Save energy this winter with these 3 tricks

If your wallet is already flinching in anticipation of the heavy blow of heating a home through the winter, you are probably looking for ways to keep your energy bill as low as possible. Of course, the most important contributors to winter energy savings are good insulation and an energy-efficient heating system. However, there are several subtler tricks you can apply for substantial savings in both money and energy. Here are a few:

• Program a thermostat. Generally speaking, machines are better than humans at regularly remembering to follow schedules. Installing a programmable thermostat will help you ensure that the house is not being heated at unnecessary times, such as when you're at work or sleeping. Programming the thermostat to lower during these times will lead to significant savings on heat.
• Use windows to your advantage. To turn your windows from a major site of energy loss into a source of energy savings, the key is to add insulation while still letting in light. After caulking around the window frame, apply a clear plastic sheet to the window, sealing carefully around the edges (a hair dryer can be used to slightly melt the plastic and attach it to the frame). The plastic will let in light and heat from the sun, then guard against the heat escaping. This strategy can lead to savings of 2 to 12 percent.
• Your biggest fan. It may seem counterintuitive, but if you have high ceilings, turning your fans on low during the winter months can actually help push the warm air that rises to the top back down, making the room feel warmer. On the other hand, reduce your use of exhaust fans, which can suck warm air out of the home. 

In order to tell whether you're actually saving energy, you'll need a baseline to work from. Contact Alban Inspections today to schedule an energy audit. 

Until recently, passive houses, with their net zero expenditure of energy, were considered the ultimate form of green building. However, in the past few years, some housing developers have been taking the concept even further. So-called E-plus (energy positive) homes actually produce more energy than they consume through a combination of innovative insulation and solar power methods. Notable examples include the E-plus Green Home outside Seoul, designed by Unsangdong Architects Corporation and covered by verdant rooftop gardens, and Urbanica's four E-plus townhouses in Roxbury, MA, unveiled in 2013. Following suit, as of October 2014, Northern Virginia has its own example of an energy-positive home, the NOVA e-plus Home in Springfield. 

In order to generate over 12 megawatts of excess energy per year, the NOVA e-plus Home employs a strategy of combined "extreme energy conservation" and "extreme energy generation". While the house has a relatively traditional external appearance, a departure from the usual modern design for energy positive homes, it is composed of numerous highly engineered components that work together to keep its energy use as low as possible. Solar panels are placed out of sight on the roof. The walls, doors and windows are highly insulated and sealed against the cold, and a geothermal furnace warms water using natural energy. The home is on its way to gaining LEED Platinum status, and the eventual owners will be paid for the energy their home provides to other structures in the area.

For now, energy positive technology remains out of reach for the average citizen, but in the future it may become standard for all new houses. In the meantime, have your home inspected for problems that may be causing energy to be lost with an energy audit from Alban. To schedule your audit, call us at 301-662-6565.

An $8 billion initiative is scheduled to be launched through the efforts of four energy companies looking to answer California's call for new ways to power the state with clean energy. 

Through the assistance of a novel energy-storage and generation system, first created in Utah, the quartet of businesses plan to funnel electricity all the way from Wyoming to Southern California. The Golden State recently sequestered energy companies to find a way to store significant volumes of energy in order to level out supply flows when there are fluctuations in the output produced by solar panels and wind turbines. 

Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy, Magnum Energy, Dresser-Rand Group Inc. and Duke-American Transmission are the four organizations who plan on submitting a formal proposal early next year to the Southern California Public Power Authority. Details of the initiative include Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy constructing and operating a $4 billion wind farm near Chugwater, Wyoming, expected to create up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity. 

Pathfinder, along with Magnum Energy and Dresser-Rand, also plan on collaborating to construct a $1.5 billion compressed air storage system site by Delta, Utah, roughly 130 miles outside of Salt Lake City. The site will house units of power with compressed air at a maximum capacity of 1,200 megawatts, remaining filled with air when the demand for electricity is low. 

Duke-American Transmission plans to contribute to the project with a $2.6 billion transmission line that will connect the wind farm in Wyoming to the storage facility in Utah, and also link with an existing transmission line that runs into California. 

The completed 490-mile transmission line, along with the other features of the plan, will not be up and running until 2023 but is expected to provide a steady flow of electricity at what the companies describe as an "attractive" price.

If you're interested in saving money through more efficient energy practices and live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today and schedule an energy audit.

There are several benefits to having an energy audit conducted on your home. Both in the interest of living a greener lifestyle and saving substantial amounts of money on your energy costs, it is one of the smartest decisions a homeowner can make. 

An energy audit is the "first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient," according to the United States Department of Energy. 

Not only do audits reveal any shortcomings in your home's performance with regard to conserving energy, but you also receive a detailed assessment that comes with advice and insight on how you can make your home more eco-friendly. However, even if you're not a homeowner, but rent and are still looking for ways to improve the energy consumption of your living space, here are a few suggestions to consider:

Heating: Keeping your house warm or cool typically makes up the bulk of a household's annual energy budget, consuming up to 48 percent. There are several ways you can improve your home's performance in this area, with some being as large as replacing a dated furnace and others being as basic as updating your windows. For renters, a simple trick would be to switch to programmable thermometers. 

Lighting: The average household uses roughly 5 percent of its energy budget on keeping the lights on in a home. Altering your approach may be one of the fastest and easiest ways to begin your path toward a greener lifestyle. The most popular approach with lighting is using energy-efficient appliances. Halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the most popular options and each have different features in regard to strengths and performances. Do a little research first before deciding which is best for your living space. 

If you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and are interested in learning how to improve your home's energy consumption, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today for an audit.

One of the longest and most contested disputes about renewable energy sources discusses how practical the technology is. Doubts about the potency of the energy source and subsequently its cost effectiveness stand as the tallest lightning rods, especially in political and commercial realms.

Presently, the United States Energy Information Agency (EIA) summates that 11 percent of the world's energy is sourced from renewable initiatives, with an estimated increase to 15 percent by 2040. The EIA also approximates that 21 percent of the world's energy comes from renewable sources, with a projected rise to 25 percent by 2040. Both of these changes have been considered in congress with widely accepted projections of population growth and the subsequent shifts in energy consumption. 

However, a study which recently appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS), ascertains that the idea of most of the world operating on electricity produced from clean energy programs by the year 2050 is not only feasible but would be highly beneficial to the planet and all of its inhabitants. 

"This is the first study that has assembled and scaled up the assessment of individual technologies to the whole world and assessed technology implementation to 2050, taking the environmental impacts of production into account," Edgar Hertwich, one of the study's participants  from Norwegian University of Science and Technology, tells Planet Experts. 

One of the factors that makes the discoveries from the study so important is that, up to this point, little has been known about the environmental impact on a global shift toward renewable energy technologies becoming the planet's primary source of power, or if there are enough materials available, especially with a growing population, to sustain such an initiative. Along with health benefits for the world, the test also revealed positive economic outcomes. 

If you'd like to embrace, or simply learn about, making your home more energy efficient, and you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today for an energy audit.

With the air beginning to feel just a touch cooler as the seasons change, now is the time to begin weatherizing your home in order to save money during the upcoming winter. According to a Gaiam Life article, the average home that hasn't been weatherized releases air and heat, at a rate that matches that of a house with a four-foot-square hole in its wall.

A sound weatherization of your living space is the frontline defense against living in a cold space and suffering a needless loss of money. The simple process of sealing up air leaks can lead to saving of up to 25 and 40 percent annually, in regard to both cooling and heating expenses.

The trickiest aspect of weatherizing a home is knowing where to begin. Here are a few places to consider:

Attics: It's a well-known fact that heat rises, which makes a porous attic your worst enemy when looking to conserve energy and money. To prevent a loss through this area you can begin with weatherstripping and insulating the attic access door. Also, applying a seal around the outside of your chimney as well as plumbing vents are excellent preventative measures. It's important to note that not all sealants are the same, though. Be sure to use the appropriate substance depending on what part of the house you're working on.

Windows and doors: The areas surrounding windows and doors can be sneaky openings for air to escape as the crevices aren't always obvious at first glance. But weatherproofing all exterior doors, including those of the porches and garages, makes for a great way to conserve energy. For windows, adding fresh putty to loose panes and new sash locks will improve the seal between a window and its frame and stop a lot of leakage.

If you live in the Maryland area and would like to learn more about how you can save money on energy at home, schedule an energy audit with industry-leader Alban Inspections!

If there is any downside to the changing colors of the leaves it is the knowledge that they will eventually begin to plummet, along with the temperature. And though nighttime reading and snuggling by the fireplace can be enjoyable, the need to stay warm is sometimes more of a pain than pleasure. According to the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) the average American home spent $2,100 on home energy in 2012, partially due to being unaware about what factors actually make a home cold.

There are plenty of articles and blogs about what the best ways to stay warm and save money are. However, not every bit of advice is reliable.

Nevertheless, here is a fact-based way you can preserve the warmth of your home while maintaining your energy costs:

Thermostat control: A popular school of thought says that turning off your thermostat during the day when nobody is home works as an effective way of reducing energy costs. 

In theory the practice is sound. The less time spent consuming oil to keep your house warm, when there's no one present to enjoy it, would lead to a lower energy bill. Conversely, it can also lead to greater expenses. This is especially true if you live in an area that is susceptible to freezing temperatures. One of the primary threats to be wary of is frozen water pipes due to low temperatures. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), completely turning off your thermostat may actually lead to greater expenses, especially if you have to replace pipes that have burst. 

Instead, invest in a programmable thermostat which can cost as little as $20 to $25. If you program the device to hold at 68 degrees while you're at home and to lower temperatures when you're sleeping or away, that alone can save you $110 annually according to the EPA. 

If you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and would like to learn more about how you can save money on energy at home, schedule an energy audit with industry-leader Alban Inspections! 

In an earlier article, we discussed some of the effects of mold on the residents of a home where it has spread. The most basic facts that were mentioned are  that mold is a fungus that grows naturally and can't be completely avoided, but a steady cleaning regimen will significantly limit the risks of a rampant infestation. 

Here are a few more facts about mold to consider:

Know the health risks: While analyzing the health of your home, it's wise to be aware of how an infection may be affecting the health of your home's inhabitants. Sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes and other allergy-like symptoms can all be indicators of mold in the home. Mold can also induce asthma attacks and, in the most extreme cases, memory loss and cases of cancer. There are some over-the-counter medications that will help with the milder symptoms, but if you suggest that someone in the home has been seriously affected by mold, it's imperative to have him or her taken to a healthcare provider.

Moisture control: Moisture is essentially the lifeblood of mold. If you suspect that a mold infestation is in your house, searching for water damage, especially in dark places like the basement, is an ideal first step to take. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the interest of control the moisture of your home, recommends keeping your humidity level below 50 percent and using air conditioners in humid months. 

Checking for ventilation in the kitchens and bathrooms is also an effective preventative tactic, as is turning on a fan when showering. Also, keeping a thick carpet in the bathroom is also discouraged as it can become a breeding ground for the fungus. 

 If you have concerns about a mold infestation, scheduling a home inspection may be in your best interests. If you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and would like to learn more about your options, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today for a quality home inspection.

A quality energy audit comes with several invaluable benefits. Not only will a customer walk away with a wealth of knowledge about what minor and inexpensive changes can be made in order to save hundreds of dollars on energy costs, but larger innovations including suggested renewable energy installations like solar panels can lead to saving thousands of dollars. 

Often, the primary feature of an effective energy audit includes the "blower door test" where all of the windows of a house are closed before a large calibrated fan is activated to draw air out of the home. The guages on the fan determine how much of the air is being released through cracks around windows, spots in the foundation and other trouble spots.

A focus on trouble spots is also a key element of an energy audit. Typically, a non-invasive investigation of inefficient appliances and poorly insulated areas around the house usually occurs. But sometimes even more interesting items are discovered. 

Last month, a pair of energy auditors conducted a review of a home in Plainview, New York, for Seymour Bosworth with the aim of lowering his energy usage by 25 percent. Bosworth, a 92-year-old World War II Veteran, received the audit via his participation in a program dedicated to helping families, veterans and senior citizens with housing issues. While inspecting the attic, the energy auditors discovered a bag of World War 2 memorabilia. 

Bosworth, who had traveled extensively throughout Europe during the war thought the bag had been stolen two decades ago by a bug exterminator. Instead, the energy auditors discovered the bag in perfect condition, with all of its mementos present, tucked under the attics insulation. Furthermore, Bosworth also learned how to save money on his energy bill. 

Perhaps we won't find a bag full of valuables, but if you live in the Virginia or Washington, D.C., area and are interested in learning how to improve your home's energy consumption, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections today for an audit. 

In an earlier article, we discussed the decision by the Rockefeller Foundation to divest the remaining funds it had tied up in fossil fuels over the next five years. Organizers of the swelling "Go Fossil Free" movement, which helped inspire the decision by the Rockefeller family, announced on Monday September 22 that more than 50 institutions, wealthy individuals and foundations in control of at least $50 billion in assets have pledged to pull their investments from all fossil fuels. 

The announcement followed a 300,000-person strong People's Climate March held in New York City the day before. The World Council on Churches, representative of more than 300 churches and 590 million people in 150 countries, has also committed to the movement. 

"The snowball is picking up speed very rapidly. There's a new urgency imposed by the science. We have to orchestrate the end of the fossil fuel era in a very short time frame," says Ellen Dorsey, executive director of the Wallace Global Fund and the originator of the Divest-Invest initiative, in a Mercury News article. 

What stands in the way of immediate results regarding the initiative is that divesting from present holdings is a complicated process. Parties usually spend months researching and debating a decision on where to devote or remove funds. The process also involves examining how a financial maneuver falls in line with an organization's core goals as well as the long- and short-term risks involved. 

Nevertheless, the movement has gained much of the world's attention. In May of this year, Stanford University's Board of Trustees announced that the institution would no longer invest any of its $19 billion endowment in the 100 publicly traded companies that are focused on coal mining and extraction.

If you'd like to become more involved with energy efficiency as well and learn how your home can become more efficient with its energy consumption, schedule an energy audit with industry leader Alban Inspections. Contact us today!