By Jeanne Dion
Mr. Electric of queensbury
As a consumer, both in business and for your home, there has never been a time as exciting as now. With the transition from fluorescent and filament light bulbs to LED lighting, and the evolution of the IoT (Internet of Things), the world in which we live has changed forever.
For the typical home, each and every light that is converted from a conventional one to LED consumes on average 20 percent less power; and is able to be turned on and off by a switch, or an app, and even voice. Wireless and smart technology has enabled a plethora of options to turn on, off, dim, or monitor power consumption of just a single light, receptacle, or whole home with some simple navigating within an app.
ReWire Energy Partners With Company To Offer Solar Power To Area Communities
ReWire Energy has developed a new partnership with U.S. Light Energy, a Latham-based distributed generation energy development company, that will offer power from U.S. Light Energy’s Community Solar Projects to ReWire customers across the greater Capital Region.
U.S. Light Energy specializes in Community Solar facilities and solar renewable energy solutions for residential, small commercial, and municipal customers.
As part of the new partnership, ReWire, a family owned minority business enterprise based in downtown Saratoga Springs, will offer subscriptions to popular and flexible renewable energy program, Community Solar. This new offering comes in addition to the in-depth strategic energy consulting services offered by ReWire to commercial real estate developers, nonprofits, and government agencies, company officials said.
Curtis Lumber To Open New Bathroom Design Center At Its Ballston Spa Facility
By Susan E. Campbell
Curtis Lumber Co.’s Ballston Spa location will unveil a new bathroom design center this month.
A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Thursday Sept. 12, and there will be a weekend of special events, including tours of the new showroom and the opportunity for “spectacular savings,” according to Elmer Manzer, facility coordinator for the store at 885 Route 67.
A 34-year employee at Curtis, Manzer has seen the rise in popularity of the showroom concept, especially over the last two decades.
“The design centers have been growing for nearly 20 years,” he said. “There is a massive project center that is like a year-round home show, featuring ideas for patios, lighting, kitchen cabinets and counters, a one-car garage and many other aspects of home building and renovation.”
Business Report: Sustainable Energy Saving Options
By Lee Evans
Running a household or a small business can be expensive. However, many people don’t consider the choice and control they have over their energy expenses.
Now the emerging green economy combined with high connectivity has given birth to a bold new era of energy saving options for everyone. What follows is a list of essential, straightforward items that both homeowners and businesses can check off to trigger the type of cost reduction they’ve always wanted in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
In general, the three main steps you can use to unlock the maximum amount of energy savings for your home or small business: Reduce, electrify and replace.
Business Report: Homebuyers Should Get Chimney Inspection
By Jamie Wallace
People considering buying a home should not neglect getting a chimney inspection.
Here are five reasons why.
1) Chimneys are one of the most neglected structures in a home
Did you know that very few chimneys that vent a furnace or fireplace have ever been professionally inspected? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) is the national standard for chimneys and vents and states that a chimney shall be inspected annually. A chimney is always under attack by corrosive flue gasses which wreak havoc on its flue liner.
NYSERDA Launches Second Phase Of Its Home Energy Rating Pilot Program
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has launched the second phase of a multi-year Home Energy Rating Pilot initially launched in February.
NYSERDA is seeking applications from licensed home inspectors to deliver home energy ratings during pre-purchase inspections to support homebuyer remodeling of a newly purchased one- to four-family home.
Alicia Barton, president and CEO of NYSERDA, said reducing energy use in homes “provides a foundation for greater statewide energy savings and advances us another step towards meeting Gov. Cuomo’s energy efficiency target by 2025. Piloting home energy ratings with home inspectors offers New York homebuyers access to a useful and informative tool that will identify energy efficient needs, features and upgrade opportunities to inform future remodeling decisions that will help them lower energy costs and increase the comfort of their homes.”
Interior Designers Say There Is A Trend To More Natural, Comfortable Items In The Home
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan E. Campbell
The quest for healthier, cozier homes is driving residential interior design trends, say two Saratoga-based professionals.
“The move to more natural, organic materials is driven largely by health concerns, just like food trends,“ said Shelly Walker, owner of Finishing Touches Home Decor in Wilton. “We are using more stone, copper, concrete, bamboo and wood in residences now, along with non-toxic organic fabrics. Parents don’t want their children exposed to toxins and gasses.”
Beverly Tracy, founder of Beverly Tracy Home Design in Saratoga Springs, agrees that color selections and textures are influenced by the trend back to nature.
Business Report: Zero Energy Commercial Buildings
By Warren Evans
Zero energy (ZE) commercial buildings are grid-integrated buildings capable of generating as much energy as they consume through advanced efficiency technologies and onsite generation systems such as solar power and geothermal energy.
Beyond the environmental benefits, ZE projects provide owners with significant business value through resilience, employee and tenant retention and the ability to enjoy higher rents. Through intelligent design, clean construction and well-planned financing, developers can substantially increase the value of a commercial building with ZE.
Showcase Of Homes Will Feature 13 Homes From 12 Builders Over Three Weekends
Courtesy Saratoga Builders Association
The 2018 Saratoga Showcase of Homes will take place over three weekends this month and tickets are now on sale.
The event benefits Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
Now celebrating its 23rd year, this annual community event has contributed over $1 million local charities.
NYSERDA Offers Tool To Help Municipalities To Develop Solar Projects On Unused Lands
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has issued a tool that provides guidance and resources for communities seeking to develop solar projects on underutilized properties such as landfills and brownfields.
What is called the Municipal Solar Procurement Toolkit supports recent revisions to the NY-Sun Megawatt Block Program which provides financial incentives for developing solar projects in those areas.
The NY-Sun initiative supports the mandate for 50 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable resources by 2030 to combat climate change.