Environmental Efficiency by Controlled Air Inc

As well as all the state tax and utility incentives there are also federal tax credits available for energy efficiency. Sometimes the Federal credits can be combined with the other offers to add up to big savings. The Business Energy Investment Tax Credit is a corporate tax credit for:Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Solar Hybrid Lighting, Direct-Use Geothermal, and Micro turbines. The amount vary by the type of energy. 30% of the cost for solar and small wind energy can be taken or $200 per kWh for micro turbines. The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This credit is set to expire December 31, 2016, so there is plenty of time to get these energy efficiency measures installed. Some details by energy type: • Solar. The credit is equal to 30% of expenditures, with no maximum credit. Eligible solar ...

There has been many grants and funds set aside for things like solar and wind energy, but what do you do with that energy when it is made? Storage! This new act called Storage Technology of Renewable and Green Energy Act of 2010 or the Storage Act of 2010 offers tax credits for installing an energy efficient storage system. Last week, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D.-N.H.), introduced a revision of the bill Wyden introduced to Congress last year. The storage systems that are included under this act are: hydroelectric pumped storage and compressed air energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, batteries, superconducting magnetic energy storage, flywheels, thermal energy storage systems and hydrogen storage. Hopefully this new bill will pass and give us the $1.5 billion in tax credits. We will keep you updated and let you know if this passes. Visit our blog post on Ice Thermal Storage To read more

Going green is not just for smaller eco-conscious companies anymore. Many larger corporations are jumping on the bank wagon and are finding they can save huge amounts of money. The changes that they are making vary from a complete buildings redesigns to complete overhaul of their business practices. The outcome of these changes from business to business, but it seems that overall they are helping bring green and sustainable principles to the mainstream of business. Last year Walmart launched a sustainability index and sustainability consortium. Burger King has even opened up a number of stores that are partially powered by wind and solar; Dr. Pepper is upgrading 60k vending machines for energy efficiency and Huggies now makes organic diapers. The term "Green" has been over used and over marketed and many people thought that it was only a phase that would pass like bell-bottoms. But it is not going anywhere and seems to only be growing in popularity. It is wonderful that the...

A little side track from our usually focus on energy, we wanted to congratulate the Derby National Honor Society for raising over 1,700 books for donation to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital and Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Our own Frank Lazowski helped with distribution of the books to the hospitals. We like to always recognize the good that our staff does for the community and always support them anyway that we can. Please consider donating any old children's books that you have instead of tossing them. There are always children who would appreciate them at your local hospital.

According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), the world energy usage is expected to grow by 49% percent by 2035. India and China will make up 20% of the growth. The United States growth is expected to drop from 21% to 16% of the worlds usage. The industrial sector is stated to uses more energy then any other sector as much as 50%, in a report by the EIA. Other points mentioned in the report: * Petroleum and other liquid fuels will remain the largest energy source worldwide through 2035, although higher oil prices are expected to erode their share of total energy use from 35 percent in 2007 to 30 percent in 2035. * World natural gas consumption will increase 1.3 percent per year, from 108 trillion cubic feet in 2007 to 156 trillion cubic feet in 2035. Tight gas, shale gas and coalbed methane supplies will rise substantially, especially from the U.S., but also from Canada and China. * World net electricity generation will jump by 87 percent, from 18.8 trillion k...

We continually discuss all the environmental benefits of going green, but the cost involved in going green can sometimes seem be a bit high. But it really does save your business money in the long run. A partnership was created between Environmental Defense Fund and private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR). KKR asked the companies in their portfolio to use greener business practices and in two years they saved over $160 million dollars. These numbers are huge and help prove the point that not only is going green good for the environment, it is good for your pocket as well. Furthermore the companies saved 345,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, 8,500 tons of paper, and 1.2 million tons of waste. Read more about the findings

When you think of Alexion Pharmacauticals, you may not think of green technology or environment efforts, but Alexion is a leader in sustainable business practices. Alexion has written a business plan that leads them to become 100% green. Over the last few years Alexion has installed a company wide filtration system, removing the need for plastic water bottles; all appliances and computers are energy star rated; they have installed solar panels and purchase a portion of the energy from renewable energy sources; replaced windows to high efficiency glass; and two of their major renovations have been awarded Gold LEED Certification. We worked with Alexion in installing a new high efficiency heating and air conditioning system, as well as installing variable frequency drives, and an energy management system that allows for strict control and monitoring over energy usage in the building. What really stands out for us it that they don't even own the building they are renovating in Connect...