New Home Builders
The new homes that are being developed by Ener G Wise Techology are being built by experience construction crews that have been engaged in home construction for many years. Each of these crews has an diverse understanding of the building trades. All building crews are professional and fully insured for both liability and workman’s’ compensation insurance. This insures that the homeowner will not be subject to any liabilities for damages cause to property or workman on the job. The crews are trained in energy conscious construction practices and do employ new and tested methods to insure that your structure performs at a very high energy conservation level. They painstakingly insure that all potential moisture leaks and heat leaks prevalent in standard home construction are eliminated. All building material contact joints are sealed with hermetical tape, caulk or spray foam to insure a continuous properly insulated jacket around your total home. This is a very important step in insuring that your home provides a minimal heat loss.
Ener G Wise Technologies also has a variety of other contractor types available. We are working with excavation companies, masonry contractors, plumbing, heating and electrical contractors. Each of the groups has learned to integrate and work well together. It is important that each of the integrated workman understand the importance of the final product. We are constantly training individuals and reviewing our processes with relation to the performance of the overall structure. Excellence in building energy wise structures is in the details. Our people are very well aware that the homes they are building are not the norm. Their job is to create performance projects that accomplish the maximum return on investment that is expected by the consumer. The key to all of this of course, is educating both the consumer, building departments and builders. We feel that we are on the correct path to doing just that.
Installers
In most cases, we find that each form of solar gathering devices have their own set of rules and circumstances. With that in mind, Energ G Wise Technologies has built working relationships with many of the leading solar design and installation companies located in Central New York State. In the case of Photovoltaic panels installation for instance, we have found that it makes sense to partner up with a true and tested company that is already known and accepted in the industry. Usually, these companies can not only do the installation but also accomplish then necessary paperwork needed to receive various rebates, state and federal grants, coordinate with the energy supplier and attend to all warrantee contracts associated with installation of photovoltaics. In most cases, the various state, federal and local agencies will rebate the agreed upon amount of money to the professional contracting agency. Rarely, do they advance refund or rebate money directly to the homeowner. The main reason, of course, for this is that the agency must be assured that the system will be working up to the agreed capacity that they are agreeing to help fund. Generally speaking, in New York State you could expect around a 50% cost savings on the installation of a photovoltaic system. So, if the total cost of the system was initially $24,000.00 – it would be fair to say that when all installations of the system were complete- it would probably cost the consumer around $12,000.00. Further, it should be noted that with this assumption it would be safe to say that the total investment for the system would be repaid in less than 20 years assuming the savings is at 2009 dollars. And we all know that the cost of energy will go up – we just don’t know how much. So, it is probable that the payoff would be far less that the expected 20 years. Remember, the cost of the sun will never change!!!
Although the present rebate and reimbursement programs aren’t as lucrative with other types of solar energy generation such as thermal hot water, wind, passive or geothermal it is generally understood that each one of these systems has its place in the energy conservation scenario. For the total investment, probably thermal hot water will offer the greatest day to day return on your investment. Unfortunately, you do not have the capability to store the excess generation received through the thermal hot water system as simply as you can with a grid-tied photovoltaic system. The hot water solar design does store energy in a storage battery incorporated in the home design. Both domestic and heating hot water are retrieved from this storage vault. It should be noted however, that the thermal solar collector is more energy efficient than the photovoltaic collector. The reason for this is simply a result of the transfer medium and means of transfer of the two systems. A photovoltaic system looses approximately 50% of its potential energy gain through transfer of the energy from the solar cells to the wires and through the working of the inverter needed to convert the DC power to AC power so it can be accepted by the utility companies for use in their grid. In the case of thermal hot water we find that the collectors are in the neighborhood of 80% efficient do to the fact that most of the gained energy from the sun is transferred directly to a storage medium (water, copper, concrete or sand) . With proper insulation of the components it is found that most of the gained energy can be put to work and not lost in transformation.
Our installers can equip you with a thermal hot water system. In most cases, the rebates and incentives aren’t as large. But, the added efficiency might be worth it to you. For wind, water and passive we have a working relationship with companies that are experienced and proven in these area. Depending on your need, we can advise you as to the correct combination of systems and installer to accomplish your goals.
Ener G Wise Remodelers
Once that you have decided on a prudent course of action that fits your budget and expectation for your existing home Ener G Wise Techologies can line you up with one of our trust remodelers. The complexity and scope of the project will determine the type and size of the certified crew that we would recommend. In many case, you may be able to accomplish many of the small energy saving tasks yourself. Our people will work with you to get the right mix of specialist to insure that you are making wise decisions about your energy choices and most of all insure that you will get a payback for all of your thought and hard work.
Design and Engineering
Design and Engineering are the final ingredients of Ener G Wise Technologies that will yield results measurable to the consumer. As we all know, there are literally thousands of good ideas being floated around concerning the use of the earth’s natural energy. It is apparent to us all today that the continuation of using carbon bases energy sources is without doubt a poor choice in the years ahead. For the world to grow in a healthy way we must rid ourselves of the habits of the past 200 years concerning energy use.
Conservation will no doubt be a big part of a new energy use strategy. If we use less energy then we have to produce less energy. Natural earth energy, principally employing the use of radiant energy received from the sun, will likely be the most logical way to satisfy our energy needs. Even nuclear energy has its drawbacks, although we think we will see more nuclear power generation in the years ahead. Harnessing the energy from the sun is the most logical and promising energy source that one can think of when close examination of the upcoming energy requirement are analyzed.
So, given all the ideas for the relatively new venture of energy production it becomes very clear that the integration of the most promising technological breakthroughs needs to be employed. Firstly, we have to understand what the specifics are with regards to the science of it all. This is where the engineering aspects come into play. The close study and monitoring of various phenomenon need to be compiled and then converted into a service oriented strategy for use by the consumer. This, of course, is where design comes into play.
Our job at Ener G Wise Technologies is to closely review those technologies that seem promising and to implement them into workable plans that will deliver a savings to the consumer at a cost that can be justified. It will take some imagination and will surely require sacrifice. In most cases, it will take a form of a total different way of tackling existing problems. But thinking about a system differently isn’t a bad thing. It is difficult to get a general consensus of agreement concerning new ways of accomplishing a project. In most cases, acceptance of the new strategy only comes after the new strategy has proven itself, both through use and practicality. Also, it has be understood to be the “norm” before the general populace will accept the system as sound and useful.
In most cases, the financial rewards are what really sells a system or an idea. Through sound design we think that we can demonstrate a high probability that a proposed system is going to work and provide a savings, both financially and environmentally. A positive design takes into account both what the consumer wants as an end product at the same time weighing what is financially feasible from the present supply side of the building world.
Ener G Wise Technologies has a licensed Architect on staff who has many years of experience in the building of energy efficient residential and commercial construction. This firm is able to devote planning time to new ideas and innovation as it is developed. The Architect and his associates have completed all required training for various green building programs as proposed by the State of New York. Further, it is understood that his firm will strive to review and help develop new ideas with respect to new energy conserving concepts that we are employing in some of our new designs. Unfortunately, many of the new progressive ideas and programs that are being developed are in some cases in conflict or now recognized in the current governing building codes. In this case, the Architect must try to reason with the building departments and encourage the various code enforcement agencies to allow new ideas with the understanding that they will not be unsafe nor cause a liability to the user. The building codes slowly adapt to new ideas. But, it does take time and proper documentation from experienced, qualified personnel to make these changes come about. In the years ahead, hopefully many of the new progressive ideas will be adopted as part of the standard building code employed throughout the world. With the federal and state government supporting the development of clean energies and innovative conservation practices surely the switch to alternative energy systems for our homes will become a reality and be used in mainstream America.