“We wanted to make a statement about the Town of Southern Shores with this sign as our visitors come on to the Outer Banks,” states Town Manager, Peter Rascoe. “The solar LED lighting solution goes even farther to represent our goals as a Town. When visitors see the solar panel in proximity to the sign, it will tell them they welcome here and we are interested in being more sustainable and frugal.”

The Town’s facilities manager, Jason Sawyer has already made strides to move the Town on the path to sustainability. He has spent most of the winter switching out the mercury based lighting on Town property to LED lights which use less power and last for years. This will serve the Town through less labor and cost to replace lights over the long term and through lower power bills. As power prices rise over time, the Town will see even greater economic benefit.

The solar LED lighting solution is comprised of one solar panel that is used to store power in a battery. This battery powers four LED lights that have been specifically fabricated to withstand a harsh, marine environment and to be visually appealing as well.

Waldt Renewables worked closely with the Town of Southern Shores to make sure that the solution was exactly what the Town needed. As the leader in renewable solutions on the Outer Banks, Waldt Renewables has recently installed several successful solar and LED lighting solutions, including the sound side Boardwalk in the Town of Duck. “These solutions are ideal for people,municipalities and business that need lighting in places where traditional power sources are difficult and who want to leverage the long life span of LED  lights,” suggests Claiborne Yarbrough of Waldt Renewables. “The fact that these solutions say something about a commitment to sustainability is an added
bonus.”

The Town of Southern Shores is considering placing additional solar powered LED lights on other Town property where traditional power would be cost prohibitive to introduce.

What if you could have your own pot o’ gold?

Call Waldt Renewables today to save $500 off the cost of your renewable energy solution!

Installing a renewable energy solution today will help you save your own gold with long term energy cost savings.

Call us at 252.491.2204 or email us at renewables@waldt.com for a site visit and a proposal that offers you $500 off your total price.

This offer is good on photovoltaic solutions, solar hot water solutions and Windspire ™ wind turbines.  This offer will be honored if you schedule a site visit between now and March 31, 2011.

Many people immediately think about solar panels when hearing solar energy but wind, biomass and hydro power are all forms of solar energy. Wind develops through highs and lows in temperature. Wind drives waves. Rainfall, created by sun-warmed evaporated water feeds the rivers that are sources for hydro power.

Even fossil fuels are forms of stored solar energy. Coal, oil and gas formed hundreds of millions of years ago from decomposed plant matter grown by the sun.

Holiday lights add cheer and festivity to holiday celebrations (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.) Lights are easy to set up and beautiful to look at, either inside or outside the home. Yet, how many of us consider the electricity use and cost of these lights? Depending on the type and number of lights that you use and how long you keep them on, the cost of using holiday lights can range from less than one to many dollars over the holiday. Using electricity also results in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and pollutants that have a negative impact on the environment. Here are a few tips that will help you save electricity and money during the holidays:

• The type of lights you choose is very important! In general, larger bulbs use more electricity than smaller bulbs, and incandescent bulbs use more than Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights. The largest holiday incandescent bulbs use between 4 and 10 watts per bulb, and incandescent mini-light bulbs use about one-tenth as much.  LED lights use the least amount – 0.1 to 0.04 watts per bulb!  While LED lights cost the most to buy, they have other advantages besides high efficiency and lower operating costs that can make their higher prices worth it.  LED bulbs can last 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and they don’t get hot.  You can connect many more strings of LED lights together than incandescent strings without overloading a typical household circuit.  And if a bulb on a string of LED lights does go out, the rest of the lights in the string will still work.  So there’s no searching for that one bad bulb keeping the rest of the string from operating!
• More lights require more energy. It only makes sense that your electricity use will go up as you add larger and more strings of lights. Keep in mind that not all lights and light strings are the same. The large (C-7 and C-9) holiday light bulbs come in strings of 25 to 30, while mini-lights may have 35 to 200 bulbs per string. LED lights may have 25 to 100 lights per string.  Icicle style light strings use mini-lights (incandescent or LED), but because of their shape, usually require many more strings to cover the same distance as a string of regular mini-lights.
• The longer your lights are on, the more energy they use. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that leaving lights on all night (maybe 12 hours) will use 3 times as much electricity having them on for only 4 hours at night. Using a timer for lights is a great way to control when your lights go on and off so you don’t have to remember to do it!

But what’s really great is to see solar panels with an ocean backdrop. It just makes sense.

Solar pool heaters for the Outer Banks rental home market that you will be able to get more rentals… renters who book homes in the late spring and early fall often rent solely because they will have access to a heated pool. For most homes, booking one to two additional weeks pays for the entire cost of the system.

Our professional, turnkey installation is quick and easy. We are a long standing, local company who understand true customer service.

This solution has a great price point and it just makes sense… Call us at Waldt Renewables 252.491.2204 or email us for a quote!

Starting today, June 1, you have a second chance at participating in the Energy Star Program… the list of products eligible for the rebate has grown to include Energy Star-rated central air conditioning systems, gas furnaces, air-source and ground-source heat pumps, and water heaters (gas storage, gas tankless, solar with electric backup and solar with gas backup). Also, as in the first phase of rebates, consumers can purchase Energy Star-rated refrigerators, freezers, clothes washing machines and dishwashers. Consumers must be replacing an old appliance to claim the rebate.

Let Waldt Renewables prepare your turn key solar hot water solution estimate today. Contact us at 252.491.2204 or renewables@waldt.com.

Funding is limited (of course) so move on this quickly. And for more information visit:

www.ncappliancerebate.com

(this makes solar hot water even more appealing!!!)

“This concept is really about making homes energy independent. In lots of instances there are homes that install renewable energy solutions with the idea of generating enough energy to offset their utility demand. But without deploying simple energy efficiency measures to cut the energy demand, renewable energy solutions, like solar or wind cannot be sized appropriately.”

“However, after an intense energy efficiency upgrade that significantly reduces energy consumption, it is possible to lower total energy demand and actually power the house or business with renewable energy solutions,” states Bridge.

At Waldt Construction and Renewables, we’ve had this concept on our radar for a while. Renewable energy solutions are often second following an “energy audit” and some minor repairs that may often cause energy consumption to drop by 20% or more. This makes sizing your solar or wind turbine solution really offer you a chance at energy independence from the utility company.

Waldt wants to work in partnership with you to make your renewable energy solution a success. Using clear and honest communication we will help you find the best options to be energy efficient and then energy maximum benefits from your renewable energy solutions. And the great news is… all of this is available for combined state and federal tax credits of up to 65%.

Call us today at 252.491.2204 or email us.

One interesting find from Bridge is a solar hot water pretreatment system and tankless hot water assist system. It replaces standard high energy use electric hot water heaters. Using the sun’s energy to keep the water hot most of the time and using the tankless assist for short term high demand times. Bridge’s comment: ” Great idea that has a great rate of return… ”

Keep in mind that solar hot water technology is eligible for all of the unprecendented State and Federal tax credits… up to 65% of the total INSTALLED costs. Renewable energy solar solutions like this one can really make financial sense for the average homeowner.

Waldt Construction and Renewables will be happy to provide a turn key quote for you to take advantage of this type of solar solution.