Sunday, 7 December 2014

Optmizing Energy Efficiency In Wauwatosa, WI

By Claudine Hodges


At any one time, power is being consumed in homes and offices. Lights are constantly on, appliances like the refrigerator and central heating or air conditioning are always running. In the office, computers are on all day as are other office machines. The tendency is to just accept high power bills are keep paying for them. There is something that can be done to increase energy efficiency and it begins with energy evaluations.

Companies periodically have audits done to keep track of expenses and see which cuts can be made with the goal of a better bottom line. It is the same idea with energy consumption evaluations. Evaluations reveal which electric appliances consume the most power. With these findings, steps can be taken to lower this cost.

It is important that the auditing be done professionally. It should be done by experts whose methods and equipment are certified. Auditors should be updated on the latest technology. How successful the whole exercise is and the margins by which consumption is reduced depends on how accurate their findings are.

Companies and households that had audits carried out reported that their consumption and bills went down by between 5 and 30% after they made upgrades according the the findings of the audits. It is a fact that the US Department of Energy has verified. An audit involves auditors visiting a home, going over the power bills and performing what is known as a blower door test. Alternatively, a thermographic scan may be done. This is done to establish energy wasters such as gaps in window frames that let out heated air and let in cold air when central heating is running.

You might be able to take advantage of government incentives offered to encourage people and companies to get an audit one. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency website, www.dsireusa.org has information on the policies and incentives on offer by the federal government and the state and local governements to different US territories. There is also information on the incentives offered by different electric and gas utilities.

The website also has summary maps and summary tables as well as a search tool that can be used to help browsers find out which policies and incentives are available for specific projects. Browsers can also use the search tool to look for the ones that are relevant by type, state, technology type, sector and implementing sector.

The policies and incentives that support renewables are of two types. One is financial incentives which include rebates, grants, tax incentives, loans, performance incentives, industry support and recruitment and green building incentives among others. The second type is policies, regulations and rules that uplift renewable portfolio standards, contract licensing, equipment certification, building energy codes, wind and solar wind permitting standards, construction codes, net metering and public benefits funds.

Having an audit done is well worth the trouble. Add the incentives to do them and the incentives to make use of renewable sources of energy and it is a win win solution all round. There is only one way your power bills can go after an evaluation and it is down.




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