wikiHow: How to Cut Heating Bills This Winter

As the price of heating fuel continues to rise, home owners can take the following steps to lower heating bills. While a few suggestions are more costly and will structurally improve your home, others are easier suggestions to seal your home and keep heat in. A little time spent now can mean dollars off your next heating bill.

Read a few tips on wikiHow.

REPOST: Preparing for cold weather

North American Precis Syndicate stresses the need to prepare the heating system, among others, for the coming of colder weather.

You may care to give a warm welcome to these ideas that can help ensure that your home heating system is in tip-top shape to handle the stress that cold weather can place on a home.

Start first by scheduling a clean-and-check service call by a qualified technician. Not only will this preventative maintenance help keep your system operating optimally when you need it most, it can help restore lost efficiency, lower utility bills, minimize repairs, improve capacity and extend the life of your heating equipment. No matter how energy efficient your furnace or heat pump was when it was installed, proper maintenance is needed to keep it that way.

A professional heating system technician can help you keep your home comfortable and your heating bills affordable. Image source:scoopsandiego.com

Expert’s Advice

“When looking for a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning [HVAC] contractor, it’s important to ensure they have the proper credentials,” explains Tom Archer, heating product manager, Carrier.

Leading residential contractors gain their certification from three principal organizations: the North American Technician Excellence program (NATE), the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) or the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA).

“If the contractor you’ve found is certified by one or more of these organizations, you’ve found a reputable business,” continues Archer. “In addition, ask your friends and neighbors who they’ve worked with in the past and how they fared with the experience.”

Understanding he Inspection

Once you’ve selected a reputable contractor, schedule an appointment to have your home comfort system inspected. This inspection should include checks to ensure that airflow and drainage are unobstructed and monitors and electrical connections are functioning properly. A qualified contractor will also check all components of the equipment, and inspect the ignition mechanism, the flue draft and indoor airflow for maximum efficiency and the burner assembly and heat exchangers to ensure all heating components are working to capacity. Lastly, the technician will clean and lubricate all necessary parts.

Following the furnace inspection, the technician will also inspect any indoor air quality components you may have, including air purifiers or humidifiers and ventilators. The contractor will then test the thermostat calibration and conduct start-and-run testing to be sure your system is responding properly to what your house needs. Once testing is complete, the technician will confirm that the safety controls are working and effective.

The final step of the visit should be the replacement of the furnace filter, as needed. Filter replacement is a key factor in ensuring efficient furnace operation. Not only does your furnace need clean air to function correctly, the filter is an important part of cleaning the air going into your home. Plus, a dirty filter can restrict airflow and could cause the furnace to overheat and shut down.

How Often Should You Change Your Filter?

“Well, that depends,” says Archer. “For instance, thick, highly pleated filters can trap particles and contaminants for a longer period of time than thinner filters; similarly, furnaces with air filters may only need to be changed once or twice a year. However, if you use your furnace fan all year long to circulate air or if you have pet hair and dander in your home, then you may need to change the filter more frequently. Your technician will be able to assess the type of filter in your system and outline a schedule for you to check and replace it throughout the year.”

There is a lot to consider when preparing for the cold, but with the help of a credentialed, qualified technician, it can be a simple, straightforward process, and one that can keep your home comfort system running efficiently and properly throughout the year.

More on preparing HVAC systems can be accessed from the Hobson Air website.

YouTube: How It Works: Air Conditioners

This free troubleshooting video provides information on how an air conditioner works and the common problem associated with air conditioners. Gaining an understanding on how the air conditioner works and knowing which parts fail is the first step in the troubleshooting process.

REPOST: New York Power Authority issues guidelines for achieving energy cost savings at K-12 schools

One of the advantages of clean ducts is the amount of energy they save in the operation of an HVAC system. The Niagara Wheatfield Tribune reports the New York Power Authority’s suggestion of improving the energy efficiency of schools in the area, which includes upgrading HVAC systems.

A new report by the New York Power Authority on best practices for achieving energy cost savings at New York schools highlights significant economic and environmental benefits from increased investments in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies at public and private K-12 schools. The accelerated energy efficiency initiatives highlighted in the best practices report would complement Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's Build Smart NY initiative to reduce energy use in state facilities by 20 percent by 2020.

Image Source: www.archnews.com

"The New York Power Authority looks forward to continuing to support the statewide efforts under Gov. Cuomo to lower the energy bills and carbon footprint of schools through investments in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies," said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. "We hope that our newly issued best practices report reaches those school districts that have yet to take advantage of our energy efficiency program for schools. We are ready to work with them."

Since its inception in 1991, NYPA's Energy Services for Schools Program has benefited nearly 1,300 schools in 33 counties, which represent about 30 percent of public K-12 facilities statewide. The program, has reduced the peak energy demand of schools by more than 70 megawatts, and eliminated nearly 180,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year. (One MW is enough electricity to meet the needs of 800 to 1,000 typical homes.)

Moreover, the program has saved school districts roughly $37 million in energy costs annually.

The more than 650 projects that NYPA has financed and implemented, to date, at primary and secondary school facilities account for more than $400 million in capital expenditure improvements.

Image Source: www.appanet.org

Installations include new lighting and sensors; energy-efficient chillers, boilers and controls; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning modernization; energy management systems; on-site solar photovoltaic arrays; and replacement of coal boilers with dual-fueled clean heating systems that burn natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil.

The goal of The Best Practices for Energy Cost Savings in New York State Schools report is to provide a high-level overview of the achievable energy efficiency potential in K-12 facilities across the state. The report states that, even with the achievements of NYPA's Energy Services for Schools Program, the remaining potential for increased energy savings is nearly five times the level of what has been achieved to date.

The report notes that, by maximizing the economic energy efficiency potential at schools, more than 18,000 jobs would be created by 2030 in energy-related products and services industries. It would also reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions - a cause of climate change - by 1.4 million metric tons, or the equivalent of taking about 300,000 cars off the road each year.

In its undertaking of energy efficiency upgrades, NYPA recovers the project costs through the savings over several years' time after which the schools keep all of the recurring annual savings.

The recommendations in the best practices report include performing benchmarking and energy audits of current school energy use; promoting awareness at schools of the benefits of energy efficiency and behaviors that impact energy use; adopting best practices of other school energy-efficiency programs around the nation; providing specialized support tailored to the individual schools and districts; expediting the start of construction projects through a streamlined review and approval process by New York state agencies; and tapping into low-cost and no-cost energy-savings opportunities.

"Districts are encouraged to use the guidelines included in the report to identify ways to reduce energy costs," said Carl Thurnau, director of the office of facilities planning, New York State Education Department. "This report is a helpful tool to assist school districts in managing their facilities to conserve energy and allow greater resources to be devoted to the classroom."

For more on the benefits of a clean or upgraded HVAC systems, visit this Twitter page for Hobson Air.

REPOST: Air conditioner: Keep in or take it out

As autumn approaches, it may no longer seem necessary to keep the air conditioner around, specially since the warm air can escape through the hole in the wall where the appliance sits. With the unpredictable temperature fluctuations, the question is when to take the air conditioner out. This video article on WWLP discusses a few options.

Video source: WWLP

As the temperatures drop, it's probably something you're considering: whether you'll need your air conditioner again before next spring.

The problem is mainly for people with window air conditioners, take them out too soon and you might be caught sweating on the next warm day.

"I had my heat on last night," said Anthony Rondoletto from Springfield.

Cold nights and mild days make it tough to decide whether it's time to take out your window air conditioning units.

Around Chicopee neighborhoods it was easy to see that many people still have them in, but some won't keep them in for much longer.

Most people like the indoor temperature of their home to be in the upper 60s or low 70s and while cooler air is certainly on the way into October, there could be those warmer day exceptions.

For example, just last week temperatures hit the mid 90s in the lower pioneer valley.

"I'd probably take it out just because it doesn't stay hot very long now. It might be hot for a day then it cools down at night so I don't really see the need for it," said Scott Griffith from East Longmeadow.

While taking your a/c out too early could be a bit of a risk, if you keep your air conditioner in too long you could be letting warm air out and bringing an unnecessary increase to your heating bill when the cold air does arrive.

"What month do you normally take it out? Umm it could stay there until November sometimes," said Sheena Neily from Springfield.

For comparison, after this date last year we hit the mid 70s or higher only three days through the end of the year.

Electricity bills can run very high if heat or cool air is not properly insulated in the home.  Hobson Air conducts maintenance checks to ensure that a household is maximizing the benefits of their cooling or heating systems.  Follow this Twitter account for more tips on energy efficiency.

Since being founded in 1962, AC Genius has become one of the largest service providers of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in North Texas.

ASHRAE 55: Beyond the standard of thermal comfort

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Thermal comfort isn’t really defined in opposition to thermal discomfort. The best definition of thermal comfort, which has been established by many studies, is hinged on its impact on one’s well-being and productivity.

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Thermal comfort can be achieved by setting air temperature, humidity, and air movement after a range prescribed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). As people vary greatly among themselves on their temperature preferences, ASHRAE compares the outcomes of psychological experiments to thermal analysis variables in determining the indoor thermal conditions that majority of the occupants would find acceptable. These conditions are outlined in the ASHRAE 55 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, the industry consensus on thermal comfort requirements for buildings. ASHRAE 55 is updated on a regular basis to accommodate any changes affecting thermal comfort and its sustainability in indoor environments.

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Thermal comfort within offices is important. According to ASHRAE 55, the recommended office temperature ranges from 68°F to 74°F in winter and 73°F to 79°F during summer months. It has been reported that 80 percent of occupants feel comfortable on such levels, but there are still those who find these inadequate. Additional procedures are required to meet the acceptable thermal comfort levels for all building occupants.



Ensure your family’s comfort and safety by having your cooling and heating systems regularly checked by Hobson Air specialists. Go to this website to request for a service.

Fun Fact: The first air conditioner

"The very first unit by Willis Carrier was not for temperature control, but for humidity control. You got cooling as a byproduct."

Source: Live Science, Science of Summer: How Does Air Conditioning Work?

What came before the AC

Image Source: wired.com

Many inventors tinkered with modern strategies for keeping cool under the heat. But it was Willis Haviland Carrier’s invention called the 'Apparatus for Treating Air' (U.S. Pat# 808897) that proved the plausibility of manmade weather by controlling temperature and humidity, eventually earning him the title as the father of airconditioning. Carrier started an era of refined understanding of electrical systems through his Rational Psychrometric Formulae, which remains the basis for all the integral calculations in the airconditioning industry.


But the attempts to outsmart the weather before the AC came along also warrant attention. Practical strategies to stay cool existed at the dawn of the 20th century. People braved the hot weather with fans of all shapes and sizes. The Roman Emperor Elagabalus made his mark by warding off third-century summer by commanding 1000 slaves to fill his pleasure-garden with a mountain of snow.

Image Source: hauntedhistorians.com

Fast forward to 1758, Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley discovered that the evaporation of liquids had a cooling effect. Michael Faraday discovered the same in 1820. By the 1830s, Dr. John Gorrie built an ice-making machine in a hospital in Florida. He then patented the idea in 1851 but financial struggles killed off his invention. In 1881, following an attempted assassination of President James Garfield, naval engineers created a makeshift cooling machine that used half a million pounds of ice to keep the injured president cool and comfortable. The machine failed in its mission.

Image Source: thelibertyblog.org

By the 1920s, residential cooling machines were invented, thanks to iconic aircon marque Carrier, which began the science of modern airconditioning for home use.



Hobson Air is among the many cooling and heating systems contractors which uphold Carrier’s science of modern air conditioning. Go here for more exciting discoveries in the airconditioning industry.

REPOST: Updating your cooling system is a smart investment

The average useful life expectancy of an air conditioning unit is 10 years. To keep it running efficiently, regular maintenance is a must. Chron tackles the importance of updating air conditioners below.

If you’re a seasoned homeowner, you know houses require a lot of upkeep. Experience also shows the best home projects offer a dual advantage: they add to your quality of life and to your home’s overall value. And if an improvement helps save money in the long run? That’s a triple win!

Image Source: chron.com

Dave Borowski, spokesperson for Direct Energy Protection Plans, says updating your cooling system can offers these benefits: “The useful life expectancy of an air-conditioning unit is usually seven to 10 years — much like a car, it might keep running but not as efficiently. And professional maintenance can increase the product’s life expectancy, improve performance and help reduce the severity and frequency of breakdowns.” So if you do plan to update your home’s cooling system, here are tips to ensure that investment pays off:

Find a good contractor. Look for the best credentials, not the best price: “A questionable contractor can cut the cost, but he may also cut corners,” warns Borowski. A NATE certification (National Alliance for Technical Education) is one standard of quality. Referrals — from online sources, and from people who had AC units installed 10 years ago or 10 days ago — can tell you a lot about contractor’s workmanship over the short- and long-term. “The most important day in an air conditioner’s life is Day #1, when it’s installed,” notes Borowski. “If it’s not perfect then, it will never get better.”

Buy the highest efficiency unit that you can afford. Face it: Electric rates are not likely to go down. Spending a bit more for an energy-efficient unit can actually lead to long-term savings.

Ask about rebates. Many vendors seasonally bring out rebates to help boost sales; check with your contractor to see if there are good deals out there.
Make sure your ductwork is properly sized for your air conditioner. “Just because your ductwork is there – and has been there for 22 years – doesn’t mean it’s right,” explains Borowski. An improper fit means the unit won’t work as efficiently as it should. A good contractor will check this, but it never hurts to bring it up.

Get a programmable thermostat. The newest versions let you monitor the AC right from a smart phone: “With the Comfort Sentry ThermostatTM, you can control the temperatures and set schedules to fit household needs,” says Borowski. To save energy — and energy dollars — you can raise the temperature during daytime hours when no one is home, and have things cool down automatically by 5 p.m. “Or suppose you’re at the airport, ready to go on vacation, and suddenly realize, ‘Ugh, I forgot to turn the thermostat off! It’s going to be cooling the house for two weeks while we’re on a cruise.’ Now, all you’ve got to do is go to your smart phone and put the thermostat in ‘vacation’ mode. Running the AC when you’re gone is equivalent to running ceiling fans when you’re gone!”

Check the service options. Even the best-installed air conditioner can break down; find out when your contractor does warranty service. “Some only do it Monday through Friday, 9 to 5,” says Borowski. “Imagine if your air conditioner breaks down at 5:15 on a Friday, and your contractor says he’ll be happy to help you Monday morning! Make sure you’ve got someone who stands behind his work and will perform warranty service 24/7. If not, you’ve got the wrong contractor.”

Image Source: chron.com

The air conditioning and heating specialists at Comfort Experts perform preventive maintenance checks, service of existing equipment, installation of new equipment, and cost-benefits analysis. To know the right time to update or replace an air conditioning unit, read here.

Pets need air conditioners, too

Image Source: theanimalmedicalclinic.com

When the air conditioning unit of a Chicago animal welfare center was stolen, about a hundred cats and dogs were put in danger. The temperature at the time of the robbery was approaching 80 degrees and it was an unsafe heat for many animals to be exposed to. The meager funding that was allocated for the animals’ food and medicine had to be used just to stabilize the units. The incident was a proof of the importance of air conditioners to pets.

Dogs and cats may suffer from heat strokes and heat exhaustion when the environment is too hot. Unlike humans, they cannot expel too much body heat. They only pant and release sweat through their noses and foot pads. When they fail to expel heat effectively, their internal body temperature rises. At a body temperature of 106 degrees, they suffer from damaged brain and body organs. In extreme cases, they die.

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

 

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The cold air circulation that air conditioners provide can greatly help furry pets regulate their body temperature, especially during summer days when heat waves strike. The cool environment of air-conditioned rooms is also beneficial for more heat-sensitive dogs, including the obese, the ill, and the short-nosed breeds, like pugs and bulldogs.

There may be other ways that dogs and cats regulate their body temperature, but getting help from air conditioners is still one of the safest means. Enjoying cool air inside their owners’ homes, they do not have to wander outdoors and risk being attacked by other animals or impounded by animal control officers. As domesticated animals, they have lost many of their survival skills in the harsh environment and have evolved to share the benefits of technology with their human companions.

Image Source: portableairconditionerblog.securepets.com

  
AC Genius, an air conditioning contractor in Texas, can install complete heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. To get more information on the benefit of air conditioning units, follow this blog.

Ways to save energy when room air conditioning is a must

Image source: windowsontario.com


Air conditioning is a necessity in hot weather. The unit helps people stay cool and protected from heat-related illness and death. However, there are those who are unresolved in buying an air conditioner because of the need to save money and energy.

If both air conditioning and energy conservation are a must, here are tips to consider:

1. Buy an air conditioner with ENERGY STAR label.

An air conditioner with an ENERGY STAR seal means that the appliance uses less energy, saving its user money, and helps protect the environment—as determined by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

2. Choose the right type of air conditioner.

When buying a room air conditioner, choose a unit with an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 10.0 or above. This will cut the air conditioning energy costs in half. Window and portable units, which cool room instead of a whole building, also use less than 50 percent energy compared to central units.



Image source: lowes.com


3. Use the air conditioner properly.

To conserve energy, close the window and outside doors when turning the unit on. Also keep the unit clean to make it run efficiently. Clogged filters make the air conditioner work harder, which adds to higher electricity consumption.

5. Get an energy-conservation analysis

An energy-conservation analysis can determine the home’s energy consumption and the money that goes into using these energies. Air conditioning and heating contractors, like Hobson Air and Service Experts, conduct energy-conservation analysis at the request of clients.

Following these energy-conservation tips will help people save money and energy without depriving themselves of the comfort and protection that air conditioning provides.



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This webpage explains how an energy-conservation analysis works.

Legionella: The bacteria that inhabits cooling towers

Image source: feedwater.co.uk

Legionella is a type of bacterium that causes the respiratory illness called legionellosis.


Legionella dwells in natural water systems, but thrives more in hot and artificial water systems. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention explains that the heated water of cooling towers of air conditioning systems provides an ideal environment for Legionella growth. Accom News adds that the bacteria “is most active when the temperature of the water is between 20° and 45° and there is sufficient nutrient to support growth and multiplication.”



Image source: whatiswatertreatment.files.wordpress.com

When people breathe in water droplets that contain legionella, they can be infected with legionellosis. In 1976 in Philadelphia, there was an outbreak of the disease when the American Legion convention members got infected due to contaminated cooling towers. Legionnaire’s disease, a form of legionellosis, was coined after this outbreak.


To prevent legionella from thriving in the cooling towers of air conditioning systems, regular inspection and cleaning must be observed. Both cooling tower manufacturers and companies that have cooling towers must follow strict maintenance guidelines. Companies can also seek the services of air conditioning and heating contractors like Comfort Experts and Quality Cooling and Heating, which conduct air quality analysis to make sure that there is no legionella in the air.



Image source: wikimedia.org

How does an air quality analysis work? Find out by vising this website.

Heating and cooling systems for underground shelters

Nuclear threats, extreme weather, and doomsday predictions – people can never tell when they’re going to happen, but they can always prepare for the worst rather than be sorry.

Image source: americanpreppersnetwork.com

One of the options people could take is to build an underground shelter, at least 8 feet deep, adjacent to the occupants’ house, and equipped with the necessary survival kits and proper ventilation.


The chapter on Nuclear War Survival Skills of the book Fighting Chance: Ten Feet to Survival by Eugene P. Wigner notes that one of the most significant survival skills that people should learn is “how to keep occupied shelters adequately ventilated in all seasons and cool enough for many days of occupancy in warm or hot weather.”

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The author recommends using a large-volume shelter-ventilating pump, an expedient heating machine which doesn’t require ample technical know-how to build. The book shows how to build the machine using inexpensive household materials.


Another heating systems option is to use geothermal heat pumps run by electricity generated through solar power. Builders may need to hire a professional to set up the heat pumps. Heating and systems contractors, like Hobson Air and A Plus Quality Inc., can provide necessary assistance. Adequate ventilation is still required during freezing weather conditions as the earth’s moist will continue to absorb body heat, leaving the occupants prone to weather-related illnesses.


Natural ventilation can be achieved by following the structure of an Eskimo igloo. The spiral dome is built with small ventilation openings poked at the ceiling and at the floor to protect its occupants from harsh temperatures. A shelter with a chimney-like vent is proven to be useful during cool weather, supplying occupants with enough air needed to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide. However, it should be noted that this vent may not work during warm weather.

Image source: businessinsider.com

Experts from Hobson Air can assess whether or not your underground shelter is well- ventilated. This website offers more about proper ventilation during harsh weather conditions.

REPOST: Why 2013 could be a game-changer on climate

Last year's elections saw the country's leaders tackle many of our most pressing issues. However, climate change did not seem to be one of them. This year, the discussion seem to be making a comeback, after the nation saw firsthand how extreme weather events have cost our economy billions of dollars in recovery. This CNN article details how climate change may be a hot topic in the World Economic Forum in Davos this month.

Image source: CNN

(CNN) -- As leaders gather for the World Economic Forum in Davos, signs of economic hope are upon us. The global economy is on the mend. Worldwide, the middle class is expanding by an estimated 100 million per year. And the quality of life for millions in Asia and Africa is growing at an unprecedented pace.

Threats abound, of course. One neglected risk -- climate change -- appears to at last be rising to the top of agendas in business and political circles. When the World Economic Forum recently asked 1,000 leaders from industry, government, academia, and civil society to rank risks over the coming decade for the Global Risks 2013 report, climate change was in the top three. And in his second inaugural address, President Obama identified climate change as a major priority for his Administration.

For good reason: last year was the hottest year on record for the continental United States, and records for extreme weather events were broken around the world. We are seeing more droughts, wildfires, and rising seas. The current U.S. drought will wipe out approximately 1% of the U.S. GDP and is on course to be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Damage from Hurricane Sandy will cost another 0.5% of GDP. And a recent study found that the cost of climate change is about $1.2 trillion per year globally, or 1.6% of global GDP.

Shifting to low-carbon energy sources is critical to mitigating climate change's impacts. Today's global energy mix is changing rapidly, but is it heading in the right direction?

Coal is the greatest driver of carbon dioxide emissions from energy, accounting for more than 40% of the total worldwide. Although coal demand is falling in the United States -- with 55 coal-powered plants closed in the past year -- it's growing globally. The World Resources Institute (WRI) recently identified 1,200 proposed new coal plants around the world. And last year, the United States hit a record-high level of coal exports—arguably transferring U.S. emissions abroad.

Meanwhile, shale gas is booming. Production in the United States has increased nearly tenfold since 2005, and China, India, Argentina, and many others have huge potential reserves. This development can be an economic blessing in many regions, and, because carbon emissions of shale gas are roughly half those of coal, it can help us get onto a lower carbon growth path.

However, while gas is an important bridge to a low carbon future—and can be a component of such a future—it can't get us fully to where we need to be. Greenhouse gas emissions in industrial countries need to fall by 80-90% by 2050 to prevent climate change's most disastrous impacts. And there is evidence that gas is crowding out renewables.

Renewable energy -- especially solar and wind power -- are clear winners when it comes to reducing emissions. Unfortunately, despite falling prices, the financial markets remain largely risk-averse. Many investors are less willing to finance renewable power. As a result of this mindset, along with policy uncertainty and the proliferation of low-cost gas, renewable energy investment dropped 11%, to $268 billion, last year.

What do we need to get on track?

Incentivizing renewable energy investment

Currently, more than 100 countries have renewable energy targets, more than 40 developing nations have introduced feed-in tariffs, and countries from Saudi Arabia to South Africa are making big bets on renewables as a growth market. Many countries are also exploring carbon-trading markets, including the EU, South Korea, and Australia. This year, China launched pilot trading projects in five cities and two provinces, with a goal of a national program by 2015.

Removing market barriers

Despite growing demand for renewable energy from many companies, this demand often remains unmet due to numerous regulatory, financial, and psychological barriers in the marketplace.

In an effort to address these, WRI just launched the Green Power Market Development Group in India, bringing together industry, government, and NGOs to build critical support for renewable energy markets. A dozen major companies from a variety of sectors—like Infosys, ACC, Cognizant, IBM, WIPRO, and others— have joined the initiative. This type of government-industry-utility partnership, built upon highly successful models elsewhere, can spur expanded clean energy development. It will be highlighted in Davos this week at meetings of the Green Growth Action Alliance (G2A2).

De-risking investments

For technical, policy, and financial reasons, risks are often higher for renewables than fossil-based energy. Addressing these risks is the big remaining task to bring about the needed energy transformation. Some new funding mechanisms are emerging that can help reduce risk and thus leverage large sums of financing. For example, the Green Climate Fund could, if well-designed, be an important venue to raise funds and drive additional investments from capital markets. Likewise, multi-lateral development banks' recent $175 billion commitment to sustainable transport could help leverage more funds from the private and public sectors.

Some forward-looking companies are seeking to create internal incentives for green investments. For example, companies like Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and UPS have been taking actions to reduce internal hurdle rates and shift strategic thinking to the longer-term horizons that many green strategies need.

Davos is exactly the type of venue for finding solutions to such issues, which requires leadership and coalition-building from the private and public sectors. For example, the the G2A2, an alliance of CEOs committed to addressing climate and environmental risks, will launch the Green Investment Report with precisely the goal of "unlocking finance for green growth".

Depending on what happens at Davos—and other forums and meetings like it throughout the year—2013 could just be a game-changer.

Andrew Steer | Image source: CNN

Editor's note: Andrew Steer is President and CEO of the World Resources Institute, a

think tank that works with governments, businesses and civil society to find sustainable solutions to environmental and development challenges.

Weather is increasingly unpredictable. Keep your home temperature stable with cost-effective heating and cooling systems. Get a free quote from Hobson Air. See more information on this website.

Basic concepts of energy efficiency for homes

Back in 1977, the nation was suffering from an oil crisis, which prompted President Carter to address the citizens and ask them to dial down the thermostats in their homes. The reason for this call was that by reducing the temperature in homes around the country, the nation could conserve heating fuel.

Image Source: derwoodhomes.co.uk

At present, homeowners may still follow that call if they wish to make their homes more energy efficient. Hobson Air Conditioning Inc.’s home energy analysis shows that the energy expenditure in many homes go to temperature regulation.

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The same principle applies for homes in hot and cold weather. Homeowners should try to lessen the temperature differential between the inside and outside of the house to reduce the heating or cooling costs. It may be a little uncomfortable at first, but consumers can make small adjustments in order to compensate for the warmer or cooler room temperature which would then be considered their new ‘normal.’

Meanwhile, they can also make a few small improvements around their house to improve energy use. For example, they can increase the amount of insulation between rooms to stop the heat flow from the rooms they use to outer areas such as the attic. They can also focus on using natural lighting to illuminate the rooms to reduce electricity use during the daytime.

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With every small adjustment made, homeowners can easily reduce the energy consumption in their home, which then translates to similar reductions on their utility bill.

Find out more about how you can make your home more energy efficient at ACGenius.com.