Green X-mas Tree, New York Style

No pang of guilt towards the environment this year in Rockefeller Center as the traditional Christmas tree will be lit with energy-saving bulbs throughout the holidays and then transformed into houses by Habitat for Humanity. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in Manhattan, N. Y. attempts to inspire on more levels than one this year, not only with holiday cheer and goodwill, but also with peaceful thoughts (and actions) towards our environment. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday that he hopes the brightly lighted Manhattan trademark display will inspire New Yorkers and tourists alike to make “greener” choices themselves. “Now they will see an example of green leadership which may inspire them to make greener choices in their own lives,” Bloomberg said. The entire process of cutting, transporting, lighting and displaying the tree, as well as reusing it after the holiday season, is environmentally-conscious this year. The 84-foot-tall Norway spruce which is the 75th Tree was cut with a hand saw by two workers, the old-fashioned way, to honor “the heritage of the Tree process,” official website www.thetreenyc.com explains. The tree will be covered with 30,000 multicolored energy efficient light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, strung on five miles of wire. This will reduce the display's electricity consumption from 3,510 to 1,297 kilowatt hours per day, reports the Associated Press. The daily savings is equal to the amount of electricity consumed by a typical 2,000-square-foot house in a month, per the AP. There will also be a 365-panel solar energy array installed on the roof of 45 Rockefeller Plaza to create a 70Kwh generation station, which will remain in place after the holiday season. The official lighting of the tree will occur during a ceremony on Nov. 28; during the following weeks, the tree will be illuminated from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. most days, through the first week of January. The tree will be taken down on January 8, only to serve a higher purpose, as Habitat For Humanity will use it to build symbolic doorframes that will be used in select HFH building programs in NYC, the Gulf Coast, India and Brazil. LED LIGHTING:

Tankless Water Heaters, Save Energy & Water

Demand (Tankless or Instantaneous) Water Heaters Financial Benefits * Did you know that a tankless water heater can save you $400 to $700 over its lifetime? A tankless gas water heater saves an average of $400 over thirteen years as compared to a conventional gas storage heater, and an electric tankless water heater saves about $700 over thirteen years as compared to a conventional electric storage heater. * Did you know that you can rely on your tankless water heater for more than 20 years? While most conventional water heaters only last 10 to 15 years, most tankless water heaters will last more than 20 years, and their easily replaceable parts make repairs simple and durable. Environmental Benefits * Did you know that a tankless water heater could save your home up to 86 gallons of water per day? Homes that use a lot of hot water can increase energy efficiency by 8% to 14%, saving about 86 gallons of water per day. Homes with typical hot water usage, 41 gallons or less each day, can increase energy efficiency by 24% to 34% by installing a tankless water heater. Installing a tankless heater at every hot water outlet can result in energy savings of 27% to 50%! Note Added by Scotty, Scott's Contracting: Tankless water heaters need 2/3 less space- can be mounted in, Bath/Kitchen, Cabinets. email:scottscontracting@gmail.com for additional info. Installation Quotes free of charge Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. Here you'll find basic information about how they work, whether a demand water heater might be right for your home, and what criteria to use when selecting the right model. Illustration of an electric demand water heater. At the top of the image, the heating unit is shown. Cold water flows in one end of a pipe, flows through and around several curved pipes over the heating elements, and out the other end as hot water. Beneath the heating unit, a typical sink setup is shown. The sink has two pipes coming out the bottom, one for the hot water line and one for the cold water line. Both pipes lead to the heating unit, which is installed in close proximity to the area of hot water use, and is connected to a power source (110 or 220 volts). How They Work Demand water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. However, a demand water heater's output limits the flow rate. Typically, demand water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2–5 gallons (7.6–15.2 liters) per minute. Gas-fired demand water heaters produce higher flow rates than electric ones. Sometimes, however, even the largest, gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a demand water heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install two or more demand water heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate demand water heaters for appliances—such as a clothes washer or dishwater—that use a lot of hot water in your home. Other applications for demand water heaters include the following: * Remote bathrooms or hot tubs * Booster for appliances, such as dishwashers or clothes washers * Booster for a solar water heating system. Although gas-fired demand water heaters tend to have higher flow rates than electric ones, they can waste energy if they have a constantly burning pilot light. This can sometimes offset the elimination of standby energy losses when compared to a storage water heater. In a gas-fired storage water heater, the pilot light heats the water in the tank so the energy isn't wasted. The cost of operating a pilot light in a demand water heater varies from model to model. Ask the manufacturer how much gas the pilot light uses for the model you're considering. If you purchase a model that uses a standing pilot light, you can always turn it off when it's not in use to save energy. Also consider models that have an intermittent ignition device (IID) instead of a standing pilot light. This device resembles the spark ignition device on some gas kitchen ranges and ovens. For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be 8%–14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water—around 86 gallons per day. You can achieve even greater energy savings of 27%–50% if you install a demand water heater at each hot water outlet. Selecting a Demand Water Heater Demand water heaters cost more than conventional storage water heaters. However, you may find that a demand water heater may have lower operating and energy costs, which could offset its higher purchase price. Before buying a demand water heater, you also need to consider the following: * Size * Fuel type and availability. * Energy efficiency (energy factor) * Estimate costs. For information about specific demand water heater models, see the Product Information resources listed on the right side of this page (or below if you've printed out this page). Installation and Maintenance Proper installation and maintenance of your demand water heater can optimize its energy efficiency. Proper installation depends on many factors. These factors include fuel type, climate, local building code requirements, and safety issues, especially concerning the combustion of gas-fired water heaters. Therefore, it's best to have a qualified plumbing and heating contractor install your demand water heater. Do the following when selecting a contractor: * Request cost estimates in writing * Ask for references * Check the company with your local Better Business Bureau * See if the company will obtain a local permit if necessary and understands local building codes, etc. If you're determined to install your water heater yourself, first consult the manufacturer. Manufacturers usually have the necessary installation and instruction manuals. Also, contact your city or town for information about obtaining a permit, if necessary, and about local water heater installation codes. Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. They also have easily replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years. In contrast, storage water heaters last 10–15 years. Periodic water heater maintenance can significantly extend your water heater's life and minimize loss of efficiency. Read your owner's manual for specific maintenance recommendations.

Andalay Solar Power " Details "

Designed for Maximum Reliability and Systematic Installation Solar systems must last decades in the harsh environment of your roof. To ensure these systems last, meticulous engineering design was applied to build the next generation in solar systems that eliminates exposure of weather sensitive components. Andalay is designed for primary assembly at our factory, not at your home like ordinary solar systems. The result is an integrated solar system that will provide decades of reliable solar power performance. With “Good Looks” to Match Andalay’s Meticulous Design In addition to Andalay providing a more reliable system that delivers decades of solar power performance, it also delivers a cleaner and more attractive look. With its slimmer panels, invisible electrical cabling and hidden mounting system, Andalay takes less room while blending into your roof like a skylight. A Whole New Look to Solar Power ST175-1 Andalay Mechanical Specifications - System Racking hardware Integrated External Grounding wires Integrated External Wiring connections Factory-assembled Installer-assembled Module-module connections Integrated External (Threaded) (Friction Clips) Space between modules 1/8” Up to 3” Roofing penetrations 25% Fewer Standard Scott's Contracting@gmail.com A whole new look to solar power © March

Andalay Solar Power, Specs

Andalay is an Integrated Solar Power System Built-in Reliability & Safety * No single point of system failure * Built-in electrical and ground connectors cannot loosen or be installed incorrectly * No dangerous 600 volt DC wiring * Shorter wire lengths are less likely to fail by pinching or abrading * 70% fewer roof-assembled parts means a longer lasting system * 25% fewer roof attachment points means greater roof integrity * Grounding process cannot skip panels, connectors will not wear or corrode High Performance * 5 - 25% better performance than ordinary DC panels * Built in microinverter delivers greater production in low light conditions on a per module basis * Latest generation monocrystalline cell technology * Output tolerance of just 3% means the promised power is delivered * Lighter weight and less space between panels so more can fit on a roof * Lower electrical resistance losses due to shorter wire lengths Convenience and Safety for Customer and Installer * Andalay modules are UL listed and CSA certified and meet National Electrical Code requirements * A lighter system that requires a single hand tool to install makes it safer for the installer * Microinverters are fully compliant with UL 1703 solar test and National Electric Code requirements Beautiful Design * No external racks or dangling wires for a clean, uncluttered look * No bulky inverters or unsightly wiring * No gaps between panels for a contiguous, smooth appearance * Panels and all hardware are flat black – they look like skylights! Long Warranty * 12/25 year power output Andalay module warranty provides confidence in purchasing today and protection in the future * 15 Year Standard Microinverter Warranty Environmentally Sensitive * No external cardboard packaging means less waste to dispose * Lighter weight and fewer parts means fewer resources required to produce and less fuel needed to transport

Solar Systems by Andalay

Andalay, the next generation in solar power systems, engineered away these flaws with its award-winning revolutionary design. Protected wiring, assembly in a quality-controlled factory environment, and superior framing, grounding and wiring deliver a system that is built to provide decades of reliable solar power performance. email: scottscontracting@gmail.com