Tony Zimmerman

Conserve now to save later. Reducing your energy use will keep a lid on the cost of your future alternative energy system. A smaller load requires a smaller system.

Doing simple things can cut your energy load

Install the most energy efficient appliances.

Replace your regular incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFL).

Eliminate your phantom loads (hidden electricity users like chargers left plugged in).

Use cold water to wash your clothes.

Insulate your basement, walls and attic.

Efficiency pays off

Refrigerators and freezers use more electricity per year than almost all other appliances. Your solar electric system would cost over $2000 less if you use energy efficient models.

Eliminate phantom loads

Some appliances draw power even when you think they're turned off. Invisible phantom loads waste energy and cost you money. The solution is easy.

Track down energy tricksters

How do you know if an appliance has a "phantom load" lurking inside? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions about an electrical gadget, it's hiding a phantom.

Does it have a transformer?

Those little cubes attached to the electrical prongs hold a transformer that draws power when plugged in, even if the rest of the appliance is not plugged in.

Does it use a remote control?

Like a homing device, an appliance is constantly on the lookout for a signal from its remote controller.

Is it a TV?

Almost all TVs have a quick start feature that uses energy constantly.

Does it have a visible clock?

An electric clock is always keeping time.

Can you set it to do something later?

The internal clock keeps time so it knows when to record a TV show or brew a pot of coffee.

Block thieves at the door

How do you know if an appliance has a "phantom load" lurking inside? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions about an electrical gadget, it's hiding a phantom.

Plug phantom carriers into an accessible power strip.

Use a 2-step shutdown process:

1) Turn off the device.

2) Turn off the power strip (or unplug the device) to turn off the phantom

3) Use a circuit interrupter power strip that completely blocks electric flow when turned off.

If you take the time to prepare your home for alternative energy, you will stand a much better chance of seeing a good return on your investment.

So you bought that reposed home as an investment. You knew it was going to need some renovations. Where should you start, and what renovations give you the best return on investment? Is going green a good option?

Many homeowners want to live a little greener and reduce their carbon footprint. But not every green dream should become a reality. Some green renovation projects simply don't deliver the kind of return on investment to make them helpful to anyone but the independently wealthy - and the housing contractors doing the work.

Start with the low hanging fruit first.

An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. To find out how much you can save click in the link below to use the lighting calculator.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/products/pop_lighting_calc.htm

A good green project that won't break one's budget involves sealing faulty air-duct work. That kind of project should come in under $1,000, and it makes a huge difference on the energy bill. It is not green to replace if you can improve.

Simply insulating existing walls can have a bigger energy savings impact for less cost. And the homeowner doesn't have to swap out any materials to do so. Start with un-insulated areas of the home like the basement or crawl space. Heat travels from hot to cold so there is a greater opportunity to see a good return on investment.

Be smart when considering renovations. Realize even the best intentioned sales person's job is to sell even if the return on investment is low. Always start with an energy audit as that will give you a map as to where the largest gains in savings can be made.

To learn more ways you can benefit from energy efficient and green renovations, go to:

http://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/projects

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/guide_for_green_renovation/

To find a local green contractor go to:

http://nahbgreen.org/WhoIsGreen/homeowners.aspx

Energy efficiency is the very best way to create so-called green jobs -- yes, even better than subsidizing solar or wind power -- because it makes the economy more productive in the long run.

Energy efficiency improvement leads to an increase in jobs in a number of ways. First, there are direct jobs from producing, selling and installing energy efficiency measures. Among others these include energy-efficient lamps or appliances, energy management and control systems, or retrofitting buildings to make them more energy-efficient. Second, there are indirect jobs associated with producing intermediate goods such as the materials that go into insulation or the electronic components that go into energy control systems. Third, there are so-called induced jobs when households and businesses lower their utility bills as a result of adopting energy efficiency measures, and then spend the money that is saved on other goods and services in the economy. All of these factors are analyzed in energy efficiency and jobs studies.

Numerous studies have examined the energy, economic, and environmental impacts of a national energy strategy that emphasizes greater energy efficiency. America's Energy Choices, for example, showed that vigorous adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy measures could reduce national energy intensity in 2030 by nearly 50%, dramatically reduce our nation's petroleum dependence, save consumers more than $2 trillion net over the next 40 years, and cut carbon dioxide emissions in 2030 by more then 70%.

However, there are multiple hurdles that stand in the way of an energy efficient economy. First is among third party lines such as the NAHB and USGBC, REALTORS® and EcoBrokers^TM, Builders and Appraisers, Congress and special interest groups. We need national reform where all parties cooperate in a non-partisan effort, putting aside the millions of dollars spent on R&D and branding, to work towards the common goal of an energy efficient economy.

Another particular road block to an energy efficient economy is consumer habits. Americans waste energy for many reasons, all, in a sense, market failures. Owners of apartment buildings have little incentive to make the air-conditioning more efficient if tenants pay the bills. Buyers of new homes neglect to ask about the insulation's R-value, and quite frankly most REALTORS® won't take the time to know the answer. Working class people strapped for cash won't pay extra for more efficient clothes dryers, even if it saves money in the long run. There's a vast lack of knowledge, even in business, about how and where energy is consumed.

Energy improvements, especially in the residential market, come in lots of small gains. So the relative significance of any individual energy efficiency measure to a consumer or a business is small. This results in fragmented statistics that prevent efficiency codes and standards from being adopted. This also allows skeptics an opportunity to discredit the long term gains.

Unfortunately, the whole topic of energy efficiency is terribly complicated and fundamentally boring which is why reporters, if they're being honest, would prefer to write about electric cars or wind turbines or solar panels. This plays into the hands of those that do not have a vested interest in an energy efficient economy. As a buzz is created over the latest and greatest energy technology, the fundamentals that create sustainability are forgone; playing into the hands of the skeptics who fervently point out wind power is overly expense and can never pay for itself.

The rest of the story: well it lays with each individual. Every person has an idea; a reason to be energy efficient or green, and probably just as many reasons not to be. So here is your chance to be heard.

What can we do as a country to ensure we have an energy efficient economy? What steps should we be taking? After reading this blog and the article below, send me you thoughts, ideas and opinions. Tell me what you think is going right or wrong. What steps can we take to ensure a strong sustainable economy?

http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/electricpowernaturalgas/downloads/US_energy_efficiency_full_report.pdf

In today's wireless world it is more important than ever to stay connected. We all know to well that technology isn't slowing down. We are often left wondering how that computer we bought just 2 years ago isn't working so well anymore. Often the same is true for our pocket books. The money we made just a few years ago isn't doing as much for us. Top that with the fact many have lost a part of their income, the prospects of affording that technologically advanced computer may be slim.

For most of us that means trying to find that bargain at "box stores" (WalMart, Best Buy, etc.). As a long time financial supporter of WalMart's low prices, I can honestly tell you shopping a box store for a computer may not always the best choice.

Specialty computer stores are conscious of not only the financial restraints facing consumers, manufacturers are extending incentives to computer stores so they can be competitive with the large box stores.

I had been shopping for a computer with above average computing power that would be easily upgraded and keep up with technology growth. I wanted all this for under $500.00. Okay, call me crazy that I should expect a 64-bit operating system, Duo Core 2 GHz processor, 300+ GB hard drive, 4GB memory, etc., with upgradeable options for under $500.00. I certainly didn't find that at any box store and was about ready to give up when I decided to stop by our local computer store.

Not only did I find the computer I was looking for, for the price I wanted, Jeremiah at Cadillac Computer transferred all my files and made sure the computer was running at full potential. Along with the purchase came the assurance that should we have any problems with the computer, we can rely on Cadillac Computer to service the computer with out the lengthy time it takes a box store to "fix" a computer. In all honesty, most box stores do not have computer technicians on staff, and will if pressed admit it.

Working with Cadillac Computer I was also made aware that they could sell my old computers on EBay. If I get half of what Jeremiah said was possible to get for the computers it will pay for the new one. While not every computer store will re-sell your old computer, many have recycling services available.

We all know how important it is to buy local and support local companies. We just may not always be aware of how local companies are making extra ordinary efforts to support you, the local consumer. I want to encourage everyone to stop by your local computer store before you buy that next computer. If you happen to live around Cadillac Michigan, stop by Cadillac Computer and tell Jeremiah that Tony Zimmerman sent you.

BTW, they also have better pricing on cooling pads than any where else!

Architects, Builders, Consultants, Distributors, Energy Auditors, Green Verifiers, LEED AP's, Tradesman, and REALTORS®: You and I are the entrepreneurs of this world, and we must find a way to build / renovate the buildings that people need in a sustainable way. That's the future, and it's upon us. We can not afford to be in competition. We must come together regardless of designation or beliefs to meet the needs of the greater need.

Although there are still some tough times ahead in this tough economy, now is the time for leaders to stand up and effectively innovate, because "true opportunity appears at the market bottom, not at the top." While everyone else is getting conservative and worried and immobile with fear, true leaders will use available tools, find the important opportunities, and build necessary businesses. It's time to rethink everything. Shift your mindset, shift your skills, shift your home -- do whatever it takes to stay healthy and happy. Just as much as the economy has hurt many of us we owe it to ourselves, our families, and our clients to find ways to save money. Find a way to sell the home and not incur a deficiency for you or a client. Find a way to retrain yourself with new knowledge and skills. Find a way to be innovative. Find a way to pay your debts and not incur any more, show your clients how they can do the same. Find a way to educate yourself and your clients. Above all else learn to be nice. Just find a way to shift and adapt when the necessary time comes.

Going forward investments need to produce measurable results with a positive impact on the bank statement. If an investment, such as in a new windows, takes to long to payback or it is hard-to-quantify the benefit, it may not be a priority for the short term future. This is exactly why smart upgrades in terms of efficiencies and energy savings must be a high priority. A penny saved is a penny earned. Plus, some utility companies are willing to work with you and your clients to find cost-effective ways to save money. Why not take them up on that opportunity? If you can spend a hundred dollars today and know you will save a thousand over the year, won't you make that investment? I think you will. You should be helping your clients do the same.

Third-party certifications are only the beginning of where we need to go. Every house / project needs to have an impact label much like the MPG rating on a car; that tells you it's energy efficiency, water efficiency, and provides good air quality; you may even want to add the carbon footprint. You should be able to ascertain its actual performance as of "today". With that information, you will be able to compare it, apples-to-apples, with every other home / project in your neighborhood.

A good example of this scale is the new U.S. Department of Energy's E-Scale as seen below.

Thanks to the EScale, today's home buyers can make energy smart decisions. That is good news for quality driven home builders, firms that work hard to make their homes stand out in the marketplace.

When you see the EScale on a new home, you know that the home builder has taken the time to rate its products using processes supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Some builders go even further - taking the DOE Builders Challenge. These builders commit to constructing homes that are the best in the nation - homes that rate 70 or lower on the EScale and meet criteria for comfort, quality, health and safety. Look for the "Meets DOE Builders Challenge" banner on the EScale of these high performing homes

A green/energy efficient home offers your client savings that are quantifiable. Lenders, Utility Companies, even the federal government is giving money to anyone who will make sustainable building/renovation/remodeling choices. Our job is to take advantage of the incentives, help your clients do the same and where your clients need a little help, try using this or other social networks to find solutions. You'll feel good about going the extra mile, and your client will be very thankful.

Everyone can benefit, when everyone works together!