All Energy & Power Stories
Why should people use CFLs? Switching from traditional light bulbs (called incandescent) to CFLs is an effective, simple change everyone in America can make right now. Making this change
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Part 2 of Advantages of LED Lighting. Directional Light Emission Traditional light sources emit radiant energy in all directions. As such, an optical system—a lamp housing or a luminaire,
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Part 1 of Advantages of LED Lighting. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are often touted for their energy efficiency and long life. Although these are important considerations, selecting a light source
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What is the energy payback for photovoltaics? Producing electricity with solar photovoltaics (PV) emits no pollution, produces no greenhouse gases, and uses no finite fossil-fuel resources. The environmental benefits
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LED technology continues to develop rapidly as a general light source. As more LED lighting products are introduced on the market, what do retailers, energy efficiency advocates, and consumers
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Part 5 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. Today’s U.S. geothermal industry is a $2-billion per-year enterprise involving over 2800 MW of electricity generation capacity, about 620 MW of
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Part 4 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. Hydrothermal A hydrothermal system is defined as a subterranean geothermal reservoir that transfers heat energy upward by vertical circulation of fluids
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Part 3 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. The total resource base in the United States, both renewable and non-renewable, is very large, with an energy content of over
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Part 2 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. The United States possesses vast underground stores of heat whose full potential has yet to be realized. The Earth’s interior reaches
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Part 1 of Geothermal Energy Under Our Feet. The Earth houses a vast energy supply in the form of geothermal resources. Domestic resources are equivalent to a 30,000-year energy
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Part 4 of Arizona Consumer's Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. What about permits? If you live in a community in which a homeowners association requires approval for
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Part 3 of Arizona Consumer's Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. Who sells and installs PV systems? In some locations, finding a PV provider can be as simple
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Part 2 of Arizona Consumer's Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. Why should I buy a PV system? People decide to buy PV systems for a variety of
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Part 1 of Arizona Consumer's Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. Are you thinking about buying a PV system for your home or business? If so, this series
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Part 5 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. The geothermal heat pump doesn’t create electricity—but it greatly reduces consumption of it. If you would like
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Part 4 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. If you’ve ever soaked in water from a natural hot spring, you’re one of the millions of
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Part 3 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. Flip a switch and light up a room—what could be easier? Push a button on the TV
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Part 2 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. Geothermal energy delivers some powerful environmental and economic benefits. If you live in an area that uses
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Part 1 of Geothermal Energy: Power from the Depths of the Earth. The Earth’s crust is a bountiful source of energy—and fossil fuels are only part of the story.
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Part 4 of Small Hydropower Systems. Obtaining a Permit and Water Rights If your hydropower system will have minimal impact on the environment, and you aren’t planning to sell
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Part 3 of Small Hydropower Systems. Small run-of-the-river hydropower systems consist of these basic components: Water conveyance—channel, pipeline, or pressurized pipeline (penstock) that delivers the water Turbine or waterwheel—transforms
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Part 2 of Small Hydropower Systems. Of course to build a small hydropower system, you need access to flowing water. A sufficient quantity of falling water must be available,
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Part 1 of Small Hydropower Systems. If you’re considering building a small hydropower system on water flowing through your property, you have a long tradition from which to draw
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In the United States, more than 100 nuclear reactors supply about 20% of our electricity. Worldwide, more than 400 reactors provide 17% of the world’s electricity. Nuclear power plants
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Energy vampires are sitting in dark corners, hiding under desks, and lurking on counter tops in offices across America. They take the form of office equipment, personal electronics, and
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The easiest way to size your solar electric system is to have a vendor come to your home and perform a site analysis and load assessment. Solar electric vendors
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When energy prices soared during the 1970s, most Americans recognized the inherent danger in the U.S.’s dependence on imported petroleum. Despite current complacency, the potential economic and national security
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Part 3 of Biopower Facts. Biomass Cofiring Cofiring is a near term, low-cost option for efficiently and cleanly converting biomass to electricity by adding biomass as a partial substitute
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Part 2 of Biopower Facts. The Benefits of Biomass Using biomass, such as energy crops, crop processing waste, and agricultural residues, to produce energy benefits the nation, especially rural
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Part 1 of Biopower Facts. Benefits Productive use of marginal lands Establish management practices for production of switchgrass as a potential alternative new crop Encourage rural economic growth and
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to advancing technological solutions to promote and increase the use of clean, abundant, affordable, and domestically- and sustainably-produced biofuels to diversify
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It shouldn’t be a surprise that energy would be a hit in Texas—but 8,000 people on the first weekend to tour a home that uses less than half that
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Most of us are aware that windows provide us with natural light, ventilation, and a view. But windows still remain the least understood building design component, even though many
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A passive solar home is an exceptional home, differing from standard construction in the thermal integrity of its shell and its well-considered design. The design options, employing the principles
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Here are the five elements that constitute a complete passive solar design, using a direct gain design as an example. Each performs a separate function, but all five must
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Passive solar homes range from those heated almost entirely by the sun to those with south facing windows that provide some fraction of the heating load. The difference between
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Part 1 of Passive Solar Design for the Home. Your home’s windows, walls, and floors can be designed to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of
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Part 15 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. One of the more challenging ways to use clean energy is in fueling our cars. Advanced transportation technologies—including fuel
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Part 14 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ACEEE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as
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Another way to use renewable energy in your home is to use solar energy for water heating. Today’s systems carry a rating that tells you how well they’ll meet
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Part 13 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. One of the most energy-efficient options for heating and cooling your home draws on another form of renewable energy—geothermal
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An architect can examine the energy performance of your house in terms of how each of the components—the insulation, windows, heating and cooling system, ventilation, and lighting— all work
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In an existing home, any renovation or window replacement project is an opportunity to improve your home’s energy performance. Most existing homes have poorly insulated, leaky windows that would
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Part 12 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. Heating and cooling uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically,
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Part 11 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. Your dealer can help you analyze your loads and size your system correctly. The dealer will install your equipment,
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Part 10 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. In addition to wind turbines, PV modules, or a microhydropower generator, you must purchase BOS equipment, when generating your
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Part 9 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. According to many renewable energy experts, a standalone “hybrid” system that combines generation sources, such as wind and PV,
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Part 8 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. If you are fortunate enough to have a stream running through your property, you might be able to generate
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Part 7 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. Photovoltaic cells produce direct current (DC) electricity. About 40 cells are joined together in enclosed, protective casings called modules.
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Part 6 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. All wind energy systems consist of a wind turbine, a tower, wiring, and the “balance of system” (BOS) components:
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Part 5 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. At first glance, generating your own electricity using renewable fuel sources seems like the ideal way to avoid monthly
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Part 4 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. The following briefly describes renewable energy technologies that might be offered in green pricing programs or competitive markets in
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Part 3 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. When describing electricity production, the terms electric power (or capacity) and electric energy (or electricity) are often used. “Power”
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Just a few years ago, we did not have the ability to choose our electric service. Currently, the electricity industry is undergoing changes that will bring choice to many
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Part 2 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. Many renewable energy technologies make sense for consumers today. Prices have dropped during the past 20 years and the
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Part 1 of Buying and Using Renewable Energy at Home. What is Renewable Energy? Certain forms of energy are called “renewable” because these fuel sources are constantly replenished and
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Part 8 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. For the past two years, the wind industry has enjoyed record-breaking growth, and industry experts predict that with the extension
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Part 6 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. Southwest Windpower conducted performance optimization and blade-fatigue tests at the NWTC on its new Skystream wind turbine. The 1.8-kW turbine,
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Part 5 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. One program R&D project that shows potential for demonstrating a significant increase in overall system performance is the 2.5-MW Liberty
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Part 7 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. Large Wind Technologies Although research efforts for the past two decades have led to dramatic reductions in the cost of
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Part 4 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. Systems Integration The natural variability of the wind resource can present challenges to grid system operators and planners with regard
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Part 3 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. In support of Advanced Energy Initiative objective to expand the use of wind energy, the Wind Energy Program is increasing
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Part 2 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. The DOE Wind Energy Program is one of 10 clean energy technology programs within the Department of Energy. It is
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Part 1 of Wind Power for the 21st Century. Wind energy technology has come a long way over the past decade. In 1996, the average utility-scale wind turbine was
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No PV system is maintenance-free. Schedule regular inspections of your system to ensure that the wiring and contacts are free from corrosion, the modules are clear of debris, and
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The National Electric Code (NEC) was established in 1897 to ensure safety in all systems that generate, store, transport, and consume electricity. You or the dealer who installs your
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Balance-of-System Equipment In addition to the PV modules, you must purchase balance-of-system (BOS) equipment. This includes battery charge controllers, batteries, inverters (for loads requiring alternating current), wires, conduit, a
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After you have assessed the appropriateness of your site, you need to determine how much electricity your PV system must generate. This depends on how much electricity your loads
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This diagram illustrates the annual average daily peak sun hours for the United States. Is My Site Adequate for PV? APV system designer can conduct a detailed site assessment
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People select PV systems for a variety of reasons. Some common reasons for selecting a PV system include: Cost—When the cost is high for extending the utility power line
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Choosing a PV professional will be one of your most important decisions. If you choose a competent dealer, you won’t need to know all the details of designing, purchasing,
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Many people are familiar with PV-powered calculators and watches, the most common small-scale applications of PV. However, there are numerous large-scale, cost-effective PV applications, including: Water pumping for small-scale
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If you are thinking of generating your own electricity, you should consider a photovoltaic (PV) system—a way to generate electricity by using energy from the sun. These systems have
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Part 3 of Geothermal Heat Pumps. GHP systems have the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of all the heating and cooling technologies. Low Energy Use The biggest benefit of GHPs is
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Part 2 of Geothermal Heat Pumps. Geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumption—and corresponding air pollution emissions—up to 44% compared to air source heat pumps and up to 72%
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Part 1 of Geothermal Heat Pumps. If you’re planning to build a new house, office building, or school, or replace your heating and cooling system, you may want to
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Part 6 of Energy-Efficient Lighting. Lighting represents 20% to 25% of the electricity consumed in the USA. An average family spends 5% to 10% of its energy for lighting
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Part 5 of Energy-Efficient Lighting. Cool light is preferred for visual tasks because it produces higher contrast than warm light. Contrast is the brightness difference between different parts of
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Part 4 of Energy-Efficient Lighting. All fluorescent lamps contain small amounts of mercury, and some compact fluorescent lamps with magnetic ballasts contain small amounts of short-lived radioactive materials. Because
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Part 3 of Energy-Efficient Lighting. There are four basic types of lighting: incandescent, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge,and low-pressure sodium. Incandescent lighting is the most common type of lighting used in residences. Fluorescent
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Part 2 of Energy-Efficient Lighting. In choosing the best lighting options, you must understand what basic lighting is. This page explains the terminology used in the industry, which will
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Part 1 of Energy-Efficient Lighting. The quantity and quality of light around us determine how well we see, work, and play. Light affects our health, safety, morale, comfort, and
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Part 5 of Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning. If your air conditioner is installed correctly, or if major installation problems are found and fixed, it will perform efficiently for years with
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Part 4 of Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning. Choosing a contractor may be the most important and difficult task in buying a new central air conditioning system. Ask prospective contractors for
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Part 3 of Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning. When your air conditioner needs more than the regular maintenance described previously, hire a professional service technician. A well-trained technician will find and
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Part 2 of Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning. Each air conditioner has an energy-efficiency rating that lists how many Btu per hour are removed for each watt of power it draws.
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Part 1 of Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning. Today’s best air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the
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Air from hot attics can leak into the home around registers of the duct system. Air in the ducts can leak out through holes and seams. An enormous waste
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An air conditioner’s filters, coils, and fins require regular maintenance for the unit to function effectively and efficiently throughout its years of service. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady
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An evaporative cooler (also called a “swamp cooler”) is a completely different type of air conditioner that works well in hot, dry climates. These units cool outdoor air by
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Older air conditioners may still be able to offer years of relatively efficient use. However, making your older air conditioner last requires you to perform proper operation and maintenance.
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The basic types of air conditioners are room air conditioners, central air conditioners split-system, central air conditioners and packaged. Room air conditioners are installed directly in the windows or walls,
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Are you considering buying a new air conditioner? Or, are you dissatisfied with the operation of your current air condi- tioner? Are you unsure whether to fix or replace
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Part 8 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. The following are sources of additional information on heat pumps. This list is not exhaustive, nor does the mention of any resource constitute
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Part 7 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. Heat-pump performance will deteriorate without regular maintenance and service. The difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely
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Part 6 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. Like combustion heating systems, you control heat pumps using thermostats. If you leave and return at regular times everyday, you’ll save money by
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Part 5 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. Poor installation, duct losses, and inadequate maintenance are more of a problem for heat pumps than for combustion furnaces. A growing body of
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Part 4 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. A heat pump’s performance and energy efficiency not only depend on the selection and planning of the equipment but also on careful installation.
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Part 3 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. When selecting an air-source heat pump, consider the following three characteristics carefully: the energy efficiency rating, sizing, and the system’s components. Energy efficiency
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Part 2 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. A split-system heat pump heating cycle You can use a central heat pump to heat and cool a whole house. Most central heat
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Part 1 of Air-Source Heat Pumps. There are two common types of heat pumps: air-source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps (GHPs). Either one can keep your home warm
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Part 5 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. 1. The largest cost, over the life of the system, is the batteries. The lifetime cost, including maintenance,
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Part 4 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. All batteries will wear out in 1-15 years, even if they are rarely used, because the acid in the
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Part 3 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. A long cycle life, or how many deep discharges the batteries can provide. Thick lead plates—the thicker the
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Part 2 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. The basic building block of a lead-acid battery is a 2-volt cell. A battery bank is a collection
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Part 1 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. A Winning Combination—Design, Efficiency, and Solar Technology A battery bank stores electricity produced by a solar electric system.
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Part 1 of Zero Energy Community. Vista Montaña In August 2003, Clarum Homes opened the doors at Vista Montaña, California’s largest Zero Energy Home community, with homes designed to use
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Part 17 of Get Your Power from the Sun. For more information on solar electric systems, please contact: National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) 1414 Prince Street Suite
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Part 16 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Warranties are key to ensuring that your photovoltaic system will be repaired if something should malfunction during the warranty period.
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Part 15 of Get Your Power from the Sun. After your new photovoltaic system is installed, it must be inspected and “signed off” by the local permitting agency (usually
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Part 14 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Connecting your photovoltaic system to the utility grid will require an interconnection agreement and a purchase and sale agreement. Federal
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Part 13 of Get Your Power from the Sun. For grid-connected photovoltaic systems, your electric utility will require that you enter into an interconnection agreement (see also the next
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Part 12 of Get Your Power from the Sun. If you live where a homeowners association must approve a solar electric system, you or your photovoltaic provider may need
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Part 11 of Get Your Power from the Sun. If you decide to get more than one bid for the installation of your photovoltaic system (always a good idea),
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Part 10 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Compile a list of prospective photovoltaic providers. (Those closest to you should have the lowest travel costs). Contact these providers
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Part 9 of Get Your Power from the Sun. In some areas, finding a photovoltaic provider can be as simple as picking up the telephone directory and looking under
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Part 8 of Get Your Power from the Sun. When it comes to financing the cost of purchasing and installing your photovoltaic system, there are some special programs particular
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Part 7 of Get Your Power from the Sun. No single answer applies in every case. But a solar rebate and other incentives can always reduce the cost. Your
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Part 6 of Get Your Power from the Sun. The value of your photovoltaic system’s electricity depends on how much you pay for electricity now and how much your
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Part 5 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Can you locate your system so it works well? A well-designed photovoltaic system needs clear and unobstructed access to the sun’s
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Part 4 of Get Your Power from the Sun. People decide to buy photovoltaic systems for a variety of reasons. Some people want to help preserve the Earth’s finite
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Part 3 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Yes, many states offer incentives. For specific information, call one of the contacts listed under “Getting Help”. Another excellent source
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Part 2 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight directly to electricity. They work any time the sun is shining, but more electricity is
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Part 1 of Get Your Power from the Sun. Are you thinking about buying a solar electric system for your home or business? If so, this story provides some
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Part 8 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. The following are sources of additional information on energy-efficient houses: The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) P.O. Box 3048
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Part 7 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. Before you start a home-building project, the building site and its climate should be carefully evaluated to determine the optimum design
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Part 6 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. Houses that incorporate all of the elements of energy efficiency mentioned in this series of articles have many advantages. They feel
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Part 5 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. Appliances with relatively high operating efficiencies are usually more expensive to purchase. However, higher efficiency appliances provide a measure of insurance
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Part 4 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. Specifying the correct sizes for heating and cooling systems in airtight, energy-efficient homes can be tricky. Rule-of-thumb sizing is often inaccurate,
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Part 3 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. Since an energy-efficient house is tightly sealed, it needs to be ventilated in a controlled manner. Controlled, mechanical ventilation prevents health
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Part 2 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. A thermal envelope is everything about the house that serves to shield the living space from the outdoors. It includes the
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Part 1 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. You have much to consider when designing and building a new energy-efficient house, and it can be a challenge. However, recent
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Part 5 of Learn About Saving Energy. Coal:A solid fossil fuel found in the earth. Coal is burned to make electricity. Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or Compact fluorecent bulbs
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Part 4 of Learn About Saving Energy. Here are some activities you can do to help save energy. Choose ones that you can do yourself or with your family
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Part 3 of Learn About Saving Energy. It is important to save energy because most of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels. If we use up all
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Part 2 of Learn About Saving Energy. We use a lot of energy to heat and cool our homes. We burn fuel in our furnaces or boilers for heat.
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Part 1 of Learn About Saving Energy. Energy is the ability to do work. It can come in the forms of heat and light. There are two types of
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Part 7 of Selecting a New Water Heater. As with any purchase, balance the pros and cons of the different water heaters in light of your particular needs. There
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Part 6 of Selecting a New Water Heater. Through specially designed systems, energy from the sun can be used to heat water for your home. Depending on climate and
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Part 5 of Selecting a New Water Heater. A home’s space-heating system can also be used to heat water. Two types of water heaters that use this system are
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Part 4 of Selecting a New Water Heater. Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. To heat
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Part 3 of Selecting a New Water Heater. It is possible to completely eliminate standby heat losses from the tank and reduce energy consumption 20% to 30% with demand
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Part 2 of Selecting a New Water Heater. Storage water heaters remain the most frequently used type of water heater for residential purposes. A variety of fuel options are
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Part 1 of Selecting a New Water Heater. Many homeowners wait until their water heater fails before shopping for a replacement. Because they are in a hurry to regain
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Part 4 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Movable insulation, such as insulating shades, shutters, and drapes, can be applied on the inside of windows to reduce heat loss in the winter
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Part 3 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Manufacturers usually represent the energy efficiency of windows in terms of their U-values (conductance of heat) or their R-values (resistance to heat flow). If a
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Part 2 of Energy-Efficient Windows. When air leaks around windows, energy is wasted. Energy is also transferred through the centers, edges, and frames of windows. Eliminating or reducing these
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Part 1 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Windows bring light, warmth, and beauty into buildings and give a feeling of openness and space to living areas. They can also be major
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Part 3 of Conserve Energy and Heat Your Swimming Pool with Solar Energy. If you are selecting a pool heater, ask for as energy-efficient model as you can afford.
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Part 2 of Conserve Energy and Heat Your Swimming Pool with Solar Energy. Almost all of a pool’s heat loss—about 95 percent—occurs at the surface, mostly through evaporation to
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Part 1 of Conserve Energy and Heat Your Swimming Pool with Solar Energy. Swimming pools provide a great way to exercise and beat the summer heat. Building and maintaining
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Part 9 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Appliances account for about 20% of your household’s energy consumption, with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at
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Part 8 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Increasing your lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways to decrease your energy bills. If you replace 25%
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Part 7 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Landscaping is a natural and beautiful way to keep your home more comfortable and reduce your energy bills.
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Part 6 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Windows can be one of your home’s most attractive features, providing views, daylighting, ventilation, and solar heating in the
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Part 5 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Hot Water Usage (based on national averages) Shower: 37% Clothes washer: 26% Dishwasher: 14% Bath: 12% Sinks: 11%
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Part 4 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your
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Part 3 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Checking your home’s insulating system is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to use a whole-house
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Part 2 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. The first step to taking a whole-house energy efficiency approach is to find out which parts of your house
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Part 1 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends close to $2,100 (2008 dollars) a year on their
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Part 7 of Earth Sheltered Houses. Waterproofing Waterproofing can be a challenge in earth-sheltered construction. Keep in mind these three ways to reduce the risk of water damage in
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Part 6 of Earth Sheltered Houses. A form of earth-sheltered house that has been receiving much attention is referred to as an “Earthship.” These houses are built to be
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Part 5 of Earth Sheltered Houses. The construction materials for each type of structure will vary, depending on characteristics of the site, climate, soils, and design. However, general guidelines
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Part 4 of Earth Sheltered Houses. The climate in your geographical area will determine whether an earth-sheltered house can be a practical housing solution. Studies show that earth-sheltered houses
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Part 3 of Earth Sheltered Houses. There are two basic types of earth-sheltered housing—underground and “bermed” (or banked with earth). Certain characteristics such as the location and soils of
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Part 2 of Earth Sheltered Houses. You may want to start your project by contacting the organizations that can help you locate architects, builders, and contractors with earth-sheltered building
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Part 1 of Earth Sheltered Houses. Earth-sheltered houses moderate the impact of extreme outdoor temperatures so that the interior remains at a relatively constant temperature. Let’s assume you’re in
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Part 3 of Automatic and Programmable Thermostats. Because programmable thermostats are a relatively new technology, you should learn as much as you can before selecting a unit. When shopping
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Part 2 of Automatic and Programmable Thermostats. To maximize your energy savings without sacrificing comfort, you can install an automatic setback or programmable thermostat. They adjust the temperature setting
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Part 1 of Automatic and Programmable Thermostats. In our modern, high-tech society, we don’t think much about some of the electronic gadgets in our homes. Take, for example, the
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Part 13 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. American Solar Energy Society (ASES) 2400 Central Avenue, Suite G-1 Boulder, CO 80301 Phone: (303) 443-3130 Fax: (303) 443-3212 E-mail:
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Part 12 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Will I need any permits or inspections? If you live in a community with a homeowners association, check to see
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Part 11 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Whether you need a backup system for your solar thermal system depends largely on the type of system you choose and
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Part 10 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. It is usually a good idea to get more than one bid for installation of your solar system. Make sure
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Part 9 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. One way to choose a contractor is to check your list of potential companies for the ones nearest you. Ask
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Part 8 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Depending on your area, the simplest way to find a solar thermal systems contractor is to look in the yellow
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Part 7 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. The costs of maintaining your solar thermal system depend on the type of technology you choose and how often temperatures
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Part 6 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Financing Financing the cost of your solar thermal system is not as tricky as it may seem. Although some special
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Part 5 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Your savings depend on how your solar system will be used, as well as the size and type of your
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Part 4 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Some of the answers to questions about system size and features depend on how you plan to use the solar
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Part 3 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Why should I invest in a solar thermal system? The first question many people ask when considering a home expense
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Part 2 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. What is solar heating? Solar heaters, or solar thermal systems, provide environmentally friendly heat for household water, space heating, and
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Part 1 of Heat Your Water With The Sun. Would you like to learn more about how the sun can help meet your home’s heating needs without straining your
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Part 6 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. Evaporative coolers or swamp coolers are a popular and energy-efficient cooling strategy in dry climates of the United
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Part 3 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. When you know how air moves naturally through your home, you can then optimize your mechanical ventilation. In
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Part 2 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. Natural ventilation relies on the wind and the “chimney effect” to keep a home cool. Moving air ventilates
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Part 1 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. You can save energy and money when you ventilate your home instead of using your air conditioner, except
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Part 7 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. Most consumers are looking for the greatest return for the least investment. This does not necessarily mean, though, that you
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Part 6 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. You may find that many improvements involving energy efficiency require a contractor for installation. While finding a quality contractor at
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Part 5 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. The energy efficiency of similar appliances can vary significantly. It is usually more cost effective to purchase appliances with high
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Part 4 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. Weatherization projects insulate and tighten the shell of the home. Such projects include, but are not restricted to, caulking and
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Part 3 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. Results from the energy audit can direct you to the changes that would be most appropriate to improve the energy
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Part 2 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. An energy audit is one of the best ways to determine the most cost effective measures for reducing energy bills.
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Part 1 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. If you feel that energy bills are taking a big chunk of change out of your pocket, you are not
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Part 7 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Using any or all of these strategies will help keep you cool. Even if you use air conditioning, many of these strategies,
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Part 6 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Often-overlooked sources of interior heat gain are lights and household appliances, such as ovens, dishwashers, and dryers. Because most of the energy
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Part 5 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Nothing feels better on a hot day than a cool breeze. Encouraging cool air to enter your house forces warm air out,
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Part 4 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Placement of vegetation is important when landscaping your home. The following are suggestions to help you gain the most from vegetation. Plant
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Part 3 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Two excellent methods to block heat are insulation and shading. Insulation helps keep your home comfortable and saves money on mechanical cooling
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Part 2 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Dull, dark-colored home exteriors absorb 70% to 90% of the radiant energy from the sun that strikes the home’s surfaces. Some of
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Part 1 of Cool Your Home Naturally. Keeping cool indoors when it is hot outdoors is a problem. The sun beating down on our homes causes indoor temperatures to
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