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Momentum Builders is a residential construction company whose owners are passionate about building living spaces that contribute toward a greener, more sustainable world. |
Power-up with Alternative EnergiesMomentum Builders provide our clients knowledge, information, and advice to build the most energy efficient homes to meet their budgetary and lifestyle needs. The four most common alternative energy solutions to power, heat, and cool homes are: Solar, Geothermal, Wind and Wood.
Solar There are three methods of collecting and utilizing solar energy: passive, thermal, and photovoltaic (PV). Passive Solar Energy use is the simplest and least expensive method of using the sun for energy. Passive solar energy strategies utilize building constituents such as walls, floors, roofs, windows, exterior building elements and landscaping to maximize the use of the heat generated by the sun. Passive cooling minimizes the effects of solar radiation through shading or generating air flows with convection ventilation. To learn more... Solar Thermal Energy (STE) is a technology for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy (heat). Low temperature collectors are flat plates generally used to heat swimming pools. Medium-temperature collectors are also usually flat plates but are used for creating hot water for residential and commercial use. High temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses and are generally used for electric power production. STE is different from photovoltaics, which convert solar energy directly into electricity. To learn more... Photovoltaic panels convert light from the sun into electricity. Solar panels used to power homes are typically made from solar cells combined into modules that hold about 40 cells. A typical home will use about 10 to 20 solar panels to power the home. The panels are mounted at a fixed angle facing south, or they can be mounted on a tracking device that follows the sun, allowing them to capture the most sunlight. To learn more...
Geothermal Geothermal, also called geo-exchange, systems rely on the renewable energy of the earth, just below the surface, for their high efficiency. A glycol water solution flowing through piping buried in the ground absorbs heat from the ground in winter and transfers it to the geo-exchange system inside the house. There, the heat is concentrated and transferred to air circulating through the interior of the home. In summer, the process is reversed. The system extracts heat from the interior air and transfers it to the ground via the ground loop piping. Geothermal heat pumps are similar to ordinary heat pumps, but use the ground instead of the outside air to provide heating, air conditioning, and in most cases, hot water. Because they use the earth's natural heat, they are among the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies available. To learn more...
Wind Wind power provides electricity to homes. It is delivered to the home from a wind turbine, which collects the kinetic energy from the wind, and converts it to usable electricity that is compatible with the home's electrical system. A small wind energy system could prove to be a practical and economical source of electricity for your home if the following are true:
While wind maps are a primary tool to determine the available energy from the wind in a given site, the decision to utilize wind power requires a more thorough understanding of the site's wind power using a host of measuring devices. For more information, visit American Wind Energy Association.
Wood Heating a house with wood, partly or totally, can be environmentally appropriate and economically beneficial if it is done correctly. Wood can be harvested poorly, burned dirty, and its heat wasted. Or, wood can be harvested sustainably, burned cleanly and efficiently, and its energy used to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. To learn more...
Resources Green Building Initiative The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for residential and commercial construction. This link will take you to the site's excellent video library. Energy and Environmental Building Alliance The EBBA site provides a vast array of information re: energy-efficient home building. Residential Environmenal Design A site with great resources in reviews, articles, and information on energy efficient systems and products Home Energy Magazine An online magazine dedicated to providing information about the latest energy saving solutions The Home Energy Saver A site that enables you to do your own energy audit. And helps you identify the best ways to save energy in your home, with information and links to help make that happen NYSERDA New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Alliance to Save Energy Provides information on resources and federal rebates on integrating efficient systems into your home American Solar Energy Society ASES is a national organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. citizens and the global environment. ASES promotes the widespread near-term and long-term use of solar energy. Building Green Environmental Building News online and GreenSpec materials resource. Fee for service, goldmine of information. Cooler Planet Provides free online assessment tools, educational resources, and consultation services to home and business owners considering solar installations. Find Solar "Quick calculators" make preliminary evaluations of costs and benefits of solar energy systems for your particular location and building needs. Find qualified professionals who can design, install and service solar energy systems. ISES The International Solar Energy Society. Passive Solar Industries Council PSIC is the only U.S. industry association solely devoted to promoting energy conscious, solar-enhanced buildings and the products and services that go into them. Members are committed to high quality design and construction and consider whole building design --not just the individual building systems. Solar Electric Power Association SEPA is a collaboration of utilities, energy service providers, and the photovoltaic industry working together to create and encourage commercial use of new solar electric power business models. Solar Energy Industries Association SEIA has been the national trade group for commercial enterprises involved in solar energy for over twenty years. Solar Energy Technologies Program - Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) researches solar technologies such as photovoltaics, solar water heating, solar thermal electric generation, solar lighting, and passive solar design. Renewable Energy Policy Project and Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology REPP's goal is to accelerate the use of renewable energy by providing credible information, insightful policy analysis, and innovative strategies amid changing energy markets and mounting environmental needs by researching, publishing, and disseminating information, creating policy tools, and hosting highly active, on-line, renewable energy discussion groups. Sun Plans Passive Solar Passive solar house plans are available for purchase after viewing samples and photos. Also available is The Sun Inspired House, a 256-page book with house plans, educational information and resources. Renovus Energy A local alternative energy and installations firm. Upstate Energy Solutions A local alternative energy consulting and installation firm.
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