10 Ways to Plan it GREENER

1 ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES
The refrigerator is one of the home's highest consumers of energy. Looking for the Energy Star® sticker on all your kitchen appliances is a great way of making your kitchen greener. Be sure to use the water and energy-saving settings on your refrigerator and dishwasher as much as possible.

2 LIGHTING
Just changing your light bulbs to the funny looking swirls should show significant savings on your electric bill. Most standard fixtures are compatible with compact fluorescents (CFLs) which use up to 75% of the electricity that incandescent bulbs use. CFL technology has come a long way, casting either cool or warm tones and are available in wide range of wattage and lumens. While the initial cost of these bulbs is slightly higher, they last eight times as long.
• Note: Designing a home with good natural lighting cuts down on the need to use electricity.

3 BIODEGRADABLE CLEANING PRODUCTS
Chemical sensitivity is linked to many illnesses. Conventional cleaning products are known to pollute our waterways and destroy wildlife. There are several good biodegradable product lines available that break down naturally and are harmless to the user and to the environment. And there are many ways to use common supplies like baking soda and vinegar!

4 INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Building or remodeling your kitchen can produce toxins that are harmful to indoor air quality. To reduce this problem there are low-toxicity finishes available on the market. Look for products that have water based adhesives and finishes and ones that don't have synthetic formaldehyde resins. It’s all about choice.
• Low VOC Paints: Use paint with low-VOC or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds).
• Proper ventilation will help maintain superior indoor air quality.

5 GREEN CABINETRY
There are green kitchen cabinet options available on the market today. Many of the options are made from rapidly renewable resources and salvaged materials. Wheatboard cabinets, for example, are covered with wood veneers. Another quick growing renewable resource used for cabinets and flooring is bamboo.

6 SKIP THE BOTTLED WATER
Filter your tap water for drinking rather than using bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it produces large amounts of container waste.

7 GREEN FLOORING
Cork flooring is durable, comfortable under foot and is a terrific insulator for both sound and heat. Cork is also hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly.Marmoleum is a natural linoleum product. It is extremely durable and is all naturally made from flax, wood flour and rosins. No adhesives are required and it is non-toxic and resistant to bacteria growth.Concrete is another smart Green kitchen product. It does not give off harmful fumes because it doesn't contain glues or laminates. There are many patterned concrete flooring options available. Concrete is also commonly used in countertop applications. Bamboo is a fast growth renewable materials that is both durable and easy to clean, and even resistant to bacteria growth. It is readily available and affordable.

8 COUNTERTOPS AND BACKSPLASHES ARE GOING GREEN TOO.
Vetrazzo is an attractive solid terrazzo countertop made from recycled glass and cast concrete. Vetrazzo is as tough as granite, but not as porous as marble, making it a strong Green choice for the kitchen. PaperStone, made of 100% recycled newspapers is incredibly durable and looks like soapstone! There are a number of eco-friendly companies out there that make glass tiles out of recycled glass that make stunning backsplashes. Glass tiles do not give off emissions and they won't damage indoor air quality.

9 BUY LOCAL AND ORGANIC
Buying local keeps fuel usage at a minimum. It also supports local economy and encourages local farming. Buying organic is the healthy choice, as these foods are produced without chemical pesticides and herbicides, as well as without antibiotics and hormones. These practices create healthier bodies and a healthier planet for us all. Check out your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

10 SOLAR WATER HEATING
can save your household up to 35% of its energy use and up to 80 tons of carbon dioxide from entering our environment over the life of the system. There is a federal tax credit and many states also offer tax credits. These systems actually pay for themselves and then make money!

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July, 2007
Conergy Power Systems

Conergy Power Systems are convenient and comprehensive. Our photovoltaic (PV) power equipment packages are designed specifically for residential and small commercial grid tied applications. The systems range from 3150W STC to 7000W STC, and can be ordered in a variety of PV array configurations.

Each package is engineered to optimize system performance, and meets all applicable NEC codes and requirements. All major PV system components, disconnects, and grounding equipment are included. This greatly simplifies the system design, quoting and installation.

Conergy Power Systems feature Conergy PV modules, SMA inverters, and the Conergy SunTop mounting system. In addition, disconnects, grounding equipment, and a thorough selection of small parts are provided. Because wiring and conduit from the PV array to the DC disconnect depend upon site-specific conditions, these items must be provided by the installer.

Major Components

Conergy S 175MU monocrystalline modules
SMA inverters
Conergy SunTop mounting system
Disconnects, Wiring, and Ancillary Equipment
Conergy Installation Manual and all OEM Documentation

Download:
Data Sheet Conergy Power Systems
(pdf: 0.17 MB, english)

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For Florida's Governor, Converting to
Renewable Solar Energy Begins at Home

Govenor Charlie Crist makes good on his commitment to solar, installs HELIOCOL Solar Pool Heating at the Florida Governor's Mansion.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (July 17, 2007) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist today welcomed the first of several planned energy changes at the governor's mansion with the installation of a HELIOCOL Solar Pool Heating System.

The solar system, which features a dozen premium HELIOCOL solar collectors, will use free, clean energy from the sun to heat the governor's outdoor pool for the next quarter-century. The installation, which came just days following his Global Climate Change Summit in Miami with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, utilizes the same technology used by HELIOCOL to gain the heating contracts for the Summer Olympic pools in Atlanta and Athens.

First year savings for Florida taxpayers is estimated at over $3,600, with a ten year fuel savings of over $45,000. Additionally, the system will eliminate approximately 22,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per year.

"Solar Power is the best choice for the People's House because it protects our beautiful natural environment as well as saves the taxpayer dollars," said Governor Crist. "While the price of gas and electricity could rise over the next quarter-century, the solar system uses free energy from the sun." The solar system was installed by David Marsh, whose company Tallahassee Energy & Construction Inc. has been a HELIOCOL dealer for 15+ years.

An avid swimmer who works out every day before dawn, Crist participated in an energy efficiency audit for the chief executive's residence in April, at which time solar pool heating was suggested by local efficiency experts. "I think we have to be good stewards of the land, air, water," Governor Crist said at the time. To further that commitment, he hosted the first Florida Summit on Global Climate Change in Miami just days before HELIOCOL Solar Pool Heater installation. The HELIOCOL solar technology uses the existing pool pump to direct the Governor's Mansion's cold pool water through hundreds of individual collection tubes installed on the cabana roof, where the water will be warmed naturally by the sun and returned safely to the pool.

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