From the Ground up, by a Single Mom

This is a great video from a single mom who built her own straw bale home for $50,000 while working still full time and living on the land.  She gives some excellent advice here for anyone who is considering building their own straw bale home, from labor, to coding, to construction.

She also has a great website, HouseOfStraw.com, which I definitely recommend to anyone who is considering straw bale construction for their home, or sustainable green building in general.  You will find great information, from someone who has been through it all.

This article was first published on Build and Rebuild. To continue reading, please view the original post at Straw Bale Construction.

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You already know why utilizing solar energy to power your home is an awesome decision:  it reduces the need for nonrenewable oil, diminishes greenhouse gas pollutants, and ultimately puts money in your pocket by not being dependent on the utility provider.

Unfortunately, solar panels are like hybrid vehicles: right now most owners are those who have dispensible income and and a concern about the environment.  Installing a photovoltaic system (in Greek, “photo” means sun and voltaic refers to power) for the eventual monetary gains is usually not the primary reason people go solar—for most people its more about the environment than anything.   The average time period for making back the money you put into the installation is about 10 years, depending on the system size and the state you live in.

But here’s the key:  right now most states have incredible public incentive programs that you should absolutely take advantage of.  Federal stimulus money has boosted these programs, yet the real spur is the changing attitude among planners and politicians who finally see the need for a renewable energy future.  States are drafting plans that mandate the use of a certain percentage of renewable energy within the next five or ten years and there is real momentum in the political arena to encourage citizens to install photovoltaic systems on their homes.

In New York State, for example, the NYS Research and Development Authority is responsible for administering funds to homeowners, businesses, and municipalities.  If your application is accepted (which in most cases is almost guaranteed), then your incentive package can cover up to 50% of your total installation cost.  On top of that, you can get up to $5,000 in federal tax credits!  Municipalities and non-profits have slightly better incentives than homeowners and businesses, yet they are all quite substantial.

What are the limitations for solar incentives from NYSERDA?   For residential applications, you cannot get funding for any system larger than 10 kw.   That’s okay though, since the average American home doesn’t usually require a system much bigger than that.

But should you procure a system that covers your buildings entire energy load?  That depends.  You must have enough available roof space with no shading issues.  However, you can always get a ground mount if you have ample space in your yard.  It is more economically and environmentally effective to go for the larger system, but keep in mind your incentives probably have a cap.

One reason that homeowners might choose to install a system that covers their whole load and then some, is that you can sell back excess energy to the grid.  That’s right, with net metering, if you generate more than you use, the utility company pays you.   In most cases, you cannot have a grid-tied system that produces more than 110% of your load, so the utility does have some discretion.

A few more reasons to take advantage of such incentives: You will rarely have to maintain or clean your panels (maybe once a year, or if they’re accessible in the winter to brush off the snow) and most come with at least a 30 year warranty. They’re virtually indestructible.   The only cost to you is the initial installation price, which varies but on average is in the $10,000 to $50,000 range for an average homeowner.  Remember, with state and federal incentives, that number can be cut in half.  Incentive money does run out, so plan accordingly.  Solar installation is easier than every before and is on its way to becoming mainstream as people recognize the benefits.

This article was first published on Build and Rebuild. To continue reading, please view the original post at Solar Energy Payback.

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That’s right. Beginning this fall, government rebates will be available for the purchase of energy efficient household appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators. After the huge success of the cash for clunkers program in breathing life back into the auto-industry, as well as into our commitment to cleaner air, we should be hopeful that this program will have a similar effect.
As part of the 2009 federal economic stimulus bill, congress has authorized $300 million dollars for the program with rebates that are expected to reach up to $200, depending on the appliance. The primary requirement is that the appliance bear an Energy Star rating provided by the EPA and Department of Energy. But the program differs pretty significantly from cash for clunkers, in that it doesn’t require you to turn in your old appliance to be eligible.

How do you go about getting your own rebate? That information is not available quite yet. The federal government divided the $300 million among states according to the number of households, and states are to submit program plans by October 15. So you will have to wait a few more months, than contact your state government for further details.

This article was first published on Build and Rebuild. To continue reading, please view the original post at Cash for Clunker Appliances?.

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Maximizing energy efficiency starts with large south-facing windows, which help to naturally heat your home in the winter and keep it cool in the summer.    Also known as passive solar design, this is a key element in new homes that are working towards zero carbon emissions. Natural sunlight controls temperatures and also reduces your building’s lighting requirements and can therefore cut back on your electricity bill.

But what if you have an existing non-south-facing home and you want similar effects?

While retrofitting existing buildings to utilize passive solar design tends to be difficult, there are some easy ways to capitalize on small changes.

• When possible, retrofit your home with skylights to allow natural light to penetrate.
• Replace your existing windows with double-paned glass.  This prevents heat loss during the winter and keeps out the heat during the summer.
• To keep your home cool during summer months, install awnings or low-emissivity blinds over windows.
• Plant deciduous trees on the southern and western sides of your home.   They’ll shield the sun in the summer, and with the loss of leaves in the fall and winter will still allow light to access your windows.
• Really take advantage of the sun:  install a solar hot water system to heat your hydraulic radiant floor!

This article was first published on Build and Rebuild. To continue reading, please view the original post at South-Facing is Best—But What If My Home Is Already Built?.

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Protecting the environment and saving money is as easy as pulling the plug.  There are appliances and electronic devices scattered around your home that are sucking electricity even when they aren’t in use.  Who’d have thought that your cell phone charger could pull down an average of 1.73 Kilowatts per month; or that a printer absorbs 4.32 Kilowatts per month–just sitting there.  May not seem like much, but if you add up all the items in your home that are secretly eating energy–it is a fairly large number.

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has made the task of searching out and destroying the energy phantoms easy.   Check out their energy phantom calculator.  Just enter the quantity of each electronic device in your home and the calculator can quickly help you add up how much electricity each month is being wasted at your house.  Now think about all the households in the U.S.   The Census Bureau estimates that in 2007 there were 127,902,000 housing units in the country.  I calculated a sampling of a few of these household items and the savings if they were unplugged.

Collective Usage of 127,902,000 Houses

I’m not suggesting that you have to unplug your microwave, doorbell or your dishwasher when they’re not in use (way too painful), but there are items that pulling the plug takes no more effort than flipping off a light switch.  Figure out where you can unplug at your home.  Collectively we can conserve millions of dollars worth of electricity and that little bit of effort can make a huge difference for the planet.

This article was first published on Build and Rebuild. To continue reading, please view the original post at Get rid of those “Energy Phantoms”.