HarneTech® News: An American Issue, Carbon Cap-and-Trade

Monthly eNewsletter - July

Harnessing Technology for Your Sustainable Future

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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HarneTech: An American Issue

HarneTech Solar

HarneTech Consulting

HarneTech Energy Audits

HarneTech in the Community

Team Spotlight: Jim Bakhaus

MANE Event

Did You Know??

UpComing Events:

HarneTech @ Arlington Hts MANE EVENT

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DID YOU KNOW?

Companies such as HarneTech offer professional energy audit services, but there are also many resources to help your family complete audits on your own without outside help.
(For more info, click here!)

An American Issue: Carbon Cap-and-Trade

Arlington Million Last month there was an important vote in Congress in support of The American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act. The Bill established the U.S. commitment to reduce carbon emissions from major U.S. sources by 17% by 2020 and over 80% by 2050, as compared to 2005 levels, through the establishment of a carbon cap-and-trade system. This commitment to change the current trajectory of events will most certainly spur innovation and create motivation to further develop cleaner energy alternatives.

This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue; it is an American issue and really an American opportunity. Eight Republican members of Congress (the ACES Eight) joined the majority of House Democrats (including Democrat Congresswoman Melissa Bean, Illinois) in voting for their support of ACES. They took the measure of the economic, security, and environmental problems, tied it to our current energy habits and decided that, flaws and all, ACES needed to move forward. Illinois' own Congressman Mark Kirk was one of those eight.

Congressman Kirk views our dependence on foreign oil very much as a National Security issue. His service to our country during the first gulf war is what he refers to in defending the need to reduce the U.S.'s economic dependency on these volatile regions. As for the environment, in his public statement he admits being skeptical of the Climate Change issue, but after serving as part of the delegation to both the Kyoto and Buenos Aires UN Climate Change conferences and his open mind to "learn as much as possible from the latest peer-reviewed non-partisan scientists," his position has formed.

"There is now a growing scientific consensus that the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide affects average temperatures."
Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, Illinois

Kudos to Congressman Kirk for forming a position based on independent fact and not party ideology. This is an important step toward leveling the playing field for renewable technology, ultimately spurring innovation and cost reduction in the manufacturing of these products, and allowing us to offer more value to our clients. As a growing energy services and renewable technology company, these steps are important. As a vested global citizen, these steps are a necessity.

Jeff Davis

Vice President of Business Development

Government Relations

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HarneTech® Solar

Impact of Cap-and-Trade
A central theme in the legislation recently passed by the House (see letter from HarneTech Government Relations above), is the greater implementation of solar technology, including the national goal of obtaining 20% of our electricity from renewable sources. What this means for local business is the opportunity for more choices and value to encourage you to invest in renewables (e.g. solar) and achieve more energy independence.

The provisions in the act are about fueling those opportunities and can be characterized in one of two ways: the carrot or the stick...reference the following:

The Carrot:

Encouraging federal agencies to enter power purchasing agreements for renewable energy
Preserving current state renewable initiatives
Allowing for the creation of a "Clean Energy Bank" to aid domestic renewable implementation
Providing the Secretary of Energy to offer competitive grants to public/private entities
Making solar count toward energy efficient certifications for home mortgages

The Stick:

Incorporating compliance penalties, subsequently payable to the states, for deploying renewable technology
Requiring renewable electricity generation within utilities (currently supported by Excelon)
Requiring the Secretary of Energy to track agency-by-agency renewable implementation
Making it illegal for private entities to prohibit solar system installations on single family homes
Requiring the consideration of renewable implementation when doing private appraisals

In HarneTech's first year, we've been able to build our solar servicing capabilities and staff to assist in preparing our communities for this "clean energy economy." From the RFP's to solar site designs, HarneTech is helping to decrease the impact of "the Stick" while increasing local business accessibility to "the Carrot."

If you are interested in learning more about solar renewable products, contact Michael Wilder.

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HarneTech® Consulting

Helping Green the Suburbs

"HarneTech LLC recently assisted the Village of Wheeling in applying for our allocation of the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant (EECBG) funds. These funds, when received, will allow us to put into motion a plan to reduce our energy consumption well in to the future."
Ken Brady, Village of Wheeling Trustee

HarneTech provided Wheeling with a step-by-step guide on the process, completed documents for successful submission, and assisted in the completion of their EECS-Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy.

The EECS (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy) detailed Wheeling's plan to initiate an LED street light program. The LED street light program is anticipated to result in substantial and sustained reductions in energy usage and cost as well as CO2 emissions. At the same time, Wheeling will be reducing its maintenance costs, increase lighting reliability and safety, mitigating light pollution, and reducing the adverse environmental and health impacts of the lighting product used. If you are interested in HarneTech's Consulting service, please contact Michael Johnson.

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HarneTech® Energy Audits

Energy Audit of NIU Hoffman Estates Campus

Recently, as part of the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center program, HarneTech energy auditor, Bobby Rogas, conducted a site inspection and analysis of the Hoffman Estates Campus of Northern Illinois University. The analysis provides energy savings and life-cycle cost estimates for various energy cost reduction measures (ECRMs). SEDAC has identified $15,345 in annual energy cost savings resulting in an immediate positive cash flow, and a net present value of more than $77,500. This results in a 79.68% rate of return (IRR) for the combined energy efficiency investments. These savings amount to a 12% reduction in annual utility costs.

"[The report] spelled everything out. There were no unknowns or information that I was left to research."
Martha Keyes, Conference Coordinator

NIU Hoffman Estates Campus

Implementing the recommendations in this report will enhance the Hoffman Estates Campus of NIU's business bottom line, increase profitability, raise the market value of the building and reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in energy input prices. If you are interested in HarneTech's® Energy Audits, please click here.

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