RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -

Appalachian Power is proposing ways for its Virginia customers to reduce energy usage and demand.

The utility on Friday filed a request with the State Corporation Commission seeking approval for four residential programs and two for commercial and industrial customers.

Customers could see a one-half of a percent increase on their bills.

Appalachian Power expects the programs to save the equivalent of the total annual average usage of 3,000 homes.

The residential programs would provide home assessments and incentives for long-term energy reduction; provide free pickup and cash incentives for removing second refrigerators or freezers from the power grid; give incentives if new manufactured housing is built to efficiency standards; and offer retail rebates and markdowns for high-efficiency lighting and appliances.

A financial incentive for commercial and industrial users would tie to specific results from installing high-efficiency lighting and heating and cooling equipment. Another would provide rebates for certain larger energy conservation projects.

Appalachian Power has about 500,000 Virginia customers.

Here is the news release from Appalachian Power:

Appalachian Power has proposed six new programs that will help its Virginia customers reduce energy usage and demand. The company today filed a request with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) seeking approval for the portfolio of programs that will benefit residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) customers.

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Appalachian Power proposes efficiency programs, possible bill increase

Source: Watsco.

As the winter months approach, homeowners across the country are looking at the prospects of high heating costs once again, and many are looking at possible ways to cut their utility bills. Those are exactly the drivers of demand that Watsco is looking for, as it takes responsibility for getting systems from suppliers like United Technologies 'Carrier division and the local repair and installation companies that put in and maintain HVAC systems in homes across the country. As trends like the move from heating oil to natural gas in many areas of the country have taken hold, Watsco has been able to capitalize on increased demand for more efficient heating and cooling systems. Yet some investors were nervous about Watsco's prospects for its third-quarter results, given a relatively cool summer season. Let's take a closer look at how Watsco did last quarter.

Racking up records at Watsco Watsco touted a number of record results for its third quarter, as the company enjoyed solid gains in its most important metrics. Revenue climbed by 5% to a record $1.135 billion, helping to drive earnings per share up 18% to $1.56, also a record. The most important driver of those positive results was margin expansion and cost containment, as Watsco saw gross profit margins rise by three-tenths of a percentage point and operating margins climb by half a percentage point. Overhead costs fell to record low levels, and operating profits jumped 10% to record levels of $105 million.

Source: Watsco.

Looking at Watsco's various business units, the company produced solid growth in most of its key segments. Revenue from HVAC equipment, which makes up about two-thirds of overall sales, climbed 7%, with residential equipment in particular seeing 8% growth as Watsco captured a greater portion of the overall market. In particular, Watsco saw continued efforts from homeowners seeking to take advantage of incentives for high-efficiency residential heating and cooling systems, as the company reported double-digit percentage growth in the high-efficiency area. Commercial refrigeration sales gained 14%, leading the company's segments. Only the Other HVAC Products category reported flat results compared to last year's levels.

Also helping to drive Watsco's results higher was its increased ownership interest in its joint venture with Carrier. With the company having partnered up with the United Technologies division in 2009, Watsco has generated considerable success from the venture, and Watsco decided to spend $88 million to raise its stake in the venture from 70% to 80%.

What's coming next for Watsco? In light of its success, Watsco said that it expects to see earnings per share for the full 2014 year come in between $4.20 and $4.40. That would represent growth of between 14% and 20%, and it's consistent with the $4.26 per share consensus among investors.

Source: Watsco.

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Watsco Stays Hot Despite the Summer's Cool Weather

UNM energy engineers at the Physical Plant Department were recognized by the New Mexico Association of Energy Engineers with two prestigious awards for decades of achievements in increasing energy efficiency on campus.

The PPDs Engineering and Energy Services division won the Corporate Energy Management award for outstanding accomplishments in developing, organizing, managing and implementing their corporate energy management program, according to the NMAEE website.

And Donald Swick, University facilities engineer, was honored with Energy Engineer of the Year award for his lifetime achievements.

The award is given to an individual for outstanding accomplishments in promoting the practices, principles and procedures of energy engineering, the website said.

Swick said his individual award is based on his work in energy conservation for the past 40 years at various locations around the state. Most of his work at UNM has involved upgrading the infrastructures of some of UNMs oldest facilities, such as Northrop and Regener Halls, he said.

Each of those projects was a total upgrade of building controls, improvements to the heating and cooling systems and reduced wattage to lighting systems, Swick said. Typically, we saw in the range of 35- to 45-percent savings in each of those projects.

The true honor is having the opportunity to work with a talented group of engineers at the PPD, he said.

Not only are we looking at projects that involve improving the performance within buildings, we have developed a group of technicians that have the training and the skills to install, operate and maintain these new digital control systems, Swick said.

David Penasa, facilities engineer-electrical, said he has been involved with the PPD for 11 years. He and his fellow engineers have been working hard to reduce UNMs energy dependence and to be recognized for (their) work is extremely gratifying, he said.

The fact that we can save on the order of more than a million dollars a year in utility costs by implementing these energy conservation projects, I think, is pretty impressive, Penasa said.

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Physical plant receives awards

Rooftop wind turbines in Queens and Brooklyn Rooftop wind turbines in Queens and Brooklyn

Updated: Friday, October 17 2014 10:31 PM EDT2014-10-18 02:31:41 GMT

A different approach to energy efficiency is surging in New York City. At the Pearson Court Square in Long Island City, three sleek-looking wind turbines are perched on the roof. The turbines convert kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power. Wind in New York City doesn't just blow north or south. It swirls all over the place.

A different approach to energy efficiency is surging in New York City. At the Pearson Court Square in Long Island City, three sleek-looking wind turbines are perched on the roof. The turbines convert kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power. Wind in New York City doesn't just blow north or south. It swirls all over the place.

Updated: Friday, October 17 2014 8:29 PM EDT2014-10-18 00:29:06 GMT

No number of flawless fall afternoons can erase our memories of the winter that we added "polar vortex" to our daily vocabulary. This spiral of cold air sits atop the North Pole. During last winter, it dropped down to blanket part of the United States.

No number of flawless fall afternoons can erase our memories of the winter that we added "polar vortex" to our daily vocabulary. This spiral of cold air sits atop the North Pole. During last winter, it dropped down to blanket part of the United States.

Updated: Friday, October 17 2014 6:49 PM EDT2014-10-17 22:49:09 GMT

Walk into the Grobs' home on Saint Mark's Avenue in Brooklyn and there's no question it's modern and energy efficient. The couple wanted to design a home with an open floor plan and be as environmentally responsible as possible. Green amenities are everywhere. The nearly $2 million 5,500-square-foot building cost six figures to renovate, but you can make your home more energy and cost efficient for a lot less.

Walk into the Grobs' home on Saint Mark's Avenue in Brooklyn and there's no question it's modern and energy efficient. The couple wanted to design a home with an open floor plan and be as environmentally responsible as possible. Green amenities are everywhere. The nearly $2 million 5,500-square-foot building cost six figures to renovate, but you can make your home more energy and cost efficient for a lot less.

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Energy efficiency at home saves you big money

Here are a few guidelines for preparing a house and yard for Winter. More detailed lists of what to inspect before snow and ice arrive can be found online or by consulting home stores in the region.

Roof With binoculars or a good zoom lens, look for damaged, worn or loose shingles, gaps in flashing, or damaged mortar or flashing around the chimney. Check the seals on roof vents and install a chimney cap to reduce fire hazards. Re-secure antennas and satellite dishes, if the hardware is loose.

Heating/Cooling System Change out furnace filters, clean and vacuum ducts, vents, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns to reduce winter illnesses. The National Association of Home Builders, NAHB, recommends maintaining your furnace, fireplace, boiler, water heater, space heater and wood-burning stove by having your heating system serviced every year by a certified technician, (see: http://www.acca.org). And while youre at it, check smoke and fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, update batteries and change heating and air conditioning filters regularly.

Consider having a low or no-cost, programmable thermostat installed. Set it at 70 degrees Fahrenheit when youre home and awake and at 62 degrees or less when youre away or asleep to help achieve maximum energy savings.

Remove window air conditioners or cover them to reduce drafts and heat loss.

Fireplace Make sure the flue, damper and chimney are in good repair and functioning properly. Have the fireplace cleaned to remove animal debris and bird nests. This is the time to order firewood, if you have a wood stove or fireplace, but remember not to stack it against the house. If your fireplace is gas and not wood, make sure the inset is working correctly.

Wood work Inspect for wood rot, termites, trapped moisture, wear or peeling paint and missing trim.

Pipes & Plumbing Shut off exterior faucets at the indoor shutoff valve and use insulating tape to wrap pipes in rooms without wall insulation.

Doors & Windows Change out screendoors for glass or solid storm doors and weatherstrip doors and windows. Kiplingers maintenance advice is to caulk or weatherstrip around windows or doors where daylight of more than a nickels width is visible. To reduce unwanted rodent traffic, install doorsweeps at the base of exterior doors. When weatherizing isnt practical--on an interior doorbuy or sew a draft dodger to stop air flow across the threshold.

Foundation Inspect foundation materials for moisture resistance, look for worn areas or shifts in alignment on supporting beams or posts, note any changes from the previous year that may require closer scrutiny from a carpenter, mason or engineer.

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At Home Living: A fall maintenance checklist

With a goal to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent over the next decade, Penn State will tighten its leaky faucets, install LED light fixtures and replace outdated heating systems as part of the U.S. Department of Energys Better Buildings Challenge.

In its third year, the Better Buildings Challenge has committed three billion square feet to improving infrastructure efficiency throughout the United States. It involves 190 different organizations and 600 manufacturing facilities, according to its website .

Penn State has been focused in this area for a long time, Assistant Vice President of Office of Physical Plant Steve Maruszewski said. Being involved in something like this allows us to team up with our peers to find better solutions to learn from each other so we can be more effective at conserving energy.

Penn State is the largest university in the program, with 23,000 acres of land and 32 million square feet of buildings , Alex Novak, director of Communications for the Office of Physical Plant and the Sustainability Institute , said. Other universities in the challenge include University of Virginia and University of Michigan .

Joining the Better Buildings Challenge is part of a longstanding effort to improve the universitys utility functions and replace its outdated infrastructure, Novak said.

Our energy density has already been dropping over the last 10 years, Novak said. This is a pledge to continue with that trend.

Since 2003, Penn State has invested $75 million in energy improvement programs. The university is also making a $60 million investment in energy savings over the next five years. Of a $2.7 billion capital plan, 60 percent is dedicated to building renovations , Novak said.

Participating in the Better Buildings Challenge furthers Penn States energy conservation initiatives.

Really, all of this has been going on for more than 10 years and its gone on under the radar, Novak said. People just dont know whats happening, but were becoming more and more efficient and thats really positive.

Rob Cooper, director of Energy and Engineering for the Office of Physical Plant, said of the projects include improving Penn States heating and air conditioning units, increasing ventilation in laboratories and installing carbon dioxide sensors.

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Penn State to reduce energy usage through Better Buildings Challenge

LAS VEGAS - The temperature is cooling down, but crime is heating up. Police say criminals are targeting easily accessible homes and cars.

Metro Police says auto theft is up nearly 19 percent this year. While home break-ins are slightly down, police urge homeowners not to get complacent.

Police say criminals mostly target open doors and windows. Many homeowners leave garage doors open, providing a tempting target for thieves. Open car windows also present an open invitation.

Take all your items out of your vehicle. If anyone is looking at vehicles and they're looking to commit an auto theft or an auto burglary, they will look in that vehicle, said Metro Police Officer Larry Hadfield. If they see high-valued or high-tag items in there, such as an iPod, tablets, laptops or cell phones, they can get in that vehicle. If given the opportunity to get in the vehicle, then they also have the opportunity to steal the vehicle."

They're looking at the house that's easiest to get into, that they, that they're not going to get caught, Hadfield said. They're not motivated by violence. They're in there to get things of value, so they can pawn them or hawk them off to gain profit."

According to Scout.com, the most common areas for crime are in the central part of the valley. Scout.com says there is a one in 31 chance of becoming a property crime victim. Las Vegas also has one of the highest rates in the country for vehicle theft.

Technology can help. In addition to monitoring high-crime neighborhoods on websites like Scout.com, people can download smart phone apps like Next Door, which creates a neighborhood watch online.

Surveillance cameras have also become affordable and easy to install. While criminals who are caught on camera may still get away with stolen property, the cameras help police identify and catch them.

If you forget to close your garage door, a smart phone app can help. Several apps enable users to open and close their garage doors when they aren't home. There are also apps that enable people to shut and lock their doors.

Bear in mind, criminals have access to technology too. Some criminals can use universal remotes to open locked doors.

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Police warn of crime as temperatures cool

An efficient heating or cooling system is essential for the comfort of your home. Regardless of location, some form of climate control is a fundamental feature of every home. Prices for heating and cooling installations are affected by a number of variables-- considering them can help you plan for an effective system and a smooth installation.

Heating and cooling systems vary in their types, fuels, and installation methods. The type of system you choose will determine the materials, skills and equipment needed for installation, but in general you can expect an average heating system installation to cost about $1059, compared to $1588 for a cooling system and $1557 for a combination heating and cooling appliance.

The size and layout of homes often differ from apartment and business facilities, requiring different types of systems for efficient operation. Installations in single-family home are often straight-forward and cost an average of $626. Planning and installing heating and cooling systems for apartment and commercial buildings can be more complex and require substantial equipment, costing about $1123 for apartments and $1347 for businesses.

Most home system installations are simplest during construction, when walls and floors are open and unfinished. Installing a new heating or cooling system during construction or where one has never been installed typically costs $1210. Fitting a replacement system may require the removal of old equipment or modifications to accommodate the new one. Extra considerations for installing a replacement system contribute to average prices of $1083.

Natural gas, propane, oil, and electricity are typically used to power heating and cooling systems. An important factor in choosing your new system is whether it will use the same fuel as the current system or if conversion will be necessary. Average prices for replacing a unit of the same type include $1235 for natural gas, $1218 for propane, $1322 for oil and $1072 for electric appliances.

The age of a heating or cooling system can affect the price of installing a replacement, since removal and modifications can range in complexity. Replacing a system less than 5 years old generally requires little modification unless you are changing fuels, and may cost about $814. An 8 year old appliance may cost $1127 to replace, while replacing any system over 10 years old costs an average of $1378. Old heating and cooling systems may require extensive labor to dismantle and remove, and needed upgrades to ductwork or plumbing can add to overall costs. Converting to a new heating method can be a complex and expensive addition to your project as well, since switching from radiators or ducts to radiant tubing or baseboard heat may require substantial modifications to your home.

The type of fuel you will use for your new heating or cooling system is an important factor of installation costs. For new installations, wiring, venting, and supply lines can usually be run easily during construction, and fitting a replacement system that can use existing connections is generally straight forward. Installing a natural gas system may cost about $1177, while other units average $1148 for propane installations, $1386 for oil, and $814 for electric. Converting to a new fuel source for a replacement system may involve several modifications to your home, so be sure to confirm whether your installer will perform or contract for any needed changes or if you will need to hire additional contractors to handle any wiring or plumbing upgrades.

The type, age, and fuel of your existing system are important factors in selecting and installing a replacement, just as similar considerations are important in new installations. Your contractor can help you choose a system that is appropriate for your home and plan for conversions, modifications, or upgrades that may be needed for its operation.

Excerpt from:
Heating & Cooling System Installation Cost | Redbeacon

Ecovent

Cambridge, Mass.-based startup, Ecovent, was founded by Dipul Patel and developed at MIT. Although Ecovent is a new name in home heating and cooling, Patel told me that he has been toying around with this idea since 2008. Back then, he was working at Lockheed Martin and trying to save money for his upcoming wedding.

One ill-fated cost-saving strategy involved shutting off the air vents in select rooms throughout his house. It worked, but then his mom came to visit and ended up spending quite an uncomfortable night in one of Patel's unventilated rooms. This simple mistake prompted him to re-examine the entire concept of whole-home temperature control and eventually turned into Ecovent.

Rather than trying to remember to open and close your vents as needed, Ecovent's solution automatically adjusts them for you. And, instead of a pricey professional install, Ecovent says its wireless, DIY-friendly products can get the job done for roughly $200 a room.

Ecovent manages this with its own temperature, humidity and motion-sensing wall plugs (outfitted with USB ports for good measure), custom vents and an Android and iOS app. Stick the sensor plugs throughout your house, replace your current vents with Ecovent's app-enabled ones, label the various plugs and vents, tell the app your ideal temperature settings by room, and let the system re-route your heat and AC to suit your exact specifications.

According to Ecovent's official press release, it "applies aeronautical engineering principles to optimize airflow and preserve HVAC system integrity. It also adjusts to changes in the home and learns from users' input over time." Sounds good to me.

While Ecovent will work with a plain ol' thermostat, it's optimized for smart versions. And although Patel didn't share specifics, he mentioned that Ecovent was planning ahead as far as APIs and third-party partnerships. Pre-orderable kits are available now; check out Ecovent.com for more details.

Continue reading here:
Ecovent takes smart heating and cooling seriously

As winter temperatures drop, the potential for higher utility bills goes up. Taking steps ahead of the cold season can help you trim costs and make your home more energy-efficient, keeping those utility bills in check even as the winter weather rages.

Many homeowners just assume the winter season means their bills will go up as systems work harder to keep their home regulated, says Francois Lebrasseur, marketing manager of water products for GE Appliances. In reality, there are many steps one can take to improve energy efficiency and minimize the added expense that comes with extreme winter temperatures.

Before winter weather sets in, take some time to assess your home for potential problem areas and improvements that can help lower your energy costs.

Water heaters. Heat isnt the only system that gets an extra workout come winter. Cooler house temperatures may require water heaters to work harder, so ensuring you have a model well-suited to your familys year-round needs is key. In fact, heating water is the second source of energy use in the residential home after space heating and cooling, with standard electric water heaters costing the average homeowner $585 every year to operate. One energy-efficient option is the 50-gallon GE GeoSpring hybrid electric water heater, which can save the average household $365 every year (using 1,514 kilowatt-hours per year and national average electricity rate of 12 cents per kWh) compared to a 50-gallon standard electric water heater (using 4,646 kWh per year), as based on a test comparison.

Thermostat. A programmable thermostat is easy to install and saves energy (and money) by automatically adjusting to pre-determined temperature settings. This allows you to drop the temperature during the day when no one is home, but have a comfortable environment ready when you arrive home from work each day. According to Energy Star, when used properly, a programmable thermostat can save as much as $150 a year.

Air leaks. An airtight house is critical to managing your heat-related expenses. You take time to close windows and doors to prevent heat from escaping, but thats only half the battle. Sealing cracks around those windows and doors, and other leak-prone areas such as the basement and attic, will help keep heat inside and costs down.

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Head off bigutility bills