Posted by Damien Cabral on Tue, Apr 27, 2010
Who says the airlines aren't with the times? Recently, Boston's own Logan Airport
mounted 16 solar panel trees on the Terminal B Garage. The panels are expected to
produce 83,980 KW hours of electricity or
2.5% of the total garage consumption. This is the equivalent to
115 barrels of oil or
5,637 gallons of gasoline annually. Each solar tree is mounted to an air ventilation unit on the roof of the garage to not impact parking space.
The coolest part of the project is definitely the real-time power generation reporting that is available to the general public on this website. The reporting website allows users to view power production at the real-time as well as see historical figures on bar graphs.
In addition to adding solar panels to the roof of the garage, the airport made another energy-efficient upgrade with the installation of LED lighting fixtures. The fixtures cost approximately $2 million or almost double the cost of standard lighting. Even with the higher upfront cost, the benefits highly outweigh the downside. The LED light fixtures utilize 49% less energy than conventional lighting systems. Logan is expected to recoup its investment in 5.5 years and expects a savings of $3.8 million over the next 20 years.
Are you interested in harnessing the savings that solar can bring to your home like Logan Airport has?
Here's Three ways to Start:
Posted by Rebecca Langley on Mon, Apr 26, 2010
With the record breaking rainfall and high winds, many Rhode Island and Massachusett homeowners are dealing with damage to their home due to flooding and winds. With State of Emergencies declared in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, many people are anxious to get their house cleaned up and repaired. The weather also impacted jobs as some companies were forced to lay off employees due to flood damage. When hard times strike, it is important to know what to do and how to go about it in order to minimize further hardship.
Here are a few tips:
Know what you are entitled to. Did you know that in Rhode Island if you get laid off due to a state emergency or natural disaster you can bypass the required one week waiting period and receive unemployment benefits right away? Your employer must file for a special waiver to eliminate the mandatory one week waiting period. However, this benefits the business as well because the layoffs associated with the emergency will not raise their unemployment tax.
Assess the damage and act quickly. The object is to get the contents of your home dried out and cleaned up as quickly as possible. This minimizes the growth of mold and mildew. For minor basement flooding, a wet/dry vacuum may suffice. Be sure to clean and disinfect all items affected by the water. For more intensive jobs, filing a claim with your homeowners insurance may be the most cost effective and timely option.
Be sure that the contractor you hired is licensed with the state. In times of emergency, it is important to be vigilant when choosing a contractor because it is at this time more than ever, people get taken advantage of by the company they hired. The states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts have an online area where you can search and look up companies to see if they are licensed and if so, if that license is current. Rhode Island has a specific section that includes registration and licenses that have been suspended or revoked.
Moonworks is a licensed residential contractor in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. If the weather damaged your roof, siding or gutters, call us for a FREE no obligation estimate at 800-975-6666.
Posted by Rebecca Langley on Fri, Apr 23, 2010
April is Earth Month and what better way to celebrate than recycling all of your old or hazardous household items? Not only will you be spring cleaning, but you will be safely disposing of toxic materials and recycling items you no longer want or use.
While most people have the intention of de-cluttering their home, they don’t know where to bring everything once they have sorted it out so they never start. The company 1-800 Recycling.com lets you search for disposal and recycling locations based on the product and your location. This site makes it easier than ever to get rid of all the clutter from your home while still helping the planet.
Recycling is also a great way to kick off any spring home improvement project and make your home look fresh. From paint and electronics to yard waste and printer toner cartridges, this site covers most items that are crowding your basement, attic or garage. There is even a section to suggest an item. This Earth Day, make recycling the beginning of your spring home improvement projects.
Need more than just a spring cleaning? Moonworks product line includes Gutter Helmet, Roofing, Siding, Insulation, Renewal by Andersen windows and doors and Repower Solar Hot Water and Solar Pool Heating. Or, take a look at our photo gallery for some inspiration.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Wed, Apr 21, 2010
Since Rhode Island has recently experienced record-breaking rains, I figured it
was about time for a blog entry in reference to an Ark. Recently, RAFAA Architecture and Design released a Solar Floating Home Concept called The Last Resort. The design of this revolutionary home just won a design competition in Germany.
The floating home is 5 meters wide and 15 meters long. It features two levels of living space complete with sleeping bunks, mechanical equipment, a kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms. The vertical blinds pictured, act as a shading device and privacy system. There is even a staircase that leads to the roof, which serves as an extra deck. The solar home's solar panels are integrated into the roof and generate electricity for the two electric motors that propel the home. While the homes pictured below look very futuristic, the design team claims we can expect them to begin fabrication by years end.
If you are interested in integrating solar hot water into your land-based dwelling (Pools and Hot Water Tanks), be sure to Contact Us Today!
P.S. If you enjoyed this blog article, be sure to subscribe by email on the top right corner to automatically be alerted to future postings.
Photo and Source Credit: inhabitat
Posted by Damien Cabral on Mon, Apr 19, 2010
Owens Corning has done it again! Recently, the company was
ranked 94th in
Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s 11th annual list of “100 Best Corporate Citizens.” The top 100 list is known as the world’s top corporate responsibility ranking. The rankings are based on
performance in seven key categories including: environment, climate change, human rights, philanthropy, employee relations, financial performance and governance.
"We are proud that Owens Corning was recognized for its consistent best practices in corporate leadership," said Frank O'Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer. "Our commitment to corporate citizenship is unwavering as we continue to care for the planet, serve our communities and develop products that improve energy efficiency in homes and buildings around the world."
Here at
Moonworks, we are proud to offer products that are both
revolutionary and responsible in design. We offer
Owens Corning Blown-in Fiberglass Insulation in MA and RI. Other green products include:
Renewal by Andersen Replacement Windows and Doors,
Cool Roofing, and
Solar Hot Water Systems. Be sure to
Contact Us to
Learn More.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Wed, Apr 14, 2010
Home Improvement Tax Credits are complicated! That is why Moonworks 
created an 11-page article walking you through (and decoding) the fine print, product by product, with: Home Improvement Tax Credits Explained.
Learn the difference between a “tax credit” and “tax deduction.” Additionally, explore tax credits from your national and state government that can save you money on energy-efficient products like windows, doors, roofing, insulation, water heaters, solar energy and more.
Excerpt from the paper:
"While it is important to know how the terms above affect the quality and performance of the building envelope components, the only values pertinent to The Energy Tax Credits are the U-factor and SHGC value. It is estimated that over 30% of the home’s energy escapes through the doors and windows. Upgrading to more energy efficient products can help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in winter, while saving you money on your utility bills. Below is a guide which easily explains the criteria each product must meet in order to qualify for The Energy Tax Credits.
Windows and Skylights
- National Tax Credit Amount: 30% of the product’s cost up to $1,500. Labor and installation costs cannot be included. The tax credit cannot be allocated towards a future tax year.
- Criteria for National Tax Credit: The windows must be on an existing primary residence home, as rental property and new construction do not qualify for the credit. The windows must have a U-Factor of 0.30 or less and SHGC of 0.30 or less. Storm windows must comply with IECC default U-factor between it and the window over which it is installed.
- Timeline: The tax credit does not correlate to the date the windows and skylights are purchased, but rather the date they are ‘placed in service’. The windows must be installed between the dates of January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010."
Be sure to
Download Home Improvement Tax Credits Explained Here.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Tue, Apr 13, 2010
I'm sure by now most of you have passed it but do you know the details behind it? What am I talking about? This:
The 11,000 square foot "Box Office" (Box Office 460) is located right on Route 95 in Providence RI. The office was designed by Distill Studio and constructed 
by Stack Design Building. 12 office/studio spaces are available and include lease discounts for tenants that agree to energy conservation behaviors.
This eclectic building was constructed from 32 old shipping containers. Aside from looking really cool as you pass by it on the highway, this new-age building is packed with many cutting edge building technologies. The structure utilizes 25% less energy than a conventional new office building. Efficiency gains were achieved by utilizing high-performing windows, air-to-air heat pumps (HVAC), and daylight response sensors. Additionally, bio-swales (rain gardens), which allow rainwater to penetrate the ground, will reduce storm water runoff by a projected 67%. Be sure to check out the time lapse video below of the construction process.
Are you interested in making your home more energy-efficient (and saving money)? Moonworks specializes in saving New England homeowners money with Renewal by Andersen replacement windows, blown-in insulation, Cool Roofing technologies, and Solar Power. Contact Us today to Learn More.
Photo and Source Credits: Jetson Green and TreeHugger
Posted by Damien Cabral on Thu, Apr 08, 2010
As our home’s become more automated,
our lives become more complicated.
Many of our homes now have programmable digital thermostats, dimmable lighting, advanced entertainment systems and more. Control4 attempts to simplify these systems and manufactures a complete line of affordable wired and wireless automation products, making safety, convenience, comfort and economy available to virtually anyone.
Control4 is always on the cutting edge. Just recently the company released an
Ipad app that can be integrated with your home’s Control4 system. This application allows you to control everything from your television system to your temperature setting in your bedroom all from your tablet computer. See the video below for a demonstration.
If you are a regular follower of the
Moonworks Blog, Control4 shouldn’t be a new name to you. The company was charged with the task of integrating not only the home’s controls but also the energy reporting in the
Green Life Smart Life home in Narragansett. Be sure to check out more details on the
amazing LEED home here.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Tue, Apr 06, 2010
What exactly is a Solar Pebble? Glad you asked...First off, it has nothing to do with a small rock. A Solar Pebble is a new product brought to us from Plus Minus Solar. The device is a solar powered LED lamp that doubles as a gadget charger. The Solar Pebble is charged via a small, efficient solar panel built into the device. This product will be a great addition to any outdoorsman's kit to ensure they can charge their phone while in the wilderness as well as act as a dependable waterproof lantern. It could also be useful for homeowner working around the yard that would like to charge their mobile devices while away from a plug.
Another more humanitarian application of the device is aimed at the developing world. The Solar Pebble is a great resource for the populations of rural-Africa. In the poorest regions of Africa, dirty kerosene lanterns are widely used. This obsolete light source is linked to 1 death every 20 seconds. Furthermore, in the developing world, families often have to walk great distances to charge phones at local charging stations. The Solar Pebble promises to provide a safe and green solution for the lighting and charging needs of developing nations. The Solar Pebble is still under development and in the concept phase but is due to roll out to the world in the near future.
Core Benefits: 
- The Solar Pebble can provide 1 hour of charging and up to 2 hours of lighting.
- The device pairs a green lighting source with the flexibility to charge mobile phones and other gadgets.
- The Pebble is developed with a rugged design and is rain proof.
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