As we venture further into the era of climate change, humans are constantly searching for ways to decrease energy consumption and increase efficiency. Unfortunately, there's no silver bullet. Truly reducing our impact on the global climate requires a combination of an increase in renewable power generation, behavioral changes to decrease consumption and increasing the efficiency of our homes and appliances. Even as we strive for improvement, sometimes we fall short. According to a new study from the University of California, Berkeley, for example, a federal Weatherization Assistance Program is not bringing in the expected efficiency benefits.

Looking for the Win-Win

Investments in home efficiency are usually considered win-win scenarios. Reductions in energy consumption lessen the impact on the environment and reduce energy bills at the same time. Many upgrades, like replacing an outdated refrigerator with a new Energy Star-certified model, will eventually pay for themselves in energy savings.

However, not every savings promise comes through. The Berkeley study looked at 30,000 households in Michigan that upgraded their home systems with new insulation, weather stripping, HVAC equipment and more. The federal government paid up to $5,000 per house for the improvements, but the average household only realized $2,400 in savings during the lifespan of their new efficiency features. That's not a great return on investment.

Ancillary Benefits

The households saved 10 to 20 percent on their energy costs, on average, which is only about 40 percent of what they were projected to save. The results are discouraging for consumers who are striving to implement any cost-saving measures they can find. Electricians and home service technicians can help you upgrade your home systems, but the changes will only go so far.

There were other benefits to the weatherization program outside the raw financial data, of course. The investments were aimed at low income households, so the money saved helped reduce poverty in the area. Plus, the reduction of carbon in the atmosphere from the program has additional economic benefits. Nevertheless, the disappointing result could be a blow to the willingness of the government to make similar investments in the future.

Let the Buyer Beware

The big lesson for the consumer? Don't believe just any claim about energy efficiency, and do your due diligence before investing in a big-ticket upgrade. You can and should make efforts to reduce your energy consumption, but be careful not to blow your investment dollars on items that don't give you a good return.

"This underscores the value of field-testing," paper author Michael Greenstone said to Vox. "Particularly in a world where economy-wide carbon pricing does not look feasible, we should be redoubling our efforts to find those CO2 reduction measures that have the biggest bang for the buck."

If you need advice on how to get the best return when it comes to energy efficiency, find an experienced electrician who can help you invest your dollars wisely and steer you away from less effective purchases.

If you live in a home that was built more than 40 years ago, you may have noticed your house isn’t quite keeping up with your needs. 40 years ago, we were not quite so fortunate to have all the gadgets and goodies we have today. Our lives have been streamlined and made much easier with all the technological advances that have been made in the last couple of decades. Unfortunately, older homes are typically not equipped to handle today’s modern devices. You need a Santa Monica electrician, like those at The Electric Connection.

It is possible to bring your home up to speed by updating your electric panel. An electrician will need to do an inspection to determine whether or not an upgrade is necessary. An electric panel is where the electric from the power company comes into your home. The various breakers direct the power to different areas of your home. If there is enough room in your existing electric panel, an electrician can go about adding a couple of outlets to meet your needs.

If the panel isn’t ready to have new breakers installed to support new outlets or high-powered appliances, you will need a panel upgraded by an electrician. Santa Monica residents who opt to have an upgrade will have the luxury of adding additional outlets and powering more electrical equipment. If you are not sure your electric panel is adequate, one of the signs is tripping breakers. If breakers regularly trip, it is likely due to them being weak or overloaded. Flickering lights are another sign of a strained electric panel. There is no time like the present to bring your home into the 21st century so you can take advantage of everything the technological world has to offer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electric panel inspection.

Well, the stormy season is upon us with thunder and lightning all around…..are you prepared?  Do you have whole-house protection from lightning strikes and power surges?  With the continued uncertainty of Texas weather, it’s important to be protected year round!  Here at ElectricMan, a licensed Dallas Electrician, we offer whole-house surge protection, as well as Green-friendly electric service alternatives.  Just give us a call for more information!

-Your team here at ElectricMan

(972) 792-7270

www.electricmaninc.com

Had you taken a public poll 20 years ago about the future of solar power and solar energy, the public would have likely expected the technology to have made leaps and bounds by 2013.  Perhaps many would have expected to see solar panels installed on most homes and businesses by now, or even being used to power cars (ala the 1996 James Belushi / Halle Berry movie Race The Sun.) In 2013, in a technological age where most people use smartphones as pocket sized computers, why does it seem that solar power hasn’t progressed much at all?

There are many reasons to help to understand this phenomenon, so we’ve listed some of the most popular below:

One of the most obvious issues that may be holding solar energy back is the idea that if there is no sunshine, there is no power being generated.  Because of this, solar energy doesn’t have the capability to stand alone which will surely hinder its popularity.  Modern consumers are of the instant gratification mindset and are not always willing to take the inconvenient option, even if it may have strong benefits.

It’s no question that there are huge amounts of money tied up in the corporations and investors who control the major energy companies of the world.  The electricity companies have an interest in limiting their competition and they have lobbyists in that will work to protect their interests.  There is also strong opposition coming from competing industries like coal and nuclear energy, both of which are heavily financed and politically influential.

Even with the tax breaks and incentives cited as reasons for solar energy development, the upfront  costs for equipment and installation are still excessively high.   It’s often cited that it would currently cost around $20,000 – $30,000 to install a new solar system on an average American home (before incentives.)  The investment can pay for itself over a 20-30 year period of monthly savings, but most households in the U.S. don’t have the means to spend such a large amount of cash straight away.

As many companies have rushed to be the biggest and best producers of solar panel equipment, the market has seen high competition with most of the solar products being produced cheaply in China.  Because of this, there has been wide concern that modern solar panels are expensive, untested, and of low quality.  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory even estimates that solar panels degrade at a rate of 4.5% annually or more!  At this rate, a new solar panel will lose most of its efficiency before it ever becomes financially beneficial.

We will have to wait and see where solar energy goes in the coming years.  Maybe it won’t be popular for several more decades, or perhaps it will never become popular at all.  Either way, energy is a shifting business that constantly pushes and reinvents itself, so it will be exciting to see what the future has in store for the industry.

If you’re considering the purchase of an electric car, good for you! You're doing your part to reduce the nation's reliance on oil and cut down on fossil fuel emissions, and you get to drive around in style to boot. But with many newer models, you’ll need to set up a charging station in your own home garage. Public charging stations are not widely available, and nothing beats the convenience of having a power source right outside your door. With an electrician's help, you can install a charging station on your property and get your car up to speed quickly. Read on for some tips on how to get started.

Expand Your Range

New, affordable electric cars (those that cost around $30,000) top out at ranges between 60 and 90 miles before they need to be recharged. That doesn't do you much good for a cross-country road trip, but it should be more than enough for the average daily commute. If you can plug it in overnight, you should be good to go the next day.

Technically speaking, the charger for an electric vehicle is found in the car itself, and the box you install to provide the electricity is called the Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE). The EVSE puts out 240-volt alternating current, and the charger in the car converts it to direct current to replenish the battery. Note that you can plug into a standard 110 volt outlet for some cars, but it will take 18 hours or more to fully charge them, making it impractical for daily use.

Pick Your Charging Spot

An EVSE can cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 or more, depending on what model you need, plus installation fees. More expensive models have higher amp ratings and can charge the car faster, generally speaking – some can get you ready to go in as little as three hours. The box needs to be placed within 15-25 feet of where you park your car so you can reach it with the charging cable.

Before you start the installation process, have an electrician evaluate the state of your wiring and circuit box – some older homes may not be able to handle charging a car without a significant electrical system upgrade. If everything checks out, the electrician can hardwire the EVSE or, alternatively, install a 240 volt outlet, similar to what you use for an electric oven or clothes dryer. The second option gives you more flexibility to move your charging station in the future, although outdoor installations usually require hardwiring.

The Code of an Electrician

To read up on the specific rules about how the EVSE needs to be installed, check out National Electrical Code Article 625 – your local building code likely has the same or similar regulations. For more help evaluating the suitability of your home for an electric car charging station, contact a local electrician today.