ecobeco's July 2009 Newsletter
ecoTips, News, Deals, and More - And it's Free!
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Greetings!
It's July 4th in just two days and we're thinking a lot about independence and freedom and democracy this year as we watch events around the world. So we wondered what symbolic gesture we might take to celebrate the 233rd anniversary of the United State's Declaration of Independence. We hope you will join ecobeco's employees as each of us make the simple pledge to reduce our dependence on carbon by 233 pounds by the end of this month! Sound hard? It's not. Read more below along with the rest of our July issue: - ecobeco partners with PEG Environmental Solutions to launch energy efficiency audits and education programs for condominiums / multi-family residences.
- Home Energy Audits start at $299. Offer ends July 31.
- July's ecoTip - Do I Have To Replace My Windows?
- Refer your friends and we'll thank you with some Green $$$
- Five easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint by 233 pounds.
- ecobeco People: Welcome our new interns, Daniela and Liam.
- Events Update - Learn about our Condominium Program on July 8th, Reuven at Dejabel Cafe in Wheaton on July 29th.
- 99 Cent CFLs and Dimmable CFLs
- Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency
- Montgomery County Residents get $250 of FREE Energy-Efficiency Products
- Store Hours - We're closed July 3rd and 4th.
Enjoy! |
ecobeco Partners with PEG Environmental Solutions to Launch Energy Efficiency Audits and Education Programs for Condominiums / Multi-Family Residences.
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ecobeco and PEG Environmental Solutions have teamed to launch a comprehensive set of solutions for condominiums and multi-family residences.
Building retrofits that improve
energy efficiency have the benefits of lowering operating costs, improving the
comfort of interior spaces, and reducing the building's environmental
impact. Additional benefits include the
sense of well-being and pride that residents feel knowing that their building
is making a serious contribution towards a sustainable future.
PEG Environmental Solutions is a
premier engineering, environmental solutions, and risk management consulting
firm. PEG's staff includes Building Performance Institute for Multi-Family
Buildings-certified Building Analysts and Building Operations Specialists, LEED
for Existing Buildings Accredited Professionals, and environmental and mechanical
engineers. Read
more about PEG at www.pegenv.com.
Condominium owners and building managers can select from the following 3 programs.
Program
1 - Tenant Education and Home Product Upgrade Program provides a best practices education program to residents along with an opportunity for condo owners to have an individual visit from an ecoAdvocate.
Program
2 - Common Area Optimization Program. This looks at the lobby, common rooms, hallways, garages and other areas where lighting and temperature controls can be optimized, and windows and doors weatherized. Several apartments are analyzed using blower door testing and an infrared camera to develop energy-saving opportunities for individual condo owners.
Program
3 - Building Baseline Energy Efficiency Analysis Program. This is an Energy Audit based on workups of the building envelope, detailed apartment examination, and detailed evaluation of central plant.
Contact us at (240) 396-2141 for more information about this exciting product.
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ecobeco Launches New, Better Service Pricing - Home Energy Audits start at $299
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On June 1st, we revamped the pricing for our Energy Audits with an exciting $299 starting price that delivers the best value in the entire DC/NoVA/Baltimore area! You can get more details on the pricing and our surcharges for larger homes and homes needing combustion safety testing by going to www.ecobeco.com/schedule. Just sign up on-line for your preferred dates and we'll be in touch with you.
Our ecoAssessment price is now $149 for a 2-hour visit that provides the best practices on saving energy and creating a more sustainable and eco-friendly household. You can get a combination of ecoAssessment and Whole Home Energy Audit starting at $398, which is a $50 savings from the stand-alone prices.
Prices are valid for audits completed by July 31, 2009.
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July's ecoTip - Do I Have To Replace My Windows?
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When our energy efficiency experts
conduct whole home energy audits, customers often ask about whether they need
to replace their windows. This month's
eco-tip focuses on how you can make a better decision on what to do with your
windows.
Of course, windows serve a
critical purpose allowing sunlight into a space and bringing in fresh air. But let's face it - windows leak, are hard to
open, and can be a major source of heat loss in winter and heat gain in
summer. Even the best windows are not immune
to these issues. Here are some of the common issues that we find on windows.
- Malfunctioning hardware (springs, locks and runners)
- Air leakage or draftiness at hardware, between panes and at trim
- Warped windows
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Deteriorated weather stripping or glazing
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Failed seals (on double and triple paned windows)
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Improperly closed windows
Do these problems warrant new windows? As a part of a whole home
energy audit, windows are an important component part of the diagnostic. Visual inspection of windows is important, but doesn't tell you enough. The blower door
(a large fan that pulls air through the home) test provides information on the severity and location of leakage at windows. While the fan is running, one can literally feel
where there are problematic window leaks.
In the vast majority of cases we see on a day to day basis, windows simply need to be weatherized or repaired
instead of replaced. The Department of Energy says that replacing a single-paned window with ENERGY STAR windows can save $424 annually on energy bills in the mid-Atlantic region. But if it costs $10,000 after rebates to create this savings, then you have a 20+ year payback period. Thus, while replacing windows can cut your bills dramatically and can improve the comfort of your home, this is typically not as cost effective as doing other projects such as air sealing and insulation, weather stripping or repairing windows, or even replacing aging appliances.
Here are two stories from our
customers:
Peter had a lot of windows in
his home. When he called us, he knew
that some windows were leaky, but was unclear about what to do and wanted to
reduce his home's energy consumption and improve comfort. So he scheduled a whole home energy audit. In addition to evaluating the attic,
basement, duct system, and combustion appliances, every window in the home was
evaluated with the blower door fan on. We determined that 28 windows needed
weatherization and only 9 were in too poor shape for repair and might need to
be replaced. The cost for this measure will
be a fraction of replacing all the windows in the home - which will cost a
fraction of what a total replacement would cost. Peter was overjoyed that he could address the
problems with his windows without spending a fortune.
Kathy's tenants were
complaining that all the windows in her home were leaking and that their bills were
extremely high. So she decided to hire
ecobeco to conduct a whole home energy audit.
She also made an appointment with a window company to get a quote for
installing new windows later that same day.
We examined every window in the home and used the blower door to
identify problematic leakage areas. What
we found was that EVERY window in the home was actually not closed
properly! We closed every window and
then re-evaluated the windows. They all
were working perfectly fine. We even
reduced air leakage in the house by 10% by simply shutting the windows. Note:
We find open windows in approximately 15% of the homes we evaluate! Make sure to properly close your windows. Kathy had a big smile on her face as she called the window company and cancelled her appointment.
If you are concerned about your
windows, call our experts and schedule a whole home energy audit! |
Refer Your Friends, And You'll Get Some Green $$$
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We're very excited to introduce our Friends & Family Referral Program. Just go to www.ecobeco.com/friends and give us the Name, E-mail and Phone Number of your friends who might want Energy Audits. We'll contact them and if they purchase an Audit or Combination package, you'll get a $25 electronic gift card for the ecobeco product of your choice! Now that's green!
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Declare Your Independence from Carbon Dioxide
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It's the 233rd anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. Can you declare your independence by cutting just 233 pounds of carbon dioxide from your diet this month? Try these numbers on for size.
- 1 mile driven on a standard economy car produces 1 pound of CO2 (see photo on the right of a one pound of carbon in solid form 5"X5" cube)
- 1 pound of beef creates 14.8 pounds of CO2, while 1 pound of chicken creates 1.1 pound of CO2
- In Maryland, 1 KiloWatt Hour of electricity creates 1.35 pounds of CO2. Using Wind Energy produces none.
So, how do we cut 233 pounds? It's easy. Try these steps..
- Change your light bulbs to CFLs that use 1/4 the electricity to produce
the same amount of light. Let's assume that you have
10 lights in your home that are 100 Watts that are on 3 hours per day,
and you replace these with 23 Watt CFL bulbs. So, you save 77 Watts * 10
bulbs * 3 hours = 2,310 Watts, or 2.3 KWh, which is 3.1 pounds of CO2
per day, or 93 pounds per month.
- Drive less. Consolidate trips, carpool, telecommute. Cutting 100 miles from your total monthly drive saves 100 pounds of Carbon.
- Instead of burgers, grill up some chicken fillets instead. Finish it off with locally grown veges! If you, your family and friends grill up 10 pounds of chicken instead of beef this month, you'll save 137 pounds of carbon!
- Turn on your ceiling fans and shut off the central air conditioning! Ceiling fans use 90% less power than central air and can cool a room approximately 7 degrees. Your AC uses around 3,000 Watts, while a fan uses around 100 Watts. If your AC runs 3 hours overnight, then you save 8.7 KWh, or 11.7 pounds per day, 351 pounds per month.
- Switch to Wind Energy! Maryland and DC residents can buy wind power from Clean Currents (www.cleancurrents.com) at the same or lower prices than PEPCO! If you're like me and use over 1,000 KWh in a summer month, then switching to Clean Currents will save you 1,350 pounds of carbon!
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ecobeco People: Welcome Daniela and Liam, our new Interns
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Summertime brings warm weather and energetic and enthusiastic young people who want to gain experience in energy efficiency. We're excited to welcome Daniela Bilmanis, a senior at the University of Maryland, and Liam Regan, a senior at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac.
Has it been a while since we said hello? Click here for an introduction to the rest of ecobeco's staff.
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ecobeco Events
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Visit www.ecobeco.com/events to get the latest on ecobeco's speaker series and to see where we'll be speaking throughout the community.
PLEASE RSVP by replying to this newsletter or by clicking here to email us.
Wednesday July 8, 2009 from 7pm - 8pm, ecobeco store - How to Be Efficient and Go Green in your Condo or Apartment.
Apartment owners and renters face different challenges and constraints
than home owners. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your
utility bills and make your apartment healthier and more comfortable
for you and your family. The best part is that many of these steps also
lead to reductions in your environmental impact. ecobeco will provide
advice you can use in your own apartment, and give you tips on how to
approach your Condo Management Association or Property Management
Office to reduce your common area's cost and environmental impact.
Wednesday July 29, 2009 from 7pm - 8pm, Dejabel Cafe 2519 University Blvd West, Wheaton, MD 20902 - Home Energy Efficiency: Summer Solutions for Your Home with Reuven Walder from ecobeco.
We are coming up on the peak of summer and as the temperatures
rise, so do your utility bills! Find out about the common issues that affect your home's
energy bills and comfort. Also
learn about whole home energy audits and the latest technology used to diagnose
and fix problems in your home.
Click Here to tell your friends about our speaker series!
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CFLs for 99 cents and Dimmable CFLs!
Your incandescent lights are heating your home! Make the switch now!
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As it warms up, it's time to stop using your incandescent lights as heat sources. You know you do. Everyone does in the winter. But in the spring and summer, the extra heat from standard incandescent bulbs causes your air conditioner to run longer than it should, and that costs you money! So replace those bulbs today with CFL bulbs that emit much less heat (less than 1/4 the heat of an incandescent).
ecobeco is happy to announce our participation in PEPCO's Change a Light Bulb Campaign. You may have seen us mentioned in PEPCO's February bill insert. PEPCO has provided ecobeco with subsidized compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs.
A 60Watt replacement is only 99 cents.
A 100Watt replacement is only $1.99.
Limit 25 bulbs per household.
These bulbs are rated to 8,000 hours (if you use the bulb 3 hours per day every single day, they can last up to 8 years!), which means they should last 8 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb, and they use only 1/4 of the wattage. The math on these make changing to CFLs a no-brainer, and because you change them less frequently, you can spend more time having fun!
ecobeco also carries a large selection of Greenlite bulbs. This brand features CFLs with warranties as long as 9 years. They come in standard spiral shapes, reflectors (such as what is in your recessed lights), candelabra, and even outdoor lighting. We even have R30 and R40 dimmable bulbs for your recessed lights.
Visit us on-line or call us at the store (240) 396-2141 x2 to learn more.
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Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency
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The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act included substantial spending on energy efficiency related items. Part of the legislation includes an increase in the tax deductions for purchases of energy-efficient appliances, insulation and windows.
Please click the links provided and consult your tax advisor for more information.
Taxpayers can take up to $1,500 of deductions for s pecific energy-efficient product purchases made in 2009 and 2010.
Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit
Taxpayers can take 30% of the installed cost of solar PV, solar hot water, wind, fuel cells, and geothermal heat pump with no maximum limit.
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
The DSIRE database also includes incentives specific to your state and county, so be sure to check for those programs as well by navigating back to the home page and then clicking on your state.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS GET $250 OF FREE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PRODUCTS
We'll show you how to claim your Property Tax Credit!
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If you are a Montgomery County Home Owner (you pay property taxes), you can take advantage of the Property Tax Credit for Energy Conservation Devices. This credit refunds 100% of your spending up to $250. CFLs, Low-Flow Showerheads, Programmable Thermostats, and Smart Powerstrips are the easiest and most essential items for any energy-efficient home. And there are many more products that qualify as well. Schedule your in-home visit today and we'll help you determine exactly which products you need today.
ecobeco will provide you with the forms you need to fill out and will coach you on how to fill them out to ensure a smooth claim process.
There's no better time than now to schedule your in-home ecoAssessment or Energy Audit. The tax credit is limited to $250,000 of total benefit for the entire county for fiscal year 2009, so make your purchase now and submit your application as soon as possible to ensure your refund. There is no income exclusion or residency requirement for this credit.
Call us at the store (240) 396-2141 x2 to learn more.
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Store Hours - Closed July 3rd and 4th
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We'll be closed Friday July 3rd and Saturday July 4th to observe Independence Day. Our regular hours are:
Monday - Friday: 3pm - 7pm
Saturday: 10am - 2pm
We are also available by appointment, and of course we are open during all of our special events. |
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Thanks,
Brian, Reuven, Curt, Elena, Jonathan, Mike, Daniela and Liam
(240) 396-2141
info@ecobeco.com
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