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Cambridge Clean Heating and Cooling Informational Workshop

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The City of Cambridge is hosting a second public informational workshop for the newly launched Cambridge Clean Heating and Cooling Marketplace, an initiative to help residents make their homes more comfortable, save energy, and cut their carbon footprint. The program will support residents who are interested in learning about installing air-source heat pumps, such as ductless minisplits, and solar hot water.

The Community Development Department will host the workshop on Thursday, November 14th from 6:30-8:00pm at the Citywide Senior Center (806 Massachusetts Avenue), Arts & Crafts Room.

Residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about air-source heat pumps and the Cambridge Clean Heating and Cooling Marketplace. Click here to register for the event. 

The City is working with Boston-based EnergySage to develop this program, which helps residents request, receive, and compare air source heat pump and/or solar hot water quotes from local, reputable contractors. An EnergySage expert Energy Advisor will be available to provide independent support every step of the way to help residents review technology options and installation quotes.

Many Cambridge residents have already installed heat pumps and solar hot water, thanks to generous rebates from state and utility programs. The Cambridge Clean Heating and Cooling Marketplace will help residents ensure that they are taking full advantage of these incentives.

Heat pumps and solar hot water are a great way for residents to save on their utility bills and reduce their home’s carbon footprint, while making it more comfortable. Air-source heat pumps, often called minisplits, are powered by electricity and move heat into or out of a home, instead of burning gas or oil to create heat. As a result, heat pumps deliver energy-efficient heating and cooling, year-round, and can be zoned by an individual room. Though they require electricity to operate, heat pumps use up to 70% less electricity than traditional electric-resistance heating and can be powered by clean electricity.

At this workshop, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the technologies, meet an installer, and get your questions answered! Click the link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cambridge-clean-heating-and-cooling-public-workshop-tickets-78221361197?aff=camb

Reminder: Light Bulb Swap on Saturday!

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If you are a Cambridge resident, this is a reminder to come swap up to three of your incandescent or CFL light bulbs* for free LED replacements this Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Cambridge Winter Farmer’s Market at 5 Callender St, from 10am-2pm! We will also have a pop-up store with heavily discounted LEDs for all of your other lighting needs.

*The swap is limited to A19 and BR30 bulbs.

This event is part of the City’s 100% LED Campaign that encourages residents to change over their lighting to LEDs, which use six times less energy. Please note that the bulb swap is limited to Cambridge residents and while supplies last.

 

City Offers Limited-Time Incentives to Go 100% LED!

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It’s about to get a whole lot easier to upgrade your lights and save money and energy! The City’s Cambridge Energy Alliance is partnering with Eversource to launch the “100% LED Cambridge” campaign, which offers limited-time specials on LED light bulbs for Cambridge residents. The campaign encourages residents to upgrade 100% of their home lighting to LEDs, which use six times less energy than older bulbs.

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From now until November 26th, residents can go to https://www.techniart.us/Cambridge/ to get special pricing that is available to Cambridge residents only. Customers can also get discounted shipping while supplies last. Not sure what bulb to get? See our guide at CambridgeMA.gov/LED

 

 

The 100% LED campaign is one of the city’s initiatives to win the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a nationwide competition among cities to cut residential energy use through energy efficiency. Residents have until the end of December 2016 to help Cambridge win before the judging period is over. Find out more at www.CambridgeEnergyAlliance.org/WinIt!

Money Saving Light Bulbs

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During the summer of 2014 several high school students interned at the Cambridge Energy Alliance helping with canvassing and outreach across Cambridge. The interns also wrote a few blogs on topics they were interested in related to energy efficiency and solar power. The following is one of their blogs.  

 

Today, unfortunately, money is on the minds of many people. This blog offers a simple and straightforward strategy to save money, and energy, by using different types of light bulbs. Currently in the US most people use incandescent light bulbs in their households. However, slowly the tide has turned to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) bulbs, which offer greater service and economic satisfaction. But what is it that makes these light bulbs so different? Of course they all have differences in their structure, design and technology, but which one is the best?

Incandescent

These bulbs are definitely not energy efficient since most of their energy is expelled as heat and not light. Today most cities do not accept the recycling of incandescent light bulbs as they have stopped being sold in the United States. Nonetheless, because they do not contain any toxic materials they can simply be thrown away.  Some people choose to re-package their light bulbs to avoid anyone getting hurt in the process of disposing them. Other people choose to reuse their light bulbs if they are not broken as forms of decoration, ornaments, and DIY crafts.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps)

CFLs have become way more popular over the past few years because of their fair prices and energy saving qualities. Unfortunately, a downside they have is that they contain a small amount of mercury, which means one should be particularly careful when recycling these light bulbs. Whether one can recycle or dispose these light bulbs depends on the current state of the bulbs. Nonetheless, it is imperative that CFLs be recycled. CFL light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury so when disposing these light bulbs it’ll be best to not release those chemicals to the environment. Most of the materials used to make CFL light bulbs can be recycled, and in some states and/or local jurisdictions, CFL light bulbs are required to be recycled. CFL light bulbs will not only be more energy efficient for your home, but will also save you money in the long run. Although CFL light bulbs are a bit more expensive than their incandescent counterpart, they last more than 10 times longer and use 4 times less energy while providing equally good quality light. Since CFL’s use much less watts than regular incandescent light bulbs, not only will they last longer but they will also save you money.

LED (Light Emitting Diodes)

LEDs are probably the pinnacle in light bulb technology. Their design and structure has resulted in a more durable, resistant and stylish light bulb. LED light bulbs are slowly being adopted now that their high prices are coming down. Unlike their more primitive counterparts, LEDs contain fewer hazardous materials, and are much more resistant to temperature, humidity and force. LED’s also last roughly 50,000 hours (5.5 years), about 5 times longer than CFLs.

Solar Panels in Cold Climates

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During the summer of 2014 several high school students interned at the Cambridge Energy Alliance helping with canvassing and outreach across Cambridge. The interns also wrote a few blogs on topics they were interested in related to energy efficiency and solar power. The following is one of their blogs.  

 

Think about this: as of now, Germany is the world leader in solar energy. It uses more solar power than any other country in the world. Now think about this: Germany is equal to Alaska in solar resources. If Germany is a good place for solar paneling, then Cambridge must be too! But can cold climate places really sustain solar paneling?

What most people don’t know is that solar panels run off of light, not heat. Many panels have the ability to track the sun’s movement and even rotate during the day. As a matter of fact, solar panels perform better in very cold weather than they do in very hot weather for two reasons: first, solar panels sometimes malfunction when they get too hot themselves; second, as temperatures go down, the system’s voltage increases. Furthermore, by combining this higher voltage with a current identical to a warm weather current, a higher wattage is produced. Therefore, more power is created.

Unfortunately, cold weather tends to come with clouds, rain, and snow. These forms of precipitation do have an effect on a solar panel system because they affect how much the panels are exposed to sunlight. However, it must be noted that estimates for the expected production of energy over the course of a solar system’s lifetime take into account the days with lower output due to weather obstacles such as snow and clouds.

On a cloudy day, not as much light can reach the panels. The amount of energy produced when there is cloud cover depends on the density of the clouds, but is usually about 10-25% of the system’s rated capacity. However, panels produce the most energy at the moment when the sun peeks across the edge of a cloud. When this happens, panels actually produce in excess of their rated capacity.

Usually clouds come with rain, and although there isn’t much daylight, rain can actually help solar paneling systems. Rain helps to keep up the maintenance of solar panels by washing away dust and dirt. Also, when the sun comes out, it reflects off of surrounding rainwater and onto the panels, increasing the amount of light being absorbed.

The biggest weather issue that solar panels seem to face is snow. When covered with snow, panels are no longer subject to sunlight, and they are not able to produce power. Nonetheless, it’s easy to resume their operation immediately by just brushing off the snow. By removing as much snow as possible, more of the dark-colored panel will be exposed to the sun, allowing a current to flow which will heat up all the panels and melt the remaining snow. It’s also common in snowy climates to install solar at a steep angle. This way, snow will slide off faster, allowing sunlight to reflect off of nearby snow and onto the panels. Imagine this working in the same way that a skier can be burned on a sunny winter day: Just like the sun reflects off of the snow and onto the skier’s skin, it will reflect off the snow and onto the panels, increasing power generation.

Capture

Now, how about our hometown? This past winter, Cambridge’s lowest temperatures averaged at about 1°F (-17°C) and the city saw approximately 40 days of snow. Therefore, for 89% of the year, roofs in Cambridge were exposed to sunlight and saw great potential for solar paneling. Just like Germany, the cold winters of Cambridge can give way to solar paneling for houses all around.

 

Bibliography:

“Ask a Builder: How Well Do Solar Panels Work in the Winter?” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. N.p.,                             n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

“Extreme Winter Weather Affecting Some Solar Panels’ Energy Output, Maintenance, Officials                                       Said.” NJ.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

“Solar Panel Effectiveness & Production in the Winter.” Winter Solar Panel Effectiveness & Production.                  N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

“Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Panels.” Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Panels. N.p.,                  n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

“Winter, Snow, and Solar Panels: A Mixed Forecast – CNET.” CNET. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

“2014 Winter Blasts Affecting Energy Output and Maintenance of Solar Panels — Environmental                                  Protection.” 2014 Winter Blasts Affecting Energy Output and Maintenance of Solar Panels —                              Environmental Protection. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014

“Are Solar Panels Usable in Snowy Climates?” AccuWeather. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

“Solar Energy in Rainy Weather | Sunbridge Solar.” Sunbridge Solar. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014                             “SEIA.” Solar FAQ. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014.

“Germany the World’s Leading Light in Solar Capacity.” Www.edmontonjournal.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 31               July 2014.

First-Ever Energy Star Label for Clothes Dryers Now Available

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The EPA has announced a brand new energy efficiency certification for clothes dryers under the Energy Star label. As known energy hogs, the potential savings are big: if all residential clothes dryers sold in the U.S. meet these new requirements, the utility cost savings will grow to more than $1.5 billion each year and more than 22 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented.

Over 80% of U.S. homes have a clothes dryer, which on average account for approximately six percent of residential electricity consumption. In order to reduce dryers’ energy use by over 20% of the minimum 2015 standards, Energy Star dryers will incorporate technologies such as:

  • Auto termination sensors
  • Heat pumps to recapture lost hot air
  • Performance data and alerts
  • Smart grid readiness

Explains U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy: “Working with industry on innovative approaches to address our changing climate, we are helping consumers select more energy efficient appliances, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Read more about this news from the EPA newsroom.

 

Solar Co-ops: Another Way to Go Solar

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On Earth Day, the Rocky Mountain Insitute  reminded us of an effective tool for solar development: the solar co-operative. Like any co-operative, solar co-ops pool the resources of many in order to increase purchasing power, increase access to benefits, and create other efficiencies. Businesses and/or individual consumers band together to collectively purchase solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and share knowledge about best practices. Here are a few kinds of solar co-operatives that are relevant to Cambridge residents.

Community Solar

One type of co-operative concept called community solar can help bring solar to those who typically wouldn’t have access to it, such as renters or any households without enough rooftop sun exposure. Community solar allows customers to buy into an off-site system and receive credits on their utility bills. Customers can purchase as much or as little solar energy as they want, and they don’t have to worry about installation or maintenance.  The Clean Energy Collective  was one of the first organizations to establish this model and they now operate multiple solar gardens throughout the US.

Residential Solar Co-op

The Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative offers another model for co-operative solar, as the Washington, D.C. area neighborhood group has organized over 300 households in order to purchase solar PV panels in bulk. This has reduced installation costs for households getting PV panels and has ultimately brought more solar power into the community than would have otherwise been the case. In addition to increasing the affordability of solar, the co-op network fostered a supportive atmosphere that diminished other barriers to solar energy. Says Mt. Pleasant solar system owner Louise Meyer: “I felt like I was part of a team, it made much more sense, you could compare notes and not feel so stranded. It was such a new area for many people, and the paperwork is such a hassle, being part of the cooperative made it so much easier.”

The Mt. Pleasant model has spurred the creation of other neighborhood solar co-ops in the region as well. Several of the neighborhood groups are further organized under the umbrella organization DC SUN, which advocates for solar energy and serves as a regional resource for anyone interested in solar.

Conclusion

The solar co-op model is a promising tool to increase solar energy development in a range of contexts. With its variety of housing types and large multifamily housing stock, we see co-operative solar as a viable solution for Cambridge. What do you think? Would one of these models work for you?

About this Blog Post

This blog post summarizes information from a Rocky Mountain Institute blog post. You can read the original article here:  http://blog.rmi.org/blog_2014_04_22_the_rise_of_solar_coops

Prepare for Winter in your Rented or Multi-Family Home

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As the weather gets chillier, we all start looking forward to—or dreading—winter. In order to be comfortable while still being energy smart, there are some easy but important steps you can take. There is plenty of information out there on how to weatherize your entire home to keep heating costs down, but many of those actions don’t apply to people who are renting or living in a multi-family condo. Here are some tips that will still insulate your home and lower your heating bill even if you aren’t able to do bigger things like replace your boiler or add insulation in your walls:

  • Place 3M window insulator film on the inside of all of your windows to restrict drafts. It goes on and comes off easily without leaving a mark, and it’s a very cheap solution.
  • Programmable thermostats are inexpensive and need only a screw driver to install, so depending on your heating system type you can install it and then uninstall it when you move out.
  • Open your curtains during the day to take advantage of solar heating and close them at night to keep the heat in.  Some curtains also have insulating properties.
  • If you rent, ask your landlord to take advantage of the free Mass Save Energy Assessments and mention that CEA can help landlords with energy projects.
  • Use draft stoppers underneath doors that lead outside or to an unheated hallway or staircase. They are usually cloth tube-shaped objects filled with foam or pellets (like a bean bag). You can even put them underneath doors for rooms you plan on heating with a space heater to fully block cold drafts coming in from the rest of your space.
  • If you heat with oil, which is notoriously expensive, you can save on your bill by investing in a floor-standing electric space heater to more cheaply heat the room you are currently occupying, while keeping the thermostat low. You can save 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you turn it down.
  • Keep your thermostat very low (but above 50 degrees so your pipes don’t freeze) while no one is home, and put it as low as is comfortable when you are home and awake. Before you go to bed, turn it back down a few degrees. If you have warm blankets and a space heater, you won’t need to heat your whole space any more than that.
  • If your home has radiators, place an insulating panel between it and the wall. Insulating radiator panels reflect heat away from the wall and out into your home, improving radiator efficiency by 10-20%.

With these quick fixes, and perhaps a hot cup of tea each night, you will stay comfortable all winter long without using too much fuel or electricity.

Learn More! Don’t be an Energy Turkey this Thanksgiving.

Wednesday November 14th at 7pm

Cambridge College, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA

Stay warm and SAVE MONEY through DIY apartment energy efficiency tips

Enjoy free apple cider and snacks
Win great prizes

 

(Cancelled)Join Our Course: The Value of Greening Your Home

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** Check out the Winter Courses at Cambridge Center for Adult Education to sign up for this class when it is offered again**

Many homeowners worry about the value of their home in these times and wonder how to make sensible improvements. Come to learn how to improve the value of your home by increasing energy efficiency and conserving natural resources. We will discuss both small, easy D.I.Y. changes and large capital improvements, from weather stripping to installing geothermal systems. We will present financing options from grants to subsidized loans, and introduce expert contractors who will address your specific question and concerns. Come ready to learn and leave with concrete next steps to improve your home, take care of the planet, and invest in a sustainable future for all. Limited to 16.

5 Mondays, 5:45-7:45 pm. Begins Sep. 24
http://www.ccae.org/catalog/detail.php?id=563066

Time is Running Out: Get Up To $2,000 from Cambridge for Installing Solar Hot Water

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Through November, Cambridge Energy Alliance is offering Cambridge businesses and residents up to $2000 to install solar hot water heaters. The CEA Solar Hot Water Grant combined with the state and federal incentives, will allow you to install a new 20-year hot water heating system for up to 75% off. Average systems that are normally about $8,000 will cost less than $2000 in out-of-pocket costs.

Cambridge resident Ken Bader installed a solar hot water system a few weeks ago, saying “the grants and tax credits made this deal a no-brainer! I’m looking forward to paying (almost) nothing to heat my water.” Since his solar system allowed him to eliminate his hot water heating tank entirely he’s looking forward to the added benefit of “not having to buy a new water heater every six or seven years.”

With only three and a half months remaining the Cambridge Energy Alliance is urging any business, non-profit, or resident that is considering solar to install a solar hot water system now, while generous grant money is available.  Many people will also qualify for a 0% interest rate HEAT loan, meaning they can put in a system with no upfront cash needed.

Claudia Majetich, of Concord Avenue is pleased with the solar hot water rebate, saying “The Cambridge rebate program for solar hot water is a wonderful help to home owners who need to replace their hot water systems.  It makes our installation costs very affordable–just about the same as a new gas or oil system.  And that doesn’t even include the savings I’m anticipating from reduced oil usage.   Staff at the Cambridge Energy Alliance returned my calls right away, and provided lots of helpful information.  Great program, Cambridge!”

Residents are not the only ones who can benefit. Businesses like gyms, laundromats, restaurants, and hair salons are excellent solar hot water candidates. Solar hot water installer Eric Lorenz of S&H Construction points out that “business owners investing in solar hot water systems can realize a 20-50 percent savings in monthly fuel costs, expand their marketing opportunities to reach new audiences and simply enjoy the fact that they are harvesting the sun’s energy for use in their day-to-day operations.  Installing solar guarantees a positive return on investment and with current incentives in place today, the returns are the best they have ever been.”

To get started, contact a local solar hot water installer and apply for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) rebate. After receiving the MassCEC rebate, Cambridge residents, businesses and non-profits can apply for the non-competitive CEA Solar Hot Water Grant.  The CEA Solar Hot Water Grant will reimburse system owners up to $2,000 for out-of-pocket costs after all other rebates and incentives have been calculated.

Solar hot water systems provide an easy and low cost way to make hot water sustainably. Solar hot water systems heat water for laundry, bathing and even space heating. Anyone with heating oil can expect a short 5-year payback on the investment.  A solar hot water system generally works in conjunction with your existing hot water heater or utility incentives can be used to replace old systems with new, super efficient hot water heaters and boilers installed in combination with solar hot water systems.

Solar hot water systems generate heat from sunlight to make hot water. Roof mounted solar ‘collectors’ for hot water systems look very similar to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which generate electricity rather than hot water.  A solar hot water system can be connected to a building or home’s existing hot water tank to heat water. Some solar hot water systems can also connect with the heating system to provide space heating.  Because about 20 percent of the energy a consumer uses at home goes to heating hot water, solar hot water systems can generate significant savings by decreasing the amount of gas, oil or electricity used to heat the water.

To find out more about solar hot water, see the MassCEC Solar Hot Water Fact Sheet.

The Cambridge Energy Alliance grant will amount to approximately $2,000 for a typical solar hot water system for a four to five person household, in addition to the approximately $1,000 in MassCEC rebates.  Combined with other federal, state, and utility incentive programs, the total rebate can cover more than half of the cost of a system. Cambridge Energy Alliance’s Solar Hot Water grant is funded with $40,000 from the federal Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant.

Get started by calling a local Solar Hot Water installer to begin MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar Hot Water rebate application.

Applications for the CEA Solar Hot Water Grant must be received by November 19, 2012. CEA Solar Hot Water Grants cannot be processed until you complete the MassCEC Commonwealth Solar Hot Water application process.

Solar rebate programs have helped spur a vibrant solar industry in Massachusetts. According to a MassCEC survey of clean energy companies, employment in solar manufacturing, installation, and services has increased nearly three times since Governor Patrick first took office, and solar manufacturing jobs alone have close to tripled from 2007 to 2010.