Rising fuel costs got you down? Consider some recommendations of the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) that to help you make energy decisions that can save you money and save the environment. Some energy choices you should consider include building design and energy efficiency, solar water heating, and photovoltaics. The State of Florida and the U.S. Government currently offer incentives to help you save on your solar equipment purchases and installation. So, there's never been a better time to purchase solar energy systems. Before you actually install your new solar energy systems, there are some energy-saving steps you should take to ensure the most effective results from your solar installations. And if solar purchases are not in your immediate future, you can still benefit from these strategies to save on electricity use and cost, plus they are easy. Danny Parker, Principal Research Scientist at the Florida Solar Energy Center, suggests these six simple strategies to become more energy efficient: Get a programmable thermostat for your air conditioner &endash; and use it! Or use your standard thermostat to save on cooling costs by turning the temperature setting up while you are gone. Even a few hours can make a difference in your utility bill. Each degree (oF) the house is cooled below 80oF increases annual cooling costs by 12%! Replace all of your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lighting. Use them everywhere. The fluorescents come in all sizes at about $3.00 each, and they are available at the "big box" stores or your neighborhood grocery store. If you live in a 2000 square foot home, in a year's time, you could save 1500 kWh and $200.00, which is about what the bulbs will cost. So in one year's time you have recouped your investment in bulbs, and you will continue to save that amount &endash; or more &endash; for each of the next three to five years, the life-span of the bulbs. $600 to $1000 is not a bad return on investment of $200! Take advantage of your utility's "Seal Your Duct System" program. Extra refrigerators and freezers: are you using them? If they are sitting empty, or they are just used occasionally, you may want to consider donating them to your favorite charity, because they are eating up kilowatts and your money. This is especially true if they are old and not very energy-efficient. Check on the insulation in your attic. If you need additional insulation, blowing in some could help on cooling costs. And don't forget to check the weather stripping around your doors. Now here's a really easy one: Turn off stuff. Whether it's turning off the light when you leave the room, or shutting down your computer when it's not in use, turning stuff off can save you energy dollars. And your entertainment center, like your computer, should be turned off, not just allowed to go to standby mode, which consumes as much as 100 watts of electricity. Solar Thermal, Solar Water Heating Now that your home or business is as energy efficient as you can make it, it's time to add solar and save some more money on your electricity bill. A good beginning is to install a solar water heating system in your home. Properly designed and installed, the systems have been proven to work well for many, many years. And they can greatly reduce or even eliminate the portion of your energy bill that goes for water heating &endash; as much as 20 or 25 percent of your total electric bill. The reduction in electrical use also translates into less greenhouse gas emissions and less air pollution. And in the event of a power outage, you still get to enjoy a nice hot shower. Solar water heating is one of the simplest technologies you find in homes today. The principle is based on the fact that a garden hose left lying out in the sun on a hot summer day will heat up, and water coming out of that hose will be a lot warmer than the water that went into it. The solar collector is the main component of the solar system. It is usually a metal box with insulation and a black absorber plate that collects solar radiation and heats the water. The circulating pump is regulated either by an electronic controller, a common appliance timer, or a photovoltaic (PV) panel. It is important to have the system properly installed to withstand high winds and to insure that your roof's integrity is maintained. There are many qualified solar hot water installers in Florida. For a list of professionals, contact the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association at www.flaseia.org. This year you may be able to take advantage of a solar rebate from the state of Florida. Floridians who have been considering installation of a solar water heating system can now receive a rebate of up to $500 after purchase and installation of the system on a residence ($100 rebate for a pool heating system). For homeowners who have watched their rising electricity bills in recent months, this is good news. Rebates on water heating systems on commercial properties will be calculated at $15 per 1000 Btu per day with a maximum $5000 rebate. Photovoltaics - Solar Electric Power The technology known as photovoltaics (PV) or solar cells, that power such things as satellites and the International Space Station are truly finding a place right here on Earth. These elegant systems don't call attention to themselves. There is no evidence of gigantic cooling towers or flumes of smoke to indicate their presence. Photovoltaics are silent, clean and beautiful. Often used to power highway call boxes or parking lot security cameras, these systems can also provide power to your home or business. Photovoltaics (PV) or solar cells as they are often called, are semiconductor devices that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. Groups of PV cells are electrically configured into modules and arrays, which can be used to charge batteries, operate motors, and to power any number of electrical loads. With the appropriate power conversion equipment, PV systems can produce alternating current (AC) compatible with any conventional appliances, and can operate in parallel with, and interconnected to, the utility grid. In the event of a utility power outage, photovoltaics can substitute for a gas generator, powering vital loads, but without the smelly fumes or loud noise. Rebates from the state of Florida are also available for purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems for solar-generated electricity (calculated at $4.00 per rated Watt). Rebates will be allowed at a maximum of $20,000 for residential installations, while systems on commercial property may qualify for up to $100,000 rebate. In 2006 and 2007, installing a PV system can provide you with an even greater financial return in the form of a federal energy tax credit. The credit, 30% of the installed system cost up to a maximum credit of $2,000 and can be deducted from the taxes you owe. You claim the credit when you file your U.S. tax return for the year the system is installed. There has never been a better time to go solar! Rebate and Energy Information: For more information on these and other energy options contact the Florida Solar Energy Center at 321-638-1000 or go http://www.fsec.ucf.edu" http://www.fsec.ucf.edu. Written by: Susan T. Schleith, Education Coordinator, Adrienne Henzman, Coordinator Public Relations |