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The City of Calabasas is hosting its annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 3, 2010, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The event will be held at the Las Virgenes Creek Restoration Site, off Agoura Road and Las Virgenes Road. Join the City of Calabasas Earth Day Celebration on April 3, 2010 for an afternoon of fun. The celebration will feature exhibits, entertainment, learning booths, informational speakers and activities that focus on the environment More than 800 people attended the 2009 Earth Day Celebration. This is a great opportunity to educate the public on the history of their surroundings and ways they can help! Progressive Insulation & Windows will be participating with a 10’ x 10’ booth and canopy manned by home performance technicians to answer your questions. |
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California Leads the Way in Reducing Harmful Formaldehyde Levels in Homes Posted November 2nd, 2009 Since energy efficiency has become a primary way to reduce greenhouse gasses from the built environment, buildings are being built tighter than ever before. While tight, energy efficient homes lead to lower utility bills and greater comfort to occupants, they can also cause high indoor concentrations of toxins off-gassing from building materials if not planned properly. Formaldehyde, an ingredient in the glues of composite wood products that go into cabinets, shelving, molding and other interior finishes, is a known carcinogen and irritant that off-gasses slowly over time, putting occupants at risk if it reaches high enough room concentrations. Fortunately, California has recently passed two key regulations that seek to protect homeowners from concentrated formaldehyde and its harmful effects. Properly sized and installed ventilation systems prevent indoor toxins from concentrating to harmful levels, without sacrificing the home’s energy efficiency. The new 2008 Title 24 Part 6 – California’s Energy Code, effective 2010- will require whole-house ventilation that will provide a calculated supply of fresh air based on home size and number of occupants. California also recognizes that increasing the availability of products containing less formaldehyde is essential to reducing emissions in homes. To that end, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has passed the Air Toxics Control Measure (ATCM) which requires reduced formaldehyde levels in three common interior-grade composite wood products: hardwood plywood, medium density fiberboard and particleboard. These regulations require ever-lower formaldehyde levels in these products, phased over time from 2009 through 2012, making them the most stringent regulations of any industrialized country in the world. CARB ACTM is already changing the marketplace, giving rise to ultra-low and zero-formaldehyde wood composite products. To learn more about ATCM, visit: http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm California’s efforts have been applauded nationally, resulting in a Federal Senate Bill asking for adoption by the Federal EPA within 6 months time. Environmental organizations as well as major composite wood manufacturer’s associations are supporting the bill. Build It Green supports California’s leadership and continues to promote above-code building practices that make homes safer and more comfortable for everyone.
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"Progressive Insulation is revolutionary in its work towards sustainability and a healthier environment. It has achieved multiple Energy Star Home performance certifications, and is among the leaders in quality insulation. Progressive Insulation is spearheading the way in energy efficiency and environmental responsibility." -Ed Begley
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Schwarzenegger signs 2 renewable energy bills Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, vetoed a slate of bills that would have required the state to rely on renewable resources for at least a third of its electricity. Here, he and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Natural Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman finish a press conference at Loyola Marymount University. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times / October 12, 2009) |
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By Tiffany Hsu
October 13, 2009 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has approved two major initiatives that will require utilities to pay consumers for generating extra power and will boost the payoff for certain solar facilities. Homes, businesses and schools that have solar panels or wind turbines previously had no financial incentive to use less electricity than they generated. But AB 920, written by Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), will encourage efficiency, supporters say. SB 32, by state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino), requires utilities to purchase solar electricity from facilities that produce up to three megawatts and could increase installations on unused spaces such as warehouse roofs. The old limit was 1.5 megawatts. The two bills will go into effect Jan. 1. Schwarzenegger signed them late Sunday, the last day to act on bills from this year's legislative session. Under AB 920, the state Public Utilities Commission will set a rate for utilities to compensate customers whose solar or wind systems produce more power than they use in a year. Under California's current law, customers are not paid for any surplus electricity they feed back into the grid. The state requires that when a consumer installs a solar power system, it be the right size to produce only enough power necessary for on-site use. Rebates from the California Solar Initiative, overseen by the utilities commission, discourage anything larger. So customers who later reduce their energy consumption often end up underutilizing their solar panels. "The current system instills a perverse incentive for people to waste their solar electricity just so they don't give it away for free to the utilities," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, a clean energy advocate with Environment California, which sponsored the bill. The new law could boost sales of photovoltaics, especially in regions with sunny summers. Homes that use less power than they did when their solar panels were installed -- such as those that add energy-efficient appliances, insulation or weatherproofing -- and those with children who have moved out can also benefit. "This bill applies to individual homeowners as well as small businesses, farms, wineries, schools and even affordable housing developments," Huffman said in a statement. Customers can either receive a check for the extra energy or have credit rolled forward on their electricity bills. Experts, however, said they should expect little profit. SB 32, meanwhile, could spark more interest in commercial rooftop systems. The law expands an existing program to include municipal utilities, which now must purchase solar power at a set rate until they reach their portion of a statewide 750-megawatt cap. The limit was previously set at 500 megawatts. The utilities commission will set the rate, which will be higher than market price after incorporating environmental compliance costs and other benefits, said Sue Kateley, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Assn., which sponsored the bill. Between the sweeping solar installations in the desert and the small-scale ones on homes, she said, there had been a category of properties that had plenty of space but didn't use enough power to justify setting up huge solar panels. But now, owners of large storage units and similar low-energy facilities will be able to install solar power systems and sell the extra electricity back to the utilities, a program known as a feed-in tariff. The program took cues from countries such as Germany -- where, some in the industry have complained, a similar tariff format stimulated the market so much that prices of solar energy shot too high. Other critics are worried that the tariff could be too low to interest investors. "We didn't want to replicate the German model, which was a social movement to create an industry," Kateley said. "In California, we already had an industry, but we wanted to fill a market gap. And within the community, it's really exciting because this law will create local jobs." In a note to the state Senate on Sunday, Schwarzenegger encouraged the utilities commission to continue investigating an expanded tariff for small to medium-size producers of renewable energy. "In order to meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and a Renewable Portfolio Standard of 33% by 2020, we will need to use all the tools available under our existing programs," he said. But Schwarzenegger vetoed a slate of bills -- including SB 14 and AB 64 -- that would have required the state to rely on renewable resources for at least one-third of its electricity. He has issued an executive order to meet the 33% goal using a different plan and supports efforts to create 1 million solar roofs by 2018. Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles), chairman of a renewable energy committee, called the vetoes a dangerous setback. The bills, Krekorian said, would have created "green" jobs and steadied price volatility while cutting market manipulation from solar hubs outside of California. He said the vetoes would sour developers to the California market, leading them elsewhere. "If we don't get started now," he said, "our opportunities to complete projects are going to be missed." tiffany.hsu@latimes.com Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times | ||
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2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards are Effective, January 1, 2010 The 2008 rulemaking process has been completed. The Energy Commission adopted the 2008 Standards on April 23, 2008, and the Building Standards Commission approved them for publication on September 11, 2008. The effective date for the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards has been changed from August 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010. The requirement for when the 2008 Standards must be followed is dependent on when the application for the building permit is submitted. If the application is submitted on or after January 1, 2010, the 2008 Standards must be met.
Current Standards are Effective through
December 31, 2009
2005 Standards - Went into effect October 1, 2005, and
supersede the 2001 Standards. Projects that apply for a building
permit on or after this date must comply with the 2005 Standards.
Time to train is the reason for the delay in
implementing California's Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential
and Nonresidential Buildings
The California Energy Commission states: "This delay provides the industry and building officials more time to prepare for the new Standards." Title 24 has saved more than $56 billion in electricity and natural gas costs since 1978. It is estimated the new standards will save an additional $23 billion by 2013. "The Energy Commission will use this additional time to provide more information for the Standards and work with the California utilities, building industry and the California Building Officials to provide training on the new Standards."
Time to train on new Standards! Are you ready?
Title 24, Part 6, of the California Code of Regulations
The Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and
Nonresidential Buildings were established in 1978 in response to a
legislative mandate to reduce California's energy consumption.
The standards are updated periodically to allow
consideration and possible incorporation of new energy efficiency
technologies and methods.
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CEC Finalizes HERS II for "MPG"
Label on Existing Homes The CEC is finalizing the Home Energy Rating System II (HERS II), a new tool that provides a ‘miles-per-gallon’ label on new and existing homes, analyzing overall energy use on a scale of 0 (zero energy) to above 100.
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A budget proposal submitted recently by the
California Public Utilities Commission calls for a statewide
energy efficiency initiative designed to cut electricity and
natural gas consumption over the next three years.
If approved, the plan would allocate $2.9 million
of utility ratepayer funding to a dozen energy efficiency
programs managed by the state’s utility companies.
According to a report in the San Francisco
Chronicle, the plan would increase by nearly one-third the
amount that Californians spend on energy efficiency measures,
potentially saving as much power as the output from three power
plants.
The article goes on to say that while gas and
electric customers (both residential and commercial) will foot
the bill for the programs:
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Progressive Insulation & Windows Employee, Miguel Martinez, Wins "America's Best Installer" ContestCHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Progressive Insulation & Windows employee, Miguel Martinez, was recognized as “America’s Best Installer,” receiving an award of $10,000. The annual competition, presented by Insulate America and Johns Manville, October 3, in Tucson, AZ, was designed to highlight quality in building performance as a foundational element of energy efficiency. Four regional level winners and the 2008 defending champion competed at the Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson. Evaluated on quality of workmanship, overall speed and utilization of material, Martinez had a combined best score insulating a mock-home. Quality of workmanship is weighted at 50%, speed of install at 30% and utilization of material at 20%. Speed takes a back seat to quality because the smallest gap, void or compression of the material, can affect overall performance up to 80%. Poorly installed insulation simply doesn’t work. Steve Anderson, President of Progressive Insulation & Windows, said, “We are extremely proud of Miguel for accomplishing his goal to be the #1 insulator in the country and consider ourselves very lucky to have him as an employee. Miguel has been with Progressive for over 5 years and takes pride in doing a good job. He sets a great example for the new trainees he’s entrusted with.” The four national finalists were, Ray Blackwater, last year’s winner, Heberto Huerta-Torres, Matt Fletcher and Ritchie Arviso. Martinez’s victory, announced following dinner at McClintock restaurant in Tucson late Saturday night, was witnessed by his wife Carmen, daughter Mirabelle Baca and grandson Scean Baca. Also on hand from Progressive were Anderson, Bernadette Medina, Director of Human Resources, and Jorge Mendoza, Assistant Production Manager and Installer’s Coach. Martinez will be invited to compete next year in Las Vegas to hold the title. Progressive Insulation & Windows, the largest independently owned insulation company in Southern California, has been insulating homes and commercial buildings in Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and Orange Counties for the past 30 years. For more information, visit www.Dont-Wait-INSULATE.com.
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Progressive is pleased to announce that the Daily News has awarded their
2009 Readers' Choice Award - Reader Favorite, to Progressive Insulation
& Windows as a Window Company.
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| Pacific Design Center brings together a large host of energy efficient builders and home improvement specialists to produce the Zenergy House (zero energy house). | ||
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Would you like help to get started making your home Energy Efficient? Call Progressive Insulation & Windows at 800-500-6200. Our Customer Service Advisors would be happy to answer your questions or direct you to a knowledgeable product representative. You may simply choose to check out more information on our excellent website.
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