Because your solar power system depends on absorbing sunlight, the placement of your panels is of utmost importance. Ideally, in the northern hemisphere, panels should be affixed to the south face of your house, the direction from which the sun will shine most of the day. If they are slightly to the east or west of true south, they will retain about 90% of their absorptive capability, but if the configuration of your house prevents you from orienting them more or less to the south, you should consider remodeling or choosing another energy source.It is also crucial that your panels receive full sunlight as often as possible, so you must ensure that nothing shades the panels or blocks sunlight from reaching them. Even something as thin as an electrical or telephone wire can interfere with optimum exposure. Keeping trees trimmed so they don’t shade your panels is important.

In buildings that use the sun as a heating source, the most important element of design is a southerly exposure, and windows are the most common form.

The following forms of insulation are less commonly used than fiberglass and cellulose, but this doesn’t mean they’re less desirable. Most offer unique advantages over more traditional insulation, although they may have higher initial costs or other drawbacks as well. We urge you to consider them and make the decision that works best for your home, your finances and your environmental commitment.

Foamed insulation is a bit expensive initially, but lasts longer and insulates better than others. It is made of various materials in their liquid states, and can be sprayed, injected or poured into the building envelope. Because foamed insulation can be made of many different materials, its R-values vary widely, from around 3 to at least 8.

Fiberglass has long been one of the most common types of insulation. It comes in many different forms, but the basic concept is that glass is heated and spun to form tiny fibers that stick together haphazardly. The structure traps air well, making it a good insulator.

Cellulose loose-fill is best compared to fiberglass loose-fill because both offer the benefit of more effectively sealing the building envelope from heat transfer. Cellulose tends to offer a better R-value per inch (see chart below), and it is not a possible carcinogen. It also boasts some environmental credentials above those fiberglass can claim: it has a greater percentage of recycled content, its manufacture is about 8 times less energy-intensive and, when it is removed from a house frame, it can theoretically be composted. However, cellulose tends to be more expensive, and its installation can be more labor-intensive than that of fiberglass blankets. It’s especially important to ensure proper installation of sprayed-in cellulose because if it is left too wet, mold, mildew and even rot can form in the house frame.

Pennsylvania energy-buffs may have noticed the term ‘net - metering’ being tossed around local news recently. In June 2006 the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the board that governs the creation and distribution of energy in the state, decided to allow net metering in an effort to join the other 39 states nationwide that already have such regulations.

An essential component of conserving energy is keeping conditioned air in your house and keeping unconditioned air out, meaning that in the winter hot air doesn’t escape and in the summer cool air doesn’t escape. Insulation plays a role in keeping your house warm too, but regular fiberglass insulation does not stop the flow of air. Typically insulation is effective at preventing heat transfer through materials (limiting your home’s ability to conduct heat), it cannot prevent air from actually sneaking in and out through holes and cracks. (The exception to this is sprayed-in Cellulose and some foam insulations that can both air seal and insulate)

Are you interested in installing an alternative energy system in your home, but can’t swallow the price of solar panels or wind turbines? Let the federal and state government help pay the bill! New tax credit laws have recently been passed by Congress and state legislatures, including Pennsylvania’s, which help corporate, business, private, non-profit and agriculture sectors, as well as homeowners, to pay for alternative energy systems. This is the government’s way of encouraging individuals and groups to save energy and money by utilizing the growing capabilities of energy systems that don’t depend on an outside power company. By creating your own power and either using it right away, storing it in a battery system, or selling it back to your electric company (see the article on Net Metering) you can keep tons-literally tons-of harmful pollutants from being released into the air, water and soil.

Electric customers might be surprised to learn how much their bills could be reduced by switching to energy efficient lighting.  Much of the focus of home energy conservation is spent on the large electric-hogging appliances like air conditioners and clothes dryers, but lighting should not be overlooked.  The fact that lights are often left on for long amounts of time and are frequently forgotten (that rogue light down in the basement that never gets turned off), coupled with inefficient design in overhead lights and lamps create quite an impact on your bill.So what can be done to reduce this impact? The solution to this problem can be broken down in two categories: energy efficient products and energy efficient personal habits.