Sustainable Energy

At Sustainable Energy Systems, we vow to improve the sustainability of the energy used in your home through several means. We incorporate the use of insulation though Icynene spray foam insulation, or cellulose insulation. We also evaluate the sustainability of a home and can suggest several ways to improve your energy efficiency, including using Solar Energy, Wind Energy, and even improving your Hot Water heaters.

Solar Energy

The economics of a small solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system are determined by both the capital and operating costs. Capital costs include the initial costs of designing and installing a PV system. Operating costs include the costs assicuated with maintaining and operating the PV system over its useful life.

The factors that affect both capital and operating costs include:

  • System components
  • System size
  • Whether a system is grid-connected or stands alone (off-grid)
  • Solar resource at your location (amount of sunlight)
Electricity Consumption

Before selecting system components and sizing a PV system for an existing home, you should evaluate your energy consumption patterns and try to reduce your home's electricity use. SES can help.

  • Looking at your utility bills over the past year
  • Calcuating energy consumption
  • Recognizing consumption trends.

By understanding your "energy habits" and becoming more energy efficient, you can reduce the size of the PV system you'll need, lowering both your capital and operating costs.

If you're designing a new home, you should work with SES to incorporate your PV system into your whole-house system design-an approach for building an energy-efficient home.

Wind Energy

Small wind electric systems are one of the most cost-effective home-based renewable enrgy systems. These systems are also nonpolluting.

If a small wind electric system is right for you, it can do the following:

  • Lower your electricity bills by 50%-90%
  • Help you avoid the high costs of having utility power lines extended to a remote location
  • Help uninterruptible power supplies ride through extended utility outages

Small wind electric systems can also be used for a variety of other applications, including water pumping on farms and ranches.

Evaluating a Potential Small Wind Turbine Site

A small wind energy system can provide a practical and economical source of electricity if the following apply to you:

  • Your property has a good wind resource
  • Your home or business is located on at least one acre of land in a rural area
  • Your local zoning codes or covenants allow wind turbines
  • You can determine how much electricity you need or want to produce
  • It works for you economically, and you"re comfortable with long-term investments
  • Your average electricity bills are $150 per month or more
  • Your property is in a remote location that does not have easy access to utility lines.

Hot Water

You have a lot to consider when selecting a new water heater for your home. You should choose a water heating system that will not only provide enough hot water but also that will do so energy efficiently, saving you money. This includes considering the different types of water heaters available and determining the right size and fuel source for your home.

Types of Water Heaters

It's a good idea to know the different types of water heaters available before you purchase one:

  • Conventional storage water heaters
  • Offer a ready reservoir (storage tank) of hot water
  • Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters
  • Heat water directly without the use of a storage tank
  • Heat pump water heaters
  • Move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly for providing hot water
  • Solar water heaters
  • Use the sun's heat to provide hot water
  • Tankless coil and indirect water heaters
  • Use a home's space heating system to heat water
Selection Criteria

When selecting the best type and model of water heater for your home, you also need to consider the following:

Fuel type, availability and cost

The fuel type or energy source you use for water heating will not only affect the water heater's annual operation costs but also its size and energy efficiency.

Size

To provide your househould with enough hot water and to maximize efficiency, you need a properly sized water heater.

Energy efficiency

To maximize your energy and cost savings, you want to know how energy efficient a water heater is before you purchase it.

Costs

Before you purchase a water heater, it's also a good idea to estimate its annual operating costs and compare those costs with other less or more energy-efficient models.