Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Getting A Two For One Deal

Tuesday, July 28th, 2015

When considering a renewable system, the first thought that comes to mind to most people is cost. At Brightspot, we look at the installation as an investment and so that is the approach we start with. Most people have a budget they would like to stick with so they start with those numbers and then depending on the size of system that suits their needs, make an adjustment.

Most solar installers will make their calculations based on the amount of average kilowatt hours that are used by a prospect on a monthly or annual basis and then come up with a figure based on that use to figure out how big of a system is needed and how much the system will cost. These numbers are pretty basic and so these are the figures one would usually use when sizing your system.

At Brightspot Energy Solutions, we think there is a far better approach to your investment dollars and we try to think outside of just having a system installed to offset your payment to the electric company and offer a far better investment for the same money that you would spend for the system alone. For instance, what if you were able to reduce your electric consumption up to 60% or 70% before the solar system was designed and installed? By taking those investment dollars and first fixing the very things in your home that are causing the electric meter to run as much would seem like money better spent, wouldn’t it? The cost of the system would be far less after this was done but then you would have a home that is much more comfortable to live in and then you would get the free power as a bonus.

The risk of fixing the energy wasting issues you may have in your home for the amount of money invested is very low. In addition, the returns of your investment would be very substatial when you consider other investment choices American families are making today. Take a look at what your bank or savings account has been paying over the last several years. I believe you would be far better off with the returns investing in your home’s energy efficiency then most other savings out there to invest in. And these returns will keep coming back year after year.

So when you go to consider installing a renewable energy system, the philosophy in our approach is you could have two products for less than you may have first thought. When thinking of the overall cost of the system figured for your home, the first benefit you could receive is a much more comfortable home. The second benefit is you could also get the free electricity for a lot lower price because your system required will now be much smaller than what you originally figured. And, by doing most of the work yourself, the savings will overall compound even more. With Brightspot Energy Solutions, we can help you with the best approach in becoming energy independent.

How Much Does It Cost

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

Determining how much a wind or solar system will cost is like trying to figure out how much it would cost to take a family vacation to Bermuda. A lot of planning needs to be done before you actually leave on the plane to get there. It is the same type of planning you will need to research before your purchase of the right size system. With this in mind, you would certainly want to watch and stay within your budget as well. But first, instead of thinking in terms of cost, let’s begin using the word “invest” instead for the remainder of this article.

Before deciding on how much you would like to invest and the size of your system, the most important consideration you should make first is to cut your energy use as much as possible. Most homes in North America are not what we would call energy efficient. Although some of the newer homes that are being built today are more energy conscience than older ones built in the past, the price paid to build the house will dictate how efficient it is going to be. This will normally leave room for improvement. From firsthand experience, I can say there are many ways to make a brand new house much more energy efficient than the builder who built it. If you add up all the leaks in the average house, even new houses. it would be like leaving one window open all year long. Seal up the leaks, and you have eliminated a lot of lost energy never to return. And, imagine how much more comfortable your home can be after these problems are fixed!

Other ways to cut your energy use would be to look at your family’s lifestyle. How often are lights left on when no one is using them? Are you using LED light bulbs when this is happening? Is the television on when people are out of the room? How long is the average shower per person in the home? Of course other considerations could be to turn the thermostat down in the winter and put on a sweatshirt, or turn a fan on during the summer instead of running the air conditioner. When doing laundry, hang the wet clothes on the clothesline instead of popping them in the clothes dryer. The ideas are endless to cut your energy consumption. Considering the two subjects covered and some other creative measures, it would not be impossible to slash your energy use as much as 50%. But keep in mind, for every dollar you spend on becoming more energy efficient, you will save three to five dollars on the system you will need to offset your current consumption.

After these topics have been challenged and conquered, now you are ready to plan and determine how big of a system you will need and pretty close to how much it will cost. This of course would be where you decide on the kind of system you want to install. Will it be a grid tie with a battery backup? Or maybe an off grid system? Will it just be a system with net metering tied directly to the grid. Depending on the system you choose and the size you need it to be, it is much easier to figure out now that you have reduced your energy consumption down to the lowest denominator. Plus the price tag for your smaller system needed is far less than it would have been had you not done the recommendations listed earlier! And who says you have to build it all at once? Why not build it in phases if you have a limited annual budget? Make it a 3 year or a five year plan if that’s what it takes.

To sum it up, planning to install a alternative power resource for your home doesn’t have to be out of your financial reach. Although, being in a hurry to install one is the easiest way to overspend for it. One should not worry so much about the cost of a system but should rather focus on the value  of the investment you will receive once you have covered just some the bases listen in this piece. And, by doing it yourself, you will appreciate all the benefits of what your system truly has to offer you.  Because once your system is finally up and running, you realize you did it on a budget most homeowners can afford. With the help of BrightSpot, we can help you identify most challenges you may have with your homes energy use, then offer the real solutions you need and the best approach to becoming energy independent! This is real value that nobody else will offer you. Call us today for a free on site visit to see how to get started.

 

Special Report: The Electric Industry is Worried

Monday, January 12th, 2015

Will the increased installation of wind turbines and solar panels increase electric utility rates in the future? That may sound crazy, but according to a report released by the Edison Electric Institute, it appears possible. The report that was released in January 2013 addresses the many challenges the electricity industry is facing in the coming decades and how to resolve their fight to stay in business. Here is the link:

http://www.eei.org/ourissues/finance/Documents/disruptivechallenges.pdf

Since we were told that climate change is happening (sic) and that coal is no longer a viable option for producing power, we are told we have to shut down those dirty coal generation plants. And of course don’t forget that nuclear power now has a black eye. How long will it be until we have to start dismantling these enviromental time bombs? Shouldn’t wind and solar power help the power companies offset this potential supply deficit problem?

Well, apparently it’s not the lower supply available on the grid by shutting down these reliable production resources that has the power companies worried. It appears their problems began with better energy efficiency both in the business and residential sectors over the last few decades. Then add to it the amount of electricity demand that has been shrinking since the economy has slowed down since 2008. With just these 2 factors considered, energy demand has declined as well. So shouldn’t things balance out in the long run? If more wind and solar generation is added to the grid, shouldn’t this help stabilize the grid as more and more of these renewables come on line?

According to the report, the installation by the private sector installing all this wind and solar equipment and adding supply to the grid is also decreasing the amount of what once were rate payers to the electric companies. They fear that the more ratepayers that make their homes and businesses more energy efficient and install renewable energy, the more revenue they will loose as time goes on. The impending shortfall they anticipate as a result means they will have to charge those who aren’t moving to alternatives more to make up the difference in lost revenue. The report appears to be signaling a need to add more tarrifs and other rate fees to remaining electric company customers to offset their losses. Those who are producing their own power who are net-metered on their grid should also pay more for the privilege of adding more to the system or sell the excess generated for wholesale and buy if needed at the regular retail rate.

Actually, if you boil it down, you would think that since renewables are adding more supply to the impending generation shortages, it would provide more relief to a stressed out grid if demand should stay the same or increase in the future. This alone should be our real concern, It appears it’s not really about lost supply from the grid the electric companies are really concerned about.  According to the report, no matter how the electric flows and in what amount, they still want to collect the same amount of revenue or more whether you are a producer or an end user.

 

Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words?

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

When considering energy efficiency, most home owners have a hard time wrapping a visual image around their brain. They may imagine adding more insulation or installing new energy efficient windows. Or maybe even replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED’s. For the most part, these may be the only mental picture that comes to mind.

Lately, a new technology is breaking out on the scene called thermal imaging. This technology can actually show a homeowner a real visual picture of where the problems with their structure could be and make recommendations to correct them, taking out alot of the guesswork. It can be done fairly quickly and does not involve any destruction to the building. It can actually see what the naked eye does not.

In the winter time, it can show where a building has cold air entering and where insulation is lacking. In summer time it can also show where the heat outside seems almost impossible to keep from entering and can also detect water damage issues. Areas where mold is likely to begin can also be discovered in early stages as well. Also,if you have unwanted guests living in the wall or attic of your home, a thermal imaging camera can help you break their lease. If you have electric wiring in your home that could be hotter than it normally should be, this also can be detected as well.

So, how good of an investment would it be to have a home checked out by a Certified Thermographer? For the avarage home, spending a hundred dollars or so to have this performed could find some big reasons why your home feels so cold in the winter and hot during the summer. The long term savings one could incur by having this performed could run into the tens of thousands of dollars over the years. The payback could be very soon as there would be unlimited savings once the problems are corrected. Every home in North America should have this service performed to see what can be done to solve their home’s climate challenges. It could be the best money you ever spent on a home improvement.

One of the questions homeowners could be asking themselves is ” Just because I don’t see any problems with my structure, does it mean that none exists?”  BrightSpot is a Certified Thermographer that can help you identify the problems you could be having with your structure and offer solutions that you may be able to correct yourself or hire a contractor to handle. Call us today if you think there is more to your situation than what the eye can see.

Is Your Home Energy Efficient?

Sunday, December 14th, 2014

One of the most important considerations needed before deciding to install a renewable energy system is to lower your energy consumption as much as possible. As a rule of thumb, for every dollar spent on making your home more energy efficient, you will save $3 to $5 dollars on your renewable energy system investment. This could mean that for as little as a few hundred dollars correcting leaks in an average home, it could save you thousands of dollars when going to invest in that wind and/or solar system.

Most homeowners realize there may be issues with their home that could be corrected but have not really looked at the big picture when it comes down to where all the wasted energy goes. It could be as simple as caulking around a few windows and doors, or be as extensive as putting insulation in all the walls and attic as well as replacing all the windows in the dwelling. Unfortunatly, in some cases it is not always an easy fix but could make sense in the long run whether installing a renewable system or not. In many cases, when adding all the leaks up, it would equal the same effect as leaving a window open all the time during winter. Some homeowners who live in a newer home may think they are as energy efficient as it gets, however, even those homes could also use a tune-up. The new home we had built did.

Before you invest the time and expense of installing a renewable system, a home energy audit by a trained energy consultant may be in order. Many are starting to use a thermo imaging camera that sees problems not seen with the naked eye. They will usually be able to identify some of the issues that, for less than a couple hundred dollars, will be able to save you thousands of dollars on that new renewable energy system you are considering installing. With the average home in America, the majority of homeowners could reduce their energy consumption 30% to 50%.

If the home you are living in right now feels cold in the winter shortly after the furnace turns off, or feels warm in the summer time shortly after the air conditioner reaches its thermostat setting, it may be a good idea to have it looked at by a consultant who is certified in thermography to help identify where your home is lacking in its energy efficiency. You may find out about other issues that need immediate attention you were not even aware. Either way, it will be money well spent.

Pre-paying for your Electricity

Sunday, December 14th, 2014

Most people connected to the grid for their electricity needs hardly give alternative energy resources a second thought. If they do, it’s usually when they read a story about a wind farm being developed in a nearby location, or a company they are familiar with installing solar panels to reduce cost. The worst case scenario for this thought is in the middle of a power outage and your sitting in the dark.

With more electrical gadgets in use these days, and electric vehicles being promoted, where does this leave our reliability for our many electric needs? Right now, the EPA is pushing for more stringent regulations than ever before in favor of the environment. The rules are so tough that many electric generating plants powered by coal are shutting down facilities and laying off hundreds of workers. The most obvious reason is because they are unable to comply with the new regulations set forth by the EPA for cleaner air. And there is nothing wrong with cleaner air.

As the demand for more electricity increases for these gadgets and vehicles, and the elimination of more generation facilities, it appears this equation is headed for disaster. The law of supply and demand is simple, a shorter supply of a good or service ultimately leads to demand for higher prices. Many electric suppliers are petitioning and getting approvals for rate increases. When our electric rate increased this year, the billing cycle showed we consumed 80KWH less than the month before, but our monthly bill jumped up $8 dollars higher than the previous month. Is this just the beginning? I can’t blame our supplier. They really are good people. They are doing what they have to supply the needs of those who depend on them.

So, where does this leave those who ultimately pay for these increases? Most already know the answer. That’s why I propose pre-paying now for your future electric needs and avoid over paying for your electricity in the long run. Install your own wind and/or solar system now and start enjoying the benefits of better reliability and the reduction of the rate you pay, both now and well into the future. There has never been a more affordable time to take advantage of what we have available to us for the technology that is out there. You have basically only two choices: You can choose to pay for it now, or you will pay for it later.