Super Energy Efficiency Blog

How Many Miles to the Gallon Does Your Home Get?

Homes use approximately one third of all the energy we presently consume in the U.S. The remaining two thirds are split between transportation- one third, and industry- one third.

Over the years technological advancements made it possible for manufacturers of central heating and air conditioning equipment to produce units with energy efficiency ratings of 90+. For example, a 90+ natural gas heater burns 90% or more of the natural gas it takes in and wastes less than 10%.

Most likely the homes in the U.S.with 90+ systems installed are in homes that would not even qualify for a 50+ energy efficiency rating. 

Know the True Cost of Your Home Before You Buy It

Paul and Kim have been married for a year when they decide it’s time to buy their first home. They don’t know it but they are about to make the biggest mistake of their lives.

Paul manages a national car rental agency, and Kim is a bookkeeper at a local pet store. Together they earn $80,000 a year before taxes.

Neither Paul nor Kim has experience buying a home so they call a realtor first for advice. They learn they can get a mortgage that includes taxes and homeowners insurance for $1,933 a month.

It really helps Paul and Kim to know how much money they can borrow.

Solar Energy - Investment Payback and Your Home : Part 2

We left off explaining the difference between passive solar design systems and direct solar systems.   Now that we have cleared up the difference, let's continue....

4. During the design phase we made sure to place the property facing south with the widest exposure and most windows on the south side. We were fortunate to have the latitude to design and build our 4163 square foot home utilizing as many energy efficient thermal package features as possible.

The placement of windows is best left for a more in depth discussion. However, for the purposes of a passive solar energy discussion it is important to note that....

Solar Energy - Investment Payback and Your Home : Part 1

With the ever increasing cost of energy needed to run, heat and air condition a home, consumers are seeking alternative means to bring the cost of energy down, as well as ease up on the planets natural resource supply.

Solar panels, used for harvesting the sun’s natural power, are the most familiar and commonly researched alternative source for energy today. This is probably due to the idea that solar energy is free for the taking; however, the cost to collect the energy is not free.

During our latest energy efficient home project we researched the viability of adding Direct PV (photo voltaic) solar energy to the home.

This is what we learned after careful and lengthy consideration--

Electric Deregulation : Part 2

We left off with the question : why is energy regulation or deregulation  important to you, the homeowner?

Utility companies are a unique form of commodity. Electricity or gas for heating, air conditioning, and lights are life sustaining services. Unlike any other business, public utilities have a guaranteed market.

In most cases, consumers do not have a choice for there natural gas or electricity supplier. Regulation was designed to insure a fair rate structure, and reliable supply of electricity and gas. In return, the holding companies could count on a good return for their stock holders and stable business levels. And the 1935 PUHCA kept utility holding companies from using the profits they made from consumers to invest in riskier businesses.

How did PUHCA come about? After the stock market crash of 1929, many utility companies were far in debt with their other investments. When banks called in their loans, the utility companies failed. The consequences of the failures fueled the Depression.

The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 opened the electric industry to competition, which meant....

Electric Deregulation : Part 1

What would you do if you opened your utility bill next month, and there was a 25 % increase in your rate?

The truth is a lot of homeowners are getting hit with exactly that kind  of rate increase. In fact, the hidden problem in the current housing crisis is electric bills can get so high; it’s as if homeowners now have a second mortgage payment.

And there are more and bigger increases expected this year in at least fifteen states, as the deregulation of utility companies continue, rate caps come off in certain states, and the cost of oil continues to rise.

How can this happen?

The answer to that is...