Washington County recognized as gold sustainable community by TVA

Sept. 12, 2013 – Washington County has earned a gold rating in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s new “Valley Sustainable Communities” program, and the designation should help the community better compete for jobs and investment.
 
The gold level designation recognizes that a community has taken a leadership role in implementing sustainable practices and has made a commitment to sustainability efforts focused on economic development.

A sustainability team with representatives from local governments, non-profit groups, the Johnson City Power Board, businesses and schools all worked closely with the WCEDC on an application after TVA introduced the program in January. The initiative helps communities evaluate their sustainable assets and programs, and encourages them to promote those and to increase their commitment to sustainability – all with an eye toward being more economically competitive in a world where those issues matter.
 
“Corporations are as concerned as ever with operating in a sustainable manner,” WCEDC Chairperson Lottie Ryans, a vice president with Century Link, said. “This designation, and the work our community does to improve and expand its sustainable assets, can provide a competitive edge as we work to attract new jobs and investment.”
 
TVA’s economic development arm plans to provide significant extra marketing resources to promote the designated communities across the Valley.
 
“TVA Economic Development’s mission is to work with our region’s communities to help them be prepared and differentiate themselves to better compete in global markets,” said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development.  “We plan to provide marketing resources to promote the designated sustainable communities.  These efforts will include online and direct mail to corporations that have shown commitment to sustainable business models.”

The Chairman and CEO of Kingsport-based Eastman Chemical Co., a Fortune 500 company with a verified track record of sustainability, welcomed the news that a nearby community had achieved the designation.
 
“As a company with a longstanding, strong commitment to sustainable practices, we know the many benefits of pursuing sustainability, and we know that practiced wisely, sustainability is economically beneficial,” Eastman’s Jim Rogers said. “We are pleased to learn that one of our local communities has pursued and attained TVA’s new program.”

With Tennessee’s oldest curbside recycling option, an innovative landfill gas-to-energy program, a growing greenway and green space network, and a growing focus on promoting sustainable development, the City of Johnson City played a major role in demonstrating to TVA’s consultant, Boyette Strategic Advisors, that Washington County merited the second-highest designation.
 
“We live in a beautiful environment here in Washington County, so it only makes sense to preserve our assets sustainably,” Johnson City Mayor Dr. Ralph Van Brocklin said. “As Tennessee’s first ‘Green City,’ Johnson City has shown a strong commitment to sustainable practices, as have other important institutions and businesses throughout the county. It’s gratifying to see that commitment recognized, and we look forward to promoting that designation in our economic and community development efforts.”
 
 The goal of the program is to increase the likelihood that communities will be viewed as progressive and competitive by companies planning to invest in new or expanded business locations. The Johnson City Power Board’s sustainable initiatives also contributed to the successful application, and its CEO, Jeff Dykes said he anticipates further emphasis on sustainable energy practices in the future.
 
“I’m glad TVA is encouraging this aspect of economic development,” Dykes said. “Being a part of the application process and seeing ETSU, the City, Jonesborough, Mountain States Health Alliance, environmental advocates and Washington County all around the table with us was an encouraging sign that the whole community is serious about sustainability.”
 
Learn more at www.thewcedc.com/sustainability.php or by contacting the WCEDC’s Jeff Keeling at (423) 794-9173 or keeling@thewcedc.com.

Plasmonic nanostructures could prove a boon to solar cell technology

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found a way to harvest energy from sunlight more efficiently, with the help of so-called plasmonic nanostructures. The new findings suggest that plasmonic components can enhance and direct optical scattering, creating a mechanism that is more efficient than the photoexcitation that drives solar cells. The development could therefore provide a real boost to solar cell efficiency and lead to faster optical communication.

When photons hit the surface of a solar cell, the energy they carry is absorbed by the atoms of a doped semiconductor. If the energy absorbed is higher than a set threshold, known as the energy gap, then electrons are set free and can be used to generate electricity.

Read full article HERE

Making Your Home Energy Efficient Room by Room: Basement

Is your basement cold, drafty or damp? Do you have appliances that may be costing you more money than they need to? Would you like to improve your comfort while saving energy and reducing your utility bills? These energy saving tips for your basement just might be the solutions you need to make your basement more cozy and energy efficient.

Reduce Humidity in the Basement

Does your basement smell musty? Is there mold or mildew, condensation on windows, or rotting wood? If there is, you most likely have a humidity problem. Increased humidity can make your space uncomfortable, and cause or aggravate allergies from mildew, mold and mites. The ideal relative humidity level for comfortable and healthy living is between 30 and 50 percent. If your relative humidity level is outside that range, you may experience problems.

If you are experiencing high levels of humidity, check that the vent from your clothes dryer is venting to the outside, and not into your basement. Make sure that the ground outside slopes away from the house and that all downspouts release water at least three feet from the building. If you're still experiencing high humidity, you can use a dehumidifier to remove the excess moisture from the air. Look for one with the ENERGY STAR logo, which uses less energy than standard models and can save you over $200 in energy costs over the life of the unit.

Energy Saving Tips for Your Water Heater

·         Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120F (many are set to 140F) or lower, and save over $350. You won't notice a difference in the heat of your water, but you'll save money on your energy bills.

·         Touch the tank on your water heater. If it feels warm, you can save energy - and money - by installing an insulating "jacket" or "blanket". Easy to install, it costs around $10 to $20 and will pay for itself in energy savings within a year (you'll save over $30 a year). Choose one with a minimum R-value of 8.

·         For additional savings, insulate the hot water pipes coming out of the water heater to keep the water hot until it reaches its destination - the tap. This is especially important where pipes travel through uninsulated areas like crawlspaces.

·         Why pay to heat water when you're not home? Before leaving on vacation, turn off your electric water heater, or turn down your gas water heater.

·         If you're buying a new water heater, save energy with a tank less water heater. Unlike traditional water heaters that continually heat water and keep it on reserve in a tank for whenever you may need it, tank less water heaters supply hot water only on demand. You won't waste money heating water 24/7, and you'll always have hot water when you need it.

Old Fridges Suck Energy

Do you have an old fridge running in your basement (or garage)? If you do, it's costing you $90 or more to operate each year. Can you survive without it? If you absolutely need a second fridge, consider getting a new, smaller bar-sized fridge. New fridges are far more energy efficient than those manufactured before 1993. How much is your old refrigerator costing you?

For maximum efficiency, keep your fridge and freezer as full as possible. Unplug the fridge when it's empty and remember to keep the fridge and freezer doors open when the fridge is unplugged.

Seal Your Basement to Save Energy

A common place for air to escape your home, or for drafts to occur, is around vents, ducts, pipes and electrical wires that lead to the outside. To increase your home's energy efficiency and lower your energy bills, seal small gaps with caulk, and fill holes up to three inches with spray foam. For gaps or holes larger than three inches, cover with foam board and seal with spray foam. Be sure to seal all areas between the sill plate and the foundation, and in the spaces between rim joists. Basements are a common place for significant air leaks. You can really improve your home's energy efficiency. Save money on your energy bills, and help the environment by sealing all the leaks in your basement and the rest of your home.

Making Your Home Energy Efficient Room by Room: Laundry

Washing clothes by hand and hanging them to dry is the most energy-saving approach to laundry in terms of electricity.  But let’s get real. Most of us don’t have the personal energy to hand-wash and air-dry all of our clothes!

You most likely spend hundreds of dollars per year on electricity to wash and dry your clothes, but it’s easy to save electricity in your laundry room with some simple tricks. Get ready to shrink your electric bill – but not your clothes.

Wash Right

Energy-Efficient Laundry Guide
Clothing Type	Washing
Darks, bright colors, delicates	COLD wash Tip: Cold water keeps colors from bleeding and fading, and prevents shrinkage.
Silk	COLD, hand-wash
Wool	COLD, hand-wash

·         Use cold water. According to ENERGY STAR almost 90% of the energy consumed by your washing machine is used simply to heat water. Given that, you can save a lot of energy by washing your clothes in cold water. In fact, switching to cold-water clothes washing for a year can save enough energy to run an average home for up to two weeks! Cold-water washing also keeps colors bright, reduces wrinkling and won’t set stains.

·         Although you may find that regular detergent is sufficient,try out cold-water detergents that are specifically formulated to work in cooler temperatures.

·         Run a full load. The machine will use the same amount of mechanical energy, regardless of how full it is. If you don't run a full load, be sure to set the water level for the amount of laundry you are running.

·         Use energy-saving settings. Avoid the excessively hot “sanitary cycle,” but do choose the “high spin” option to cut down on drying time. And don’t wash for longer than you need to – some loads only need 10 minutes of washing.

·         Set your water heater to 120 degrees F (instead of the usual 140 F) so you can save energy even when washing clothes in hot or warm water.

Get Smart about Drying

·         Sort similar fabrics together, starting with a load of fast-drying fabrics, and do back-to-back loads to take advantage of residual heat.

·         Clean the lint filter after each dryer load to improve air circulation and cut down on drying time.

·         Use energy-saving settings. Select low temperature for delicates and medium for most clothes. Choose auto-dry instead of timed-dry to prevent over-drying, which causes shrinkage and static electricity and generally wears clothes out.

·         Get a drying rack for “almost-dry” clothes, delicates and silks. Fabrics like wool should be laid flat to dry. 

·         Throw in a clean, dry towel or tennis ball to dry clothes quicker. The towel absorbs moisture, while the tennis ball helps circulate air between clothes.

Buying a New Washing Machine?

If you are in the market for a washing machine, get one with the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR washing machines use 37% less energy and 50% less water than regular ones – both of which can save you hundreds of dollars over the life of the machine.

Making Your Home Energy Efficient Room by Room: Bathroom

There are several places you can look to save energy in your bathroom, from lighting to ventilation to water use and more. Use these energy saving tips to save energy and increase your comfort and safety in your bathroom.

Save Energy with Energy Efficient Bathroom Lighting

Bathroom lights are some of the most commonly used lights in an average American home. Vanity lighting often has several light bulbs that use excess electricity and produce lots of heat. You can start saving up to 75 percent on your lighting costs immediately by replacing your incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified LED bulbs or compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). ENERGY STAR qualified residential LED bulbs uses at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs while providing optimal light color.  Compact fluorescent bulbs provide high quality lighting and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. CFLs provide warm, bright lighting and generate less heat than incandescent lighting.  LEDs generate no heat. To save energy on bathroom lighting, you may also consider replacing your lighting fixtures with ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures, which come in a wide variety of styles. Some of the best advice for saving energy - turn off the lights when you leave!

Use a Ventilation Fan

Control moisture as well as mold and mildew growth by installing a properly-sized bathroom exhaust fan, and running it while you shower or bathe, and for 15 minutes afterward. ENERGY STAR models run quieter than standard fans, and can provide significant energy savings. ENERGY STAR ventilation fans that have lighting built in use around 65% less energy than standard models, which can save you around $120 over the life of the fan. To prevent moisture, mold and mildew problems, make sure that the ducts from the fan lead to the outdoors, and not into the ceiling. Learn how to prevent moisture problems and how to prevent mold, mildew, and musty odors.

Use Water Efficiently

Using a low-flow 2.5 gallon-per-minute shower head, you'll save 5 gallons of water by taking a 10-minute shower compared to a typical bath. You'll also save up to $145 per year on electricity. Of course, taking shorter showers will increase the savings.

Do you have a leaky faucet in the bathroom sink, tub or shower? If you do, it's probably wasting more water and energy than you realize. A leak of a drop per second may not seem like a big deal, but over a year you've wasted 1,661 gallons of water! And if it's hot water, you've thrown up to $35 down the drain in electricity or natural gas costs. Save water and energy. Fix drips today!

Air Sealing for Comfort and Energy Efficiency

You can improve energy efficiency, reduce drafts and help prevent common mold, mildew and moisture problems in the bathroom by sealing air leaks around windows, baseboards and floors. Learn what you can do to help prevent moisture on windows. You can also improve the energy efficiency in your bathroom by sealing gaps or holes around plumbing pipes, ductwork and electrical wiring.

Making Your Home Energy Efficient Room by Room: Living Area

The living room is a gathering spot for family and friends to spend quality time. It's also a place where you can take simple steps to be more energy-efficient.

Table Lamp

Replace your highest-use fixtures or the light bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR models.

Living room table and floor lamps are two of the most used light fixtures in a home. Conventional torchiere lamps also can be the highest wattage light fixtures in the home. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures and replacement bulbs can be found at home improvement and hardware stores, lighting showrooms, and other retail stores, including online outlets.

Ceiling Fan w/ Lighting

Depending on when and how you operate them, ceiling fans can provide comfort and help you save on your energy bills.

In the winter, your ceiling fan can help improve your comfort. Most fans have a switch that allows you to reverse the motor and operate the ceiling fan in the opposite direction. This produces a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the living space.

In the summer, check to make sure your fan is blowing air downward to help you feel cooler. On hotter days, dialing up the thermostat by only two degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. Use low wattage CFLs in the ceiling fan light fixture for cooler light bulbs and more energy savings. And remember: Ceiling fans cool only people, not the room, so when you leave the room, turn the ceiling fan off.

Light Switch

Remember to always turn off your lights when leaving a room.

Drapes

During cold weather, take advantage of the sun's warmth by keeping drapes open during daylight hours. To keep out the heat of the summer sun, close window shades and drapes in warm weather.

Power Strip

Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point for electronics, video games, and computers when not in use.

Air Register

Make sure that the connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, walls, and ceiling. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork. Also make sure that all vents are clear of any furniture or rugs to improve air flow and comfort. If your home has radiators, you can place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.

Window

During the winter months, replace your screens with storm windows to provide an extra barrier to the cold outside air. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors that leak air. If replacing windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified models designed for your area, and save $150–500 per year in energy costs. With proper installation to ensure all gaps around them are sealed, ENERGY STAR qualified windows can help improve your comfort, cut drafts, and reduce fading of interior furnishings.

Learn how to fix problems with moisture on windows in your home.

Apply caulk and weather stripping around windows and doors that leak air.

Fireplace Damper

Close the flue damper tightly when not in use. Otherwise, warmed or cooled air can easily escape from the house.

A chimney is designed to remove by-products from a fire by creating a draft. The draft also pulls air from your home up the chimney-air that you've paid to cool or heat. Even without a fire in the fireplace, there still will be a draft in the chimney as long as there's a temperature difference between indoors and out. Closing the damper will keep air conditioned (or warmed) air in the living space where it belongs.

Home Theatre System

Look for the ENERGY STAR on consumer electronics products. These products use less energy without sacrificing quality or performance. Seal any holes with caulk or spray foam where pipes or TV/cable wires and vents enter or exit your home.

Consumer electronics play an increasingly larger role in your home's energy consumption, accounting for up to 15 percent of household electricity use. Many consumer electronics products use energy even when switched off. Electronics equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR help save energy when off, while maintaining features like clock displays, channel settings, and remote control functions.

Outlet

Unplug any battery chargers or power adapters when not in use.

Making Your Home Energy Efficient Room by Room: Bedroom

You want your bedroom to be as comfortable as possible, for sleeping and when you're awake. Use these simple energy saving tips to make your bedroom more energy efficient and comfortable at the same time.

Energy Efficient Bedroom Lighting

Replace fixtures and bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified lighting products. One of the easiest places to start saving energy in your bedroom is with lighting. You can start saving up to 75% on your lighting costs immediately by replacing your incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified LED bulbs or compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). ENERGY STAR qualified residential LED bulbs uses at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs while providing optimal light color.  Compact fluorescent bulbs provide high quality lighting and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

You can also save energy in the bedroom by replacing your regular lighting fixtures with ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures. They come in a wide range of designs, from floor and table lamps to ceiling fixtures, to suit any style. You can save more than $65 a year in energy costs simply by replacing your 5 most used lights with ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs or fixtures. And whichever light bulbs or fixtures you use, remember to turn off the light when it's not being used.

TV and Other Electronic Devices

Consumer electronics account for 15% of household electricity use in the US, on average. That makes it a good place to start saving energy. TV's, DVD players and other electronic devices can eat up a lot of electricity, so be sure to turn them off whenever they're not being used. TVs are getting larger. In fact, some of the largest, high resolution, direct view TVs (versus rear projection products) can use as much electricity each year as a new, conventional refrigerator, or roughly 500 kWh, every year.  So if you're buying new equipment, choose products with the ENERGY STAR logo. ENERGY STAR qualified televisions use about 40% less energy than standard units. Many devices use energy even when they're turned off.  They use less energy when the device is switched off, and still maintain functions like clocks and channel settings. To save more energy, always unplug power adapters, cell phone chargers and other battery chargers when not in use.

Seal Windows for Comfort and Energy Savings

You want to stay cozy in your bedroom, especially in the winter months. To avoid drafts in the winter, replace window screens with storm windows, which help prevent cold outside air from entering your bedroom. Even with storm windows, you may find window and door frames that leak cold air and reduce your energy efficiency. Caulk and weather-strip around the leaky frames to reduce drafts. If your windows are old and in need of replacement, look for ENERGY STAR qualified models that are rated for your climate zone (your window contractor or retailer will be able to help you choose the right windows). With proper installation, you can save up to $95 per year in energy costs and have improved comfort, less drafts and protect your interior furnishings from fading.

Energy Saving Tips for Window Air Conditioners

Do you have a window air conditioner in your bedroom? If you do, you can save money with these energy saving tips:

• During winter months, cover the air conditioner from the outside with a tight-fitting insulating cover to keep heated indoor air from escaping to the outside. Or better yet, remove the air conditioner for the best protection against energy loss and to prevent drafts.

• The air conditioner should fit tightly in the window to prevent hot outdoor air from getting in.

• If you're buying a new window air conditioner, consider an ENERGY STAR qualified model, which uses at least 10% less energy than standard air conditioner models.

Keep Air Vents Clear

To maximize your comfort and energy efficiency, make sure air vents and registers aren't blocked by furniture, so air can flow freely throughout the room.