Even Seattle is Going Solar

So many industries are going solar. The interesting part about this article is that even in Seattle where it is cloudy 201 days of the year, they are installing solar panels and generating their own electricity. This article talks about how it doesn’t really matter how much sun your area gets, you can still benefit from generating your own energy through solar panels.

Here is the article link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g58_wEY4JKhZ5JcDAK0bONKbHNvAD9IN2T7O0?docId=D9IN2T7O0

www.roofmax.net

 

Khol’s is going solar!

Here is an article showing how Khol’s is going solar! They plan to be completely carbon neutral by the end of 2010. Inspiring isn’t it? It is amazing how much their business is saving on electrical costs by generating their own electricity: $50 million! You can save, too.

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2010/09/kohls_unveils_100th_rooftop_so.html

Have a great day!

Tara Thornock

Roofmax

www.roofmax.net

Yard Sign Campaign Results!

Thank you! Thank you!

We appreciate everyone who participated in our “Annual Yard Sign Extravaganza”!

Many of you have asked how this has helped our business. We have been getting phone calls every day! Some days we are getting four to five calls!

In an effort to have a fair drawing we placed each homeowner willing to put a sign in their yard into a “Random Sampling” program downloaded from Random.org.

Here are the drawing results:

1^st Place $1,000.00 winner             Kolstad      Orchard/Concord

2^nd Place $500.00 winner              Taylor  Heartwood/Concord

3^rd Place $200.00 winner               Castro       St Francis/Concord

$50.00 winners:

Robason                       Cowell/Concord

Spadoni                 Kearsarge/Concord

Von Savoye        Glenwood/Concord

Dugan                   Crestwood/Concord

McCombs                    Adams/Concord

Byrnes                Fox Hollow/Concord

Harper                  Woodcrest/Concord

Frost                            Tara/Clayton

Dulac                  Perada/Walnut Creek

Fiorica                           Bonari/Concord

Nieto                         Baywood/Concord

Bowerbank        Orangewood/Concord

Lambert                       Wilson/Concord

Goodman                            6^th/Concord

Ortland                        Ardenwood/Concord

Green                                Davis/Concord

Congratulations to the winners! And again, thank you for participating! We feel this has been a successful program and plan to do it again! We hope you will want to participate with us in the future.

Some Cool Roofing News…

Dear readers,

We hope you all had a wonderful, safe 4th of July…and that your roofs did not catch on fire from fireworks. Summer is so much fun! A great time to spend outdoors! I am always grateful for my roof in the summertime to keep that hotness out and coolness in. We hope your roofs are taking care of you and your homes.

As I got in this morning, I found this great article about some seriously cool roofing project going on in London right now and thought it would be good to share. Here is the link: http://www.khl.com/magazines/construction-europe/detail/item56956/

Have a great day! Stay cool!

Tara Thornock

Roofmax

www.roofmax.net

Check Out Our New Video!

We now have our new Diamond Certified video! They did a great job and we are excited to be able to share it with you all! Enjoy!

Hope you have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Sincerely,
Roofmax
www.roofmax.net

Check out our New Diamond Certified Video Profile!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDUCtTUKwEI#watch-main-area

This is a great video done for out Diamond Certified profile. Hope you enjoy it!

California’s Title 24 for Steep Slope Roofs

Building Energy Efficiency Standards

California has issued a new code for steep slope roofs and energy conservation. Roofmax has been following most of these guidelines-now standards-but wants to communicate to you what is expected now so that you can be sure your roof is installed correctly.

These standards are provided by the GAF materials corporation. The following are excerpts from the GAF provided Title 24 materials:

About Title 24

The California Energy Commission (CEC) was created in 1974 through the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act to construct and periodically modify energy efficiency standards for residential and non-residential buildings.

In 1978, all building codes and standards were combined under one umbrella called Title 24 Building Standards Code and Part 6 of this standard code has the requirements for energy efficiency while part 1 has the administrative requirements. For more information or to download a copy of Title 24, visit www.energy.ca.gov/title24.

Why is Title 24 Now for Homes?

• California has over 35 million people and from 1960 to 1974 when the CEC was created, they saw their energy consumption rise over 50% per capita, which means that not only as their population was increasing, the amount of energy each person was using was also increasing dramatically.
• California’s building efficiency standards (along with those for energy efficient appliances) have saved more than $56 billion in electricity and natural gas costs since 1978. It is estimated the standards will save an additional $23 billion by 2013.
• The CEC’s forecast data shows that 1/3 of the energy (natural gas and electricity) consumed in California is consumed by buildings.
• Strengthening the requirements of Title 24 has been a very key element in the state’s climate change initiative.

Why Cool Roofs?

• Roof surface temperatures and attic temperatures can be reduced significantly.
• By lowering attic temperatures, air conditioning costs can be reduced by as much as 10-15% according to the Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program.
• Reductions in air conditioning use help to reduce “peak energy demand” on the power grid, reducing the need for new power plant construction.
• Cool roofs can reduce the effects of “Urban Heat Islands”, where data shows that urban areas have higher ambient temperatures than surrounding rural areas because of their concentration of dark surfaces and the sparseness of vegetation (dark surfaces can be up to 70F hotter on a warm summer day than reflective, “cool” surfaces).

When Does the Version of Title 24 That Includes “Cool Roofs” for Homeowners Go Into Effect?

Remember, Title 24 was first established in 1978 and has been the building standards code since then. The 2008 Building Efficiency Standards, Title 24 that has requirements for parts of California for “cool roofs” on residencies, goes into effect January 1, 2010.

Understanding How Title 24 Classifies Buildings

In addition to knowing where the building is located so you can know what is required, you need to know how Title 24 classifies “buildings”,

“Low Rise Residential”…describes:

• All single family homes of any number of stories
• All duplexes of any number of stories
• All multi-family buildings up to 3 stories in height
• Garden apartments and other housing types up to 3 stories in height

“Nonresidential”…describes:

• Offices, retail and wholesale stores
• Grocery stores, restaurants, theaters
• Hotels and motels
• Industrial work buildings
• Commercial or industrial storage units
• Schools and churches
• Apartment and multi-family buildings with four or more stories
• Long-term care facilities
• Dormitories
• Private garages, carports, sheds and agricultural buildings

California Building Climate Zones

Title 24 Prescriptive Requirements

Steep Slope Roofs

Alternatives to using a cool roofing product for re-roofing–any of the following can be implemented in lieu of using cool roofing products for low-rise residential buildings:

• Use of R-0.85 insulation or a 3/4″ air space added to the roof deck over the attic space, or,
• Insulating and sealing existing air conditioning ducts in the attic space accordance with Section 151(f)10, or,
• Buildings with no air conditioning in the attic (do not require cool roofs), or,
• In zones 10, 12, or 13, providing ventilation of at least 1 sq. ft of free ventilation per 150 sq. ft. of attic floor space and where at least 30% of the ventilation is within 2 feet of the ridge, or,
• Having a minimum of R-30 ceiling insulation, or,
• Installing a radiant barrier that meets the requirements of Section 151(f)2, or,
• In zones 10, 11, 13, or 14, having a minimum R-3 deck insulation above a vented attic.

How Roofmax is Complying With Title 24 Requirements

• Use of R-0.85 insulation or a 3/4″ air space added to the roof deck over the attic space.
• Existing ducts insulated and sealed in the attic space in addordance with section 151(f)10.
• In climate zones 10, 12 or 13 providing ventilation of at least 1 sq. ft. of free ventilation per 150  sq. ft. of attic flow space and where at least 30% of the ventilation is within 2 feet of the ridge.
• Building has a minimum of R-30 ceiling insulation.
• Installing radiant barrier meeting the requirement of Section 151(f)2.

If you have any questions about title 24, please feel free to call our office at 925-685-4151.

Sincerely,

Roofmax

www.roofmax.net

The Yearly Meeting…Starting off 2010 with a great start!

Roofmax employees held their annual yearly meeting at Marie Callender’s last Friday. It was a great meal! Good pie! But, far more exciting was looking back at 2009′s triumphs, challenges, firsts, and growth. We have set new goals and are determined to continue to bring you the best service possible. We are so grateful for our past customers and are excited to help and work with new people this year. Roofmax is committed to being the best roofing contractor, best at roof repairs, and best solar installer in the industry. New customers, new products, and new technologies, here’s to a great 2010 to you and to Roofmax!

Tara Thornock

www.roofmax.net

ENERGY: So you want to install rooftop solar? A handy guide

This is a great resource if you are considering solar panels on your roof. The beginning is quoted. Follow the link to read the rest of the article.  

By ERIC WOLFF – ewolff@nctimes.com | Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2009 8:00 pm

“

Residential solar power is most definitely moving out of the fringes. Maybe it’s not all the way to popularity yet, but now that even Lowe’s and Home Depot are selling solar panels, the industry can safely be said to be dipping a few toes into the mainstream.

Between July 1 and the end of November, San Diego County alone had issued 469 permits for rooftop solar, already more than the 432 it issued in the entire 12 months preceding.

For anyone watching a smug neighbor gloat over low electric bills, or who’s watched one too many showings of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” here’s a guide for how to decide if the sun has finally risen on your solar panel ambitions: “

To read more follow this link: http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_18ee6a66-3bbc-55c6-8a0c-a7280aab07e5.html

www.roofmax.net

Should you get solar now, or wait?

Here is a great review of the efficiency of solar panels in today’s market. It will probably help you if you are on the verge of deciding whether or not to install solar panels.

By George Musser

Dec 8, 2009 12:00 PM in Energy & Sustainability

“Editor’s Note: Scientific American’s George Musser will be chronicling his experiences installing solar panels in Solar at Home (formerly 60-Second Solar). Read his introduction here and see all posts here.

It’s the eternal question: Buy now or wait? Assuming you want to install solar panels on your roof, should you go for it or hold off for better technology or lower prices? I don’t have a definitive answer, but let me offer a few thoughts that might inform your decision.

Obviously, solar installers want you to jump in forthwith. Even leaving aside their self-interest, they do make some good points. There’s really no need to wait for technology to improve. In terms of how fast they become obsolete, solar arrays are more like cars than computers. Although photovoltaic cells and auxiliary equipment such as inverters are getting better, progress is slow.

For computers, technological improvements make the difference between Pong and Left 4 Dead. But as long as a solar panel produces a kilowatt of power, it doesn’t really matter how swanky it is. Arrays of the future will produce more power, but existing ones are not about to become an embarrassment. And it’s not as though technological progress will pass you by. Few arrays take up every last inch of roof space, largely because of the limitations of current inverters. You’ll be able to add more advanced panels with built-in inverters to fill in the gaps.

A more important issue is cost. Solar panels have gotten cheaper over the past couple of years, not because of technological breakthroughs but because of mundane factors such as increased manufacturing capacity in China. Installation, too, is coming down in price as contractors get the hang of it.

These trends hasten the day when solar will achieve parity with fossil fuels, but have less impact on a homeowner’s bottom line, because states are scaling back their subsidies at the same time. New Jersey, for example, is set to reduce its cash grant from $1.75 per watt to $1.55 per watt.

I think the best argument for holding off is that contractors, inspectors, and regulators are still climbing up the learning curve. Right now, you need a good deal of patience and fortitude to install solar panels. The way around this is a power-purchase agreement or leasing arrangement from a company such as SunRun or SolarCity, if they offer one if your area. In addition, large installers such as Acro Energy are working to speed up the installation process.

Another argument for delay is that conservation measures such as insulation or adjustments to your heating system might give you more buck for the buck. A fellow solar blogger, Osha Gray Davidson in Phoenix, Ariz., told me how he reached this conclusion:

We decided to take your advice and concentrate on negawatts (conservation) first. We’re getting bids to replace our aging roof with an energy-efficient one and coordinate it with installing solar panels. 1BOG just entered the Phoenix market and they’re preparing a bid for our house. We also cut back on air-conditioning this summer by installing an energy-efficient single-room ductless air conditioner by Fujitsu. Mounted on my home office wall and with the compressor outside, I keep my office comfortable and quiet during the day without cooling the entire (empty) house with central air. Our power usage was 11% less in July ’09 compared to July ’08 (July being the month with the highest power usage).

We’ve cut way back on driving as well, partly thanks to the coming of light rail to our city. We use it all the time and love it. And my wife bikes to work now that the day-time temperature has dropped below 100. We still don’t have solar panels on the roof, and I’m looking forward to that day. The larger work to reduce our carbon footprint is going well — and continues.

I highly recommend getting a home-energy audit and studying the auditor’s cost-benefit analysis of specific steps you could take. Some things that seem like good ideas, such as installing new windows, have surprisingly long payback periods, and solar panels are actually a better use of your money.

Solar panels on George’s roof, courtesy of his brother Bret Musser”