The Biochar Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Energy’

At Lumo Energy we love our planet and we know that you do too! So for all the planet lovers out there, we have Green Energy packages to suit your needs and your budget too. We offer two different Green Energy packages: Lumo Life 10 & Lumo Life 100. Now you have the option to be planet friendly when using your energy.

So what makes green energy so GREEN? Green Energy is derived from renewable sources, which means the energy comes from sources that will never run out, such as the sun, wind, biomass (waste), wave power or hydro (tidal power).

Now that you know what green energy is, how does it work? The answer is: exactly the same as your current electricity supply. The only difference is that instead of non-renewable energy sources feeding into the grid, Lumo Energy will purchase energy from renewable sources on your behalf to feed into the grid that powers your home.

At Lumo Energy, we’ve got a lot of big ideas. Ideas about doing things differently from the rest, about trying new things, about doing everything we can to keep you shining. We don’t just talk big, we follow through on our promises. We promise to provide you with the best service, the most flexible options and to take care of all of the fiddly stuff. So you can worry about more important stuff.

Choose Life, choose to shine, choose one of our renewable energy packages and help the Earth out! We look forward to helping you shine.

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Biofuels are when we use organic matter as fuel by converting it into power for use. By producing biofuels, this is an alternative energy source as we depend on fossil fuels. The ethanol products include under its aegis, derivatives of plants like sugar cane, and also corn and vegetable oils, all part of the biofuels umbrella. Not all of them are designed for use as gasoline, although the International Energy Agency (IEA) say that by 2025, 10 % of the world’s gasoline could be made up of ethanol products, and by 2030, it could be up to as much as 30%. At the moment, the percentage stands at just 2%.

A lot of research is going into biofuels, and it will be some time before we can refine them to make them more economic and practical enough to use. Oregon State University have done a study to prove this. Biofuels have not yet been developed which are as energy efficient as petroleum which makes up our gasoline. To put it simply, energy efficiency is how we measure the usable energy that is derived from the input energy by a certain amount. (Up till now we have not come up with any product where the output energy exceeded that of what was input). What is most important is the end product energy that has been converted and its usefulness for our society’s needs, the effort involved is what we put into the input energy so as to produce which is the end-product. A study by the OSU found that ethanol which is corn-derived was only 20% energy efficient (compared to gasoline that is 75% energy efficient and made from petroleum). Biodiesel fuel had a recorded energy efficiency of 69%. Out of the study came one positive thing: higher than nuclear energy which is effectively efficient, was cellulose-derived ethanol charted as 85% efficient.

The New York Exchange has marked a change in oil for the future, with analysts from many countries having predicted surges in the availability of biofuels, which would offset oil prices, seeing crude oil drop to prices of about per barrel on the international market. On the Chicago Stock Exchange there is more investment activity in future markets on grain, making a “steal” on the oil futures of New York, with investors expecting much better profitability from biofuels to come. By 2030, a consensus of analysts have predicted that biofuels will account for 7% of transportation for all round the world. Demand for and diesel and gasoline will slowly fall dramatically according to one energy market analyst, as government supports the use of the more eco-friendly biofuels and subsidise the manufactures of this fuel.

Many nations support the use of biofuels and its production in developement.

Brazil is the biggest in the production of ethanols that are derived from sugars. Approximately three and a half billion gallons of ethanol is produced in a year.

The greatest oil user is the United States, who already come second behind the largest producer, Brazil, in biofuels.

The European Union now have an excess of four million (British) tonnes in biodiesel production capacity, of which 80% is derived from rapeseed oil. The remaining 20% of the EU’s biodiesel fuels is marginally from palm oil and the rest comprised of soybean oil.

Star Energy Audits is the leading energy audit and Solutions Company in the state of Louisiana. Our mission is clear and simple. We help save homeowners money from rising energy costs. Our Energy Audits can help transform a wasteful, unhealthy, and uncomfortable home into an energy-efficient, more rigorously fortified, and tightly controlled dwelling while simultaneously lowering your home’s carbon emissions and making it a cleaner, healthier domicile over all.

Star Energy Audits is in a prime position to offer extensive rebates and discounts on energy-efficiency solutions as it has been working in concert with local utility companies and remaining active participants in various state energy-efficiency programs. These all help our clients get on the path to energy efficiency as quickly and affordably as possible. Our offers vary throughout the year, but can range anywhere from as low as 25% to as high as 70%. In fact, our solutions often end up being completely free, or at least extremely affordable after combining all the federal and state tax credits you qualify for.

As an 100% local company through and through, and have been actively involved in the energy efficiency and insulation industry for years in New Orleans and other surrounding areas in Louisiana.

We are proud members of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Our Home-Energy Experts and solution installation technicians are extensively trained and certified to perform energy audits. A Star Energy Audit is a diagnostic analysis of your home’s energy efficiency. Generally, an home audit consumes 3 to 4 hours to complete for most homes. Our solutions are simple, inexpensive and implemented by our own in-house technicians, nationwide.

We guarantee that you will save upto 20% to 45% on your energy bills no matter, whether you live in a new build home or multi-million dollar mansion. Star Energy Audits is popular for offering cutting-edge energy solutions that drastically reduce energy bills for our clients.

We are currently servicing:

New Orleans
Metairie
Kenner
Baton Rouge
Westbank
Harahan
River Ridge
Laplace
Slidell

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The holiday season is full of cheer and family togetherness. It is also a time for extra energy usage. A homeowner’s power bill can sky-rocket due to many appliances being used during the holidays. However, with a few modifications and additions, the bill might not have to be as bad as previous years.

Christmas lights are a major contributor to rising power costs during the holiday season. A homeowner can save energy and circumvent this by switching to LED Christmas lights. These lights use 90% less energy than traditional lights. Not only are LED lights better on power consumption, they are also a longer lasting option. 

Fiber Optic decorations are another cost cutting measure that can be taken to cut an electricity bill. They generally use just one light bulb to illuminate an entire area. If there are less light bulbs in use, then there is less power used. 

Everyone likes looking at the lights on the tree or the lights around the house. Christmas lights that are left on for too long can raise electricity bills. Many people tend to leave them on all throughout the day. A good rule of thumb is turning them on for 6 hours a day or only when it is dark. If it is too hard to remember to shut them off, a timer can be purchased. If the Christmas tree is illuminated then the regular household lights can be turned off. There is no need to have two light sources on when just the Christmas tree can be used and enjoyed.

Another inexpensive way to decorate and cut your energy bill is to use candles in place of electrical lights. There are extra precautions that need to be taken in order to keep everyone safe. However, candles can give a home a warm, traditional, and welcoming feeling.

Lights can inflate energy consumption. Heating can be an even bigger power drain if you use an electric heater. If there is a party in the home, the homeowner can lower the thermostat. More people in a space means more body heat, thus the ability to keep the space warmer with less energy being used. 

If there is a fireplace, it can be used to reduce energy use and heat the home. It adds a traditional feel to the home as well. 

If there are fans in the home, you can have the orientation of the fan blades switched when the cold weather starts. As the hot air from the heating source rises toward the ceiling, the fan will move it back down to where it will be of use.

When the holiday baking is being done, the baker should take advantage of the oven being hot by having one batch prepped and ready to go as the freshly baked pies or cookies come out. When baking or using the oven, if there is a dish that needs to be warmed, it can be placed near or even on the stove to take advantage of the heat coming off of it.

Another simple thing to do to reduce costs is instead of using the oven use a slow cooker, microwave, or even a pressure cooker. These appliances use much less energy than a traditional stove/oven combination.

The holiday season usually means more food. If there is more food being stored in refrigerators then this makes them run more efficiently. Keeping a refrigerator stocked means less energy, thus a lower cost to run.

Using hot water is a must and a hot water heater can be a major contributor to rising costs if you have an electric hot water heater. In order to get around this, a blanket for the hot water heater can be purchased. This provides extra insulation. Using cold water instead of hot water is another way to conserve energy. The water heater’s thermostat can be lowered to 115 degrees as well. If the hot water heater is heard turning on more frequently than normal, gaskets, faucets, and pipes should be checked for leaks. Insulation for a home’s pipes can also be purchased.

Less hot water can be used by installing low-flow shower heads. They cost around to each. They save 300 lbs of CO2 each year for electrical water heaters, or 80 pounds for gas-heated water. People are more likely to use a greater amount of hot water in the winter months. The holiday season is the perfect time to start making changes.

Weather proofing your home’s windows and doors is something else that can be done. If the windows and doors are not properly sealed, the heat produced is just going to escape to the outside. This means the heating source will have to work even harder to heat the home. Applying caulk or weather stripping is an easy fix.

Homeowners can also invest in energy star appliances. These appliances will save energy during the holidays and throughout the year as well. Purchasing energy star appliances may also bring a tax credit the following year when filing taxes.

Using CFL light bulbs in place of standard light bulbs is another cost cutting measure that should be taken. If a homeowner continues this practice on into the rest of the year even more money can be saved.

Entertaining during the holiday season can be very fun. There will be a lot more dishes than normal. Instead of using the dishwasher to dry, they can be air dried. 

Replacing air filters will also save energy. It is highly important in winter to maintain an effective filter. The heating unit will run more which in turn makes the need for a clean filter higher. Cleaning or replacing filters help energy consumption thus lowering the electricity bill. 

One last thing to consider is when placing lights, only use them on the inside of the home. If one chooses to decorate the outside, use lights sparingly but decorate with wreaths, garland and other non-electrical decorations.

Energy use sky-rockets to all time highs during the holiday season. A study done in 2003 performed by the U.S. Department of Energy found that Americans use roughly 2,220 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity each holiday season by using standard incandescent holiday lights. Small changes make big differences when combined with other small changes. It is not so hard to make an impact on ones energy consumption. 

Changing to a different light bulb, setting a timer, lowering a water heater setting, caulking a crack, or unplugging an appliance: all of these little things will make a big change to your holiday electricity bills.

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Energy deregulation has led to numerous alternatives for consumers. They have the freedom in order to select the energy company they require, this is why more consumers transfer from one supplier to another. Individuals think that they might be in a position so as to save money on their monthly energy bills and thus they do so. There might be further cause behind the transferring of customers to but the major reason might be because of the services the company provides.

Transferring in order to a different energy supplier is a tough task unless, you have got all the required information concerning every single choice provided in the market. Its a good thing that the trouble of transferring to your preferred energy supplier is resolved by the electricity comparison web sites.

The clients are being provided by the websites with the essential information in the form of evaluation of the energy rates and contract information granted that the questions asked were entered correctly. The comparison you acquire from the websites is reliant to the accuracy of the information you entered. A great benefit of these web-sites is that they could give you with the fastest energy comparison which would have taken plenty of your time if you’ve done that manually. As a result they do not only give you the comparison between the various rates offered in the market but it even spared you from the extra effort of checking out numerous web sites so as to acquire the necessary comparison on electricity rates.

Changes in rates are essential aspects of the agreement presented by various energy supplying companies. There are certain companies where you obtain a 6 month deal and before long you got in order to know that its charge has increased in order to a notable point. The greatest way so as to be well-versed about the modifications in rate is so as to constantly visit the web-sites in order to keep posted about the numerous updates on the contract. It is generally a quick process and it would only take few minutes so as to provide you the essential information you require.

One more advantage of these web sites is when you are in a rush of switching in order to a different energy supplier for the reason that your present contributor is not satisfying your needs in a precise manner. There might be a possibility of transferring for a different supplier for the reason that you must move in in order to another place where you would find some good rates so as to save on your electricity bills or some other explanations which may direct you so as to the emergency transferring. It does not matter what the reason is, these web sites could be the greatest means for you to move about in in order to the right path.

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As we all know, Texas summers can be brutally hot, and Texas winters can be surprisingly cold. Both seasons end up wreaking havoc on our utility bills as we struggle to keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Add in all the other little things — the coffee maker, the computer, the TV, and all the other devices that spend most of their time plugged into your home’s electrical system — and many homeowners give up on ever finding a way to really control their Texas electricity costs. But as energy prices continue to rise, and as the pressures on the average homeowner’s finances rise right along with them, the need to find new ways to cut costs and save money becomes a lot more compelling. We know that we could probably cut back on our energy usage, but how do we know where to start? Our Texas electric bill tells us how much energy we’ve used, but only once a month, and that’s not very helpful. Even when we make changes, it could take months to tell whether they’re working, or if they’re saving us enough to be worthwhile. At the same time, major sources of inefficiency might be going unnoticed and unaddressed.

Two competing new services, PowerMeter by Google and Hohm by Microsoft, are on the way with some new tools to help Texas homeowners. Microsoft estimates that the average American home could save almost 0 per year on energy usage. While that number sounds big, they base it on extensive testing in 60 million homes across the country; and of all 50 states, Texas ranked lowest in energy efficiency. Of course, what that really means is that Texas potentially has the biggest opportunity to use less electricity, reduce our carbon footprint, and save a whole lot of money.

Both PowerMeter and Hohm promise the potential for big increases in both efficiency and cost savings by way of an energy monitoring device called a smart meter. Once connected to your home’s electricity supply system, the meter sends an ongoing stream of data to your home computer via a connected wireless device. Your computer then sends that information on to a data hub run by one of the two companies. There, your information is analyzed and re-packaged into a dynamic, user-friendly web interface for you to review and use.

The appeal of these applications for homeowners is that your energy usage is no longer reduced to a single, inscrutable number on your monthly utility bill. The two applications differ somewhat in how your utility data is presented, but the primary feature in both is an extensive analysis of exactly how all of that electricity is being used. For example, Google PowerMeter can help you identify how much energy you’re using on a constant basis — the low-level drain from “always on” devices that can, over time, add up to a major source of inefficiency. Microsoft’s Hohm goes a step further by making active recommendations about how a homeowner might cut back their electricity usage, increasing energy efficiency and lowering costs.

There are further differences between the two services. Google’s emphasis is on the numbers; it tells you exactly how much power you’re using on an hourly basis, and generates graphs of usage over time, whether that means the last hour or the last month. This is a great service for people who like their data raw, as it means that a homeowner can correlate usage to specific patterns during the day. For example, if you know your usage spikes around 7 AM, you can probably guess that it has a lot to do with your family getting ready for work and school. Therefore, you might be able to save money if everyone takes shorter showers, or if you lower the temperature on your water heater. PowerMeter can also analyze usage patterns over the past to predict what your approximate usage and costs will be in the future. So as you make changes and check your results, you can watch your projected bills rise and fall until you’re happy with them.

Microsoft Hohm, on the other hand, is staking its claim on reaching the masses. Already available nationwide, Hohm’s interface is a a more comfortable affair, replacing a lot of the hard, granular data with a condensed “Hohm Score” that compares your home’s real energy usage to its potential energy efficiency — that is, how much you’re actually saving versus how much you could potentially be saving. It also guides you toward possible sources of savings, ranging from large and potentially savings-rich projects like insulating your home, to small things like replacing conventional light bulbs with power-saving compact fluorescent bulbs. It also allows you to compare your energy usage to that of people in your neighborhood, city, state, and all across the country.

If you’re interested in monitoring your home’s energy usage, there are a few things to keep in mind, since the two applications work a bit differently. So far, Google PowerMeter forms its main partnerships with utility companies, and to date it hasn’t established such a relationship with any Texas energy company, so for the time being it remains out of reach for Texans. However, if you’re interested in PowerMeter, it’s worth keeping in mind that while Google is sometimes a bit coy in the beginning, when they do enter a market, they often take it over completely. Google also has an excellent reputation for development, and loves to give its users exactly what they want. While PowerMeter might not yet be a player in your area, they could become the biggest game in town in the reasonably near future.

Microsoft Hohm, on the other hand, partners primarily with device-makers rather than power companies. Anyone can buy and install a compatible device and be up and running, no matter where they live or who supplies their energy. But Hohm requires more of a time investment to reach its full potential. A new user of the service will start out by answering a substantial number of questions about their home — details about the building, what kind of appliances you use, etc. — and some homeowners may find the process a little daunting. (Apartment dwellers may even find Hohm to be of limited use to them if they don’t have ready access to some of these details.) The good news is, even a partially-completed profile can produce some very useful insights and advice, and you can always add information and refine your profile later on.

If you’re interested in using Microsoft Hohm, your first step should be to contact your energy provider and ask them for any relevant information they can provide. Then purchase a Hohm-compatible device, such as Blue Line’s Power Cost Monitor, and register for your free Hohm account. Texas homeowners leaning towards Google’s PowerMeter service will have to wait a while longer, but in the meantime, you should contact your energy provider and let them know that you want to see a Texas energy company on PowerMeter’s list of partners.

In the end, it’s worth bearing in mind that both services are currently in their nascence, and will doubtless see further development and lots of changes in the future. As smart meters become more common and the cost of energy goes up, homeowners will do well to find a way to make use of the information that a these new monitoring tools can provide. Google and Microsoft are already working to make this information easily accessible to their users, and the competition between them will undoubtedly bring out the best in both.

There’s a lot of money to be saved on energy usage in this country, and perhaps nowhere more than in Texas. To help you make sure that some of that money ends up in your pocket, Google PowerMeter and Microsoft Hohm offer two great ways to discover your home’s potential for energy savings, and make your home the most efficient house on the block.

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Becoming an energy broker will be a great choice for any person searching for a creative way to earn some extra cash. This is because you are principally in the business for yourself, but not by yourself. You could work when you desire to, as much as you will want to, as frequently as you will like to and you can work at your own pace, depending on your economical target. As an energy broker you have the possibility to make a profit of 5 to 7 figures. These days, almost everybody in the world has electricity. In many states, no more than 5 to 10% of individuals have made the switch to an outside suppliers of electricity, so as an energy broker the market is flourishing with prospects to make a enormous profits.

You don’t need to be a talented salesperson to become an excellent energy broker, this is because you are not selling something or anything, you are just telling individuals how to save money on a bill that they will have to pay in any case.

If you desire to become an energy broker, the primary thing you must become aware of is that they work in a service industry and as such, the customer is regarded as V.I.P. and not just some other caller. So you’ll frequently discover that a customer’s call would be responded immediately by the company and isn’t directed to a call center. Customers are to be expected to talk straight away to a committed business energy specialist.

Then the agent would be able to give information about the procedure directly to the customer. As an energy broker you are most probably to present various forms of market analysis and update your client about the up to date trend in energy charges. You will then suggest extra services and resolution to help your customer trim down their energy expenses, or control their energy costs better.
So becoming an Energy Broker is an excellent option if you truly wish to make your own financial destiny. There are numerous contractors you could work for but keep this in mind, most of them charge a very expensive amount of fee for you to become an Energy Broker; if truth be told, hundreds of dollars are being charged by several external suppliers in addition to the current monthly fees which you need to pay. Keep in mind that you don’t need to pay a company, for you to become an energy broker.

Becoming an Energy Broker is a wonderful choice and selecting an excellent company to be related to is another clever choice.

Shared by Sustainable Energy

Why Are Energy Monitoring Systems Important?

There are a number of energy monitoring systems available on the market. What do these systems do? Fundamentally they monitor energy usage in a facility. This is a very vital system that many companies do not have in place. The only resource they have is their power bill that comes once a month. They look at their regular monthly costs rising, but they do not know where they can help you save energy. Imagine operating a business without an accounting system. You do not know your income or your expenditures. This is the exact same for a company with no energy monitoring system; they have not a clue that there are energy efficiencies in the organization. Now some corporations prefer to get an energy audit, instead than investing in a system. But what use is that in a year, in 5 years. Equipment improvements, consumers change and all that knowledge is lost. If you install a system that monitors energy usage, then it is there for a very extended time, and it works 24/7.

How Does It Work?
The program will assess energy utilization on phases in the main distribution panel. This is done by setting up CT’s (Current Transformers) on electrical loads in the main distribution panel. The information then is fed to an Internet based interface that will allow users to download reports, alter set-points and compare energy usage by size, location etc. In addition, energy monitoring systems can be used to authenticate energy usage reductions from “energy saving” equipment like new compressors, lighting, control systems etc.
The energy supervisor can do facility benchmarking, view energy usage by equipment type and verify financial savings from commissioned facilities. The energy monitoring system made by EG Energy Controls is capable of monitoring up to 2500 stores within the company’s network. The system can keep track of any desired electrical, gas or oil loads.
Examples of loads that can be measured are:

Main entrance, Lighting, Low and Medium temperature compressors (can monitor pending equipment failure), HVAC, Motors (can monitor pending equipment failure), Parking Lot Lights, Water usage, Oil/Propane Usage
The system will monitor equipment kWh usage and send e-mails to alert the Energy Manager of abnormal energy usage. The system will also contact the weather station daily to gather weather information to allow it to accurately predict energy usage for the next day and avoid inaccurate alerts. This is a very important feature, since the problem with some energy monitoring systems is that they send redundant emails that end up annoying people.

The other good aspect of an energy monitoring system is the capacity to foresee pending equipment failures. This is called motor performance tracking:
Motor performance. Traffic monitoring motor current levels and unbalances is a main component of a superior online monitoring system. Often it’s found that current level is identified as the average current level for all phases. For predictive maintenance reasons, however, the highest line current level developed is of much greater importance. The heat in each motor winding is interdependent on the amount of current that flows through it. Hence, the the most fragile point of the motor’s insulation with respect to current level is the phase with the largest current

Energy Monitoring and Energy Awareness

It is incredible how energy usage drops in a facility when employees know that there is a system that is monitoring what they are doing. Since the system can also be used to monitor sections of a facility, or even individual departments, people become naturally more energy conscious. For example, turning of lights when they leave the room or not leaving the computer on at night. These may seem to be minor changes; however the mindset is already being changed to become more energy conscious. These people then come to their own home and start noticing energy efficiencies, and they start doing changes in their own home.
By: Edward Herniak

About Sustainable Energy Coalition: The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) brings together more than 60 national and state-level business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations. Founded in 1992, the Coalition promotes increased federal support for ENERGY EFFICIENCY and RENEWABLE ENERGY technologies and reduced federal support for unsafe or polluting energy resources.

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