Smart Meters and Electric Utility Customers

As the roll out of smart meters continues, these new devices provide customers with the ability to monitor their electricity usage on a real time basis and electric utilities with the capability of reading meters at frequent intervals. These meters have also become the source of growing controversy: Smart Meter Customers are questioning their accuracy, particularly in the wake of sudden...

Smart Grid – Challenges and Opportunities

Smart Grid, with all of its features and potential to redefine the electricity market, can easily become disconnected from the wants and needs of the customers it is designed to serve. The challenge is clear yet not easy: Electric utilities must position themselves to listen to what their customers want and are willing to pay for, yet Recognize that their customers are not always able to...

Operation and Repair of Fluorescent Lamps

There are a number of reasons why homeowners might consider voluntarily replacing incandescent fixtures with fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps offer: More even and “shadow-free” illumination, and Improved energy efficiency as a significant amount of the electricity in an incandescent bulb is discharged as heat rather than light, where as a fluorescent bulb remains cool. Operation of...

Energy Performance Ratings

Energy Performance Ratings for windows, doors, and skylights indicate the potential for gaining or losing heat as well as transmitting sunlight into the home. Heat loss or gain can occur in a number of ways: Conduction, Radiation, and / or Air leakage. These properties are typically measured and rated according to a number of performance characteristics. Performance Characteristics The National...

Thermographic Inspections – An Energy Auditor’s Tool

Thermal Imaging Camera Infrared scanning, commonly referred to as “thermographic inspections,” detects thermal defects and air leakage in buildings. Through the use of infrared video and still cameras and their images (referred to as “thermograms”), this process: Measures surface temperatures, Detects light from the heat spectrum images on the video / film, and Records variations in...

“Do-It- Yourself” Home Energy Audits

A home energy assessment, commonly referred to as a “do-it-yourself” home energy audit, requires a comprehensive walk-through that, when coupled with the development of a detailed punch list of discrepancies, provides a means to upgrade the energy efficiency of one’s home. Typically, these audits inspect four major areas: Air Leaks Insulation Heating / Cooling Equipment Lighting Air Leaks...

Home Energy Audits – The First Step to Improved Energy Efficiency

A home energy audit is a strong initial step toward improving the efficiency of a home. An effective audit will: Determine the amount of energy being used by one’s home, and Identify potential measures to improve energy efficiency. The audit, of course, is merely a precursor to saving energy. By implementing the audit recommendations and drawing on other resources (e.g. ENERGY STAR), a...

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs – Are they Helpful or Harmful?

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) are the likely replacement for the traditional incandescent bulbs that have been the standard since the early 20th century. CFL’s have joined home thermostats and fish as potential contributors to mercury exposure. Since mercury is a neurotoxin, it can cause damage to nerve cells, and can be harmful even in small doses. The effects of mercury exposure can...

Basic Electrical Safety Tips

Most homeowners avoid repairing or replacing electrical components primarily because of concerns regarding personal safety. Though electrical devices and wires are designed to be inherently safe, carelessness or ignorance can quickly offset any built-in safeguards.  However, by following a number of guidelines and practives, the relative novice can perform simple electrical repairs on many basic...

Distributed Generation – A Solution or Challenge?

Solar Panels On-site or decentralized generation is commonly referred to as distributed generation. It supplies electricity from sources that are at or near the point of consumption rather than that from large, centralized sources such as utility-owned coal, natural gas, oil, or nuclear power plants. The majority of these distributed systems include: Renewable energy sources such as sunlight,...