Our Mission

Good day!

Despite the current economy, Easy Energy continues, not only to thrive, but to grow as well. I would like to take this time to welcome our new Marketing Administrator, Dani, to the Easy Energy USA team. We are very excited to have you on board!

Also, we are offering a new, low-cost home energy inspection. This inspection includes visual health & safety inspections, a visual inspection of insulation levels,  air infiltration testing (guided by blower door and thermal imaging), an on-site consultation with the technician to review and discuss findings & recommendations, and an estimate for Easy Energy USA to implement recommended improvements.

For qualifying homeowners, this inspection may even be free of charge!* To find out if you qualify, please fill out our Pre-Audit Survey. You will be notified of your eligibility, via email or phone, within one business day.

*Restrictions may apply. Please contact Easy Energy USA for details.

This article from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, published today, outlines the the new Electronics Recycling Law to be put into action in Pennsylvania, outlawing the disposal of electronic devices with regular household trash. Trash handlers will no longer take these devices, unless designated pickup for these items is available in your area.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=19822&typeid=1

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/easiest-cheapest-way-stay-healthy


The above is a link to an excellent article on staying germ-free this cold & flu season.

-Jesse M.

Studies show that water heating accounts for approximately 10% of the total energy usage in commercial buildings. For businesses such as hotels and restaurants, this number is significantly greater. There are, however, ways to reduce hot water demand without sacrificing service, comfort, or integrity, and in doing so, a business can reduce their energy cost significantly.

Some simple ideas:

• Reduce hot water temperature. For activities such as dish washing & laundering, water as low as 120 degrees may be used safely.
  
• Install low-flow shower heads & faucet aerators. These devices help slow the flow of water while maintaining pressure & coverage.
  
• Find & repair any plumbing leaks.
  
• Insulate all hot water storage tanks and piping. 
  
• Turn off hot water circulating pumps during off-hours. 
  
• Operate dish machines and laundry machines only when there is a full load, using cold or warm water whenever possible.

A business may also consider running a more efficient water heating system. There are a number of different types of systems to choose from nowadays. For example:

• Solar Water Heating - Utilizes heat energy produced by the sun to heat water. However, in many regions, these systems may not meet water heating demand during the colder months, and supplemental water heating may be required.
  
• Tankless On-Demand Water Heating - Typically located at the point of use, these systems heat the water only when needed, reducing standby losses. They tend to be most effective in remote areas with only occasional use.
  
• Heat Pump Water Heating - This type of system uses electricity to move heat from one place to another, instead of generating it directly. They work on the same principles as an air conditioner, but in reverse, drawing heat energy from its surroundings and transferring it to a tank of water. Because of typically high indoor air temperatures and high demand for hot water, these systems work particularly well in a kitchen environment.
  
• Direct-Fire Water Heating - Demand water heaters that can handle much higher quantities of potable water. By mixing combustion heat directly with incoming water, they are able to perform at efficiencies of 98% or higher.
  

Finally, once a building has a reduced demand for hot water and an efficient system for heating water, it's time to consider heat recovery. Heat recovery is the capture of heat energy from fluids or gases that would otherwise be lost. Heat can be recovered from drain water, hot air, heat pumps, and many other places in a commercial building. 


-Jesse M.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 passed by Congress on January 3, 2013, provides extensions of energy tax credit provisions that benefit homeowners seeking energy-efficiency improvements. Under section 25C, homeowners can claim a $500 maximum tax credit to cover material costs of energy-efficient upgrades to existing homes for all taxable years. The credit is only redeemable if the upgrades are in place by the end of 2013.

If a taxpayer has claimed $500 or more of this tax credit in any year prior to 2013, they may not claim any additional credit. For those that remain eligible, the tax credit can be applied to any of the following upgrades:

• Insulation - Additional insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC (& supplements) specifications.
  
• Windows - 10% of material cost, up to $200 for replacement windows and skylights, and exterior doors that meet EnergyStar requirements.
  
• Windows must be equal to or below a 0.30 U factor and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30. Storm windows that meet the IECC in combination with their paired external window are eligible (taking into account the applicable climate zone). Storm doors paired with U-factor rated wood doors are eligible provided they do not exceed the default U-factor requirement for the combination. See the 2009 IECC for details.
  
• Window Films -The product must meet the requirements of a "qualifying insulation system" and be manufacturer certified.
  
• Home Sealing - Sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce infiltration and heat loss in a manner consistent with the 2009 IECC.
  
• Electric Heat Pump - Must yield an energy factor of at least 2.0 in the standard Department of Energy test procedure,
  
• Natural Gas & Propane Furnaces - Credit of up to $150 for furnaces that meet an Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) 95 or higher. Oil furnaces and gas, oil and propane boilers must meet an AFUE of 90 or better.
  
• Central air Conditioning Units and Air-Source Heat Pumps - Credit of up to $300 for units that meet the highest tier standards set by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) as of February 17, 2009, which in most cases requires a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 16.
  
• Natural Gas, Propane, or Oil Water Heaters - Must have an energy factor of at least 0.82 or thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent.
  
• Biomass Fuel Property - A stove that burns biomass fuel to heat a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a principal residence by the taxpayer; or to heat water for said dwelling unit, and must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent. 
  

MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2013/01/03/fiscal-cliff-deal-helps-pay-for-green-home-remodels/?ss=business%3Aenergy

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-news/energy-tax-credits-and-fiscal-cliff

http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US43F&re=1&ee=1