/7 day dry floor screed.

ModernaHus is being introduced in the UK after long trials by Scandinavian builders, Skanska. This innovative green home solution has already been adapted by several countries across Europe, and has been in the test phase in the UK for several years.

After two years of trials and considerable adaptation to suit the UK market and environment, the ModernaHus UK project is now underway and is scheduled for completion by October 2011.

The first phase of the ModernaHus UK project will comprise of 108 one to four bedroom residential units, in a rejuvenated site in Coldharbor Lane, Brixton. A good majority of the construction elements will be manufactured offsite and delivered to the site, ready for installation. This prefabricated building system has been found to be successful in bringing down the effective construction time while ensuring site safety as well as quality and finish of the products.

For energy efficiency, ModernaHus combines a well insulated building envelope, under floor heating, ground source heat pumps, solar panels and a central biomass boiler. The ModernaHus homes which will be 30% more efficient than normal homes, has obtained the Code for Sustainable Homes, Level 4.

With energy efficiency figuring as the priority for modern buildings, FlexiDry fast drying floor screeds is one of the screeds that is very much in demand by most major builders. When underfloor heating system can enhance energy efficiency, the use of the right screed is found to compound its effectiveness by acting as a thermal mass to dissipate the heat. FlexiDry floor screeds act as very good thermal conductors of heat and cut down the thermal losses and reduce the amount of heat required at the source. With an efficiency of 20-30% more than the normal anhydrite screeds, and drying times as less as 3 days to 21 days, FlexiDry is currently the chosen name for most of the major projects like ModernaHus.