Patrick Walsh's Blog

New Solar Technology That's Affordable!!

Nanosolar, Inc has developed a production process that will significantly decrease the price of  Photovoltaic (PV) sheets.  Currently, PV cells cost $3.00 per watt.  The  new Nanosolar PV sheets (or "Power Sheets") cost  $0.30 per watt, which is cheaper than burning coal at $1.00 per watt.

This new development could make solar power mainstream but  as of now the new Nanosolar Powersheets are on back order for 3-5 years.  The good news is that there are venture capitalists investing in Nanosolar such as the co-founders of google...

In the meantime, there are great incentives in Arizona that still make purchasing and using solar power  a wise investment and very appealing..

Arizona Incentives To Go Solar

You can get  rebates for installation,  tax credits and reduced or no electric bills.  You can even sell excess energy to electric companies in some areas. 

Please visit the following links to learn more:

http://www.americanpv.com/pdf/res_on/incentivesAZ.pdf

http://www.dependablesolarproducts.com/utility-incentives.shtml

http://www.dependablesolarproducts.com/tax-incentives.shtml

Saving Energy With Insulated Vinyl Siding

While most of us know how to decrease air conditioning and heating consumption in our homes by installing eco windows and doors and by sealing off roof and foundation, many people do not realize that the wood framing in their homes contribute to unnecessary consumption of energy.  Did you know that your home loses 20-25% of heat and cooled air due to the wood framing in your home?  In addition, because traditional insulation has an R-value (amount that insulation restricts air flow) of 0.15- 0.65, so much air is lost from your home.  With  insulated vinyl siding, on the other hand, the R-value is 3.96 and you would save hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year on energy bills with insulated vinyl siding. 

Please visit  vinylsiding.org for more information.

Other Manufacturers:  Alcoa Home Exteriors, Alside, CertainTeed, Crane Performance Siding, Heartland Building Products, Mitten Inc., Norandex/Reynolds, KP Building Products, Revere Building Products, RMC/Style Crest and Variform.

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Water Harvesting

Water harvesting is practiced around the world and is a great benefit to the community when used on a large scale.  You can take steps to contribute and save water by harvesting at home.

Here's how:

• Shape the ground where water falls from the roof of your home so that water is channeled to landscaping.

• Use rain water tanks/barrels to collect and store water that runs off your roof.  Usage of the collected water will be dependent on whether or not the water will run through a septic system.

• You can also use any container that will hold water but we don't recommend using the water for drinking or cooking unless it has been treated.

Home Water Conservation

• Install low flow shower heads and aerators on faucets.  Make sure all drip problems are fixed (especially toilet leaks) as drips can waste an enormous amount of water over time.

• "One of the most innovative and effective water saving tool is the dual flush toilet, which estimates a savings of 4,000 gallons of water per year."  You can purchase a dual flow toilet at  Akagreen.com

• Use a pool cover to reduce water evaporation when the pool is not being used.

No-Cost Water Conservation

• Irrigate your yard at night so that water does not evaporate.  Adjust your irrigation settings as the seasons change, irrigating less frequently in the winter and spring.

• Periodically check your yard to make sure you don't have any leaks coming from your drip system.

• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer when they are full.  Use cold water to wash your clothes as this decreases energy needed to heat the water.

• Put a bucket in the shower while you're waiting for the water to heat up.  You can water plants, put the water in the toilet for flushing and whatever else you can think of!

• Turn off water when shaving and brushing your teeth.

• Use a reusable water bottle instead of bottled water.  Even though recycling bottled water is better than disposing of it in the trash, it still takes energy to recycle it.

On June 7 and June 15 Eco Builders, Trilogy by Shea Homes, will be hosting an "Eco Expo" in the Phoenix area.  Trilogy will give away Toyota Prius Hybrid cars with all homes purchased by June 15.  Trilogy will also be hosting their Eco Expos in California, Virginia and Florida.  For more details please view the following link:  Shea Homes Green Living

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It's Your World!

How was your Earth Day?  We'd love to hear all about it!  This month's GreenAZ newsletter takes a look at Arizona's progress in the green arena, how to cut back on air conditioning use this summer and great green flooring!

Arizona Solar Power and Energy Efficiency Trivia:

•Phoenix based First Solar Inc total shares currently worth 23 billion

•An Irish company is investing 100 million in Phoenix based company, Stirling Energy Systems Inc

•1,700 Arizona Public Service Co customers have solar power systems contributing to the grid

•6,000 APS customers will add solar by 2025

Reduce Your Air Conditioning Use!

•Use Ceiling Fans

•Turn a Window Fan on at night with all interior doors open-  this draws hot air out of your home.

•Close windows and curtains on sunny side.

Thinking About Remodeling?

Going Green doesn't mean you have to give up quality and aesthetic value!  And, in some cases using Green materials may even be more affordable than using traditional materials.  If you're thinking about installing new flooring, consider bamboo or cork.  These resources grow twice as fast as hardwood that is typically used for flooring.  If you decide to go with cork, an added bonus is that only the bark of the cork tree is harvested and the tree is not damaged.  Adding even more appeal to using bamboo and cork is that these floorings look great, are easy to install and are very durable and affordable.  For more information about these and other Green friendly building materials please visit Akagreen.com

Every year the Tempe Rotary Clubs organize a card board boat race on Tempe Town
Lake. This year was the 9th annual race and dozens of teams competed.

Girl scout troop 1386 was sponsored by Patrick Walsh.  If you look closely you can see his name on the middle panel!
Way to go girls....

If

For full pdf of newsletter, click here:

 As I sit here brainstorming about how to "Green Up Your Holidays," I can't help but think of how not eco-friendly the season can be: racing from mall to mall for the perfect gift, creating extravagent home light displays, and of course, the wrapping paper! A.K.A. Green (http://www.akagreen.com/), a green home store in Scottsdale, has come up with some suggestions to help inspire environmental responsibility this holiday season.

• Try LED Holiday Lights for indoors and out. They're energy-efficient, longer lasting, and sure beat the tangled mess of ancient strings of lights we have crammed in storage!
• Grow-A-Note holiday cards are 100% recycled, printed with soy ink, and wow, have wildflower seeds embedded in them so you can actually plant these cards!
• Xeko card games for kids teach children about the environment, endangered species, and exotic locales. They also have stuffed animal charcters made from soysilk.
• Do something different. Give loved ones an adopted plot of rainforest (about $50 per acre, http://www.nature.org/), or a picture frame made from recycled bike chains (http://www.greenfeet.com/). Just keep the earth in mind!
• Check out www.tempe-listings.com for local green vendors that can help you green-up your home, your yard, and your life.

Need Ideas for New Year's Resolutions?

• Paper, not plastic!  Plastic shopping bags are not recyclable in Tempe.  Plus, grocers like Sunflower Market will pay you to reuse paper bags. Or better yet, pick up a cloth shopping bag.
• Go LED:  Pick up some LED lightbulbs at your next hardware shop stop. They are pretty inexpensive, long-lasting, and energy efficient.
• Take cold showers... maybe when summer rolls around.
• Grocery shopping?  Buy local and in season.  Flying exotic produce around the planet uses a lot of fossil fuels, so keep it national, or keep it very local.
• Bus, bike, walk, carpool, or light-rail around town!  Visit http://www.valleymetro.org/ for fare info, carpool matching services, schedules, and more!

Have a happy holiday season from all of us at The Walsh Team.

For full pdf of newsletter, please click here:

It seems like everywhere you turn, green is where it's at. From hybrid vehicles, to new "carbon footprint count" food packaging, there's no question that people are becoming much more aware of their impact on the Earth. In the world of real estate, this is no exception. Financial benefits, demand, and clean consciences have pushed builders to implement green products and practices more than half of the time in new home construction. But don't think that your older home can't be a part of the green revolution. An Arizona State University graduate student, as a part of his masters program in Real Estate Design, recently renovated a 1960's Phoenix home to meet LEED-accredited standards, the first existing home to become LEED-accredited West of the Mississippi. If total home renovation is out of the question, green up your home in little ways, by using eco-friendly materials and products or replacing old appliances with new energy efficient models.  For more on Green Living, please visit my website, and you'll find articles, newsletters, and eco-friendly companies to help green up your life!