Category: Uncategorized

How’s Your Footprint Faring?

And we, of course, mean your carbon footprint. For those of you that may not know, a reduction in your carbon footprint can mean much more than just good vibes and more likes on social your social account. It can actually be a very lucrative endeavor for companies that can acquire excess carbon credits that they can then sell for profit. But that’s another blog entirely. For now, let’s just focus on some of the most effective ways to manage your environmental impact. How many are you doing?

Upgrade light bulbs:

Did you know that you can reduce your carbon footprint just by switching to LED bulbs? In fact, the annual consumption for LED bulbs is around 30 times lower than its incandescent alternative. And carbon dioxide emissions for LED bulbs are also much lower than their predecessors.

Hang-dry clothes:

Why would you ever ditch the dryer? Because line-drying your clothes can reduce the average household’s carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds per year! And, as if that wasn’t reason enough, it also helps protect the environment by saving fossil fuels.

Recycle:

Okay, so here’s the skinny on recycling… it ultimately helps reduce greenhouse gases by reducing energy consumption. How? Well, when we buy less or reuse products, we reduce the need for virgin materials, which results in a reduction in the amount of energy needed to extract, transport and process materials needed for manufacturing. And, according to a recent study, recycling between 2020 and 2050 will reduce emissions by an amount equivalent to taking more than 1 billion cars off the streets for one year! Wow, right?!?!

Wash clothes in cold water:

It’s amazing how much this helps! Besides the fact that washing machines consume about 19 billion cubic meters of water annually, they also emit an estimated 62 million tons of greenhouse gasses each year. And where does a whopping 90% of the energy used to power the washing machines come from? Heating the water!

Drive a gas-electric hybrid vehicle:

So, what’s the story here? Given the fact that hybrid cars utilize a combination of both gasoline and a rechargeable electric motor to get you where you want to go, they burn less fuel than conventional cars and therefore emit lower levels of greenhouse gasses during your on-road adventures.

Avoid red meat:

Heartbreaking as this may be for some of you, it actually makes quite a difference! How? Did you know that livestock farming produces at least as much (if not a little more) greenhouse gas emissions than the public and private transport industries combined!? And if every had one meat-free meal per week? Well, it would be the equivalent of taking 5 million cars off our roads annually!

Eat a plant-based diet:

Did you know that the consumption of plant-based foods not only reduces greenhouse gases but also global eutrophication and acidification, in addition to land and water use? In fact, a recent study claims that a totally vegan diet reduces  your carbon footprint by 73%. And that’s more than even buying an electric car!

Drive a fully electric vehicle:

While there is some debate out on this one regarding the amount of energy saved versus the amount of energy required to charge the vehicle, studies show that EVs typically have a smaller carbon footprint that traditional gasoline cars – even when accounting for the electricity used for charging.

Choose 100% clean energy:

According to a representative of the International Renewable Energy Agency, “renewable energy is the most cost-effective way of providing 90% of the required reduction in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.” Need we say more?

Avoid 1 transatlantic flight:

In addition to emitting CO2 from burning fuel, planes have a negative impact on the concentration of other gasses and pollutants in the atmosphere as well. But up to 25% of a plane’s total carbon emission comes from takeoff and landing. So, if opting for a road trip here and there isn’t an option, flying direct will also help to minimize the negative impact on the atmosphere.

Go 100% car free:

Okay – we know this is probably not an option for a lot of you but it’s good to know the facts either way. The exhaust emitted by cars releases hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which increase ground-level ozone when they react with sunlight. It also releases carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas for humans) and carbon dioxide which, as we know, contributes largely to global warming. So, ride sharing and biking are helpful when available, as well as EV and hybrid options.

And there you have it, folks! That’s eleven different ways you can do your part to save our planet. And, as always, we are here to help you implement your renewable energy strategy and maximize your reduction in the global footprint.

Call for a free estimate today!

What’s Your Clean Screen?

When it comes to all the buzzwords that make up your clean screen rating, there are many! Whether it be “renewables,” “carbon neutrality,” “zero emissions,” “carbon offset,” “carbon footprint” or “ecofriendly,” all are holding you to the same common denominator: clean energy.

So, how clean is your carbon screen? And how renewable are your resources?

Are you doing a lot, a little, or all that you possibly can to preserve our planet and protect our atmosphere? If you’re one of our clients, you get an automatic “in” into the “doing a lot” category because, as you know, one of the most beneficial things you can do for your carbon footprint is a solar panel system.

But let’s talk specifics now. As it relates to eco-friendly energy, did you know there’s a difference between clean and renewable energy?

Clean Vs. Renewable Energy

When it comes to these two, they often seem so interchangeable, it’s a bit of a surprise to learn that they’re not

Renewable energy is one that comes from continually replenishing sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric. Natural gas, on the other hand, would be a good example of clean energy because while it is considered a more eco-friendly alternative to oil, it cannot be renewed once it’s usage capacity has been exhausted.

Renewable energy can be sourced from so many natural resources (including water and waves), which is why it accounts for one eighth of our overall power generation in the United States.

Team Clean

Okay – for those of you looking to play on Team Clean, here are a few things you can do:

• Eat more raw foods so you cook less often. And make the move towards smaller appliances to feed your family. Think crockpots, rice cookers, toaster ovens and energy-smart countertop cooking appliances.
• Opt for energy-efficient laptops and flat screen LED TVs.
• Invest in a renewable energy program to power your residential and commercial properties – like E-Volve or Local Sun .
• Simple as this may sound, try tossing a dry towel in with your laundry to reduce your drying time. Or hang dry as much as you can, using the dryer for 10-15 minutes at the end just to finish the job you already started.

Just doing these few things can create more consciousness around your daily energy usage and help ensure the sustainability of our planet. Go Team Clean!

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Beat Inflation by Going Solar

A lot has changed in our economic landscape due to the global pandemic. More and more businesses are foregoing the standard corporate structures in favor of a remote workforce and, much to our dismay, inflation is once again on the rise. Currently holding steady at 6.2%, this is the highest it’s been (in the U.S.) since 1990.

So, in a global economy currently attempting to manage the effects of financial strain, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the savings that come from going solar.

In fact, solar savings are among the top reasons why residential and commercial property owners opt for solar panel installation. Not only are they a good long-term investment to the resale value of your property, the International Energy Agency has also declared that solar power is the “cheapest electricity in history.”

And given the givens of the current economic climate, cheap is an invaluable metric.

Why So Cheap?

Did you know that the energy available from sunlight is 10,000 times more than what is needed to supply the world’s energy demands? It’s true!

Here’s how it works…

Sunlight has two main properties that are useful in the design of renewable energy systems. The first is the amount of power falling on a fixed area (let’s say… your solar panels). And this quantity varies naturally based on the time of day and the current season. 

The second property is the colors or spectrum of the sunlight. And, as you may have expected, certain colors provide more desirable results.

One way to capture solar energy is to use solar cells that directly turn sunlight into electricity. In a standard residential or commercial solar energy system, many of these cells are assembled on a rigid panel, connected to one another, sealed, and covered with protective glass. You remember what we just said about the energy produced by sunlight, right? And all of this is used exclusively to power your commercial or residential property!  So, as long as your panels stay optimized to their peak performance standards, there are few things more energy efficient than directly harnessing the power of the sun. And, as is true in most areas of life, the more efficient you are, the more money you save.

The Rewards of Renewable

Okay, we’ve touched on the potential cost savings of going solar. Now, let’s talk about some of the economic benefits that renewable energy offers…

1. According to the most recent research, the payback period for most solar energy systems is often four years or less – meaning that solar panel installation provides 100% ROI. And additional research estimates a 20% ROI in the first year alone. So, from an economic standpoint, solar energy systems really do pay for themselves quickly and consistently.
2. Not only can going solar help sustain our planet and your pocketbook, it can also increase the value of your property. According to the most recent Zillow research on the resale value of residential properties, homes with solar panel installation sold for an average of 4.1% more, when compared to similar homes without solar energy systems.

1. Another great economic benefit of going solar is consistency. We already talked a bit about inflation, right? Well, your energy company will likely follow suit with the rising costs of absolutely everything – including energy. Keeping your energy source local and privately consumed will help keep your energy costs more consistent.
2. According to the National Solar Job Census, the solar industry creates more jobs than any other sector in the U.S. And given the amount of people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, this is a great time to support such a strong economic contributor.
3. And finally, there’s a common misconception that solar power can only be used when the sun is up. This is not the case at all. With a backup battery/generator system, you can store your energy consistently and save it for a rainy day, so to speak. Backup generation enables you to protect your home and/or business by putting renewable (and reliable) energy systems on-site that are readily available in the event of a weather emergency. With this feature, you can use excess energy generated during the day to power your essential appliances during an outage.

One final point worth touching on again is the current economic landscape. Inflation and supply-chain constraints will only continue to have a negative impact until something changes. Meaning, now is the time to purchase your panels – before prices rise and supply lowers.

The Solar Summation

It helps you beat the cost of inflation, benefits the economy, and ensures consistent coverage with backup generation in the event of a grid failure (or our increasingly unpredictable weather patterns). Not to mention, it helps you reduce your carbon footprint by up to 40%.

In fact, it’s really hard to find a reason not to go solar. Perhaps, that’s because there aren’t any? C’mon… we know you’re interested!

Watters Creek Mall: LED Lighting Use Case

There’s nothing more unnerving than walking to your car in a dimly lit parking garage at night, right?! Especially during the high-traffic seasons when everyone is consumed with shopping, socializing and trying to make it to their next engagement on time.

Well, local Dallas hotspot Watters Creek had a 2021 initiative to improve this experience for their customers by upgrading their parking garages to the bright side of the equation. And they asked E-Volve to consult on this initiative.

The Asks:

The Watters Creek property management team had specific parameters they wanted to stick to for this upgrade:

1. Easy installation
2. Remote management
3. Automated scheduled operation
4. Energy savings

And, from a location perspective, a non-gateway system was a critical component to the overall project success.

The Plan:

Our first step was to perform a custom audit to determine the best solution for this job based on building architecture, fixtures, bulbs, lighting levels, energy consumption, employee productivity, budgets, future planning, and ROIs. We then set out to design a customized, turnkey package, from inception to completion, in an effort to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs, while eliminating mercury usage and upgrading lighting quality.

To begin with, we recommended Linmore LED fixtures and Avi-on Controls to retrofit several of the covered and open parking areas in this 52-acre mall. Once approved, Avi-on controls were then integrated into 450 LED fixtures at the Linmore factory, which were then installed on poles with no field assembly required.

Fun fact: Each individually controlled fixture was commissioned from the ground using the iOS and Android mobile app.

The Avi-on load controllers were able to create a single, gateway-free mesh across the entire property – bridging several hundred-foot gaps between parking areas seamlessly and making the location much more appealing to their customers.

This solution also offered remote management access to every device on the mall campus, regardless of size, space or location.

The Results:

Before	After

As expected, the project was a huge success! Estimates for the overall savings to be expected by Watters Creek include:

1. Annual energy savings of $38,799
2. Annual maintenance savings of $5,280
3. Estimated Lifecycle Savings: $440,789.59

So, as you can imagine, the Watters Creek property management team is very happy with their annual energy savings, overall aesthetic upgrade and, most importantly, the additional peace of mind this enhancement has ensured for their customers.

Well, we’ll just let them tell you…

“We cannot say enough good things about the E-Volve team. Not only was their input crucial to the success of our project, their expert understanding, professional work ethic and flawless output created an experience for our customers that will continue to drive our retention strategy and promote our revenue growth. Thanks E-Volve!”

CTA: Energy has evolved! Are you taking advantage of this evolutionary edge in all the ways you could be?