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Energy Efficiency Programs What You Can Apply Now

In light of the current economic conditions that the country is facing right now, several programs have been placed in the priority list that will address some of the most critical issues faced by Americans right now. One such issue is on the use and consumption of electricity, wherein a national program was set into motion to generate interest among consumers in various states to participate in energy efficiency programs starting with their own homes.

Texas has been at the forefront of the nationwide energy efficiency drive with residents given the power to select their energy options in a bid to reduce consumption of Texas electricity. Such programs include rebates from their property taxes that eventually pay for the energy efficiency improvements done in their individual homes. Such improvements can include the installation of solar panels or improving a homes insulation system and optimize use of electricity.

These incentive programs are aimed at reducing the up-front costs that homeowners will incur as they set out and initiate energy efficiency improvements in their homes and improve their use of Texas electricity. Not only that, energy efficiency improvements will enable homeowners to gain considerable savings from their electricity bills as well as a focus on alternative energy resources that will eventually pave the way for the availability of really cheap electricity for all consumers to enjoy.

Legislation
Energy efficiency programs were officially initiated when the 75th Texas Legislature promulgated into law the requirement for meeting specific energy efficiency goals that the electric TDUs or Texas Transmission and Distribution Utilities would have to meet. The procedures required to meet these goals were outlined in the Energy Efficiency Rule provided by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

The rule specifies that TDUs should offer energy efficiency programs to consumers within their respective electricity distribution territories. Such programs include installation or home improvements designed to increase a homes overall energy efficiency such proper insulation, use of high efficiency lighting fixtures and the installation of solar energy systems among other. These programs are extended not only to residential communities but also to schools, local governments and businesses in order to reduce their operating costs and save Texas electricity.

These home improvements however, will be installed or performed not by the TDUs themselves but will be coursed through third-party providers or what is more commonly called now as project sponsors. These providers include contractors and installers for insulation, lighting, and air conditioning. Project sponsors also include the retail electric providers and other energy efficiency companies.

What the Texas Consumer Can Apply Now

There are various energy efficiency incentive programs initiated by the local distribution utilities in the various towns and cities in Texas, each of whom were mandated to meet energy efficiency goals. These incentive programs come in the form of Standard Offer Programs (SOP), with payments based on the energy efficiency performance achieved. Participation in these SOPs varies depending on the type of program initiated. These programs include:

Residential and Small Commercial Programs these are geared towards providing incentives for energy efficiency improvements that are installed to reduce electricity consumption and peak demand
Commercial Programs Has a specific minimum demand requirement for eligibility and provides incentives for energy efficiency installations and measures that will reduce peak demand and increase Texas electricity savings
Low Income Programs Energy efficiency programs that are targeted towards households having annual incomes that are below or at 200% of the federal poverty guideline.
Load Management Programs These are designed to encourage efficient control of electrical loads such as shifting of electric loads from peak-demand hours to off-peak periods.

Hotpoint Tvm562 Vented Tumble Dryer

Hotpoint have recently been voted the Most Trusted Domestic Appliance Brand in the UK for the 9th consecutive year through the Readers Digest Survey. What is it which makes Hotpoint such a popular brand? It is down to several factors included in their range of appliances, such as price, style, reliability, features and functionality. The Hotpoint TVM562 vented tumble dryer is a brilliant example of an appliance which is popular and contains brilliant features to help you when doing the laundry.

The Hotpoint Aquarius TVM562 tumble dryer is a really practical machine, if you are looking for an appliance which offers excellent cleaning quality teamed with everyday features and functions then this could be the tumble dryer for you. The Hotpoint TVM562 tumble dryer is C energy rated and has been recognised as being Energy Saving Recommended by the Energy Saving Trust. Everyone should be doing their bit to be greener starting in the kitchen with energy saving appliances can be a great way of starting to help to protect the environment.

The Hotpoint TVM562 vented tumble dryer has some brilliant features and functions, such as the reverse tumble action. This feature prevents clothing from tangling when drying which results in less creasing this also means less ironing for you which is a great bonus!

The Hotpoint TVM562 vented tumble dryer has an end of cycle alarm which alerts you when the dry load is ready to be emptied. It is all too easy to forget about a laundry load when its tucked away in the machine having a gentle reminder to empty the load is great for those who forget! Empting close to the end of a cycle will help to prevent additional creases.

Other features of the Hotpoint TVM562 vented tumble dryer include high and low heat settings, set and forget sensor drying, final cool tumble, easy iron, delay timer and safety start button. All of which contribute to a hassle free life when it comes to doing the laundry!

The Hotpoint TVM562 vented tumble dryer comes in a choice of either polar white or graphite, both of which are great colours to fit in with any kitchens design.

Vented tumble dryers will carry any moisture which is created when drying your clothing through an external venting hose which means that this type of appliance must be placed next to an outside wall so that the moisture can be vented successfully.

When buying a tumble dryer it is important to decide which features you will find useful, the Hotpoint TVM562 vented tumble dryer has everything you need to feel confident when drying every laundry load easy iron programmes are a favourite around the UK because lets face it, no one like spending time doing the ironing!

Stimulating Energy Efficiency And Lower Energy Bills For Texans

Children sometimes need a little motivation to be convinced to do what they’re supposed to do. This motivation can take many forms, but the most effective ways teach the child beneficial ways to live, demonstrating the material benefits of proper conduct. Adults can also, on occasion, require a little nudging to do the thing that is right in the long run. (This can be difficult, especially when one is asked to delay gratification!) The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law by Congress to stimulate our economy in a number of ways. (Yes, that’s the Stimulus Bill you’ve heard a lot about.) Texas is a big state, and a significant percentage of those dollars will be used to help the state’s energy consumers save money and reduce their use of the juice.

Some of the biggest energy drains in your home are your large appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dishwashers and more. These appliances generally do their jobs very well and can last for a long time, even decades. The down side to this is that older machines are often less efficient than their newer counterparts. When a homeowner purchases a new, say, water heater, their electric bill may decrease. These savings travel further up the chain, preventing the burning of fossil fuels that would have otherwise been used to operate the water heater. Some stimulus money is being used to provide rebates to consumers when they upgrade specific household appliances. In an article written for the San Antonio Express-News, Vicki Vaughan compares this idea to 2009’s “Cash For Clunkers” program, in which the government offered rebates to owners of gas-guzzling cars as an incentive to purchase more efficient ones.

Tom Fowler, reporter for the Houston Chronicle, points out that Lone Star Staters will benefit more than most Americans as a result of the money allocated by the stimulus. The bill dedicated $300 million to encourage Americans to update their appliances. Of that, $23.3 million was awarded for use by Texans. The program was approved for an April 2010 rollout, and the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) decided upon different rebate amounts for different appliances. Room air conditioners are eligible for a $45 rebate, for example, while water heaters are eligible for a rebate of $255 to $640, depending upon the efficiency of the specific model. Another important goal of the surplus spending was to encourage the recycling of those appliances to be replaced. The SECO, as a result, set aside $75 extra dollars as a bonus for consumers who submit their old washers, refrigerators and more to be recycled.

Individual energy consumers are not the only ones to benefit from the 2009 Stimulus Bill. The Austin Statesman reported that the Department of Energy assigned $10.4 million in these funds to benefit the capital city’s Pecan Street Project, an endeavor dedicated to developing more advanced smart electrical grids. Projects such as these will help Texas maintain their lead in clean energy development and in green jobs.

Another SECO project made possible by the stimulus is the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. Congress made $3.2 billion available nationwide for grants to be awarded on the local level. SECO has been allocated $45.6 million to be distributed to Texas cities with populations under 35,000 or counties with populations under 200,000. These grants will help Texas communities upgrade the technology used to power municipal buildings and change traffic signals and street lights to more efficient systems, among other uses.

While it may not be the most glamorous use of stimulus funds, the bill set aside $2.4 million for state and local governments to enhance “energy assurance planning.” In other words, those in charge of maintaining and improving Texas’ energy grid were granted the money necessary to develop the systems to keep the lights on. (These same systems, of course, keep factories humming, which preserves the jobs of hardworking people.)

They say you have to spend money in order to make money, and the Stimulus Bill is a good example of that idea. It’s difficult to get anything accomplished in an industry without the proper infrastructure, and these federal dollars will increase Texas’ ability to compete in the world’s increasingly green economy. Sure, the recession that depressed business and resulted in several burst bubbles will be remembered for its lasting effects on our lives. Thanks to the fact that the stimulus funds are being used to enhance energy efficiency, the positives could endure for decades to come.

How To Guide To Improving Air Quality And Energy Efficiency In Your Home

It is an easy task to improve the indoor air quality of your home while improving its energy efficiency at the same time. Knowing some basic steps is all you need to get started.

Improve Air Quality and Energy Efficiency by Eliminating Drafts

The first order of business is to eliminate as many drafts as possible. This will limit the quantity of airborne allergens that can enter your home from outside. The prevention of drafts will both improve the quality of the air inside your home and will also increase the energy efficiency of your air conditioning/heating system. Much of your high energy costs is due to loss of heat in the winter and in the summer, the loss of air conditioning,generates higher energy bills and it wastes your money and our natural resources.

Reducing drafts helps reduce the outside irritants and toxic particles that can be found suspended in outdoor air and have less chance of getting into your home.

Air Circulation Improves Improve Air Quality and Energy Efficiency

Circulating the air inside becomes very important as it allows the air to move around and the rooms will not become stuffy, stale and full of odors. Using an air conditioner to control the humidity in your home will also reduce or eliminate humidity and reduce the need for a dehumidifier which is very expensive to operate.

Create a Save Haven in Your Home

Your ability to control your indoor air quality and energy efficiency will allow you to create a safe haven in your home, This will help protected from airborne microbes such as small pox, anthrax, botulism, toxic gas, and radio active particle that can be released by terrorists or by accident.

Improve Air Quality and Energy Efficiency by Leakage Testing

A simple air leakage test is your first step you need to do to improve your indoor air quality and energy efficiency. All that is needed is a fan set up near an outer doorway. After placing the fan in the outer doorway, you will observe that eh amount of air that flows through the fan is equal to the air that is flowing through any leaks in the outer shell of the building.

If you use white smoke while you perform the leakage test, you will see openings in windows or door that are allowing your air conditioning and heating to escape or toxins to enter. Mold spores, dust, insects and pollen enter the home through these cracks.

Most people are aware of the fact that older homes are often drafty due to multiple leaks, but believe it or not, newly constructed homes can also have air leaks. It is estimated that new homes can have upwards of 300 square inches of air openings in the outer shell. If you have a ducted air circulation system in your home, these openings can create a significant level of pressure inside the home that will drive air through these openings. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that since you have a new home, you don’t have any leakage problems.

Conclusion

One final caveat. Before you go rushing out to seal up your home in an effort to improve its air quality and energy efficiency, you must make a committment to reduce the amount of chemicalproducts that you use. More and more studies are showing that the air quality within our homes is often worse than the air we breathe outside. Carpeting that gives off toxic fumes, cleaning products, personal care products and electronic equipment are only a few of the products that we use indoors that is contributing to “sick house syndrome”. So before you tackle the job of improving your air quality and energy efficiency, use more natural products in your home to keep you and your family safe.

Hot Projects With Colored Glass Block Windows, Walls & Showers

What do you have that can add some interest, some pop, some style to this glass block project? a customer recently asked. With the introduction of colored glass your windows, showers, or wall projects can really stand out without sacrificing the functional benefits of the block. Below youll learn about 5 unique projects that combined colors and block patterns to create one of a kind results.

Project 1) Purple Colored Glass Block Windows in a Bookstore

The problem – A bookstore in Northwest Ohio had old deteriorated dark purple glass tiles from the 1930s in their transom windows. Most of these window openings were about 80 x 40 in size. The problem with these tiles is they werent energy efficient, many of the tiles and grout joints were cracked, and were no longer commercially available.

The solution A deep rich purple amethyst block was specially developed and designed to match the colors of the old glass tiles in this commercial renovation. The advantage of the new block is it is 10 times more energy efficient and the customer had a wide selection of block patterns and styles to choose from. The Argus block pattern from Pittsburgh Corning was selected. The windows were grouted with black mortar for added effect.

Project 2) A Checkerboard Pattern Yellow and Green Glass Block Wall for Privacy in a home near Boston

The problem – A homeowner near Boston Massachusetts wanted to create a privacy wall between a half bathroom on one side and a kitchen with a uniquely colored pot belly stove on the other side (the pot belly stove was a light green, and the kitchens colors were going to be redesigned to be earth tones and yellows). Since the bathroom had a window the goal was to move light from the outside of the home, through the half bath area, and into the kitchen without sacrificing privacy in the bathroom.

The solution A standard amber goldenrod yellow block and a custom designed light green block were designed for this project to augment the colors of the pot belly stove and walls in this home. The Icescapes pattern block from Pittsburgh Corning was chosen to provide privacy for the half bath. Five 40 x 16 panel sections were fabricated and shipped (using the vinyl stack fabrication system) to the project by Columbus Glass Block with the color checkerboard (alternating yellow & green colors) pattern in the top 3 courses (the entire wall was 80 high and the color blocks were used in the top 24 area of the project).

Project 3) Random Red, Yellow, Green, Purple, & Blue Colors for a Glass Block Walk In Shower in Cincinnati Ohio

The problem – A customer of Mid America Glass Block in Cincinnati & Dayton Ohio wanted the maintenance free benefits of a walk in block shower to stop having to clean the bottom of the framed shower wall & door system of her old shower. In addition she wanted a fun and contemporary way to add some pop and interest to the design for a more eclectic look.

The solution For this project the goal was to add the design and style through the color of the blocks and not the pattern within the blocks. A standard Wavy pattern block from Mulia was chosen using finished end blocks for the two walls of the shower. The colored blocks were used in a random fashion through one of the walls including the finished end blocks and radius block units.

Project 4) A Ruby Red Color Cross Inside Vinyl Framed Glass Block Windows for a Church in Arkansas

The problem – A commercial general contractor in Arkansas called because a church they were working for had a problem with vandalism and high heating and cooling costs with their existing single pane wood frame windows. The pastor wanted vandal and graffiti resistant windows that would be hard to break, but also wanted to add color and interest for the inside of the church. Most of the color blocks they saw in their local market were dull pastel colors that would not provide the vibrancy the pastor wanted on the inside of the church.

The solution Since these windows were inside a wood framed structure a vinyl framed glass block window was chosen for its ease of installation and long term durability. The pastor chose to design in a ruby red colored block as a cross in the center of the 40 wide by 72 window openings. The Icescapes pattern was used for the cross and the Decora pattern was used around the cross making the cross really stand out through both its pattern and the vibrant red color. The block now provides the security, energy efficiency, and style all in one for this church. The cost of this window was lower than stained glass as well.

Project 5) Stripes of Colors through a Glass Block Bar in New York City, New York

The problem A loft owner in New York City was looking for a cool way to create a bar for entertaining in their new space. They liked the idea of lighting through blocks, but fiber optic systems were too expensive and standard rope lighting was too dull.

The solution This glass bar, which was designed 40 in height, was built with a sapphire dark blue block to accent the chrome and blue colors in the room. The blue block was used in every other course of the bars blocks including the corner and end finishing blocks to create a striped design.

Color glass block windows, showers, and wall projects can combine both excellent functional benefits with a high degree of style. The design options for this product have never been greater.