Industry experts discuss local efforts of 'going green'

During last year's election, there was plenty of talk about renewable resources and protecting the environment. But what does that mean for the Lake Norman area?

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce explored that very topic at its March "Focus Friday" meeting. Special guests Mike Mozingo, key account manager for Hometown Green; Tim Gause, regional director for Duke Energy; and Tim Holder, the vice-president of sales and economic development for Energy United lent their expertise on how energy is moving toward the future.

Hometown Green, which provides public power across the country, first made a contract with Huntersville and Cornelius in 1997. Mozingo addressed how recent legislation has impacted homeowners and the industry.

"In 2007, Senate Bill 3 passed, which requires energy providers to develop renewable energy sources and making energy more efficient," he said. "For residential homes, high energy heat pumps are really good and if you put in a 14 SEER heat pump in your home, the government will give you a $400 rebate. It saves 100,000 kilowatts per hour per year."

Hometown Green is also making strides in the commercial industry, testing LED lights and more efficient motors in Food Lion's refrigerator section in Lexington.

"The LED light loves the cold, it's an excellent light source and uses half as much energy," he said. "After three years, it's a total payback. We're trying our best to ... work with the customers and doing cost-effective projects."

Duke Energy is addressing how the economy is impacting its customers, Gause said.

"All of them are focused on the economy, but energy issues are intertwined with that," Gause said."One cannot succeed without the other."

Duke Energy faces an "unprecedented challenge" as the infrastructure for the company is "aging and we must reinvest between now and 2030."

"We need new trans lines and distribution lines on the highway, to improve the technology and make it more efficient, and we have a lot of decisions on how to spread the money," he said. "We need to figure out a long-term plan so when you flip the switch wherever you are, the power is there."

On the radar for 2009 is the "smart grid" which is a billion dollar investment over 5 years that "takes every grid and makes it work for us."

"Each has two way communication for an analysis on how energy is used across the grid and to check efficiency and do remote energy readings," he said. "We're also looking into renewable energy technology like solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, waveand converting waste to energy.We have to check into the cost and the intermitten availability, like solar energy isn't always cost efficient and can be used only 20 percent of the time."

Energy United, the third largest provider of residential electricity in North Carolina, is also pursuing greater energy efficiency, Holder said.

"We're working toward a balanced solution," he said. "As a co-op we want 10 percent of our resources to come from renewable resources by 2018."

Currently, they are working with landfill gases, with a small facility by the Statesville golf course. Energy United is also building a solar farm beginning this year and will supply one megawatt of power at the site.

"The cost of solar power is currently three times the current cost of power and can only be used 20 percent of the time," Holder said. "Renewable resources aren't the golden solution, but they help and the trick is to find a balance."

Closer to home, he said that his company provided magazines and pamphlets with tips to save energy and eliminate waste.

"Fifty-six percent of your usage is heating and cooling, 23 percent is lighting and appliances, 16 percent is water heating and 5 percent is your refridgerator," he said. "Things like insulation and weather stripping can dramatically impact what you're paying. Obviously it's more expensive in the winter, but energy is 8 percent of your income, so being efficient is important."

Holder recommended visiting www.findabalancedsolution.com to pick up more tips to be energy efficient.