As I'm sure we all know, power usage has been on a steady incline for decades. However, Rob recently came across an article on Yahoo! Finance that blew my mind. Despite the plethora of power-demanding devices now cluttering people's homes, the demand for power is actually leveling off.

This can be attributed partially to the use of more efficient products, such as CFL and LED lighting as opposed to conventional incandescent lighting.

There are several other factors attributing to this decline in demand for power, as well. For instance, new homes are being built to be much more energy efficient, and there are many government-funded programs to help reduce energy usage in pre-existing homes.

Read the Yahoo! Finance article here.

Jesse M.

Courtesy ASHRAE's HVAC&R Industry Newsletter:

NEW YORK—The Empire State Building has been awarded LEED Gold for Existing Buildings certification as a result of its recent $550 million renovation. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it is the tallest building in the U.S. to receive LEED certification. The renovation is designed to reduce the building's energy consumption by more than 38%, yielding a $4.4 million savings in energy costs annually. The improvements also reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 105,000 metric tons over 15 years. Sustainable measures implemented include retrofitting all 6,514 windows, upgrades to the building management system, and installation of reflective insulation behind all of the building's radiative barriers to redirect heat inward.

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The East Coast has seen some devastating disasters in recent weeks. First, a magnitude-5.8 earthquake, its epicenter in Louisa County, Virginia, rattles much of the East Coast from New England down to Alabama. Just a few days later, Hurricane Irene pays a visit to the Coast, bringing major flooding. Shortly thereafter, yet another hurricane, Katia, bombards the Eastern Seaboard, forcing more water between the old, and newly-formed, cracks in our buildings.

It doesn't take long for that moisture to find its way to something organic, and then there's a major problem. Mold.

First, something needs to be done about the water. An EEA newsletter led me to these pages onformation on how to deal with flood waters in your home can be found via NAMM and the US CDC: Flood Victim’s Advice - NAMM; Reentering Your Flooded Home and Protect Yourself From Mold - CDC.

Once the water's gone, the damage should be assessed, as well as the potential for further damage. Humidity levels, dewpoints, and saturation points should be determined. Thermal Imaging may be used to identify the extent of the damage. With this information, a drying plan can be developed.

Mold may contaminate a building in as little as 24 hours. Easy Energy USA offers Mold Assessment, Prevention, & Remediation services throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Don't wait until it's too late. Stop mold before it starts by eliminating the source.

Jesse M.

LOS ANGELES—Recent research projects suggest that energy efficiency and sustainability certifications for homes may result in easier sales and higher prices. The Earth Advantage Institute, a nonprofit group based in Portland, Ore., found that newly constructed homes with third-party certifications for sustainability and energy efficiency sold for 8% more on average than noncertified homes in the Portland metropolitan area. Existing houses with certifications sold for 30% more. A recent study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research on houses in San Diego and Sacramento, Calif., found that installations of photovoltaic solar panels on homes in the $500,000 range yielded an increase in appraised value of $20,194—a 97% rate of recovery on the investment.

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