Going Green, Energy Efficient, High Efficient and Cutting Energy Costs

  Going Green, Energy Efficient, High Efficient Energy Star and Cutting Energy/Usage Costs

WHY ALL THE “GOING GREEN” HYPE?

HISTORY

CONCERNS:

•      Global warming

•      Melting glaciers

•      Pollution

•      Energy consumption

•      Unsafe consumer products

•      Unsafe building practices

•      Carbon footprint

•      THESE CONCERNS HAVE CAUSED GREEN HOUSE EFFECTS

WHAT IS A GREEN HOUSE EFFECT?

•      Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere.  Pollution causes greenhouse effects. Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth.

•      Pollutants include: factories, automobiles, trucks, fossil fuels, building products, household products (aerosols) etc…

•      Green energy is energy that is considered to be environmentally friendly and non-polluting, such as geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro. Nuclear power is also considered a green energy source.  Green energy sources are often considered green because they are perceived to lower carbon emissions and create less pollution, thus leaving a smaller ‘carbon footprint’ behind. 

IMPACTING THE WORLD

Becoming Environmentally Aware, Scientific evidence shows that humanity is living unsustainable.

OUT WITH THE OLD

• Global warming
• Pollution
• Health concerns
• Energy consumption
• Sick building syndrome
• Non-renewable resources
• Unsustainable approach

 

IN WITH THE NEW

• Environmentally friendly, clean air
• Health awareness
• Energy efficient
• Going green
• Renewable resource
• Sustainable planning

 GET FAMILIARIZED WITH SOME COMMON TERMS AND LANGUAGE
GET UP TO SPEED

·         Energy Star: is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.  With the use of ENERGY STAR products, Americans saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills.

 

·         Geothermal: Geothermal power uses heat from the earth to generate electricity. Geothermal taps the stored energy beneath the planet’s surface. Pumps can be used to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for residential and commercial buildings.

·         Solar PV stands for Solar Photovoltaic, which are panels used to create electricity. PV cells convert sun power into electricity.

·         Solar Water Heaters:  A solar water-heating system is fairly simple with the solar panel (pipes travel through the panels) typically installed on a roof.

·         Sustainable refers to using, re-using, and conserving natural resources to do the least harm to the natural environment.

·         Sustainable energy is the provision of energy so that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the future.

·         Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

·         Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is a measure of how effective doors and windows are in regard to heat gain or loss (new construction).

·         VOCs  (Volatile Organic Compounds) are emitted as gases from products like wall paint, furniture, and household cleaning supplies; chemicals are harmful to human health, some are carcinogenic.

·         Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is the instantaneous measurement of the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner or heat pump.

·         SEER  (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures the average cooling efficiency, over the entire cooling season for your air conditioner or heat pump.

·         R-Value is a measurement of heat resistance. The higher the R-value the better the insulation.

·         U-Value is a measurement of heat flow. The lower the U-value the more slowly the material transfers heat in and out of your home.

·         Incandescent lamp glass bulbs - ninety percent of the energy consumed by an incandescent lamp is given off as heat rather than light.

·         Fluorescent lamp bulbs are up to five times more efficient than incandescent lamps, and last up to twenty times longer.

·         Low-E glazing is a special window coating that helps prevent the warmth inside your house from escaping.

·         Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe situations in which building occupants experience health.

·         Energy-from-Waste is the process of creating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the incineration of waste source.

·         Water Power (hydroelectric power) is typically produced by harnessing the force of falling or flowing water to turn a turbine.

·         Wind Power is created by capturing the force of the wind and converting it into electricity, typically using technologies such as wind turbines.

·         Integrated solutions: Combining organized structures so that systems, people and organizations function cooperatively.

·         Renewable natural resources: Such as solar energy, water, or wood, that is never used up or that can be replaced by new growth.

·         Carbon footprint:  Measurement of the impact our activities have on the environment. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. 

·         Off-Grid: Homes / building that are not dependent on public utilities

Go look at green, renewable energy resources