FEBRUARY 25- 28, 2010

THURSDAY & FRIDAY
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SATURDAY
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SUNDAY
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The 2010 Fort Wayne Home & Garden Show is the largest home and garden event in the Tri-state area featuring more than 650 exhibits displaying the latest home and garden products and expert services.

Get more information online about Directions and Ticketing.

Don’t miss out on the Fort Wayne Home and Garden Shows very own “Ultimate Makeover”! Come to the show and enter to win a Ultimate Makeover valued at $50,000! Exhibiting companies have donated a gift certificate worth at or above $2500 of their product or service. Winner will be drawn at 4:00 pm Sunday evening.  Learn More

The Cap and Trade Bill passing legislation has made carbon emissions a costly liability.  Coal used for electricity production is about to bear the burden of heavy taxation and regulation from Washington which means utility bills are on the rise.  There will be a forced transition to renewables which will make localized energy production from wind and solar a valuable investment.  The utilities companies will be forced to pay those who invest in renewable energy systems.

Find out more about the Cap and Trade Legislation

Help make a change Contact Your Representative today!

As the demand rises for these systems so will the cost so act now and be ready!

Original article by:

Inside Indiana Business

By: Natalie Stucky – Partner, Real Estate and Financial Institutions Groups of Bose McKinney & Evans LLP

Most people believe that green buildings cost more than conventional buildings even though a Davis Langdon 2007 study indicates that there is no significant difference between the average cost of the two types. To accurately measure green building costs, one must consider initial construction costs, cost offsets, operating expenses, and revenue generated by the property.

The initial costs of any building, green or otherwise, depend upon many factors, including climate; availability and cost of materials and labor; zoning and building codes; building type; and site condition. Some cost factors are controllable, others aren’t, but often they can be mitigated. For instance, researching availability and delivery time or pre-purchasing materials may avoid costly delays later in the project. Considering the full range of options for specific systems and materials and clearly identifying and communicating the owner’s requirements, priorities and constraints increase the odds that project goals and expectations will be met. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (the “DOE”), integrated building design and construction reduces energy use by 50% or more and reduces maintenance and capital costs. Commissioning agents check work in progress to verify that compliance with the plans and specifications and that the building systems are properly installed and operate as specified in the construction documents. According to the DOE, operating costs for commissioned buildings range from 8% to 20% less than non-commissioned buildings.
Incentives can offset costs. Cash incentives may be available under Indiana’s State Energy Program or Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program which support energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives like retrofits and financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements on private property. Federal tax incentives include credits for up to 30% of the cost of qualified property, and deductions of up to $1.80 per square foot of building space for qualified energy efficiency improvements. State incentives include a 3-year investment tax deduction for qualified property, and the Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit of up to 10% of a qualified investment. Locally, expedited plan review, approval and permitting processes, and credits against permit fees or lower permit fees are becoming more common.

“Negative incentives” encourage green practices. Effective in 2012, all household and commercial lamps and lighting equipment made or imported for use in the U.S. are required to meet new energy standards. Congress appears likely to approve a carbon emissions cap and trade system that could penalize building owners for failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a national minimum building energy code aimed at increasing building energy efficiency.

Some utility companies have loan and rebate programs for purchases of high efficiency equipment. Energy service companies (“ESCOs”) offer contracts whereby the ESCO pays for energy efficiency improvements and recovers the costs over time through the energy savings by selling power back to the owner at an agreed upon rate. “Green loan programs” and “green banks” are emerging in certain parts of the country that focus on financing green businesses and green building projects. The SBA also offers a 504 loan program for projects that decrease energy consumption by at least 10%.

Consulting with a qualified person as early in the project planning process as possible to determine which incentives a project may qualify for and to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to obtain those incentives is critical.

Operating costs and revenues from the project should also be considered. Green buildings are more efficient and use less energy, resulting in lower utility bills. Studies show that, on average, Energy Star® buildings use 40% and LEED buildings use 30% less energy than conventional buildings. The Sears Tower retrofit is expected to reduce annual electricity use by 80% and water usage by 40%. Similarly, the Empire State Building retrofit is projected to reduce energy use by 38%, resulting in annual savings of $4.4 million.

Another operating cost component is human capital. Studies show that worker salaries are 72% higher than building energy costs and that workers account for as much as 92% of the life cycle costs of a building. According to the DOE, people who live and work in green buildings are healthier and 20% more productive. Reductions in absenteeism, health problems, insurance claims, and turnover, and increased productivity all affect profitability.

Last are occupancy levels, rents and resale prices. Studies indicate that LEED buildings have 4.1% higher occupancy levels, rent at an average of $11.33 per square foot more, and sell for an average of $171 per square foot more than comparable conventional buildings, while Energy Star® buildings have 3.6% higher occupancy, a $2.40 per square foot rental premium, and sell for an average of $61 per square foot more than comparable conventional buildings, demonstrating that green buildings provide a much higher rate of return.
There is substantial evidence that green buildings do not cost significantly more than comparable conventional buildings. Further, the offsets, incentives, operating cost savings, and increased rental and resale values from green buildings add up to a higher return than other types of investments, including conventional buildings. Energy costs are expected to rise. Government regulations and mandates for higher building energy performance will increase. Public awareness and concern for environmental and energy issues are growing and reflected in the increasing preference of building occupants for green buildings. Buildings without energy savings strategies will ultimately experience higher operating costs, depressed values and lower occupancy rates. In other words, green buildings are a smart investment.

The Greenest Big Companies in America

Event Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009 (in most areas)

The ASES National Solar Tour is the world’s largest grassroots solar event. This event offers you the opportunity to tour homes and buildings to see how you can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills and help tackle climate change. More than 150,000 participants will visit some 5,000 buildings in 3,000 communities across the U.S.

Now in its 14th year, this event is coordinated nationally by the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society in collaboration with dozens of outstanding partner organizations. It takes place annually during the first Saturday in October in conjunction with National Energy Awareness Month. We invite you to join us.

In addition to highlighting solar options available, an increasing focus of the tour is on energy-saving techniques and sustainability through building design, energy efficient appliances, and use of green materials during remodeling. Tours also provide helpful, real-world examples of costs and how to save money with federal, state, and local incentives.

Read more about the ASES Solar Tour

Ninety‐five percent of the electricity consumed in Indiana comes from coal, which means Hoosier consumers have enjoyed some of the lowest rates in the nation. In tough economic times like these, affordable electricity is something we can’t do without. Yet a bill that has made its way through the U.S. House of Representatives threatens to rob our consumers of that very necessity. On June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009 (ACES), otherwise known as the Waxman‐Markey cap and trade bill. The measure passed by a marginal vote of 219‐212, indicating how diverse views are on this issue. While improvements were made to the bill before it passed the House, Indiana’s not-for‐profit consumer‐owned municipal and cooperative power providers have serious concerns about the impact this legislation will have on residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indiana.

One improvement in the bill was an adjustment from a 100 percent auction of carbon emission allowances to a partial auction, with some free allowances being given to carbon emitting entities. However, Indiana utilities are being “shorted” more than 35 percent beginning in 2012. Too many allowances are being provided to non‐emitting sources and special interest groups, such as merchant generating plants that do not directly serve customers. The end result is a redistribution of wealth from the Midwest, which is heavily reliant on coal for electricity generation, to the East and West coasts, which are not.

The distribution of allowances to East and West coast states and merchant plants will do nothing to reduce carbon emissions and will dramatically increase Indiana electric rates.

Under the current allowance allocation formula, Indiana’s not‐for‐profit utilities receive less than 65 percent of allowances needed to meet consumer needs, requiring us to purchase more than 35 percent of the allowances in an unregulated and speculative trading market.

As it now stands, the ACES Act could have a devastating effect on Indiana ratepayers and our state economy. Electric rates would increase at least 23 percent by 2012, and could double by 2026. This would be an undue hardship for our economy, industry and fixed income residential customers.

As further debate takes place, we continue to recommend:

• • That the emissions formula be fixed to provide allowances only to entities that directly serve consumers with power from carbon emitting resources.

• • That utilities receive up to 100 percent of the allowances needed to comply with the mandate in order to minimize the rate impact of the cap and trade program. Allowance prices should have a “safety valve” to mitigate price spikes.

• • That the unrealistic emissions reduction mandate of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 be amended to a reasonable and achievable level. Such a revision is necessary to provide breathing room for utilities to invest in carbon reduction technology without dramatically increasing our Indiana electric rates, hopefully preventing the further loss of business and industry.

• • That Congress fund research and development into carbon reduction technologies in order to meet the carbon cap mandates. We are not opposed to climate change legislation; we simply seek to protect our members and their consumers, the ratepayers of Indiana. The current ACES Act does not safeguard against unfair price increases to Indiana consumers. We encourage you to engage your congressmen on this issue.

We will continue spreading the message of this bill’s negative effect on Indiana and keep doing our part to protect Indiana’s electric rates. We urge consumers to contact Senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh and voice their support for a fair, balanced and affordable approach to climate change legislation.

Learn more about the issue at www.fairpowernow.org.

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity

Solar panels collect solar radiation from the sun and actively convert that energy to electricity. Solar panels are comprised of several individual solar cells. These solar cells function similarly to large semiconductors and utilize a large-area p-n junction diode. When the solar cells are exposed to sunlight, the p-n junction diodes convert the energy from sunlight into usable electrical energy. The energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their orbits and released, and electric fields in the solar cells pull these free electrons in a directional current, from which metal contacts in the solar cell can generate electricity. The more solar cells in a solar panel and the higher the quality of the solar cells, the more total electrical output the solar panel can produce. The conversion of sunlight to usable electrical energy has been dubbed the Photovoltaic Effect.

The photovoltaic effect arises from the properties of the p-n junction diode, as such there are no moving parts in a solar panel.

Solar Panel Efficiency

Solar Insolation is a measure of how much solar radiation a given solar panel or surface recieves. The greater the insolation, the more solar energy can be converted to electricity by the solar panel.

Other factors that affect the output of solar panels are weather conditions, shade caused by obstructions to direct sunlight, and the angle and position at which the solar panel is installed. Solar panels function the best when placed in direct sunlight, away from obstructions that might cast shade, and in areas with high regional solar insolation ratings.

Solar panel efficiency can be optimized by using dynamic mounts that follow the position of the sun in the sky and rotate the solar panel to get the maximum amount of direct exposure during the day as possible. For more information on solar panel efficiency through the use of mounts, see our section on solar panel mounts and accessories.

Find full article at InsideINdianaBusiness.com

Indiana will be one of seven states included in a new renewable energy transmission network project. ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) is working to create a 3,000 mile electrical system which would facilitate the flow of up to 12,000 megawatts of renewable energy. The project would cross portions of Indiana, as well as North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. ITC recently signed an expression of interest to collaborate on the project with NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE).

While on twitter this morning, I came across an interesting article from CNN Money about McDonald’s and other fast-food companies getting involved with green buildings. The golden arches have already opened two LEED certifiable stores in the US, the first in Chicago (pictured left) and second in Cary, NC. There are seven worldwide, and should be ten by the end of this year according to VP of CSR Bob Langert.

Other fast-food chains taking green initiatives are Denny’s, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Subway. Subway already has six eco-stores and ten more in development, Denny’s has five, and Chipotle has four. The latest is in Gurnee, Illinois (pictured below)- and is LEED certified platinum.

The Chipotle store features;
-On-Site 6 kW wind turbine producing 10 percent of store power
-A 2,500 gallon underground water cistern to harvest rainwater for irrigation
-LED lighting to conserve energy
-Highly efficient faucets and toilets
-Energy Star rated kitchen equipment
-Use of recycled drywall, recycled barn metal, and primers and paints containing fewer chemicals -Use of native plants for landscaping, requiring less watering and fertilizer

A KFC-Taco Bell store in Northampton, MA (pictured below) was awarded LEED certification gold, designed to cut CO2 emissions and use 30 percent less energy and water than a conventional building.

The KFC-Taco Bell store features;
-Use of solar energy to preheat fresh air coming into the building
-LED lighting -Energy efficient kitchen and building equipment
-Use of harvested rainwater for irrigation
-Fixtures with lower water consumption rates
-Use of recycled materials for building installation and counters

I have the best job. I get to travel all around the world, talking to experts about the latest technologies and business trends and taking the pulse of the industry. That must be the reason why I’m so happy — this is not a job, but a passion. And most of the other professionals in this industry that I meet feel the exact same way.

Anecdotally, this is not a surprise: The renewable energy industry is generally one full of incredibly optimistic, idealistic and motivated people. But a new survey from the UK shows that this “happiness factor” is statistically true as well.

According to the Carbon Salary Survey, which looked at salary levels, job satisfaction and job security throughout a variety of “green collar” jobs around the world, 77% of survey respondents are happy in their current positions. In addition, 93% said they would recommend a position in the area of climate change mitigation (i.e. renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon trading, etc.) There were more than 1,100 respondents.

Perhaps the most remarkable finding is that 68% of workers said they are more secure in their position than they were a year ago. In a time when other industries are tanking and mass layoffs are occurring, this is certainly proof that the clean energy industry is staying relatively strong.

It’s no wonder that I am constantly getting emails from readers and listeners about where they can find a job in the industry. It’s fast growing, cutting-edge and extremely satisfying. What more could you ask for?

Unfortunately, it is still difficult for many people to make their way into the industry right now. A lot of the people who contact me about jobs say that they are having a tough time getting noticed. There is so much demand from prospective employees and there just aren’t as many positions out there due to the slowdown in the market.

People like me might feel secure, but there are others on the outside scratching their heads and saying, “where the heck is the boom in green collar jobs I keep hearing about?”

I’ve met a bunch of people lately who seem, well, slightly bitter about the lack of jobs out there. These days, the jobs market doesn’t seem to be matching up with the talk about the green collar jobs movement.

If you’ve been looking for a job for a while, this advice might seem a bit stale — but I’m going to give it anyway: Keep looking. Every company that wants to maintain a competitive advantage is getting into the clean energy/environmental protection space, creating unprecedented demand for a variety of products and services. While demand has slowed a bit in the short-term because of the economic mess we’re in, by most accounts clean energy will be a very important driver of the global recovery.

Right now, companies are not hiring as quickly as was hoped. In fact, many companies have laid of staff. But when I speak to executives and HR people as I travel around the country, I hear the same thing over and over: They are gearing up for a major increase in jobs over the coming year.

If you’re thinking about how to get your foot in the door, check out the jobs section, which features a variety of positions throughout all the renewable energy industries. It’s a great place to start.