Is It Time for Solar in Yardley?
Have you seen solar panels around Yardley? They’re on roofs, and even in fields! Solar panels are becoming part of America’s energy-saving culture, by converting the sun’s radiation into electricity. And while solar power still accounts for less than one-half of one percent of the electricity produced in the state, today there are 30 times more solar panels installed right here in Pennsylvania than there were just three short years ago!
Part of the tremendous growth seen in solar installations is due to a rebate program run by the state, the PA Sunshine Program, that started in the summer of 2009. The program’s goal was to stimulate the solar industry in the state, and give it the jump start needed to reach a critical mass. Although this program is being phased out now, it was very successful in accomplishing its goals.
As the industry has grown, the price of solar panels and the cost of installation have both plummeted – an average installation costs less than half of what it did two years ago. The lower cost more than makes up for the loss of the rebate. The return on investment by an average homeowner is in the 12% range – and is mostly free from income tax.
In June of 2004, my friend Mark Bortman moved his family from Bucks County to Costa Rica for a year. There, he apprenticed with a pioneer in the solar industry and learned the
business from the ground up. When he returned in 2005, he founded Exact Solar. Today, Exact is the only company in the Bucks County area with extensive experience designing and installing all three major types of solar energy systems: solar water heating, solar electricity and solar pool heating.
One of the keys to Exact Solar’s success is Mark’s hands-on approach. “We offer a personal level of customer service,” says Mark. “I give my cell phone number to my clients at the very first meeting, so I’m easily accessible.”
In addition, Mark is involved in every project to ensure the job is done right. He makes sure all permit paperwork is filed quickly and correctly, and he works on-site during every installation alongside his installers.
To start saving money while helping to make your planet a cleaner place to live, call Mark with Exact Solar for a free consultation at 267-825-0918. For more information, visit www.exactsolar.com.
Continue Reading > Add a Comment |Living in Yardley or Newtown in Bucks County, its getting cold, are your windows drafty?
Preventative care will minimize your home repair costs and, at this time of year, it’s a good idea to sweep your home’s exterior for sign of air leaks and drafts around windows. If you are in the Yardley and Newtown area, you know that it is getting cold!
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafty windows can account for 30% of a home’s heat loss in winter so it’s best to find them, and seal them.
In this 4-minute video from the DIY Network, you’ll learn how to identify your home’s leaky windows, and how to seal them with caulk. The job requires a little bit of elbow grease, but it’s manageable for even the notice handyman.
Some of the tips include:
- How to use a lit candle to find windows that leak air
- How to remove existing caulk using caulk softener
- How to “push the bead” of caulk for proper application
The video concludes with a brief tutorial on setting your home’s programmable thermostat so, when taken with the window caulking exercise, homeowners in Lower Makefield Township could stand to save a bundle on their winter heating bills.
Hope that you find this video helpful.
Continue Reading > Add a Comment |Caulking tips for Lower Makefield and Yardley Homes.
This morning when I left my house at 6:45, for an early morning networking meeting, it was 32 degrees! It is definitely starting to feel like winter is just around the corner, in Yardley, and all over Bucks County. My wife was complaining that it was too cold to walk the dog.
In an interest in trying to focus on energy saving tips and ideas, I thought I would review an easy way to help protect homes from drafts.
The amount of air that leaks from the seams of a typical home is the same amount of air that would escape through an open window. It’s why home care experts recommend a routine caulking of a home’s windows and doors — at least once per year.
Solid, all-around caulk jobs can reduce a home’s energy bill by as much as 20 percent.
A Lower Makefield Township homeowner’s basic toolkit should include the familiar caulking gun and tube for larger jobs, but for spot treatment, Caulk Singles can be a good alternative. A product of GE, Caulk Singles are single-use caulking “packages”, squeezable like a toothpaste tube.
The singles are easier-to-control than a traditional caulking tube, and require no instruction or experience.
Caulk Singles are made in 3 varieties :
- Waterproof Silicone (White), for white finishes
- Waterproof Silicone (Clear), for colored finishes
- Paintable Acrylic, for paintable seals
Caulk Singles cost roughly $2.50 per package on Amazon, but may be cheaper at a local hardware store.
Hope that you find this simple tip, helpful.
If you would like to understand the value of your home in the current market, or would like to be emailed a detailed report showing all neighborhood activity, please contact me.
Continue Reading > Add a Comment |