Energy Committee

Northgate Energy Committee

Welcome Northgate residents to the Energy/Conservation portal of the Northgate Community News. The focus of this site will be to offer information and suggestions on ways we as individual residents can save money in energy costs. In addition, the committee will look for ways, by using the power of group purchasing, to reduce energy costs for members of our entire community.
We will try to keep the suggestions simple and focused on saving money. Of course, everything we do to help conserve energy helps minimize our carbon footprint and should be good for the planet. In the coming months we hope to have community forums with leading energy suppliers, LIPA, National Grid, Solar Energy providers, ESCO's (more on that in a later issue) to discuss energy conservation suggestions so that members of our community can have an opportunity to have experts present information as well as answer questions you may have. I hope to include 2-3 energy saving tips in each issue.
The purpose of this committee is to keep you informed on developments in the Energy/Conservation area and hopefully save you money. Our purpose will not be to sell products or push a particular agenda. We hope your input and assistance will keep this site a helpful tool for all our residents.
INSULATION- Part I- Should you focus on this issue?
A good source of information on this topic can be found in a free brochure A D0-IT-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with Energy Star. The information contained in the brochure focuses on things you can do yourself as well as items you may wish to hire a contractor. If you would like copies of this brochure, please contact me at northgatenews.net. Additionally, you may go to www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-782-7937.
The first concern regarding insulation is whether you need to deal with this issue at all. Here are some ways for you to decide:

Do you want to reduce your energy costs?
How long will it take for you to payoff the initial costs related to changes in insulation?
To feel comfortable do you have to raise your thermostat settings in the winter and/or lower them in the summer?

Once you&apos've answered these questions you may find that focusing on insulation may be a useful way to reduce your energy costs. Please contact me at northgatenews.net. to help serve on this committee.

NEXT MONTH:

Insulation in detail
Thermal Scans- a free tool just for the asking
Energy Tips for March: Lighting Tips

Try to look for the Energy-Star label when purchasing lighting products
Consider installing timers or occupancy sensors to turn off the lights when you leave a room
Three-way lamps make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not needed. Dimmers can vary the level of illumination according to how much light you may need. Make sure you purchase CFL’s specifically made for either technology.

Fred

March 2010 Update

The Northgate Board is pleased to announce that Fred Gross has volunteered, been interviewed, and been approved to head up this important committee effort for the Northgate community. Over the coming months and years Fred and his selected committee members will be advising us about many energy saving projects, cost savings project opportunites, personal victories over wasted energy, and "GREEN " opportunities that we can all take advantage of.

Fred's objective will be to help us all be as kind to the planet and our personal wallets as possible.

He will also be keeping a close eye on the latest in laws and government savings opportunities that we might be eligible for as they relate to our community and our bylaws. Keep a close eye on the upcoming important contributions from Fred and the Energy Committee.

January 2010

The Northgate Energy Committee is being formed in order to help all Northgate residents to optimize their energy conservation awareness. This very active and high visibility committee will touch on many areas of our lives. While much of the purpose of the committee will be to help make us all aware of our opportunities in the areas of energy conservation, we will also be made aware of some money saving opportunities that all of us might be able to take advantage of.

Some of the areas are as follows:

Energy and cost saving opportunities in regards to heating and lighting products that meet bylaw approval:

Light bulbs
Appliances
Windows or approved window coverings
Roofing materials
Pool maintenance
Clubhouse opportunities
Doors
Heating units
Water heaters
Flooring products that save both energy and money Did you know that you can install localized radiant heat on your floors and save 20% of your whole house heating costs?
Do you realize how much money you can save by just properly insulating your units? Check out the heat escaping through your roof the next snowstorm by watching how quickly yours melts versus that of a neighbor that improved their attic insulation.
etc...

Direct links to energy conservation groups that might interest us all...
How to live more 'GREEN' and to minimize our 'CARBON FOOTPRINT' in our everyday lives.
Rebate opportunities that might be available from our utility companies. We all get the notices with our bills but who ever reads them?

Did you know that you might be able to save 10% of your gas bills without doing anything except to say 'YES I WANT TO SAVE 10%'?
Using the right insulation materials might be eligible for government tax rebates or incentives:
Recommendations of local and national service companies that are known to be energy conscious and more 'GREEN' than others.
Recommendations of products that we all buy and where they rate in terms of energy savings or 'GREEN' ratings.
Did you know that there is carpet padding available that is made from 100% recycled products and gives off ZERO VOC&apos s in your home?

Anyway, I am sure that you all get the idea.

As of now we have one person that has volunteered to head up this committee for our community. If you would like to be a part of this important energy saving and money saving committee send an email to northgatenews.net@gmail.com. Include your name and your contact information and the subject title ENERGY COMMITTEE. You will be contacted soon afterward. As a member of this committee you will help all of us to have an opportunity to save money and improve our energy awareness.

Also as previously stated your Northgate Board will be selecting future Board additions only from the pool of active community members that are willing to give of their time and efforts to help out all of their fellow neighbors by serving on open committees within the community.