PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in collaboration with Montana utilities, named Formula Fabrication the 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year for the state of Montana. The Libby-based company is known for quality installations, commitment to customer service and educating their community about the energy efficiency benefits of ductless heating and cooling systems. Over the past year the company has installed more ductless heating and cooling systems than any other contractor in Montana.

When the recession hit, our business really suffered, said Frank Sweedman, owner of Formula Fabrication. Ductless heating systems allowed us to tap into a whole new market and grow our business in a way thats great for our customers and our community they now account for 70 percent of our business.

A ductless heat pump is a highly efficient and easily installed primary heating and cooling system for electrically heated homes. These systems are safe, quiet and heat rooms evenly at a fraction of the cost of baseboard or wall heaters. Since 2008, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, in partnership with Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration and Energy Trust of Oregon, has worked with local businesses like Formula Fabrication to install more than 14,000 ductless heating and cooling systems in the Northwest, at a savings of 49,000,000 kWh per year. That is enough electricity to power 4,400 average homes each year.

Formula Fabrications success is also a success for our local economy, said Ross Holter, energy services supervisor, Flathead Electric. Thanks to their leadership in promoting ductless systems and their quality installations, our customers are enjoying more comfortable homes and are saving on their electric bills during tough economic times.

Each year, in collaboration with its regional utility partners, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project selects one Contractor of the Year representing each of the four states in the region. Winning companies are qualified as Master Installers, and have completed the highest number of ductless heating and cooling system installations in their state. In addition to Libbys Formula Fabrication, the other Contractor of the Year winners this year include: First Call Jewel in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Automatic Heat Service & Installation in Eugene, Oregon; and Advanced Energy Management in Tacoma, Washington.

Currently, 92 utility partners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington are offering customer rebates on energy-efficient ductless systems, up to $1,500, often covering 30-50 percent of the cost of an installed ductless system.

Visit GoingDuctless.com to learn about available incentives, purchasing this technology and to learn more about ductless heating and cooling systems.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization working to maximize energy efficiency to meet our future energy needs. NEEA is supported by and works in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Trust of Oregon and more than 100 Northwest utilities for the benefit of more than 12 million energy consumers. NEEA uses the market power of the region to accelerate the innovation and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved enough energy to power more than 568,400 homes each year. Energy efficiency can satisfy more than half of our new demand for energy, saving money, and keeping the Northwest a healthy and vibrant place to live. For more information, visit neea.org.

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Formula Fabrication Named 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year by the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in collaboration with Idaho utilities, named First Call Jewel the 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year for the state of Idaho. The 65-year-old, family-owned, Idaho Falls-based company is known for quality installations, commitment to customer service and educating their community about the energy efficiency benefits of ductless heating and cooling systems. Over the past year the company has installed more ductless heating and cooling systems than any other contractor in Idaho.

Weve been installing ductless systems for years, said Bob Bidstrup, owner of First Call Jewel. The technology is so efficient, and with the incentives available, more and more customers are asking for them. We have very happy customers.

A ductless heat pump is a highly efficient and easily installed primary heating and cooling system for electrically heated homes. These systems are safe, quiet and heat rooms evenly at a fraction of the cost of baseboard or wall heaters. Since 2008, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, in partnership with Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration and Energy Trust of Oregon, has worked with local businesses like First Call Jewel to install more than 14,000 ductless heating and cooling systems in the Northwest, at a savings of 49,000,000 kWh per year. That is enough electricity to power 4,400 average homes each year.

For customers with outdated or less efficient electric heating, ductless systems are a cost-effective and easy solution, said Todd Greenwell, Idaho Power Program Specialist. Our contractors like First Call Jewel have an important role in promoting the benefits of these systems; their work is helping our customers enjoy more comfortable homes while also saving on their electric bills.

Each year, in collaboration with its regional utility partners, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project selects one Contractor of the Year representing each of the four states in the region. Winning companies are qualified as Master Installers, and have completed the highest number of ductless heating and cooling system installations in their state. In addition to Idaho Falls First Call Jewel, the other Contractor of the Year winners this year include: Formula Fabrication in Libby, Montana; Automatic Heat Service & Installation in Eugene, Oregon; and Advanced Energy Management in Tacoma, Washington.

Currently, 92 utility partners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington are offering customer rebates on energy-efficient ductless systems, up to $1,500, often covering 30-50 percent of the cost of an installed ductless system.

Visit GoingDuctless.com to learn about available incentives, purchasing this technology and to learn more about ductless heating and cooling systems.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization working to maximize energy efficiency to meet our future energy needs. NEEA is supported by and works in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Trust of Oregon and more than 100 Northwest utilities for the benefit of more than 12 million energy consumers. NEEA uses the market power of the region to accelerate the innovation and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved enough energy to power more than 568,400 homes each year. Energy efficiency can satisfy more than half of our new demand for energy, saving money, and keeping the Northwest a healthy and vibrant place to live. For more information, visit neea.org.

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First Call Jewel Named 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year by the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in collaboration with Washington State utilities, named Advanced Energy Management the 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year for the state of Washington. The Tacoma-based company is known for quality installations, commitment to customer service and educating their community about the energy efficiency benefits of ductless heating and cooling systems. Over the past year the company has installed more ductless heating and cooling systems than any other contractor in Washington.

Ductless systems have played a huge role in growing our small business, accounting for a large portion of our revenue last year, said Craig Christensen, vice president and operations manager at Advanced Energy Management. These systems are a great way to improve our environment by improving the energy efficiency of your home. And because the payback on these systems is so quick from the energy savings achieved over a traditional heating system, they are a great investment for anyone looking to reduce their heating costs in these tough economic times.

A ductless heat pump is a highly efficient and easily installed primary heating and cooling system for electrically heated homes. These systems are safe, quiet and heat rooms evenly at a fraction of the cost of baseboard or wall heaters. Since 2008, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project, in partnership with Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration and Energy Trust of Oregon, has worked with local businesses like Advanced Energy Management to install more than 14,000 ductless heating and cooling systems in the Northwest, at a savings of 49,000,000 kWh per year. That is enough electricity to power 4,400 average homes each year.

Advanced Energy Management is a great example of a Washington small business that is thriving because of energy-efficient technology, said DuWayne Dunham, customer accounts rep. team leader, Clark Public Utilities. Through their leadership in promoting and installing ductless systems, Advanced Energy Management is helping energy customers save money on their electric bills and enjoy more comfortable homes.

Each year, in collaboration with its regional utility partners, the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project selects one Contractor of the Year representing each of the four states in the region. Winning companies are qualified as Master Installers, and have completed the highest number of ductless heating and cooling system installations in their state. In addition to Tacomas Advanced Energy Management, the other Contractor of the Year winners this year include: First Call Jewel in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Formula Fabrication in Libby, Montana; and Automatic Heat Service & Installation in Eugene, Oregon.

Currently, 92 utility partners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington are offering customer rebates on energy-efficient ductless systems, up to $1,500, often covering 30-50 percent of the cost of an installed ductless system.

Visit GoingDuctless.com to learn about available incentives, purchasing this technology and to learn more about ductless heating and cooling systems.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization working to maximize energy efficiency to meet our future energy needs. NEEA is supported by and works in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Trust of Oregon and more than 100 Northwest utilities for the benefit of more than 12 million energy consumers. NEEA uses the market power of the region to accelerate the innovation and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved enough energy to power more than 568,400 homes each year. Energy efficiency can satisfy more than half of our new demand for energy, saving money, and keeping the Northwest a healthy and vibrant place to live. For more information, visit neea.org.

Continued here:
Advanced Energy Management Named 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year by the NW Ductless Heat Pump Project

QUEBEC, March 22, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ -To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Cit Joie, the holiday and respite centre for people with disabilities, is receiving a sizable gift: annual savings of $10,000 on its heating costs thanks to the donation of two geothermal systems by Bryant Canada and its partners.

Greater comfort for vacationers Vacationers will enjoy exceptional comfort levels due to the air conditioning available in the summer with geothermal energy. Savings on heating costs will also allow Cit Joie to keep its services affordable for families that use them.

In all, 20 skilled volunteers will soon be busy installing the geothermal systems that will heat and cool Cit Joie's main building. "With these systems, Cit Joie will be able to reduce its hot water and heating costs by $10,000 a year. We are very proud to support Cit Joie in its mission, allowing as many parents as possible to enjoy a comforting break and more children with disabilities to enjoy a true holiday camp experience," said Lucie Medeiros, Regional Manager at Bryant Canada.

Holiday camp leader in sustainable development After drilling is completed by Samson et frres, Bryant Canada will provide the geothermal systems and Miville will be responsible for their installation. This donation, worth a total of $80,000, will also allow Cit Joie to continue along the path of sustainable development by adding to the wastewater treatment system already in place. "Being able to count on an entirely free energy source is invaluable for us. The money we save can be reinvested in the families of disabled children. What's more, by relying on energy that is entirely renewable and that will allow us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35 tons a year, we are maintaining our position as one of the very few green camps in Quebec. We will truly become a model for other camps in the province," said Denis Savard, General Manager of Cit Joie.

Geothermal energy Geothermal energy draws on natural heat found in the earth for heating or cooling. Heat stored in the ground is a free and renewable source of energy. A geothermal heat pump works much like any other heat pump by transferring heat from one place to another. To move this heat, a coolant is circulated in a loop. This liquid absorbs heat from the ground and transfers it to the heat pump. The fluid passes through a heat exchanger several times to extract as much heat from the earth as possible. In the summer, the circuit is simply reversed to extract heat from the building and send it into the cooler ground.

This donation was made possible through Bryant Canada's Extreme Comfort Renos Program, which aims to install heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in selected charitable organizations across Canada.

About Bryant Canada Bryant Canada has been providing heating and cooling solutions to keep Canadians comfortable since 1904. Furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners and ventilation systems all share a common characteristic: they all deliver dependable, worry-free comfort. Bryant Canada is a division of UTC Canada Corporation, an affiliate of Carrier Corporation, a leader in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems. Carrier Corporation is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "UTX"). UTC is a diversified company that includes Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Otis and Chubb.

About Miville Miville is a Quebec company whose mission is to provide its impressive array of customers with the highest level of indoor comfort possible by maintaining the ambient air in their homes. The company's expertise includes heating, ventilation, air conditioning and geothermal systems. Also an electrical contractor, Miville has extensive know-how in home automation, electrical entry and wiring, and communications.

About Samson et frres Samson & frres Inc. has been specializing in drilling since 1945. Active throughout Quebec, the company sets itself apart through its unique expertise and the quality of its work for residential, municipal and commercial customers in all areas of drilling.

About Cit Joie Cit Joie is a support centre for families living with disabled people. Its mission is to offer a range of services that provide a safe, healthy environment for the recreation and entertainment of people with disabilities. In addition, it ensures that parents and caregivers in the family receive adequate support from a temporary care facility that is well integrated with family life.

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Two geothermal systems donated by Bryant Canada and its partners - Cité Joie turns to geothermal energy: exceptional ...

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The lowincome Department of Energys Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has achieved many notable successes. Claims made earlier today in a report released by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Darrell Issa (R-CA), are a rehash of outdated and inaccurate misinformation about the program.

Timothy Warfield, Executive Director of the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) issued this statement in response to the report:

The House Oversight Committee was wrong in its characterization of the Weatherization Assistance Program. The program is state-of-the-art and was praised by the Government Accounting Office for influencing the direction of the private sector. While all accusations of inadequate work need to be addressed immediately by local program administrators, we agree with Secretary Chu that these examples cited in the report do not reflect the overall quality and success of the program. These instances are rare exceptions to an otherwise exceptional program.

The Weatherization Assistance Program, which has existed for more than 30 years, has been effective in reaching its goals to make homes of low-income families more energy efficient, safer, and healthier nationwide. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, the Weatherization Assistance Programs network of local providers weatherized approximately 700,000 homes nationwide, more than 100,000 homes than originally projected, resulting in families saving an average of $437 in heating and cooling costs per year at current prices.

Contractors engaged in the weatherization program are highly trained and have access to industry standard curriculum and resources. Weatherization crews use computerized energy audits and advanced diagnostic equipment, such as blower doors, digital combustion analyzers, and infrared cameras, to determine the most cost-effective measures appropriate for each home. To ensure cost effectiveness, crews install only those energy-efficiency measures that are determined by the energy audit to have an energy savings payback greater than the cost to install the measure.

In addition, during this extended period of high unemployment, the Weatherization Assistance Program is the second largest single job-creating program out of approximately 200 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus programs. The most recent results from the fourth quarter of 2011 found that the Weatherization Assistance Program created or retained 13,186 jobs during that period.

NASCSP urges the committee to review the Weatherization Assistance Program in its entirety, including its long history of successes, to give a more balanced depiction of this proven program.

About NASCSP

NASCSP is a professional association whose members are State administrators of the Department of Health and Human Services Community Services Block Grant and the Department of Energys Weatherization Assistance Program.

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Report Paints Inaccurate Picture of State-of-the-Art Weatherization Assistance Program

Ball State is building the nation's largest geothermal heating and cooling system. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Kcflood

MUNCIE, Ind. -- On an unusually warm day on the campus of Ball State University, Jim Lowe is giving a tour of the campus's huge, half-completed geothermal system.

Lowe, the director of engineering, construction and operations for Ball State, peppers his explanation of closed-loop systems, chilling stations and boreholes with banter on college basketball games and the history of the school, founded by the makers of Ball canning jars.

"The irony is, they came here for the natural gas," said Lowe, of the university's founders' arrival to Indiana to take advantage of the fuel for glassmaking. "And now we're using it for renewable energy."

Ball State is building what will be in 2014 the largest district heating and cooling ground-sourced geothermal facility in the United States (ClimateWire, May 29, 2009). Completion of the first phase will allow the university to shut down two of its four coal-fired boilers, cutting carbon emissions in half.

The new system will avoid emitting approximately 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide, as well as 1,400 tons of sulfur dioxide, 240 tons of nitrogen oxide, 200 tons of particulate matter and 80 tons of carbon monoxide. The switch will save Ball State $2 million per year and shelter the university from U.S. EPA's upcoming Boiler MACT regulations for hazardous air pollutants.

Today, the university will announce the unveiling of the second phase of the project with recorded speeches from Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar (R) and a keynote speech by noted renewable energy advocate Amory Lovins, chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Other schools are interested Geothermal systems generate energy thanks to the laws of thermodynamics: Thermal energy -- or heat -- will flow from higher-temperature to lower-temperature objects. In this case, water flows through vertical pipes running underground. In summer, the earth pulls heat out of the water. The resulting chilled water is used in air conditioning systems throughout campus. In the winter, the cold ground creates the opposite effect: It warms water for renewable heat and hot water systems.

The vertical, closed-loop district system -- meaning the warm and cool water it makes does not make contact with naturally occurring groundwater -- will connect nearly 3,600 boreholes, 500-foot narrow vertical wells with loops of pipes surrounded by grout. The boreholes cover 25 to 40 acres, buried under an old soccer field, parking lots and other green fields.

The first phase began in May 2009 and became operational last November. In the second phase, the university will install 780 boreholes of the remaining 1,800 and will build a new energy station with two 2,500-ton heat pump chillers and a hot-water loop around the south portion of campus. Eventually, the system will bring heat to more than 5.5 million square feet.

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How Ball State Will Get Its Heating and Cooling from Underground

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Shawn Long says she managed the Orange Park office of Bayside Heating and Cooling since January.

But she abruptly closed the doors last Thursday. She says she stopped getting paid, along with service technicians and other Bayside workers in the area.

She took us back to the office Monday -- her key still works -- and discovered it cleaned out.

"They will reopen. That's their MO. Each office here in Florida has had three or four different addresses where they just close and reopen at new locations," Long said.

She has stacks of paperwork, invoices and work orders dating back to January. Check out the license number that's at the top of all the work orders and invoices from the past few weeks -- CAC1816066. That license belongs to Michael Hubbard of Kissimmee.

Only problem is Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation revoked his license on January 23, which means he's not allowed to operate his A/C business. State investigators determined he wasn't getting permits for the A/C and heating orders.

"I personally asked Michael Hubbard, 'do I need to pull a permit for this install?' And he said no," Long said.

We left several messages with Michael Hubbard and other officials with Bayside Heating and Cooling. No one has called us back.

But others who used to work for Bayside say something is wrong. Larry Hagadorn says he used to schedule repair work, but his last two paychecks were returned due to insufficient funds.

"I started getting suspicious in December of last year when a lot of other employees' paychecks had bounced," he said.

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Workers Say A/C Company Operated without License

GRAND RAPIDS Despite one officials skepticism about the value of geothermal heating and cooling, the city will install the alternative energy systems at two of its fire stations.

The $274,000 project at the Leonard Street and Kalamazoo Avenue stations will be funded mostly by federal stimulus money, with $74,000 coming from the Grand Rapids Fire Department. The geothermal system, which extracts and pumps heat from underground, is expected to reduce energy costs and pay back the city's upfront expense in 7.5 years.

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Still, the payback is much longer when considering the full public investment in the systems.

My job is to be a Grand Rapids (advocate), so if in fact there are federal dollars we need to look at that payback and make an intelligent decision, First Ward City Commissioner Walt Gutowski said. Thats scary, though. You get all this subsidy and its still a 7.5-year payback. Its concerning for me that the technology has so far to go, yet.

They say geothermal is the cats meow, but (from a business perspective) its like buying renewable energy. I dont quite get that one either.

City engineer Mark DeClercq said a 2010 energy audit recommended geothermal systems for five Grand Rapids fire stations: Burton, Franklin, Kalamazoo, Leonard and Plainfield. But the fire department cannot afford to install systems in all five stations, and the stations at 1755 Leonard St. NE and 2541 Kalamazoo Ave. SE are most in need of new systems, he said.

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Allied Mechanical Services, Inc. is the contractor and GMB is the engineer. Gutowski said theres no way Id be supporting it without the federal funding.

That needs to be replaced anyway, said Haris Alibasic, director of the citys energy and sustainability office. Though a geothermal system costs more up front, after 8 years you have electricity almost free on site, he said.

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Geothermal gets cautious buy-in from Grand Rapids commissioner

By Jim Kasuba Twitter: @JKasuba

For decades, naysayers have pointed to their expense, relatively high in comparison to formerly abundant sources of fossil fuels, such as coal and crude oil.

But with those resources dwindling and emerging economies such as China and India competing for limited supplies, fossil fuels are becoming more expensive while several popular green energy technologies are coming down in price.

Cost issues aside, another problem environmentalists have with the burning of fossil fuels is the carbon dioxide they put into the atmosphere, considered to be a major contributor to global warming.

The Energy Information Administration estimated that in 2007 primary sources of energy in the world consisted of petroleum, 36 percent; coal, 27.4 percent; and natural gas, 23 percent. That equates to a total of 86.4 percent of the worlds energy being produced with fossil fuels.

Non-fossil sources include hydroelectric, nuclear, geothermal, solar, tide, wind, wood and waste. However, not all of those are considered renewable energy sources.

Although renewable energy sources constitute only a small fraction of energy being produced in this country, those numbers are on the rise.

Because state law mandates providers of electric service to establish renewable energy and energy optimization programs, its not a question of whether renewable energy should be utilized, but rather a question of which ones to use.

Public Act 295 of 2008 is a law that affects virtually every state resident.

The law requires providers to produce 10 percent of its power by 2015 with renewable sources. It further stipulates that the providers start generating or supplying the green power this year, and gradually phase it in.

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Sources of renewable energy are as old as the sun and wind, but how viable are they?

A new approach on how it cools and heats school gymnasiums has the potential to save the Jackson County School System thousands of dollars from traditional heating and air conditioning systems, according to officials.

The Talmo school would be the first in the district to use such a system instead of standard HVAC units. The proposed system can be typically found in metal warehouses.

Currently, the district uses just fans to cool its school gyms. Some elementary school gyms are warmed by electric heat, while others are heated by gas heat.

Installing a typical HVAC system at NJES would have cost the school system an estimated $90,000, according to a mechanical engineer with Southern A&E the group that handles the districts building projects.

If approved by the BOE next Monday, the project would save the district thousands of dollars because its maintenance crew will install the units at NJES, according to Josh Patton, an employee of the department. The new units could be installed at the school in two to three weeks, he added.

And if that configuration works at NJES, it could be expanded to other school gymnasiums in the district with inadequate cooling such as West Jackson Primary School, Maysville Elementary School, South Jackson Elementary School, Benton Elementary School, West Jackson Intermediate School and West Jackson Middle School.

For those schools, the engineer estimated that installing HVAC units would cost between $65,000 to $120,000 for each school. However, the engineer also said some of the schools may require additional electrical upgrades if HVAC units were installed, which would be another expense.

The heating and cooling system at NJES is just one of several projects that the Jackson County BOE is considering paying for with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenue.

The board cancelled its regular meeting on Monday because of a school holiday and instead will vote on the proposals during another meeting scheduled for Monday, March 19, at 6 p.m.

One item that the BOE is considering is $300,000 in SPLOST revenue to buy remote response systems for SmartBoards in every school.

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BOE considering new cooling system for gym