dagblog - Comments for "Solar & Wind Expo"

I noticed this article, FTC

Donal — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:05:01 +0000

I noticed this article, FTC Cracks Down on "Seriously" Exaggerated Window Claims

If you’ve ever wondered just what a product guaranteeing “up to 50 percent savings” will deliver, you have something in common with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC has reached a settlement with five manufacturers of replacement windows, part of a larger effort to rein in deceptive claims in environmental marketing.

The companies named in the settlement (Serious Energy, Gorell Enterprises, Long Fence & Home, THV Holdings, and Winchester Industries) were found to have made unsubstantiated claims—for example, that their windows would “cut energy bills in half.” The settlement requires that statements about windows’ energy efficiency be supported by reliable evidence and prohibits “guarantees” that consumers will achieve a certain percentage of savings by replacing their existing windows. When the phrase “up to” is used, the agreement requires evidence that all or nearly all consumers will reach the target specified.

Gorell also sells the Radiaflect product - also with some exaggerated claims.

Those weren't my comments. I

Donal — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:59:00 +0000

In reply to Wow what a sorry group of

Those weren't my comments. I quoted the opinion of the Energy Nerd blog in the Green Building Advisor. It doesn't make sense to me either to turn sunlight into electricity then use that for resistance heat instead of simply using the sunlight to heat the water—which is why I asked the question—but the blog points out that a lot of the hot water is wasted as well.

Wow what a sorry group of

Hopeful in Alabama — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:34:18 +0000

In reply to Solar & Wind Expo

Wow what a sorry group of greedy losers you have there at the Expo attempting to profit by misrepresenting the energy and money saving potential of using alternative energy in Maryland! I am astounded. I am just starting a business to save people money by taking advantage of solar energy to pre-heat water for residential use but your comments make it sound like I should just invest in nuclear because solar pre-heated hot water heaters are a waste of energy and effort compared to raw non-solar preheated electric power. WOW what a negative impression that Solar and Wind Expo leaves on my mind. I always thought a kilowatt saved was a kilowatt earned. Do you really believe that a 14% efficient photovoltaic array is more efficient and cost effective at heating water than a 80% efficient thermal hot water pre heating system installed upstream of a conventional electric or gas hot water heater? hmmmm