Think for just a moment about how different life is today in the US from 1882. That is the year that the US electrical grid was built. Since then, 'the grid' has remained relatively stagnant outside of adding more lines. No real upgrades, no substantive changes, mostly maintenance and necessary renovations paid for through surcharges of “transmission and distribution” on utility bills.

If solar panels were placed on the White House during the Carter Administration in the 1970s, why is it taking almost 40 years for panels to be more available to commercial and residential customers? Mostly, because the electrical grid is not equipped to handle electrical flow that is not of the constantly churning type from 1882. We don’t work, live or think about our world as we did

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

Analog Electricity Meter

An electricity meter is a device that records the amount of electricity used at a location. The information provided allows the electricity provider (usually the utility) to charge for the amount of electricity consumed. Most meters today are the same analog type as invented in 1888 by Elihu Thomson. They must be manually read by a person and cannot communicate with any devices; they are not interactive devices.

Digital Electricity Meter

Digital meters that have a two-way communication option between the location and the utility provider. Digital meters are also called 'smart' meters because they provide real-time or near real-time reads, power outage notification, and power quality monitoring. Digital meters also allow for different price scales to be introduced for consumption based on the time of day and the season. Finally, the latest digital or 'smart' meters also enable communication through wireless networks (e.g., AT&T) so customers can access and control energy consumption/use remotely (e.g., through their smartphone or their internet-enabled device).

Smart meters

Smart meters are available and in use in many communities around the nation and the world. A smart meter is a digital version of the old analog meter. A smart meter does more than just monitor and report the amount of electricity you use, it is able to record more information about your use patterns and provide that information in real-time or near real-time. What these expanded options mean is that there is now a two-way communication capability between your meter and your utility, as well as YOU! By having the ability to link use rates with time, day, season and other data, you and your utility can better manage demand, cost, power quality and outage notifications, as well as prepare and even, with the latest smart meters, remotely manage your energy use.

With a smart meter, you can control your energy costs, whether a single home or a large business complex, all from an internet enabled device (like your smartphone or computer), you can even choose to generate your own electricity through, for example, solar panels, and not use power from your utility. Furthermore, because of the increased capabilities of smart meters, and the ongoing updates to the grid, you can sell some of your excess electricity generated through your rooftop solar panels back to your utility!

Net Meters

A net meter is a type of smart meter. A net meter is a digital meter with two-way communication capability between the location and the utility provider. The word “net” refers to the amount of excess electricity that an individual location generates but cannot use and is, therefore, returned back to the grid, resulting in a net (versus a debit, what you owe the utility for electricity provided) on the meter. When extraThe location is credited with the amount of electricity put onto the grid and the location is, therefore, a distributed generation site.

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

Today, ‘renewable’ and ‘non-renewable’ refer to the type of resources used to produce energy. Non-renewable energy resources are fossil-fuels: gasoline, coal, oil, natural gas, diesel, and so forth. Fossil fuels are considered ‘non-renewable’ because the length of time it will take for natural processes to create these resources is long, if the right mix of conditions even align to make it possible. Some fossil-fuels, like coal, are in more abundant supply than others right now. Even though the US has 275 billion tons of coal (about 250 years more of use at today’s levels), once it is gone, it is not replenished quickly, if at all.

Renewable energy resources are naturally re-occurring and replenished sources: solar energy, wind power, hydropower (water movement as in damns, waves or tides), and geothermal (natural heat generated from below the earth’s surface). Some people classify nuclear energy as a renewable energy resource, but it is not a true renewable energy source because some of the materials needed to make nuclear energy, like uranium cake, are actually not renewable.

Benefits of renewable energy sources:

• Most environmentally aware use of natural resources
• No harmful waste is produced so environmental impact is diminished
• Protect the environment and the Earth for future generations and nature conservancy
• Improve national security by reducing dependency on imported fossil-fuels
• Most renewable energy production does not produce carbon emissions

Why are Renewable Energy Sources Important?

Different energy sources release different levels and types of waste material in the production of energy. Some of these waste materials or byproducts are harmful to the earth and the atmosphere, some are not. Fossil-fuel based energy sources release carbon in the process of being burned to produce energy. Carbon emissions are a direct contributor to greenhouse gases that compromise the earth’s atmosphere and climate. Renewable resources also produce emissions, but not carbon emissions. Generally these emissions are low noise, or excess heat or steam (especially at geothermal sites).

So, why are renewable sources important? Well, 24% of the carbon emissions in the United States come from the fossil-fuel based power sector! That is a staggering amount. The US is primarily a fossil-fuel based energy producer. This fossil-fuel dependence is worrisome not only because of carbon emission levels, but also because the US is reliant on other countries to supply the fossil-fuel resource demands we have today. The reliability of US electricity is considered a national security issue. Being dependent upon other countries to ensure we have electricity to power our cities, government, industries, businesses and homes is a real national concern. It has been a federal government goal to move the US towards energy independent since the Carter administration established a national energy policy in the early 1970s.

Today, thanks to the dramatically lowered costs of the materials and hardware needed to harness naturally renewable energy sources, each consumer of electricity can help make the US energy independent, reduce carbon emissions (‘carbon footprint’), AND save money and the earth’s resources in our own backyards, work places, and rooftops.

What are the Different Energy Sources?

• Fossil Fuels
• Coal
• ‘Clean Coal’
• Natural Gas
• Fuel Oil
• Oil Shale
• Nuclear
• Uranium cake and nuclear fission
• Renewables
• Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
• Steam turbines
• Wind
• Geothermal
• Hydroelectricity
• Damns, wave, tidal
• Biofuel/biomass
• Crops
• Bio-waste
• Landfill methane

How is Energy Made?

Electrical energy is commonly generated by electro-mechanical generators driven by:

• steam produced from fossil fuel or biomass or biowaste combustion, landfill methane combustion, or
• steam extracted from geothermal sites (e.g., hot underground rocks or water) to power a steam turbine, or
• waste heat from industrial production facilities, or
• steam created from the direct heat released from nuclear reactions, or
• solar heat captured through photovoltaic panels, or
• from other sources such as kinetic energy extracted from wind or flowing water.

Different energy sources release different levels and types of waste material in the production of energy. Some of these waste materials or byproducts are harmful to the earth and the atmosphere, some are not. Fossil-fuel based energy sources release carbon in the process of being burned to produce energy. Carbon emissions are a direct contributor to greenhouse gases that compromise the earth’s atmosphere and climate. Renewable resources also produce emissions, but not carbon emissions. Generally these emissions are low noise, or excess heat or steam (especially at geothermal sites).

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

Inverters are a critical component of a renewable energy solution because of their function of converting direct current (DC) electricity from either batteries or from the solar PV or wind system to alternating current (AC) that is used in a building or home.

There are two categories of inverters:

• those designed to convert solar energy directly into AC without the use of storage batteries, and
• those designed to provide power from batteries, with the batteries being charged by any number of sources, including from solar PV or wind systems.

Today’s PV panels (called a PV array when grouped together) are installed with inverters and all of the necessary hardware to transform the collected energy to immediately usable electricity.

In the case of agricultural or other DC-based power demands, often no inverter is necessary, and the PV array can directly power pumps and other equipment.

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

About Back-Up Power

Backup power systems provide electricity to critical loads or entire house or building when the utility power is not available. There are various kinds of back-up power systems depending on the type of energy they are using to produce electricity. When you are choosing the type of your system, the main things you get to decide are: the amount of backup electrical power you may need during a blackout and the length of time you want to produce it.

Solar/Wind Power with Battery Back Storage

Photovoltaic (PV) panels and Wind Turbines can charge battery bank. This bank provides back-up power when the sun is not shinning or the wind is not blowing.

A battery is a storage container for electrons, or electricity in other words. Does your system need a battery? Not necessarily. Most solar electric systems that feed power to the grid (your friendly local utility company), do so without batteries. But if you're beyond the power lines, or want some emergency or backup power, then you'll need batteries to allow the storage of some energy for later use.

View Efficiency Calculators

Eco Back-Up Power

As a sustainable choice, natural gas or propane generators produce environmentally friendly electricity. Also, for a long-term emergency or for back-up power over an extended time, a natural gas or propane-powered stationary generator, which can provide electricity for as long as fuel is available, is the most cost effective solution.

Hybrid Back-Up Power Systems

Whether your renewable power system is grid-tied or off-grid, complimenting your system with auxiliary back-up power provides 100% uptime guaranteed. Today’s back-up generator leaders all provide generators that integrate seamlessly to multiple sources such as solar, wind, or the grid to convert and store as household power.

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

"I wanted to do it the right way!"

"I couldn't believe it, I started saving the very first month!"

"I was able to reduce my utility bills for my business by over half this summer!"

These are some of the reasons people of all types and ages give when asked about their decisions to go green with their EcoHomes and with their EcoBuildings, whether for commercial, agricultural, public or other purposes.

Summary of Benefits for EcoHomes and EcoBuildings:

Immediate cost savings through lowered utility bills due to:

• Royalties and/or deductions from selling back electricity (net metering)
• Reduction in electricity use due to energy efficiency and weatherization treatments that promote lowered energy requirements
• Reduction in electricity use due to high-rated SEER products and systems (appliances, HVAC, hot water storage devices, etc.)
• Today's high level of incentives and rebates make this the most cost-effective time to install solar and wind systems and to upgrade your energy efficiency and weatherization (windows, window treatments, SEER products and systems, insulation, etc.).
• Reduce your personal carbon footprint and contribute to national energy independence and global sustainability.
• Reduce the cost and environmental impact of your remodeling, retrofitting or new construction.

About EcoHomes and EcoBuildings

Today, being green is not only important for the planet and for business, it is also becoming easier and more cost effective to build green (using eco materials, recycled and reused or reclaimed materials) and implement energy efficiency (eco-foam insulation, ecoRoofing, lighting systems, weatherization treatments, zero- or low-emission windows and glass, etc.) and highly rated seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) systems (HVAC, water heaters, appliances, etc.).

By making your home, building or facility 'green', you maximize your cost savings by producing your own energy for general electricity uses and for heating, cooling, and hot water, plus you earn income from selling your daily excess back to your utility ('net metering'). These savings and earnings immediately increase your return on investment and save you money.

New Construction

By building green from the outset, you increase your ability to maximize the amount of rebates and incentives.

If you don't have the interest or ability to work with a design team, such as ONTILITY and our partners, ONTILTIY has kit solutions for you with a full range of pricing to meet your budget. ONTILITY, together with Green Concepts Group (SIPS Structures), Road Home Builders (Sunconomy™ Homes) and Dwell NextHouse offer predesigned, preconfigured and prebuilt sustainable and ecologically aware home and building structures, building structural panels, modular homes and prefabricated home and building kits. These homes come complete with the latest in energy efficiency, weatherization and eco-friendly building solutions.

Remodeling and Retrofitting

But you don't have to start from scratch. Remodeling and retrofitting existing structures are a popular choice for those with existing structures who want to reap the benefits of significant cost savings on utility bills and reduce their environmental impact. Using Earth-friendly materials and insulation as well as installing solar photovoltaic (PV) for electricity generation and solar thermal (hot water and heating) systems can be done at any point in a building's life and provide immediate returns on investment, especially today with the generous rebate and incentive programs available through federal, state and local governments and utilities.

How Do I Get Started?

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

Typically, the HVAC system represents the biggest portion of total energy consumption. With current political and economic pressures, energy efficiency has become an important issue for all consumers. New HVAC systems have responded by producing energy efficient ways to heat and cool homes and buildings.

View Efficiency Calculators

Intelligent HVAC Features Include:

• Individual Zone Temperature Control – Personalized comfort control
• Ductless System
• Healthier Air Quality
• Modular System – Can size up or down
• Back Up Compressors – 100% compressor up time
• Phased Motors – Energy Efficiency at its best

With the Intelligent HVAC System, significant improvements in energy efficiency can be obtained immediately, while doing so with a relatively small investment. Also, HVAC projects feature a very short payback on the investment. Today’s intelligent HVAC systems are easy to install, operate, and remove. They are also an attractive enhancement for an environmentally friendly home or building structure.

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

One of the most important steps toward sustainability and energy independence is making the most efficient use of every watt and BTU generated. Building performance and building science include a variety of disciplines aimed at maximizing the energy efficiency of residential and commercial structures. Some of these disciplines are building design and site planning, energy use auditing, weatherization and renewable energy systems design and installation. Residential energy efficiency retrofits, through programs like Energy Star, take a whole-building approach. The development of net-zero buildings, which produce as much energy as they consume, is a growing aspect of building science.

View Efficiency Calculators

Benefits of energy efficiency include:

• Reduce energy waste
• Lower utility bills
• Most effective way to directly reduce use of fossil fuel for energy production
• Greatly increases the effectiveness and impact of renewable energy sources

Energy Audit

A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time. During the audit, you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Audits also determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling systems. An audit may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. You can perform a simple energy audit yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry out a more thorough audit.

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

Solar energy is collected through solar collectors and the energy is converted to heat. The heat is then used to produce on-site hot water and radiant heat for living spaces. Typically, a heat exchanger is used to transfer heat form the fluid circulating through the solar collectors to potable water – potable water does not circulate through the collectors. Solar thermal systems, especially those used for swimming pool heating, are currently the most cost-effective use of solar energy.

Benefits of solar thermal energy include:

• Hot water production is the largest single use for residential energy
• Most cost-effective way to heat swimming pools other bodies of water and residential hot water systems
• Most cost-effective way to heat a building (home or facility)
• Very low maintenance
• Durable and reliable (average Grade A system lifespan is 20-30 years)
• Contributes to energy independence
• Can be used as a back up system to provide hot water and space heating during utility outages

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution

Wind energy is collected through wind turbines (basically, these are modern windmills) that harness the power of the wind, kinetic energy, to move turbines (the blades of the windmill) that creates mechanical energy which is then converted into electrical energy on-site through converter ‘boxes'. Turbines today have multiple sizes from smaller micro-turbines suitable for larger residential or commercial properties to larger turbines found at ‘wind farms'.

View US Wind Chart

Benefits of wind energy include:

• Reduces electric bills
• Durable and reliable
• New technologies achieve very high efficiency
• Provides 24 hr./day power, as long as there’s a breeze
• Contributes to energy independence
• Can be configured to provide reliable power during utility outages
• Excellent choice in conjunction with Solar PV system

Like the on-site power generation by solar PV arrays, wind energy is similarly monitored and used by the site and excess electricity is then sold back to the grid, per contractual agreements with the utility.

How Does a Wind Turbine Work?

Do you have a southerly roof exposure and 4-6 hours of unshaded, daily sunlight?

A wind turbine converts kinetic energy from the wind into electrical energy. Typically, a home is served simultaneously by the wind turbine and an electric utility. If the wind speeds are below what's called cut-in speed (5-8 mph) there is no output from the turbine and all of the power is supplied by the utility. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and the amount of power supplied by the utility is proportionately decreased. When the turbine produces more power than the house needs, the extra electricity can be fed back into the electric grid. All of this is done automatically. There are no batteries in a modern residential wind system.

How Do I Get Started?

• Get Quote Form
• Call Us
• Email Us

Need more info? Check EcoProducts & EcoDistribution