Frequently asked questions of the solar energy expert, Monica MerelFrequently asked questions of the solar energy expert, Monica Merel
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Frequently asked questions of the Home Efficiency expert:
Q:For how much time should I warm up an engine before driving?
A:The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days is needed. Anything longer than a few seconds of idling wastes fuel and increases emissions.
Also, excessive idling is against the law in NJ and may result in fines up to $1,000 (see http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/idling_fact_sheet_1.pdf for more information on idling in NJ).
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Q: How much does agressive driving affect gas mileage?
A: Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas mileage by 33% and city mileage by 5%. Driving at constant speed with minimal or no braking can save you between 0.08 to 0.55 cents per gallon of gas consumed.
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Q: What about the fuel efficiency of highway driving at fast speeds?
A: Avoid high speeds to maximize fuel efficiency. Above 60 mph, gas mileage and fuel efficiency drops rapidly. The fueleconomy.gov Web site shows how driving speed affects gas mileage. Maintaining speeds at 60 mph or less can save you between 0.12 to 0.38 cents per gallon of gas consumed. The fueleconomy.gov Web site shows how driving speed affects gas mileage.
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Q: Does cruise control save gasoline (and money)?
A: Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas (and by implication money).
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Q: Does air-conditioning use hurt gas-mileage?
A: When traveling at highway speeds, use of your air conditioner is a better bet than driving with windows open, which causes friction (actually aerodynamic drag), thus slowing down performance. When driving through cities and towns, a rolled down window is more efficient than air-conditioning. And so the answer depends on the driving context.
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Q: What about that extra stuff in my trunk?
A: Get rid of the extra weight if possible. The more your car weighs (passengers and cargo included) the more energy it takes to run it. Do you really need those 50lb. barbells in your trunk? Note that every 100 lbs. of extra weight will reduce miles per gallon by 2%.
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Q: Does stuff on the roofrack reduce efficiency?
A: Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%.
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Q: Can't I save money by buying a cheaper motor oil?
A: Use the grade of motor oil recommended by your car's manufacturer. Using a different motor oil can lower your gasoline mileage by 1%-2%. Penny wise.....
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Q: Do properly inflated tires really reduce fuel consumption?
A: Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%.
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Q: Is it time to get rid of my gas guzzler? Fuel prices seem to be going down?
A: Don't be fooled (again) by this temporary drop in energy prices. As the world economy picks up, fuel will rise based on supply and demand. Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient vehicle at any time. A fuel-efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative fuel vehicle could save you a lot at the gas pump and help the environment at the same time by reducing carbon emissions. See the Fuel Economy Guide for more on buying a new fuel-efficient car or truck.
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Q: Can I convert my existing Toyota Prius car into a “plug-in” vehicle?
A: There are companies today that can retrofit an existing hybrid car such as a Toyota Prius with additional battery capacity and a place to plug the car into a wall socket to charge up; these “plug-in” kits are available for example via http://www.thegreencarco.com/2009Prius.html
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Q: Can I buy a plug-in car that runs on electricity?
A: General Motors has announced the Chevy Volt for 2010 which is supposed to be able to run solely via an electric motor for the first 40 miles of travel and can be plugged in to recharge its battery. Likewise Toyota is rumored to be coming to market with a plug-in version of the popular Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle. http://www.thegreencarco.com/2009Prius.html
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Q: How do I find the most energy efficient clothes dryer?
A: Want to save money and protect the environment? Ask for ENERGY STAR...
An ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer can save you $550 in operating costs over its lifetime compared to a regular clothes washer. ENERGY STAR qualified washers are also better for the environment because lowering energy and water use means less air pollution from power plants and less water going to waste. More
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Q: Are there any Energy Star rated clothes dryers?
A: ENERGY STAR does not label clothes dryers since there is little difference in the energy use between models.
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Q: I have a dishwasher I purchased 15 years ago. It still works. Should I replace it to save energy?
A: Replacing a dishwasher manufactured before 1994 with an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher can save you more than $30 a year in utility costs. Because they use less hot water compared to new conventional models, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher saves about $90 over its lifetime. More
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Q: I have an old room air conditioner. It's noisy and doesn't seem very efficient. Should I replace it now?
A: ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners use at least 10% less energy than conventional models, and often include timers for better temperature control, allowing you to use the minimum amount of energy you need to cool your room. More
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Q: Are newer refrigerators and freezers much more efficient than older models?
A: ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators provide energy savings without sacrificing the features you want.ENERGY STAR qualified freezer models use at least 10% less energy than required by current federal standards.
These compact refrigerators and freezers use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards. Compacts are models with volumes less than 7.75 cubic feet. More
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Q: What is a Geothermal heat pump?
A: Geothermal heat pumps are similar to ordinary heat pumps, but use the ground instead of outside air to provide heating, air conditioning and, in most cases, hot water. Because they use the earth's natural heat, they are among the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies currently available. More
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IDo I need a programable thermostat?
A: Properly using a programmable thermostat in your home is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and help fight global warming? An ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home’s temperature in both summer and winter — when you are asleep or away. More
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Q: How much of a difference can efficient lighting make to my energy bills?
A: In the average U.S. home, lighting accounts for about 20% of the electric bill. Americans can save money and protect the environment by installing ENERGY STAR qualified lighting.
The easiest way to start saving energy is to change out the light bulbs in your current fixtures. If you are remodeling, building a new home, or just updating the look of a room, consider installing new ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures. More
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Q: How much is my home-office contributing to global warming and higher utility bills?
A: f every home office product purchased in the U.S. this year were ENERGY STAR qualified, Americans would save $200 million in annual energy costs while preventing almost 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gases – equivalent to the emissions of 250,000 cars. More
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Q: What is Solar Power?
A: Solar Power means using the sun's rays to generate electricity.
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Q: What makes it work?
A: Special silicon panels that are designed to absorb the sun’s rays and electrical equipment designed to convert these rays into electricity we can use.
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Q: Must solar panels be placed on a roof?
A: By placing solar panels on the roof, they are out of the way of parking lots, driveways, landscaped areas and yards. With special hardware, panels can also be mounted on the ground.
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Q: How do I know if my roof is suited for solar panels?
A: The roof surface required for a solar system to be effective and efficient should be "facing" or oriented south-southeast and should be free of shade from surrounding buildings, trees, etc. To access NJ State and utility solar-incentive financing, the system must be mounted facing south-southeast and be shaded no more than 20% overall.
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Q: What are the most common forms of solar energy?
A: Presently, for homes, the most commonly used "form" that produces solar energy are "modules" approx. 5 ft Long X 2 1/2 ft. Wide X 1 1/2 inches thick consisting of sun-absorbing silicon cells mounted in a picture-like frame behind clear glass which are additive when many are wired together to absorb energy from the sun. Many other types of silicon-absorbing designs are now available to match roofing materials like slate and asphalt. For commercial applications larger "peel-and-stick" (to the roof) 4 x 8 ft. x approx. 1" sheets and exterior (vertical) wall materials designed to absorb the sun's rays as well as the "module style" for roofs are available. More
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Q: What happens when the sun doesn't shine?
A: The amount of power created by a solar system is calculated based on the amount of sun absorbed over the course of an entire year, based on known sun data documented everywhere on the planet earth. Therefore, the times when the sun is not shining is taken into account and does not reduce the overall calculated efficiency of one's solar system. Most systems are 'grid-tied' or tied into the utility's power grid so when the sun is not shining energy is still available to the the building from the utility. Systems that are not tied to the "grid" but are self-contained are usually wired together with power storing equipment. Grid-tied systems can also be wired together with power storing equipment but this is not typically done.
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Q: Do solar cells store electricity?
A: No, solar cells are designed to absorb energy. Different and additional equipment is required to store energy.
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Q: Does solar work in the winter?
A: Yes, if the sun is shining and the solar absorbing cells are not covered, solar power can be created. With warmer winters, accumulated snowfall melts quickly, exposing these cells.
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Q: Are solar electric systems safe?
A: Yes. To guarantee safety and due to the power levels produced, per the State of New Jersey's Board of Electrical Examiners, solar systems must be installed by a licensed electrical contractor holding a business permit, trained in solar system installation.
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Q: How much does a PV solar roof cost to install?
A: The cost of a solar system depends on several factors:
1. How much electricity is being used in the home or business
2. How many panels can fit on the available surface area of the roof (if the
panels will be mounted on the roof) or how many panels can fit in the
amount of available space on the ground if the panels will be mounted on
special hardware on the ground.
3. How much the homeowner(s) or the business owner(s) want to invest upfront to
have a solar system installed, knowing he/she will make back the investment over time,
and continue making money on the system long after that.
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Q: How much will solar panels reduce my electric bill?
A: Approx. 75-90%, depending on living style, time of year, use of air conditioning, other energy conservation steps taken like replacing old refrigerators or replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, etc. (the cheapest form of renewable energy is the energy you don't waste). The table below compares
3 months in two years, after solar panels were added in April of 2008.
YEAR |
May |
June |
July |
3 Month Total |
2007 |
$ 54.46 |
$ 104.11 |
$ 133.14 |
$ 291.71 |
2008 |
$ 3.52 |
$ 22.97 |
$ 40.52 |
$ 67.01 |
| Difference ($) | $ 50.94 |
$ 81.14 |
$ 92.62 |
$ 224.70 |
| Difference (%) | -1447.16% |
-353.24% |
-228.58% |
-335.32% |
Q: Will solar panels add to the value of my home?
A: Yes. According to the Appraisal Institute, energy improvements to your home increase your home's value by approx. $20.00 for every $1.00 reduction in annual energy usage. For example, a $720.00 annual savings translates into a $14,400.00 increase in home value. As an example, if your system saves you $800/year, it would typically add $8,000-$16,000 to your home's value. More
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Q: What’s an energy audit?
A: It’s like taking your house the doctor for a check-up. Only these doctors make house calls! An energy auditor should have the tools to do a thorough audit (if you have a choice, ask for an in-depth or comprehensive audit). They will walk around your house and note how much insulation you have in your attic, how tight the windows are, how much insulation is in the floor, the age and type of the appliances, etc. They’ll ask a bunch of questions, and they should also use a blower door and an infrared camera.
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Q: What’s a blower door?
A: A blower door is a frame that the auditor will set up in the doorway to the outside with a large fan in it. The auditor will set up your house to make sure that air is coming from the right places and that the fan won’t be sucking a bunch of soot out of your woodstove or fireplace. The auditor will keep increasing the air flow out of your house until a standard negative pressure point (50 Pascals) is reached. That will tell the auditor how leaky the house is and what the possibilities are for improvement. The auditor should also be able to use a “smoke” pencil to determine where the leaks and holes are that need to be fixed.
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Q: What’s an infrared camera?
A: An infrared camera is better than putting your house through an X-ray machine. The camera can easily see where there are cold or hot spots indicating places where the insulation isn’t working the way it should. It can also be used to find water leaks if the temperatures are right. The camera sees differences in temperature. The greater the temperature difference the clearer the picture.
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Q: Where can I get an energy audit?
Environment South Orange does not endorse any particular provider of this service. Below is a list of licensed Energy Auditors. Like any unknown service provider, get references before committing.
CM Burrows, Inc. 1-866-BURROWS (287-7697)
Green Living Solutions 201-390-4280
Home Energy Diagnostics
973-680-1244
Home Energy Tuneup 201-530-1553
Home Inspection Technologies
609-835-0101
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Q: Why would I need an energy audit?
A: A house is a system. You will get the most value for your investment if you make improvements in the right order. For example, if you decide to change your central air conditioner before you improve your insulation, you might end up with an air conditioner that is oversized. Besides being a waste of money, if the AC is oversized it won’t make you comfortable because it won’t run long enough to dry out the air. Many utilities have rebates for solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) systems, but they won’t give them to you unless you get an energy audit first. Getting an energy audit is like getting a road map. You may not be able to afford or have the right roof for a full PV system, but it might be able to carry some of your load.
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Q: What is the best time to arrange for an audit?
A:Start the process early. Conservation home energy audits are becoming more popular, so companies that specialize in that kind of work are finding themselves busier. In some areas the wait for a professional home audit can run several months.
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Q. What do I do after the inspection?
A: Read the report carefully. The professional analysis done from your conservation home energy audit should identify areas that need attention as well as provide you with the cost savings from making changes. This information is important as you decide what improvements you want to make and how much you can pay for the project.
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Q: Should I use an auditor that can sell me services or products recommended by the audit?
A:We suggest that the auditor be independent of the services recommended by the audit. In this way you are sure the auditor has no ulterior motive for including items in the report. Independent contractors (or do it youself) can follow the guidelines appearing in the report.
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Frequently asked questions of the Energy Audit expert:
Note: While we are still searching for an energy audit expert (if you know of a reliable one, tell us), we provide this Q&A from articles found on the internet:
Always ask for endorsements from customers who have
dealt with any vendor or contractor appearing on this site. More
Monica Merel
is our Solar Energy expert. She founded MGM Properties Electrical (located right here in South Orange) in 2000. In 2007 the company had revenue of $2.5 million. MGM focuses on installing power, lighting and solar electric systems for residential and commercial customers.
Monica is one of only 2% of all licensed electricians in the U.S. who are women. She holds a BA degree from Sarah Lawrence College and an MBA from Rutgers' Executive MBA program. Monica's public and private contracts, construction management and electrical expertise includes field training through IBEW Local 581 where she wired apartment buildings, hospitals & power plants. Monica and her company, in addition to installing the solar equipment per safety code requirements, have helped numerous homeowners and businesses access New Jersey's State and Public Utility financial solar incentive programs to make solar affordable and cost effective. Her company, MGM, has performed code-compliant, inspector-approved electrical projects on hundreds of homes and buildings, including the Meadowlands Commission's New Science Center & Observatory, a 100% LEED building in Lyndhurst NJ which is powered by solar energy.
Monica can be reached at her office: 973-763-2095, or you can e-mail her at: m.merel@mgmproperties.com
Eric Hoffert has more than twenty years of experience leading new business, product, and technology development in enterprise software, rich media, and alternative energy. Eric currently serves as the CEO of Versatility Energy, an energy consulting and systems engineering firm. Energy projects have included R&D of advanced architectures for vehicles powered by renewable energy sources, wireless power transmission, and space based solar power systems. Eric also serves as Chairman of Versatility Software, Inc. with clients and projects including the Walt Disney Company, Stanford University, Procter and Gamble, etc. Prior to Versatility, Eric managed Apple Computer's Multimedia Communications Group, where he launched the QuickTime software product and led development of the first real-time software video running on the QuickTime multimedia standard. The patented technology he developed is now used on more than 500 million computers worldwide.
Prior to joining Apple, Eric was a research scientist at AT&T’s Bell Laboratories. He holds sixteen US patents, has published more than a dozen papers, and has lectured in the US, Europe, and Asia. Eric holds a B.S. in Computer Science from NYU, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cooper Union, and an M.S. in Computer Science from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. Eric received the Apple CEO Technical Award and is listed in Who’s Who in America (2007 edition and later).