Maine residents pay attention!

Finally someone has figured out how to provide meaningful financial help to those families who are in a tight spot this winter due to the high costs of heating fuel. The folks up in Maine are leading the US in providing an innovative loan program for qualified homeowners.

MaineHousing’s Home Energy Loan Program offers loans at a low fixed rate of only 3.95% (4.194% APR) for home improvements that increase home energy efficiency.

This program is more than a band-aid. For those that participate, it will provide long-term relief from energy costs. Our hats are off to Maine State Housing Authority.

I came across this Boston Globe article over the weekend that talks about the amount of energy an average NorthEast home uses (READ: wastes) due to common everyday appliances drawing power when they are ‘off’ or in ’standby’ mode. The number they uncovered? 6% … doesn’t sound like much, but when you add that up, it amounts to $450 million annually across New England. According to a Department of Energy (DOE) study that number grows to over $3 billion dollars annually. Ouch. 

This made me wonder what the culprits were, so  I did a little more research and found this great energy consumption chart from Good Magazine. (Warning: If you have a plasma TV, I warn you, you will not want to look at this chart.) As you might imagine, computers, laptops and printers are high on the list. The list is pretty short and more than half of the appliances in my house are not listed, so here are some other widgets for the gear-heads from Blueline Innovations and P3 International. A real time power monitor that allows you to figure where your electricity is going — although it will require some playing around to isolate the exact source of the drain.

For the rest of us, perhaps buying some power strips and upgrading to the more energy efficient appliances that meet the requirements stated by the DOE here are an easy first step.

According to the New England Fuel Institute, an emergency home heating loan bill (H.R. 6920) has been introduced to the US Congress that would guarantee loans for up to $5,000 for consumers who did not exceed 150% of median household income for 2008 or 2009.

I recognize that these programs have their place and there are a number of families who truly benefit from them, but can’t we do more than a band-aid? Adding insulation, replacing old appliances, adding a renewable energy system are other ideas certainly worthy of consideration. Aren’t they!?!

That said, if you are one could benefit from this legislation, stay tuned. For the rest of you keep your eyes on DSIRE for other federal/state/local/utility incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The outdoor wood boiler (outdoor wood-fired furnace) good versus bad conversation continues to heat up. Just to make sure everyone sees Greenwood in the right light, we have the good products. Greenwood only makes clean burning wood boilers. In fact, as of the date of this post, we have the cleanest indoor and outdoor wood boilers as determined by the EPA. Sorry, no dirty-burning devices for us.

Greenwood Technologies outdoor wood boilers are designated by the EPA with an Orange Tag because of their low emission status. The Greenwood Aspen 175 and Greenwood Furnace Model 100 are certified for outdoor installation in the State of Vermont.  This is good news for clean burning wood boilers and wood-fired furnaces.  Read more about the debate in a NY Times article that posted on 9/19.

http://www.amny.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny–outdoorfurnaces0919sep19,0,7542616.story

If you have been doing some research on how to make your home more energy efficent, you have undoubtedly come across articles that recommend you perform an home energy audit. If your like me, you read these and ask myself — so what?

Well, I finally came across an article that provides some true insight into the options and what to expect. Take a look at the Wall Street Journal article, A Quest for an Energy-Efficient House, it is a review of home energy audit options from free DIY sources to the more costly high-tech professional service.

Recently there has been increased press coverage regarding the steps some state and provincial governments are taking to ensure that people can afford to stay warm this winter. Take a look at what is happening in Canada in this article from The Canadian Press. If you want a dose of reality — take a look at this article from the The Associated Press. Talk about depressing.

I am not against short-term subsidies, but the money being discussed begs the question — “Isn’t there a better way?” The same families that require the help this winter will most likely require the same help next year when fuel oil prices are even higher. Have we really made in any progress? We may have bought ourselves a little time, but that is all.

Of course the time we buy this winter will not save us for next winter — all of the wonderful energy projects being discussed on the national scene — wind farms, new oil production, solar power are years from widespread realization. So what is the answer?

Basically, there are two things that can be done aside from turning down your thermostat:

Improve home energy efficiency — sixty percent of the nergy used in the home is in the heating system. Insulation, weather stripping, and programable thermostats are just a few of the ways to reduce the fuel requirement in the home. In those regions of the country that are facing a crisis, why not make these improvements a requirement of, or even better yet, part of any fuel subsidy.

Move to a cheaper fuel source — In hard hit rural and small towns, wood or pellet fired systems are a viable option. Now, take that $750 subsidy and apply that to buy-down the interest rate on a loan or even better yet, provide a government guaranteed low interest loan. Imagine what that would do for to make a new wood/pellet heating system affordable AND provide a long-term solution to the heating dilemma. This type of program has been available in Europe for quite some time, so why are we so slow in exploring them?

The rhetoric surrounding the Presidential election is now picking up, especially after both parties recent conventions. Traditional topics are still front and center - education, the economy, and foreign policy to name a few. But now there is s new wrinkle.

As someone who pays more than he wants to at the gasoline pump and is concerned about how US energy policy affects other decisions made in Washington, I am cautiously optimistic about the potential to see some meaninful change in our energy dependence. Unlike elections in the past, energy and energy policy are now taking a higher profile.

Take a look at what each of the candidates are saying about their energy policy:

• McCain’s Lexington Project - http://www.johnmccain.com//Informing/Issues/17671aa4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4.htm
• Obama’s New Energy for America - http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy

Will anything change — if energy independence is important to you, I encourage you to become familiar with the candidates platforms and make your voice heard!

According to the 2000 US Census, there are over 15 million households in the US which use wood as a primary or secondary source of heat; a staggering number. Given that figure, I find it fascinating that little is known about high-efficiency wood boilers — one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly categories of products on the market today.

Here’s an interesting article that ran in the paper that serves Prince William Sound in the Gulf of Alaska.  The paper is the Cordova Times.  The whole concept of EPA designated wood boilers is finding some traction, even if it is in the remote parts of the U.S.  http://thecordovatimes.com/news/show/3020 

As a manufacturer of wood burning appliances the recent Boston Globe article on wood shortages causes me some angst. With fuel prices where they are now, demand for wood fuel has already put a strain on traditional suppliers and sources.  Articles like this one do nothing to address the problem, but rather set off a chain of events that will impact the people who can least afford it.

First, there is a rush on local fuel supplies which is great if you are a supplier, but it takes wood from folks who are not planning ahead. Let’s fast forward a month or so and you are one of those left out in the cold, what are you going to do? Burn wet or unseasoned wood. Lovely.

I don’t need to go into the problems created by burning wet wood – chimney fires, smoke and corrosion – not to mention the amount of wood required goes up dramatically.

So rather than acting like Chicken Little, these articles should be a bit more constructive and talk about what we can do:

·        If you don’t have to heat with wood this season – don’t! Wait until next year when the wood supply has a chance to catch up. Let your neighbors who need the wood have it.

·        If you have property, especially with fallen timber, you may want to share your good fortune and open your property up for some limited harvesting of downed and partially seasoned wood.

·        Insulate and weather seal your home. It is not too late – get moving!