We introduced a large project we’re working on with Camp St. Christopher in a previous blog.  Camp St. Christopher is a non-profit complete conference center on the Atlantic Coast just south of Charleston.  It offers over 300 acres of beach, marsh and maritime forest and multiple facilities including meeting and conference centers, lodging, and worship centers.  We’re excited about keeping you up-to-date on our progress and informing you about how this project was made possible. 

The process began last August when the State Energy Office put out information that there were going to be $2.9 million available in grants for alternative energy projects for non-profits.  As soon as we found out, we immediately started getting in touch with local Charleston non-profit organizations to inform them about the opportunity.  When St. Christopher responded about being interested, we setup a meeting for late September 2009 and went out to view the grounds and start planning.

The RFP from the State was issued in early September.  The government was looking at multiple factors before approving a non-profit like St. Christopher for the grant.  These included visibility of project, potential job creation, overall benefit in terms of investment and payback of the project (they needed a minimum return of $2.50 dollars to $1 spent). 

The grant writing process was long and hard, but St. Christopher didn’t have to worry about that.  SES took care of making sure the grant was completed correctly and on time.  Anything we were able to do to make the process easier for them, we did!

After submitting the grant, we found out in March that St. Christopher was awarded the money!  After that, it was really time for us to get moving.  It took till June to actually get the contracts squared away with the state.  We then went through the permitting process.  We put together architectural drawings done by the camp director, roof mounting drawings, basically everything that needed to be done to the camp to get it ready for installation.  The buildings needed some retrofits to make the project possible.  For example, the roofing mounts had to be able to withstand 130mph winds with 150 mph gusts…..just one of many details to iron out.  We were permitted by the 2^nd week of July and started work the next week.   

Needless to say, the past year has been full of paperwork and phone calls, red tape and patience.  One of our main goals when working with a non-profit to obtain funding or a grant is to shoulder as much of the work as possible.  So far, it’s been a very successful project with St. Christopher. 

Stay tuned in weeks to come for pictures and videos on the construction, retrofits, and installation.  We want you to follow along with this project with us.  Also, if you’re involved in a non-profit, there are still government moneys available for your organization.  Even if you aren’t sure if you qualify, get in touch with us and we’ll help you get moving forward on an alternative energy project.

The Green Power Network (GPN) provides news and information on green power markets and related activities. They provide up-to-date information on green power providers, product offerings, consumer protection issues, and policies affecting green power markets as well as relevant papers, articles and reports. The Green Power Network is operated and maintained by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The reason for green power marketing is to provide consumers with options to purchase their electricity from environmentally preferred sources. The term “green power” is used to define power generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, geothermal, hydropower and various forms of biomass.  According to the GPN, in many survey’s, customers have expressed a preference and willingness to pay more, if necessary, for cleaner energy sources.

If being environmentally friendly isn’t enough incentive for you to begin researching Sustainable Energy’s solar energy products, maybe Net Metering will push you over the edge.  Net metering is a low-cost, easily administered method of encouraging customer investment in renewable energy technologies.

Net metering enables customers to use their own power generation to offset their consumption over a billing period by allowing their electric meters to turn backwards when they generate electricity in excess of the their demand.  Every utility company in SC runs its net metering program a different way, but essentially you can bank the extra power your Solar Photovoltaic System produces during day and use it when the system isn’t producing at night or on a rainy day.

If you have questions about Net Metering, let us know.  We’d be happy to answer any questions you have.  If you can see the pure benefits of solar energy and Net Metering, give us a call or visit our website for a free solar site inspection.

Do you know your Home Energy Rating?  Have you ever heard of a system that rates a home’s energy efficiency?  The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) established the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) to measure the energy efficiency of your home.

Essentially, a home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index.  Some tests conducted to determine efficiency include a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index score for the home.

The HERS Index is a scoring system compares the home being tested to a HERS Reference Home that was built based upton the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code.  This reference home has a Index of 100, and represents the minimum energy rating acceptable to be considered Energy Star Certified.  The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.

Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. So for example, if your home scores a HERS index of 85, then it would be 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home, and thereby considered to be quite energy efficient.

So why do we even need a Home Energy Rating System?  It is actually used for multiple reasons.  The obvious reason is so people know whether or not they are wasting money on their energy costs.  This index provides a way for homeowners to determine where they are losing money every month, and what they can do to cut back on energy costs.

Another reason is for financing renewable energy projects.  Do you remember our post about financing options for solar energy units?  Lenders will examine and home’s HERS Index when considering them for a loan.

So do you know your home’s rating?  You may be surprised to find that you’re paying quite a bit extra every month on your energy bill because of an inefficient home.  Sustainable Energy is currently offering free site inspections to determine the efficiency of your home.  Give us a call or respond to this blog to have us out to the house.  As we said, it’s completely free.  If your home is inefficient, we can talk about options then.  If not, the worst that can happen is you learn your home is doing its job with regard to energy consumption!  We look forward to seeing you soon.

We recently posted a blog about the tax incentives available for purchasing a solar energy unit for your home or business.  While the incentives are quite generous, up to 55% in credits for homeowners, a solar energy system may still be a little pricier than you can afford.  We completely understand.  That’s why we want to tell you a little about some financing options that you may have not known about.

The U.S. Department of Energy has multiple suggestions on their site on ways to finance your solar energy investment.  You can apply for energy-efficient financing through a government-insured or conventional loan program.  In South Carolina, our State Energy Office has programs for residents interested in purchasing solar energy products.  You can check those out on their website.

FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage program (EEM) helps homebuyers or homeowners save money on utility bills by enabling them to finance the cost of adding energy efficiency features to new or existing housing as part of their FHA insured home purchase or refinancing mortgage.

There are two types of energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs): one for a new home and one for an existing home. With an EEM, you can purchase or refinance a home that is already energy efficient, or you can purchase or refinance a home that will become energy efficient after energy-saving improvements are made. Most energy-efficient financing programs offer both types of EEMs, as well as home-improvement loans for making energy-efficiency upgrades to your existing home.

Another way to finance your solar energy unit is a solar same as cash loan.  These are no money down, no interest for a chosen period of time which corresponds to an origination fee on the loan.  This basically means you can get a solar system and not pay anything until you get your tax credit back the following year.

For commercial projects, a business can get a grant upfront instead of a tax credit the following year.  If you’re interested in looking into obtaining a grant, get in touch with us and we can walk you through that process.  We’ll even help out with the paperwork!

Also something to look at is the success of Property Assessed Clean Energy programs (PACE) that municipalities across the country have started adopting- basically a municipal fund is created through bonds that allows homeowners or businesses to borrow against it and pay it back through their property taxes.

As you can see, there are many different avenues out there for financing of a new solar energy system.  Also, remember to check out information about Tax Incentives that are available.  There’s a reason the government is trying to make purchasing these units enticing; it’s good for our planet.  Get in touch with us today to find out about how you can start doing your part!

Have you ever noticed that your monthly electrical bill peaks twice a year?  If you’re like most Charleston homeowners, your energy bill is at it’s highest in June – August and again in December – February.  Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  In fact, statistics show that you would share that in common with most of the country.

At Sustainable Energy Solutions, we care about the environment.  We want to let you know about some simple things you can do on your own to be environmentally friendly while lowering your monthly energy costs.

Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks

Checking your home’s insulation is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to use a whole-house approach to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars.

Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 43% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling. What’s more, heating and cooling systems in the United States together emit 150 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.

• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.

Water Heating

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. Depending on the number of people in your home and the heating fuel (electricity or gas), water heating accounts for 10 to 25 percent of your home’s utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient model.

• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 120°F provides comfortable hot water for most uses.

Those are just a few.  We would highly encourage you to explore the benefits of installing a solar water heater in your home.  More than 1.5 million homes and businesses in the United States have invested in solar water heating systems, and surveys indicate that more than 94% of these customers consider the systems a good investment.  In addition to saving you money, during a 20-year period, one solar water heater can avoid more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions!  Sounds like a win win. We’d also love to come out to your home or business and do a FREE Solar Site inspection, <—-click the link find out more!

What do you do around the house to decrease your electric bill?  We want to know!  Tell us your tips or about how your solar water heater has affected you.

Have you given thought to moving towards a more energy efficient lifestyle in Charleston but thought the cost was too high for the rewards?  Maybe you haven’t even considered installing a solar water heater because your pocket book just can’t handle it.  If this is you, there’s something we’d like to tell you about.  The government offers tax credits for anyone who wants to install energy efficient equipment into their home, and solar water heaters qualify!

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping Americans save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.  Results are already adding up. Americans saved enough energy in 2009 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 30 million cars while saving nearly $17 billion on their utility bills.

These tax credits are available for homeowners as well as businesses.  For homeowners, energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions.  For businesses, a strategic approach to energy management can produce twice the savings for the bottom line and the environment.  Check out this website for a complete list of incentives available.

It’s very simple when it comes to obtaining the tax credits.  Simply save your receipts and the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement for your records.  When you fill out your 2010 tax returns next April, submit Form 5695 with your taxes.

The tax credit applies from anything to insulation and roofs to wind turbines and solar energy systems.  You can check out this website to get information on the amount of savings for each tax credit.  For solar energy systems, the government will cover 30% of the cost with no upper limit!  That’s a nice chunk of savings back in your pocket, plus the savings on your energy bill every month!  Oops, almost forgot.  South Carolina gives you a 25% tax credit on top of the 30% from the government.  That’s 55% off the cost of your solar energy system!

Sustainable Energy Solutions has the experience and capabilities to partner with you to make your home or business more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  If you don’t know exactly where to start, get in touch with us or simply respond to this blog and we’ll contact you.  The entire process is actually a lot easier than it may seem.  You can be on the road to lower energy costs within the month.

Sustainable Energy Solutions is very excited to announce our Camp St. Christopher project!  St. Christopher is a complete conference center on the Atlantic Coast just south of Charleston.  It offers over 300 acres of beach, marsh and maritime forest and multiple facilities including meeting and conference centers, lodging, and worship centers.

St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center was recently awarded an $111,500 stimulus fund to install 17 solar hot water systems on 15 housing structures and in the conference center.  In addition to the awarded funds, Camp St. Christopher and SES have also pledged in-kind contributions of almost $45,000, which will go towards building retrofits. The new solar systems will be incorporated into student orientations, coursework and conference planning tours. Approximately 400,000 teachers, students, and visitors will study and/or use these systems which will help the center save more than $363,000 over the life of the project. 

The stimulus was awarded by the South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO) who provides a broad range of resources designed to help citizens, businesses, and public entities save energy and money.  In recent years, the SCEO has helped save South Carolina over $250 million through public and private energy-saving measures and new energy technologies

This project is a true team effort between the State Energy Office, St. Christopher and Sustainable Energy Solutions to install these 17 solar hot water systems, and we couldn’t be more excited to head up this project.  We have been instrumental in the application process and planning.  We’re now beginning implementation.  We plan to use our blog to keep you updated along the way with information, photos, and video on our progress, so stay tuned! 

Also, we have access to MANY state and government offered grants for non profit organizations for renewable energy projects.  If you’re involved in a non profit and are interested in hearing about how SES can help you obtain funding for renewable energy similar to St. Christopher, respond to this blog and we’ll get in touch with you right away.  You can also visit our website or contact us directly.