Friday, December 5, 2014

Maximizing Energy Efficiency In Wauwatosa, WI

Maximizing Energy Efficiency In Wauwatosa, WI

By Claudine Hodges


At any one time, power is being consumed in homes and offices. Lights are constantly on, appliances like the refrigerator and central heating or air conditioning are always running. In the office, computers are on all day as are other office machines. The tendency is to just accept high power bills are keep paying for them. There is something that can be done to increase energy efficiency and it begins with energy evaluations.

Audits are periodically done to ensure that costs are kept in check. There are also done to see how they can be reduced in order to maximize returns. Energy evaluations are done with the same goal. There show which appliances are consuming the most power. These findings can then be used to take measures to bring consumption down.

It is important that an audit is done professionally. Professionals will keep up with emerging technology and will use accredited equipment and methods to measure the consumption of every electronic device in the house. Achieving maximum efficiency depends on how accurately an audit is done.

Companies and households that had audits carried out reported that their consumption and bills went down by between 5 and 30% after they made upgrades according the the findings of the audits. It is a fact that the US Department of Energy has verified. An audit involves auditors visiting a home, going over the power bills and performing what is known as a blower door test. Alternatively, a thermographic scan may be done. This is done to establish energy wasters such as gaps in window frames that let out heated air and let in cold air when central heating is running.

You might be able to take advantage of government incentives offered to encourage people and companies to get an audit one. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency website, www.dsireusa.org has information on the policies and incentives on offer by the federal government and the state and local governements to different US territories. There is also information on the incentives offered by different electric and gas utilities.

The website also has summary maps and summary tables as well as a search tool that can be used to help browsers find out which policies and incentives are available for specific projects. Browsers can also use the search tool to look for the ones that are relevant by type, state, technology type, sector and implementing sector.

There are two types of incentives. The first is financial incentives such as performance incentives, rebates, loans, tax incentives, grants, incentives for building green and industry support. The second is rules, regulations and policies that reinforce portfolio standards, certification of equipment, contract licensing, construction codes, building energy codes, net metering and public benefits funds.

Having an audit done is well worth the trouble. Add the incentives to do them and the incentives to make use of renewable sources of energy and it is a win win solution all round. There is only one way your power bills can go after an evaluation and it is down.




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