A Home Energy Assessment

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Ask Mr. Green: A Prius or a Furnace? From the Sierra Club

This week we'll get the insights of Bob Schildgen (aka Mr. Green), who writes Sierra's popular "Hey Mr. Green" environmental advice column.

Hey Mr. Green,

I'm thinking of replacing my 25-year-old gas furnace. I'm also thinking about getting a Prius, since my old Corolla gets way lower mileage. But my funds are limited. So tell me, which would give the most bang for my buck in terms of shrinking my carbon footprint: the furnace or the Prius?

--Mel in Detroit, Michigan

While the neighbors might be impressed by an eco-correct Prius, an inconspicuous new furnace may be a more cost-effective path to a dainty footprint. This possibility is obviously much stronger in places with very cold winters, like your upper Midwest.

Your old furnace, likely only 65% efficient (or less), might burn 400 more therms of natural gas than a new model that's 95% efficient. So, with natural gas at $1.29 per therm, you'll save $516 per year with a new furnace. Since burning a therm of natural gas emits the equivalent of 11.8 pounds of carbon dioxide, the new furnace would eliminate some 4,700 pounds of emissions per year. Even if you buy a high-end $10,000 furnace, that breaks down to 15 cents a pound to stifle CO2 over its 15-year life span.

Now for the Prius: Driving it 10,000 miles a year for 15 years will generate 75,000 pounds of CO2 equivalent. Your Corolla will emit roughly 150,000 pounds over that distance, so the Prius could save a net of 75,000 pounds (plus $445 a year on fuel). With the Prius's base price of $23,520, that's 31 cents per pound of CO2.

It clearly pays to do a cost-benefit analysis tailored to your situation before making any big energy purchase, be it furnace, car, or solar panels. It's a pain, I know, having spent hours with the numbers above, but it's worth it. If you're not up to the task, tap an energy auditor or buy your geekiest friend a beer-brewing kit in exchange for crunching your numbers. 

Call 916-624-0808 for an energy assessment. 

List of New California Laws 2012

California Renters Right to Recycling Law

Apartment building landlords will have to start providing recycling services for 7 million California tenants.  Law effective 2012.  Read "California Renters Recycling Law". 

Child Booster Seat Law

The new California Booster Seat Law outlaws parents, guardians, or drivers from transporting on a highway in a motor vehicle any child under 8 years old without securing that child in an appropriate child restraint meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The new California law does contain a provision, however, that a child under 8 years of age who is 4'9" inches in height or taller may use a safety belt rather than a child safety seat or booster seat.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

Employment Credit Check Law

Employers can no longer request credit reports for Californians unless they are working or seeking work in a financial institution, law enforcement or the state Justice Department.

The law also exempts anyone who
(1) has access to people's bank or credit card account information, SSN number and date of birth,
(2) has access to an employer's proprietary information or trade secrets, (3) signs a check, credit card, financial contract, or transfers money for an employer,
(4) has access to more than $10,000 cash, or (5) is a manager in 'certain industries'.

Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Handgun Open Carry Law

Open-carry citizen handgun ban.  Supported by cops who cannot tell whether openly carried weapons are loaded or not.  Violators pay $1,000 plus 6 months in jail (misdemeanor). Gun rights advocates vow to carry rifles and shotguns instead.  Californians can still get permits for concealed weapons, though it is increasingly difficult.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Human Trafficking Law

Enforces mandatory disclosure of efforts that companies take to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their entire supply chains.  Being watched as a prototype of future legislation in other states and nations.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Gay Bullying Law (Seth's Law)

Combats bullying of gay and lesbian students in public schools by requiring school districts to have a uniform process for dealing with gay bullying complaints. Mandates that school personnel intervene if they witness gay bullying.  Law effective July 1, 2012.

LGBT Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education Law

State universities and colleges must create and enforce campus policies protecting LGBTs from harassment and appoint employee contact persons to address on-campus LGBT matters. The law includes community colleges statewide.  Law effective 2012.

Domestic Partnership Equality Law

Corrects inequalities between domestic partnerships and heterosexual marriages, including domestic partner health benefits sharing.  Law effective 2012.

Protection of Parent-Child Relationships Law

Allows courts to consider the relationship between a child and a non-biological parent when considering child rights cases involving birth parents, adoptive parents, and gay or lesbian guardians.  Law effective 2012.

Transgender Non-Discrimination Law

Provides public accommodation and protection in education, housing and employment for gender identity and expression.  Law effective 2012.

Transgender Vital Statistics Law

Makes it easier for transgender Californians to get a court petition to change their gender on official documents.  Law effective 2012.

LGBT Equal Benefits Law

Requires an employer with a state contract worth more than $100,000 to have non-discrimination policies in place for LGBT workers and their partners.  Law effective 2012.

Judicial Applicant and Appointment Demographics Inclusion Law

Includes gender identity and sexual orientation of potential judges into the state's Judicial Applicant Data Report to ensure that state courts are diverse.  Law effective 2012.

Gay Divorce Law

Provides that if a gay couple got married in California but lives in a state that won't grant them a divorce, the California court will have jurisdiction to grant them a legal divorce. The case will be filed in the county where the gay couple got married.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Gay History Law

Governor Jerry Brown signed the Gay History Law, which mandates that school textbooks and social studies include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender accomplishments.  Law effective January 1, 2012.

Internet Sales Tax

Governor Brown signed into law that out-of-state Internet retailers must collect California sales tax on transactions if the retailer has a presence in the state.  Law effective Summer 2012.



California Reader Privacy Law

Government and third-party snoops can no longer gather information on Internet users' reading, book shopping or ebook using habits without a legal court order.  Read "California Reader Privacy Law".

Top 10 Real Estate Websites

Yahoo Real Estate retains No. 1; Realtor.com retakes second

For the fifth straight month, Yahoo Real Estate in November was ranked the most popular real estate-related website, according to the latest rankings from Web metrics firm Experian Hitwise.

After dropping to third place in October, Realtor.com edged out Zillow to retake the No. 2 spot last month. Yahoo Real Estate lost some ground in November, capturing 7.02 percent of visits to the real estate category compared to 7.9 percent the month before. At the same time, both Realtor.com and Zillow increased their market share, to 6.78 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.

Brower Mechanical will give a select few local realtors a free energy assessment for SMUD homeowners. Also, in January 2012, we are launching our  Pre EEM qualification review -No Obligation before your client calls for a HERS II rater. This will save them $300+ for an initial review.

A Christmas Story Lines - Funniest Christmas Movie

Celebrate the holidays with these hilarious lines from a great Christmas classic. Do you have more quotes from A Christmas Story?

My little brother had not eaten voluntarily in over three years.
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Oh my god, I shot my eye out!"
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Where's the glue?"
"We're out of glue."
"You used up all the glue on purpose!"
- Mr. Parker and Mrs. Parker in A Christmas Story

"I have since heard of people under extreme duress speaking in strange tongues. I became conscious that a steady torrent of obscenities and swearing of all kinds was pouring out of me as I screamed."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Meanwhile, I struggled for exactly the right BB gun hint. It had to be firm, but subtle."
"Flick says he saw some grizzly bears near Pulaski's candy store!"
"They looked at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears."
- Ralphie as Adult and Young Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Oooh fuuudge!"
"Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the 'F-dash-dash-dash' word!"
- Ralphie and Ralphie as Adult in A Christmas Story

"It was all over - I was dead. What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack? The Chinese water torture? Hmmph. Mere child's play compared to what surely awaited me."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Aunt Clara had for years labored under the delusion that I was not only perpetually 4 years old, but also a girl."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"I had heard that word at least ten times a day from my old man. He worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium; a master."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian."
- Mr. Parker in A Christmas Story

"Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. Though my personal preference was for Lux, I found that Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heavy, but with a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand... YECCHH!"
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny."
"He does not!"
"He does too, he looks like a pink nightmare!"
- Mr. Parker and Mrs. Parker in A Christmas Story

"Getting ready to go to school was like getting ready for extended deep-sea diving."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Now I know that some of you put Flick up to this, but he has refused to say who. But those who did it know their blame, and I'm sure that the guilt you must feel would be far worse than any punishment you might receive. Now, don't you feel terrible? Don't you feel remorse for what you have done? Well, that's all I'm going to say about poor Flick."
"Adults loved to say things like that but kids knew better. We knew darn well it was always better not to get caught."
- Miss Shields and Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Randy lay there like a slug! It was his only defense!"
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Scut Farkus! What a rotten name! There he stood, between us and the alley. Scut Farkus staring out at us with his yellow eyes. He had yellow eyes! So, help me, God! Yellow eyes!"
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story

"Well I double-DOG-dare ya!"
"Now it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a "triple dare ya"? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare." "I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!" "Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!"
- Ralphie, Narrator and Schwartz in A Christmas Story

The following 10 blog websites are the most popular ones among millions of active bloggers.

1. Blogger
Blogger is one of the most popular blog websites and now it is owned by Google. Blogger is a great starting site to get to know blogging and its user dashboard is very user friendly.
2. WordPress
WordPress is another major blog website besides blogger. With its own blogging platform WordPress, you can easily choose your favorite theme and blog layout.
3. Livejournal
Livejournal is not only a great blogging website but also a social networking website where you can search people by interests and school and participate in community discussions.
4. Blog.com
Blog.com offers free blog hosting with unlimited bandwidth for free members, more benefits for paid members.
5. Tumblr
Tumblr is a micro-blogging website where users can post text, images, videos, and more to their tumblelog.
6. Blogsome
Another blog website offering free web hosting for blogs. Blogsome is powered by wordpress.
7. Open Diary
Offers unlimited storage and posts, low cost subscription rates for advanced features.
8. Blogetery
Blogetery is a blog website that offers you payment to write blogs. You will get 90% of the profit, which is much more higher than other sites.
9. Blogster
Blogster offers free blogs as well as free image hosting.
10. Weebly.com
Weebly is one of TIME’s 50 Best Websites, which  has an easy, drag & drop interface to create your own website.

At Brower Mechanical, we work hard to bring our customers products that will enhance their lifestyle, lower their energy costs, and limit their environmental impact.

We bring practical solutions to the needs of today and tomorrow. The solar revolution is about taking control of your energy future.
We want to make solar power ownership easier than ever.

What’s the difference between a Solar Lease vs. a Solar Purchase?

The trade-off homeowners should consider is the size of the up-front payment versus the long term savings. Buying a system outright has the greatest long term savings, but requires a big up-front cash (or finance) payment. The alternative is much smaller monthly lease payments which result in almost instant savings over the your existing energy bill, but result in less money saved over 20 years when compared with an outright purchase. It depends entirely on which approach better matches your financial situation and financial goals.

The question is...Do you want to buy your solar power system
outright or lease one?

Solar Lease Program:
• There is no down payment,  $0 down.
• You’re locked into 15 years or more years, which is transferable to a new owner or home.
• You pay a lease payment plus any extra power you need buy from your electric company. So, solar panel power is technically free, but you have a set lease payment that rises 3% annually.
• As your solar provider, Brower Mechanical will cover maintenance and repairs and monitor your system.
• Similarly, you don’t get tax benefits or rebates or Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
• You have an option to buy later or at the end of your term for a set residual price. After the lease is at an end, we offer the system for $1.00.
• You need to have a good to excellent credit rating of at least 700 FICO score.
• You are always tied to the grid, so any residual electricity needs are covered by your utility.

The advantages of buying a system outright are that the panels usually continue to produce energy well past their 25 year warranty, they often require very little maintenance beyond washing the solar panels twice a year, and once they pay for themselves everything you save after that is yours to keep.

The solar lease is designed to address two concerns of homeowners considering solar: the large up-front cost and the hassle/obligation of ongoing maintenance during the life of the system.

We are now offering solar leases and take on all maintenance and repair obligations–in return for a the homeowner’s long-term (10-15 year) commitment to lease the solar equipment at a fixed monthly rate (solar lease).

In order to make the business model work, we must raise significant amounts of capital, normally from tax equity investors or from commercial lenders.

This capital, often referred to as “project finance”, allows our company to make the up-front purchase of solar components and to pay for installation. We collect the federal “Solar Investment Tax Credit”, as well as any applicable state/local incentives associated with the project and handle the paperwork associated with installation and permitting of the new PV solar system.