Lazy Nations Guide to reducing Green House Gases

The lazy nation's guide to reducing greenhouse gases

By John Kerastas, President, JK Marketing Consulting

When one of the most popular TV shows in the nation is "The Biggest Loser," watched by millions of Americans lying around on sofas, you have a great metaphor for the country's national character.

So, let me tell you something you already know: as a nation, we're lazy. That description applies to our energy policy, too.

Maybe "lazy" is the wrong word. Maybe we're just plain incapable of making touch decisions and taking action on the big issues, like reducing greenhouse gases.

Tough Decisions

Here are some tough GHG issues that we just can't seem to get our national arms around (you can add the ones I forgot):

* Imposing a national carbon tax or cap-and-trade program

* Making it easier to build nuclear power plants and safely store nuclear waste

* Creating a national renewable portfolio standard

* Building a super transmission line to transfer renewable energy to parts of the country that don't have good renewable assets (i.e. the Deep South)

* Coming to grips with the real price of oil (i.e. the price of GHG and the cost of putting dollars into the pockets of people who don't like us very much)

All these issues seem too expensive, too divisive and, well, just too hard.

Knowing our national character, I think it's time to propose a strategy I'm calling "The Lazy Nation's Strategy for Reducing GHG." Since the program doesn't call for any really tough decisions, we might decide to actually do something.

Not-So-Tough Decisions

A key requirement of the lazy strategy is to realize that, on a national level, we're pretty lazy. So this strategy doesn't expect us to a) build anything really new big and expensive, or b) create any groundbreaking, New-Deal-like laws or policies.

In spite of those requirements, and after a really good nap, I want to say that there are a couple of comparatively easy-to-implement programs that would make a difference in GHG emissions almost immediately.

1. Dial up our use of natural gas and dial down our use of coal.

2. Make energy efficiency a national imperative.

Are these my own remarkable insights into a short-term program the GHG problem? No, these are the conclusions of a variety of experts who actually know something.

Dialing up Natural Gas

I recently attended a speech by Clarence Cazalot, President and CEO, Marathon Oil at the Executive Club of Chicago.

In that speech he said:

"Because natural gas emits half the CO² of coal, our nation could, in the near term, reduce GHG's emissions with relatively small investment by maximizing the utilization of our installed gas-fired generation capacity to a higher level while retaining peaking capacity and not risking reserve margin."

Cazalot gave me another important fact to chew on: "…our natural gas fired generation capacity exceeds that of our coal fired capacity, but we operate the gas fired plants at 25 percent utilization, on average, versus over 70 percent utilization for coal."

That's a great lazy strategy — make better use of something we already have (and make less use of coal). While we don't have natural gas plants in all the right places, we do have a lot of plants that are nicely located.

But, do we have enough natural gas? Won't we quickly run out of natural gas and be back in the same mess? The short answer is "no."

Cazalot said it is estimated that "…the U.S. is now sitting on between 50 and 100 years of natural gas resources at current rates of consumption."

Now, can we just wave our hands and increase natural gas consumption while decreasing coal usage?

No. (I already tried that.)

But we can have the Energy Secretary Steven Chu sit down with the utility companies and explain that if the industry doesn't take immediate steps, the federal government will. I'd be happy to loan Chu my 44 oz. Louisville Slugger for the meeting.

Now the "Greenie" in me is not too crazy about this — improving our GHG emissions by doing something less bad. In the GHG race, though, we only get points for making a difference, and this would make a big, big difference in a relatively short time.

Making Energy Efficiency a National Imperative

Now I know that efficiency is out of character for us Americans — we're known for being wasteful, not efficient. But I'm convinced that we can become much more energy efficient without a lot of work. Why? Because it's cheap, and, as a country, we Americans love cheap solutions.

* Efficiency is the lowest-cost GHG reduction option, according to the Pew Center for Global Warming's recent study, titled "From Shop Floor to Top Floor: Best Business Practices in Energy Efficiency." The study asserts that "On a levelized lifecycle cost basis, efficiency costs less than conventional energy suppliers."

* A research study from McKenzie quantifies the fact that efficiency programs are cost effective investments even if GHG issues are ignored (see below)

* Cazalot asserts that "…the greatest source of near-term GHG emissions reductions come from energy efficiency, which is the least expensive and fast means of doing so."

Here's another couple of reasons to race down the efficiency path:

* We already have the technologies in hand to become much more efficient: insulation, advanced control systems, super-efficient lighting systems and the like.

* We have money to finance a lot of efficiency programs — the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act helps many companies afford these programs.

* We've found out that efficiency programs are sound investments even if GHG are not a factor (again, see above and really look at it this time).

So are we as a nation aggressively ratcheting up our investments in energy efficiency programs?

Of course not (we're too lazy).

The folks at Johnson Controls track this (click here). As shown below, national investments in efficiency programs — the quickest way to reduce GHG — have leveled off.

This brings me to somewhat of a dilemma: if efficiency programs are already relatively easy to implement and financially rewarding, how do we motivate ourselves to do the easy work of installing them?

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking of writing a TV show about muscular blue-collar efficiency studs that make house calls on lonely American housewives.

Working title? "The Biggest Winners."

Author: John Kerastas is the President of JK Marketing Consulting and a consultant to the energy industry. Previously he has worked at UPC Solar and SmartSignal Corp. He has also co-chaired the 2009 solar energy track of the Electric Power conference, participated in two CarbonConnect.com web-streaming videos, and has written six industry articles over the past year. You can reach him at jkerastas@gmail.com.

Small Miracle: Diesel Fuel Tachometer

MAX Update No. 49: This Diesel Tachometer Is a Small Miracle

6/9/2010 4:48:20 PM

By Jack McCornack

Tags: MAX, 100 mpg, rally, gas mileage, tachometer, tach

I was talking with Bill Bushholz of the Maine Automotive X Team about the upcoming Rally Green ...

Rally Green is a long distance fuel economy rally/demonstration for high-efficiency vehicles, which will take us participants (why yes, of course MAX will be there) from Iowa to California, through amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty, on public roads and in plain sight to anybody who wants to watch (in marked contrast to the approach of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize competition). I'm all excited, and so is Bill, who is organizing the event.

So after the Rally Green part of the conversation, we were sharing some tech talk and Bill asked if I had a tachometer. A tach is a useful item when you're trying to coax more miles out of fewer gallons, but they're not easy to come by for us diesel drivers. If he'd asked me a year ago, I'd have told him how I made an airplane optical propellor tach work by putting white and black duct tape on the crankshaft pulley, to simulate the flicker of propeller blades. It got me by, but it was finicky and expensive and I had to push and hold a button every time I wanted an RPM number, but now ...

"You bet," I said, "It's what I drive by. It's digital, so it's easy to pick an RPM to cruise at."

"Digital?" said Bill.

"Yeah, a Tiny Tach. They make them for diesel now."

"Huh," said Bill. "How do they work?"

That's an interesting question. Luckily I've got connections. I've been a big fan of Tiny Tachs since they first came out, and thousands of Tiny Tachs have been mounted on aircraft I've designed, so I called Steve Myers, president of Design Technology (the company that makes the Tiny Tach) and asked him.

Tiny Tachs have a quartz crystal clock built in, the gasoline engine version counts the ignition firings against the clock and calculates how many times it would fire in a minute, and that number times two (if you have a four-stroke engine) is your revolutions per minute, abbreviated RPM. The gasoline engine Tiny Tach gets its information from an antenna wrapped around a spark plug wire, so it's totally non-invasive.

But how do they do it with diesel? Diesels don't have any spark plugs, and thus no spark plug wires.

Here's how, and I'm not making this up: the diesel Tiny Tach has a piezoelectric crystal that clamps on to one of the steel fuel lines between the fuel pump and the injector nozzles, and it detects the swelling of the line as diesel fuel (or veggie oil) is squirted through it. Counting the squirts on a diesel is the same as counting the sparks on a gasoline engine.

This is an example of Clarke's Third Law: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. I'd have ordered a Tiny Tach the day I started the MAX project, but since skrying knowledge by squeezing crystals doesn't fit easily into my world view, it never occurred to me they could make them work on diesels. Well, they did, and for less than $100, plus it retains a cool feature of the original Tiny Tach — when the engine isn't running, it displays the total hours the engine has run — and as you see, I've driven for almost a day since I put mine on MAX.

Photo by Jack McCornack

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Smart Grid and Energy Efficiency

With Everyone talking about Energy Efficiency, Smart Grid, Electric Cars, Black Outs, Smart Meters, Natural Resources, where does that leave the Actual Consumer?  As this article suggests-

-Becoming more Energy Efficient is the First Step- 

This does not mean Sacrificing your Lifestyle as you know it.  It means becoming more efficient in our daily lives.  Try some small steps first and you will see how easy becoming efficient can be.

Lifestyle changes are as simple as:

• Light Bulbs-EFFICIENCY - LEDs are very energy efficient and consume less power (amp draw)...up to 90% less power than incandescent bulbs. This reduces the load on your electrical system including your battery, alternator, and power converter resulting in direct money-saving benefits.
• Blanket your Water Heater or Switch to a On Demand Type Water Heater
• Changing out your Furnace Air Filter Regularly
• Sealing the Leaks in your Home
• Turning Up or Down your Thermostat 

Scotts Contracting is available to assist with your Green Projects> Click Here to email Scotty and set up a free Green Site Inspection<

Energy efficiency and the smart grid

By Dale Pennington and Nicole Pennington, Utiliworks Consulting LLC

In the smart grid environment, the overriding theme has been energy efficiency. As natural resources continue to deplete, the global consciousness has a heightened awareness of the need to conserve energy.

To understand how the smart grid can maximize energy efficiency, we must analyze how each conservation tactic relates to a particular grid component.

Recent work by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory describes various smart grid-related mechanisms that potentially reduce electricity usage — important now, but critical in years to come.

The U.S. Census Bureau projects in the smart grid introduction materials, "In 30 years, the United States will be home to 100 million more people, roughly a third more than we have today."

This furthers the need to increase grid efficiency as more outlets, pollution and strain are bound to follow the increasing population. In particular, conservation voltage reduction and advanced voltage control, consumer education and feedback, and diagnostics deployment in residential and commercial buildings allows for the greatest energy savings potential.

To maximize loss reduction regarding efficiencies in voltage reduction and advanced voltage control, a utility must gather the appropriate field data, have an application that can use the information and decide which parameters it will use to manage its voltage program.

To begin and to maximize potential utility savings, advanced metering technology must be implemented. The new smart meters record and transmit the measured voltage at discreet intervals, allowing utilities more data to analyze their customers' usage trends. Many of these meters provide voltage as a standard measurement in low-end meters.

Furthermore, many advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems have the channel capabilities to capture and transmit the information near real time to a utility's control systems. Many questions must be addressed, however, before voltage reduction and control can be optimized.

What are the parameters that will initiate the time and duration of voltage reduction? What is the expected benefit? What are the new processes to be created? Are there potential negative effects on my client base? What are the capital costs required to accomplish my voltage program, and what changes must be initiated within the utility to make this program successful?

If managed appropriately, a utility, theoretically making $500 million in annual kilowatt sales would save $10 million every year at 2 percent direct reduction. As mentioned in the PNNL report, 4 percent can be obtained, which would double the savings to $20 million per year. Proper voltage control management control could avoid disruptions to utility customers and be a legitimate financial incentive.

Another energy efficient subsection relates to consumer education. PNNL attributes a 3 percent direct reduction in energy usage, making it one of the most promising efficiency mechanisms.

On our $500 million annual electricity sales, this is worth more than $15 million. For this to be effective, the technology must be simple and must not interfere with normal customer routines.

At the residential level, the smart grid must be an easy "set-it-and-forget-it" technology. U.S. Department of Energy research indicates that consumers are ready to engage with the smart grid.

Utilities just need to stay connected with consumers. This is not simple for any utility. While new methods and technologies that communicate to customers their energy use have emerged, every communication path has a cost and might be effective with only a discrete client community.

A utility also must understand what percentage of its clients has the communication channel available. Is using SMS messaging helpful in generating energy efficiency with clients? How about sending information to an iPhone and loading a Google app to help customers understand energy costs and usage? Does the utility wish to use HANs as a conduit to improved efficiency? These are only samplings of communications channels utilities have to support or consider within energy efficiency programs.

Another energy efficiency subsection relates to diagnostics in the residential and small- to medium-sized commercial buildings. Smart meters easily record critical data such as a power factor. When a building measures a low power factor, the meter can detect it. This lends itself to possibly addressing the low energy efficiency problem.

Many questions must be answered, however, before an advanced meter can translate into energy savings. How does one gather this valuable data from the meter and convert it to client corrective action to improve energy usage? What does the client know about power factor, and what does he or she know about improving it? Should the client be penalized if the power factor is below a certain threshold? Is the penalty significant enough to the client that the client will purchase necessary equipment to rectify the situation?

If customers are not informed of the technology, the accessibility of information and the drawbacks of resisting efficiency, they won't adjust. Improving power factor is a positive goal, but the process and methods to obtain it must be built into a plan.

While outlining these three areas of energy efficiency improvements, it becomes apparent that there are benefits that can be obtained. But utilities must plan efforts to address issues the smart grid brings. Each benefit brings different participants, costs and technologies. All benefits can be obtained, but utilities must recognize all the efforts and planning that must be accounted for to reach smart grid energy efficiencies.

Authors: Dale Pennington is managing director and executive consultant at Utiliworks Consulting LLC, aprofessional services organization that helps utility clients assess, design, procure and deploy advanced metering systems and smart grid technologies.

Nicole Pennington is marketing coordinator of Utiliworks Consulting LLC.

Survey:Americans and Energy Behaviors

Survey: Americans willing to embrace new energy behaviors

Atlanta, June 23, 2010 — In a national survey commissioned by GE, 79 percent of Americans said they would adjust their energy consumption habits and behaviors in the short term to effect change long term.

This is possibly because most of them (72 percent) believe that how they generate and use energy today could actually harm the economic growth of the country.

Sixty-three percent noted they would work with their power company to influence change in consumption habits.

As Congress works to define America's energy future, the survey found that the majority of Americans are willing to think differently about their use of energy, embrace innovation and seize control of their energy destiny.

The survey indicates that Americans will respond positively to smart appliances that are empowered by smart meters offering new pricing models, which will result in a fundamental shift in how energy is consumed.

"There are some things that are essential to achieving a desired quality of life, and Americans overwhelmingly agree that investing in our nation's energy future is one of them," explained Bob Gilligan, vice president—digital energy for GE Energy Services. "The American electrical grid system has undergone little investment in the past 25 years. Even worse, most generation stations were built in the 1960s or earlier using even older technology. As a nation, Americans recognize that a cleaner, smarter and more efficient energy infrastructure will help create a competitive economic future. The key is to invest correctly—the right way rather than the easy way."

Where do Americans wish to see investments made to overcome energy challenges? The majority (70 percent) agreed that they would prefer their power company invest in current infrastructure to make it more efficient rather than build new power-generating facilities and believe these improvements to the grid would lead to economic growth opportunities.

Eighty-eight percent of Americans said they would be willing to use a smart device such as a meter, thermostat or appliance if it would help to better manage their energy usage—the same number of people who think energy investments are a necessity. Better yet, 82 percent of those willing to use these devices believe smart meters and smart appliances are the future.

Some of the primary motivators for consumers' smart grid support include:

* Desire to save money (95 percent)

* Increased control over my energy bill (90 percent)

* Desire to make a difference for my children or grandchildren (88 percent)

* Helping reduce the number of power outages (86 percent)

* Environmental concerns (85 percent)

"Consumers are ready to think differently about how they use energy," continued Gilligan. "For those consumers that do not currently embrace smart grid technologies, more than a quarter of them (27 percent) admit that they don't understand the benefits of smart meters or smart grids. Therefore, it is important that continued consumer-friendly education is provided to address this gap in understanding."

Programs under development will allow the intermittency of clean, domestic energy sources to be managed and their contribution to our power supply to be maximized.

Smart grid technology will give consumers information about their energy usage, allowing them to better understand their energy consumption. If time-of-use rate programs are implemented, consumers could also choose when and how to best consume electricity for simple tasks like running their dishwasher or air conditioner.

As electric vehicles become more prevalent, smart grid technologies could enable consumers to benefit from more favorable nighttime rates.

Despite consumer endorsement of the development and deployment of a smart grid and the end benefits that it will deliver, a minority (10 percent) is still hesitant to accept it as the way forward.

The majority of these consumers are primarily concerned about a rise in costs (62 percent) and potential privacy and security risks (61 percent)—all of which are often fueled by misperceptions that can be addressed by continued consumer education.

Gilligan emphasized, "The energy industry has to earn the trust of the American people. At GE, we've engaged in partnerships with academics, environmental organizations and consumer associations to collectively improve outreach and education."

The survey was conducted by StrategyOne, an applied research consulting firm, in June 2010 through telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. consumers. The margin of error for the sample is plus or minus 3.1 percent at the 95 percent level of confidence.

 

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Scott's Contracting
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http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
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Electric Cars and Charging Stations

Here's your chance to tell them where you would like a Charging Station: Click Here to suggest public locations for electric vehicles The following article is about charging stations for your car. In prior posting I covered the basics of what you will need and can be viewed at:

1. http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/2010/02/electric-cars-proper-set-up.html. email:Scott's Contracting will custom build or renovate your garage for the needed Electric Hook-Ups for your Electric Car

Electric Car Charging Stations Coming To Big Cities in the United States

By Seth Leitman

Tags: electric cars, electric vehicles, EV charging infrastructure, charging stations, New York, Coulomb Technologies

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Transportation Electrification Program has awarded $400 million to 18 projects. As of March 10, small businesses have received two of the 18 grants (11% of total) amounting to $110 million (28% of total).

As part of that program, Coulomb Technologies will be delivering free home and public ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for electric vehicles throughout the United States.

The ChargePoint America program will provide, according to The New York Times, 4,600 charging stations to program participants in nine regions in the United States. They are:

1. Austin, Texas
2. Detroit
3. Los Angeles
4. New York
5. Orlando, Fla.
6. Sacramento, Calif.
7. San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area
8. Redmond, Wash.
9. Washington D.C.

This is a strategic partnership with three leading automobile brands including, Ford, Chevrolet and Smart USA. Coulomb currently has the largest established base of networked charging stations worldwide, with more than 700 units shipped to more than 130 customers in 2009.

Installation of the ChargePoint charging stations for electric vehicles will begin immediately.

The $37 million ChargePoint America program is made possible by a $15 million grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the Department of Energy. Currently, though, the remaining $22 million in installation costs has yet to be funded. Therefore, if I were them, don't spend all the money on the chargers.

ChargePoint charging stations are available now for installation in all nine designated regional metropolitan areas of the United States.

More than 1,000 new public charging stations will be installed by December 2010, adding to the existing ChargePoint Network.

The remaining stations will be installed by September 2011.

In support of the ChargePoint America program, three automakers have committed to deliver electric vehicles in designated U.S. regions. The Chevrolet Volt, the Ford Transit Connect Electric and Ford Focus Electric through the "Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Program," and the Smart ForTwo electric drive will be introduced along with this program.

"The Obama Administration has set significant and considerable goals for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the coming years," said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies. "This grant will bring thousands of networked charging stations to nine US regions that are slated to receive the first electric vehicles from our automobile partners. These charging stations will build upon our already growing and established network of infrastructure and will accelerate the deployment of public and private charging infrastructure which will in turn encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles. Our Department of Energy grant, also known as the stimulus bill, was funded to provide jobs for Americans. Our products are built and installed with American labor. Every time we ship a ChargePoint charging station, three Americans go to work for a day."

Visit the ChargePoint America web site and sign up by completing the application form.

Individuals interested in purchasing an EV and want their own charger, sign up at www.chargepointamerica.com to receive more information.

Here seems to be the main problem with the entire program. So far, the program is only funded for about $15 million. That's the cost of the charging stations alone. Then you have to include the money for the charging locations and the electricians, the project management of it at a local level is interesting.

I plan to give them suggestions of where to charge. Here is where you can tell ChargePoint America to suggest public locations for electric vehicles.

Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, ChargePoint Website

Green and Eco-friendly Home Remodeling

The following Article is a follow up on previous articles in regard to Energy Efficiency in your Home and the Steps to become energy Efficient. As the Article points out- Small Steps make a Difference. Every Step you make leads to Energy Savings. Many of the Steps are DIY Projects-Such as the Blanketing your Water Heater or Water Heater Blanket.

• Scotty, Scotts Contracting recommends a Water Heater Blanket that also has a Radiant Barrier Built in. This Barrier will Direct/Reflect the heat back into the Water Heater.

• Lighting Issues:

1. LED Lighting Facts for Your Home

2. LED Lighting Facts EFFICIENCY - LEDs are very energy efficient and consume less power (amp draw)...up to 90% less power than incandescent bulbs. This reduces the load on your electrical system...Continue >
3. 
   

   Green Lighting, ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Pack...

   
   

• Air Conditioners and Summer Cooling Tips
• Summer Time Cooling Tips -Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. Whole-house fan are effective when operated...Continue >>

• 5 Energy Hogs

• Low-Cost Tips for Reducing Home Heating and Coolin...

• GREENING HOUSE AND HOME

Article: Eco-friendly home remodeling and care with environmental journalist Simran Sethi.

Small Steps Toward Energy Efficiency (and Away From Moving Anxiety)

6/6/2010 5:09:56 PM

By Simran Sethi

Tags: Environment, greening house, home, insulation, door stopper, CLFs, LED, water heater, thermostat, energy-efficiency, Simran Sethi

This is my internal refrain: "I don't know how to do this."

This is my beloved friend Eric's response, "Yet. You do not know how to do this yet. You are the alpha and the omega."

What he means is there is no right or wrong way to do this move. Yet, for me, there has been. I've been hesitant to do anything that might reveal I am an amateur or in any way mar my 84-year-old house. Paint a wall? Better leave that to the experts. Hang a painting on plaster and lathe walls? Seriously? I just learned what plaster and lathe are — how am I possibly equipped to drill into the wall? What are all those different drill bits for? And why is every color in my house some variation of red or brown?

For some strange reason, I feel like I should know how to drill, hammer and select perfect colors — and I feel mighty ashamed that I don't. Fortunately, I have Eric in my life to cut that refrain and remind me that learning is incremental, and I am progressing just fine. There is, however, a reason for my anxiety. Moving is one of the top 10 stressors in our lives, ranking third after death and divorce.

Yesterday, Eric accompanied me (i.e. made me go) get supplies. I try to frequent locally owned, independent businesses because buying local is a key part of being a responsible consumer. It keeps money in our local economies and supports our friends and neighbors. The prices are sometimes (not always) a little higher because a small business doesn't have the aggregate purchasing power of a big box store that's buying items for hundreds or thousands of retail outlets, but that small investment goes well beyond the few extra cents we might pay for a bolt or screw.

This particular excursion was to the big box store. We entered the store somewhere in the lumber section. I felt overwhelmed by the dizzying number of planks, fixtures and unfamiliar gadgets and desperately wanted to leave. But, of course, Eric was doing all of this incredible work to help me so I had to pretend I was into it. He looked for fasteners for the plaster and lathe and some of the energy efficiency products on my "to buy" list while I veered off and tried to do the same. Somewhere during hour two of our big box field trip, I started to settle in and — dare I say — get excited about what I was doing. I picked up items I knew I would eventually need (ahem, rake) and almost kind of started to believe I could pull this whole homeowner thing off.

A recent acquaintance, Charlotte, described this uncomfortable transition into a new home as the "getting to know you" phase, analogous to what happens when starting a new job or meeting a new community of people. It takes a while to settle in. So while I am settling, I have decided to slow down a bit and scale back to micro-movements.

In that spirit, here are five things to make your home more energy efficient that you can complete in less than fifteen minutes. These tasks are strategic and touch upon the most impactful things you can do to reduce your energy consumption and limit carbon dioxide emissions. (I'll talk more about this in my next post.) The timing doesn't include buying the items — all of which should be readily available at your local hardware store. (I challenge you to best me: skip the mega-store and seek out your local, independent hardware shop.)

Stuff to buy:

1) Draft doorstopper. Mine was overpriced at $15—if you are crafty, chuck my timing and make your own draft stop.

2) Tape measure (about $4) and scissors (about $2).

3) Hot water insulation blanket (and a knife with which to trim the blanket). Mine cost $20. Look for the blanket with the highest R-value.

4) Duct tape (about $6).

5) LED or compact florescent light bulbs (a six-pack of CFLs cost me $10 on sale). LEDs are pricey upfront but can last up to a decade and provide the greatest energy efficiency. If you are going with CFLs (that can fit into most standard outlets), opt for the soft white hue, that is, unless you like the high school cafeteria cast of bright white fluorescents.

Stuff to do:

1) Start the clock.

2) Make sealing all air leaks a priority. Doors and windows are two big areas to tackle. In the interest of time, I started with a draft stop for my front door.  It took two minutes to measure the width of my door, trim the foam, and slide the stopper underneath the door.  I spent an extra thirty seconds reveling in the newfound warmth around the door.

3) Locate your hot water heater and then find the temperature dial on your unit (see the photo). For each 10º F reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3 and 5 percent in energy costs so turn that sucker down to 120º F.

4) Unfurl your hot water heater insulation blanket. If it's lined with fiberglass be careful and avoid skin contact. (I hate fiberglass. That is why I put people-friendly and eco-friendly cellulose insulation in my attic.) If you have a friend nearby, ask her to help you position and tape the blanket around the heater. Make sure the blanket is nice and snug and cut around any faucets, controls, vents, and pipes. Adding insulation won't win your hot water heater any beauty contests (see the photo) but it can reduce heat loss by 25 to 45 percent and will save you around 4 to 9 percent in water heating costs. That's pretty.

5) The clock is ticking! Grab a chair or stepladder and change any incandescent light bulbs for CFLs or LEDs. I know you have heard it (and I have said it) a million times, so do it already. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of an average home's electricity bill.  This will save you money and time changing bulbs.

6) In the remaining seconds you have left, turn down your thermostat. You will save roughly 1 percent on your heating bill for each degree your thermostat is lowered. Your best bet is to install a programmable thermostat that will do the work for you but that doesn't fit in our fifteen-minute challenge.

Congrats! These small changes are the first steps to a cleaner, greener life. Know that strategic small acts can reap great results, whether it's changing a light bulb or, like Eric, being there for a friend in a time of need.

Embracing the micro-movements — and feeling gratitude for shelter and support,

Simran

P.S. I am not the world's greatest tweeter but I do drop whatever house gems I find on Twitter @simransethi.

Photo by Jessica Sain-Baird

Scotts Contracting is available to assist with your Home Projects Large or SmallClick here to email Scotty and Set up a No Cost Green Site Evaluation

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Part 3 of 5 Decks Patios Out Door Living Spaces

When it comes to designing a Deck, Patio or Out Door Living Space

Scotty, Scotts Contracting offers the following tips:

• Research the Materials you would like to incorporate into your Deck, Patio, or Out Door Living Space
• Take notes and pictures of similar designs you would like your project to look like
• Inspect the area you choose to build your project.
• Sketch or Draw out your design.
• Determine a Material list-with your Material list in hand-your can ask the Pro Department at your Local Home improvement Store for their Lowest Bid.
• Build your project as outlined by the Manufacturers Guidelines and Local Building Codes
• Enjoy the outdoor living space you have created!

If you choose to Contract out your next project-

Scotts Contracting Offers the Following Services: Design-Build Projects for Residential & Commercial Buildings--Construction,Remodeling and Rehab's - to include: Carpentry, Weatherization, Roofing, Flooring, Interior and Exterior Finishes, Painting/Staining, Wood Finishing, Custom Wood Working, Solar & Wind Renewable Energy Systems, Doors, Windows, Home Repairs & Upgrades, Basic: Plumbing, Electric, HVAC,-

"Including: Decks, Porches, Patios and Other Out-Door Living Spaces"

"We will be offering: Home Energy Audits Soon!!!"

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DIY Home Center looks to give DIY types an edge with premium products for your decking (like Tiger claw hidden deck fasteners for nail free deck surfaces or deck drainage with under-deck) to recycled outdoor furniture from Polywood. With amazing online tools, videos, & calculators make sure you get the job done right the first time.

Prep a Deck: Strip Old Stain Removing old stain with a chemical stripper is relatively uncommon with decks, but it can do an excellent job, leaving wood noticeably cleaner than using a power washer alone. A stripper is particularly valuable for areas where old stain still adheres tight, such as on railings and other areas exposed to less wear than the main deck surface.

Prep a Deck: Pressure Wash the Surface Pressure washing, the standard in deck cleaning, efficiently removes dirt, old stain, and debris from wood. Most pressure washers can be used with trisodium phosphate (TSP) or other deck cleaners for an even better result. When you use a pressure washer, don't let the spray linger in one spot too long, or it may gouge the wood. Discoloration or stubborn stains are better removed with a stripper than with overly aggressive power washing.

Tip: Consider Nearby Plants Wet nearby foliage before using deck cleaner or stripper to reduce chemical damage. After you finish cleaning the deck, spray plants again to wash off any chemical residue.

Stain a Deck Once your deck is clean and dry, it's time to apply finish. Finishes come in clear, tinted, semitransparent, and solid colors. The look you choose is mainly a matter of personal preference, but there is a practical consideration: Clear or tinted products usually last just a year or two, depending on the climate. Semitransparent and solid stains may last two to four years.

Tip: Before You Stain Before applying the finish, allow ample time for the deck to dry. Read the product label for guidance. Also, reset popped nailheads and replace warped or split boards.

Stain a Deck: Use a Roller An ordinary paint roller can make easy work of staining a deck, especially if you attach an extension handle so you don't have to kneel. (Check product recommendations—some finishes are not suitable for roller application.) To reduce overlap marks, roll no more than a few deck boards at a time, completing their length before starting the next. Paintbrushes can be used on decks too, but they're not efficient for large surfaces. They are, however, useful for railings and recesses that rollers can't reach.

Stain a Deck: Grab a Sprayer Sprayers are excellent for applying stain because they allow you to cover large areas quickly and uniformly. Another advantage is the ease with which sprayers treat railings and other awkward hard-to-paint surfaces. Power sprayers are available, but even simple pump-type sprayers will work. (Not all deck finishes are appropriate for sprayer application; check the product label.)

Stain a Deck: Use a Pad Browsing stain aisles at home improvement centers can reveal some nifty innovations. For instance, gel stains applied with pads are easy to use without drips or runs, and various pad applicators are designed to reach difficult spots. The application process is longer, however, so limit pad applications to smaller or difficult-to-reach areas.

DIY Home Center looks to give DIY types an edge with premium products for your decking (like Tiger claw hidden deck fasteners for nail free deck surfaces or deck drainage with under-deck) to recycled outdoor furniture from Polywood. With amazing online tools, videos, & calculators make sure you get the job done right the first time.