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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of the third installment in a series of four 50% Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs). This latest guide will help architects, engineers, and contractors design and build highly efficient retail buildings, helping to save energy and cut store operational costs. The 50% AEDG series provides a practical approach for designers and builders of retail stores, and other major commercial building types, to achieve 50% energy savings compared to the building energy code used in many parts of the nation. These commercial building guides support President Obama’s goal to reduce energy use in commercial buildings 20% by 2020. The Advanced Energy Design Guide for 50% energy savings in retail buildings is now available for download.

Beyond helping builders achieve efficiency exceeding the current energy code, the AEDGs also provide climate-specific recommendations to incorporate today’s off-the-shelf energy efficient building products. These recommendations help designers and builders choose advanced building assemblies, highly efficient heating and cooling systems, and incorporate other energy-saving measures such as daylighting and associated control systems. Additionally, efficiency measures found in the guides can be used in the development of future commercial building energy codes.

The 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide series is being developed through a partnership with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), American Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). The Retail Buildings guide is the third installment in the 50% series, and follows the guides for small and medium office buildings and K-12 schools released in 2011. The final 50% savings guide for major commercial building types—large hospitals—is also in progress.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Learn more about EERE’s support of building technologies. Additional information on DOE’s efforts to support the development and adoption of building energy codes can be found on the Energy Codes website.

SunMaxx Solar announces the upcoming TitanPower Plus SU 3.0 Series Flat Plate Collectors. SunMaxx Solar will be offering the 3.0 model for delivery starting on October 1st 2011

The TitanPower Plus SU 3.0 Flat Plate Collector combines the high efficiency construction of the smaller versions combined with the industry standard size of 4 x 8 ft. in addition to its high efficiency, the 3.0 collector is offered with a standard 12 year warranty and extended 20 year performance warranty.

Replace your existing projects with a higher performing and longer lasting flat plate collector that has guaranteed performance! The standard 4 x 8 ft collector size allows for easy integration into existing pre-engineered solar thermal projects. Save time and money on large scale commercial solar thermal projects.

The 3.0 series is designed for commercial applications and large scale process heating systems. Each collector utilizes the industry’s leading TiNOX copper absorber plate with 95% absorption efficiency. Its low profile stainless steel frame yields a 96% gross aperture to surface area ration, amongst the highest power density in the industry.

For additional information on the TitanPower Plus SU3.0 Flat Plate collector, please visit http://www.sunmaxxsolar.com/titan-power-plus-su2-flat-plate-solar-collector.php

SunMaxx Solar is an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of turnkey solar thermal solutions for domestic hot water and space heating applications. For more information visit us online at www.sunmaxxsolar.com. You can also contact a solar thermal specialist at 1.877.876.6299.

* Due to the relocation of SunMaxx Solars manufacturing facility to a larger facility the availability of the 4X8 collectors has been delayed. Updates will be provided

*  Product will be made available for sale starting August 11th 2011.

Source: SunMaxx Solar

The market for energy efficiency services and equipment is on the rise as national governments look to reduce energy consumption by improving the efficiency of the building stock. With buildings being one of the largest sources of energy consumption, the opportunity to improve efficiency is significant, ranging from high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to the utilization of energy-efficient lighting technologies to business models such as energy performance contracting (EPC) as employed by energy service companies (ESCOs) around the world.

According to a new report from Pike Research, the total market for energy efficiency in buildings will reach $103.5 billion by 2017, an increase of more than 50% from the 2011 market value of $67.9 billion.

“The structure of energy efficient building markets varies considerably from one country or region to another,” says research analyst Eric Bloom, “and vendors and service providers aiming to increase their coverage of energy efficiency markets must remain cognizant of the changing dynamics in order to maintain a strong presence.”

Bloom adds that, with regard to the existing building stock, ESCOs are leading the energy efficiency charge for commercial buildings in many countries, using EPC and other financing mechanisms to install energy efficient equipment and kick-start ongoing energy efficiency services. The market for energy efficient equipment, including efficient HVAC and lighting systems, is also in a period of transformation, as green building trends drive increase interest in efficient systems and as efficient lighting technologies, such as LEDs, continue to decline in cost.

Pike Research’s forecasts indicate that the ESCO market will represent the largest segment of the energy efficient buildings industry in the coming years, with revenues more than doubling from $30.1 billion in 2011 to $66.0 worldwide by 2017, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14%. Significant growth will also occur in the market for high-efficiency HVAC systems, which will expand from $3.1 billion to $6.4 billion during the same period.

Pike Research’s report, “Energy Efficient Buildings: Global Outlook”, provides data on the size and growth of energy efficient building markets, including ESCO revenues, energy efficient HVAC equipment sales, and energy efficient lighting sales from 2011 to 2017, as well as a qualitative description of key drivers and trends in energy efficiency in key markets, focusing on the commercial building sector. Readers will benefit from a country-by-country analysis that distills the complexities of developing international business in the energy efficient building industry into concise summaries that facilitate an understanding of how key markets compare to each other. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com or call +1.303.997.7609.

SOURCE: Pike Research

States across the country have been reaching or exceeding their energy savings goals established through Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS), thereby lowering utility bills for consumers and reducing the need to build costly new power plants.

The forecast is also bright for the future as states expect to achieve even higher energy savings for utility customers in years to come. These are the findings of two reports released recently by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

From 2004 to 2010, 24 states followed the lead set by Texas and Vermont by establishing an EERS, a policy that sets long-term energy savings goals for electric and natural gas utilities. Since then, utilities, regulators, and consumers in all corners of the country have embraced this approach to deliver energy efficiency programs that save energy and money in homes and businesses.

The first report, Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: A Progress Report on State Energy Savings Targets, documents the performance of every state with an EERS in place for more than two years. Comparing actual performance with the EERS targets, 13 of the 19 states with EERS policies in place for over two years are achieving 100% or more of their goals, three states are reaching over 90% of their goals, and the three states falling below 80% of their goals are working hard to catch up. In each case, state EERS policies are driving energy efficiency investments and energy cost savings to unprecedented levels.

“These states are demonstrating that energy efficiency programs deliver real savings for utilities and ratepayers, and it is more affordable than any supply-side energy source,” said Michael Sciortino, Policy Analyst and the report’s lead author. By law and rule, the energy efficiency programs implemented in a state with an EERS must cost less than the electricity that would have been produced if not for the programs. Accordingly, utility efficiency programs are saving customers significantly more than they cost.

For example, in 2009 and 2010, Ohio utility customers saved $56 million in energy costs over and above the costs to deliver the programs. Over the lifetime of these programs, they are likely to save customers in excess of three-quarters of a billion dollars—and this is just the beginning. Program goals increase over time.

“As a comprehensive national energy policy remains beyond the reach of Congress, states are taking action to show how bold energy efficiency policies can benefit residential, commercial, and industrial consumers,” said Steven Nadel, ACEEE Executive Director.

The future promises still more savings from state EERS, since most EERS targets increase over the next decade. The second report, Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: State Strategies to Reach Higher Energy Savings, documents how utilities are planning to ramp up their efforts to hit these higher energy savings levels.

The second report includes an analysis of six states with some of the largest and most successful energy efficiency programs in the United States—California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont. In these leading states, utilities are employing new strategies to expand existing programs and add new ones, enhance advertising and promotions, and conduct innovative pilot projects.

Six more states—Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—are also examined in detail as they rapidly ramp up to develop the state-of-the-art energy efficiency programs required to meet the increasingly higher targets. Utilities in these states are running fewer, simpler programs that can get the most energy savings as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

“Experts who specialize in these states say the potential for cost-effective energy efficiency is more than sufficient to meet the goals that have been established, and they put the likelihood of states continuing to meet their goals in the 90% range,” summarized Martin Kushler, ACEEE Senior Research Fellow. “The greatest challenge for the future isn’t technical—it’s inspiring the political will necessary to pass these energy- and money-saving standards in every state.”

To read the first report, Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: A Progress Report on State Energy Savings Targets, click here.

To read the second report, Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: State Strategies to Reach Higher Energy Savings, click here.

To read the fact sheet, click here

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Rheem among others make hybrid heat pump water heaters

Instead of just using electricity or propane to heat the water, the Hybrid Water Heater uses a heat pump whenever possible. Many models are available, such as the AO Smith Voltex PHPT-80 Hybrid Water Heater, or the RHEEM 50G Heat Pump Water Heater HP50RH are two of many examples.
How it works: The heat pump draws air into it with a fan, which then sucks the warm air around an evaporator, the evaporator heats up and evaporates the liquid refrigerant inside as it draws heat from the air. The heat in the air in your home is literally transferred to the water in the tank!

Most air conditioners take the heat from your home and dump it outside, wasting it. But hybrid water heaters makes use of that extra heat by transferring into your water that you’ll use for washing dishes, doing laundry and taking showers.

Con Edison Launches $50 Home Energy Survey.

NEW YORK – Con Edison customers can get a home energy survey for $50 and receive energy-saving bulbs and other devices at no extra cost. Holly Malekian of Dobbs Ferry, NY was among the first to benefit from the survey when “Green Team” experts installed weather stripping and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in their home and recommended updated attic insulation, among other improvements.

This new program is part of the company commitment to help customers save on energy bills while helping the environment. Con Edison residential electric customers in one-to-four family homes are eligible for the incentives.

“I learned a great deal about how energy efficient my home could be with just a few simple changes, as well as the savings I can get by participating in the various other programs the Green Team recommended. I really needed the Smartstrip and didn’t realize how much money the CFLs and weather stripping he installed would save me,” said Ms. Malekian.

Con Edison “Green Team” professionals are now available to visit customers’ homes and provide a customized list of recommendations on how best to save money. While there, experts will install free energy-saving products such as CFLs, a Smart power strip, and other free energy-saving devices, all at no extra cost.

“This survey is an easy, yet detailed way to show our customers how to save money on their bills and run their homes at peak efficiency,” said Cristina Coltro, energy efficiency programs manager, Con Edison.

Con Edison has an energy efficiency program available for almost everyone. For more information, visit www.conEd.com/energyefficiency or call Con Edison’s “Green Team” at 1-877-870-6118.

Con Edison provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. The global Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has ranked Consolidated Edison, Inc. #1 among all S&P 500 companies in its 2010 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, as well as # 1 among utilities in the CDP’s new Carbon Performance Leadership Index. Consolidated Edison, Inc. also has been recognized for its environmental performance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and other organizations.

For additional information, visit us on the Web at www.conEd.com, at our green site, www.conEd.com/thepowerofgreen

Image via ShelterBox

ShelterBox is sending kits to Japan to help with relief efforts. The packs are somewhat of a marvel when it comes to efficient packaging — they pack 100 lbs of equipment in just 33 x 24 x 22 inch box. Take a look at what is included, and find out more about the conundrum of packing emergency kits for disasters. …Read the full story on TreeHugger

Solar thermal systems are gaining visibility in commercial energy audits because they can produce electricity, provide heat and drive air conditioning, fueled only by free, clean energy from the sun.

Commercial energy audits are recommending solar thermal installations with increasing frequency. The reason is that solar thermal technologies are increasingly cost effective in heating and cooling (through use of chillers), and they can also produce electricity.

Truth be known, quite a few commercial energy auditors get pretty excited over solar thermal when they find a good opportunity to recommend it. Not only are these systems about as “green” as you can get . . . in just the right situations they can provide an impressive return on investment. Some other advantages include:

Advantages of Solar Thermal Systems

* Solar thermal energy is clean, effective and efficient.

* Using solar thermal energy to heat water (alone) can dramatically reduce your electricity bill. Add air conditioning and maybe electrical generation and the energy cost savings can be truly impressive.

* Solar thermal systems are available in a wide range of technologies and price points.

Large installations may require more expensive solar parabolic or solar trough reflectors. Small installations may utilize a less expensive rubberized collector mat.

* Some solar thermal equipment is approaching life cycles of 25 years and more.

* Solar thermal provides reliable power in locations that are from natural gas lines

and an electrical grid.

While most of today’s solar thermal systems serve homes, offices and industrial buildings, the technology necessary for building large solar thermal power plants is likely to be availabe in the very near future. That technology could replace a great many coal and oil-fired power plants.

Disadvantages of Solar Thermal Systems

* As is the case with solar photovoltaics, the economics of solar thermal are not yet perfect. High performance systems are expensive (and lower performance systems, while less expensive, are often of lower quality and not worth installing).

* There are a number of questionable products on the market (and less than knowledgeable contractors who are ready and willing to install them).

* As is the case with any solar system, most (but not all) solar thermal systems require a great deal of space.

The Bottom line on Solar Thermal

For now, the bottom line on solar thermal seems to be that, if a commercial energy audit indicates that it may be financially feasible, integrating solar thermal into your energy efficiency project is worth a hard look.

The Phoenix based energy audit team at Big Green Zero works with commercial building owners to reduces energy bills (often by 30% to 50%). The proprietary BGZ energy audit process is ASHRAE compliant and draws from extensive U.S. Dept. of Energy research.

Source: Big Green Zero

The energy expenditures in office buildings account for 23% of energy expenditures in commercial buildings. Of all the commercial building types, office buildings have the highest total expenditures for energy, totaling $15.8 billion per year. Most of this is for electricity. Office buildings use 2,039 trillion Btu of primary electricity. Lighting accounts for the most energy use, followed by space heating, and then by office equipment.

Ten panels of the Tri-Brid solar thermal collector system would collect enough energy to match about one third to one half the energy requirements per floor. Depending upon the number of floors, a roof space of 2400 square feet will typically have 25% of its space used for air conditioning and ventilation units, leaving 1800 square feet to accommodate solar collectors.

A paramount advantage of the Solar Collector system is that its energy storing efficiency is at its peak mid-day, when energy demands are at their highest. This allows the solar energy to be used to decrease peak power demands, thus securing a lower energy usage charge from the utility company.

Robert Matthews of Kalahari Greentech states, “One third of the energy load savings for ten floors is $1000/month or $100 per floor on average. This does not take into account that the building may be largely empty on the weekends, thereby allowing the solar equipment to collect and store thermal and electric energy for use during prime usage times. ROIs will only decrease in length with the rise in energy costs.”

More information can be found on the company’s website, www.kalaharigt.com.

About Kalahari Greentech, Inc.: Kalahari Greentech Inc. is an energy company focused on developing, constructing and operating wind and solar energy projects, either on its own or in partnership with other energy companies. The company’s main focus is to seek out opportunities to utilize its technology to develop renewable energy sources.

MNswan Technologies Corporation Launches to Promote Energy Saving Systems

MNswan Technologies, a new alternative energy company, recently announced that it is ready to help homeowners lower their energy costs. The company offers instructional guides on affordable energy saving systems, such as the Simple Solar Water Heating System, which can make a home more energy efficient.

The new company, founded by Michael Swanson, developed a Simple Solar Water Heating System, an affordable, energy efficient water heater. The company provides instructional guides, and will be releasing new items in 2011. For more information, please visit http://www.mnswantech.com.

Michael Swanson created the Simple Solar Water Heating System after years of trying to lower his family’s energy bills. Using recycled materials and items purchased mainly from local hardware stores, Swanson, who is not a plumber by trade, built a domestic water heating system that is heated by the sun. The pre-heated water is returned to his hot water heater so the traditional system operates less often, using much less energy, resulting in big savings for the family budget.

The system comes down during the winter and goes back up in the spring. But in warmer climates, this water heating system can be used much longer, or even year-round.

“We’ve been pinching pennies, turning down the thermostat, weather-proofing… the stuff most people do. But I started looking at the cost to heat my hot water, and researched how I could cut my expenses,” said Swanson. “What I learned saves my family a lot of money. And it was simple and inexpensive to install.”

Several other energy saving projects are in the works and the instructional guides will be available in 2011. For more information on the company, please visit http://www.mnswantech.com.