Thursday, November 10, 2011

Electrical Systems and Services, Inc. Announces New WebPage


For those of you that have taken an interest in the ESS blog, 

Please visit our new Web Page @


www.esselectric.com




Here you will find more useful information on the many capabilities and what we do at ESS. We appreciate you following our blog, please continue to come back for more interesting topics for Renewable Energies. Please feel free to comment or contact ESS with any questions.

You can also FRIEND us on FACEBOOK

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Renewable energies in Germany

For the third year, ESS has participated in the International exchange program held by Gateway Technical College in Racine. This year ESS hosted two students, Laura Strauss of Bad Soden-Salmuenster, Germany and Jan Hofmann of Maintal, Germany. They spent 4 days at ESS learning many  aspects of the business. One of their "assignments" was to write and post on our blog, a story about the German renewable energies and some current statistics. They did lots of research and writing, in between all of the other activities, and came up with the wonderful blog post. Please enjoy their blog and many thanks to Gateway for having this unique program. 

The contingent of renewable energy in Germany was in 2010 17 % of the whole electrical power usage. There was an increase of the energy usage from the biogas and the photovoltaics in 2010.


Chancellor Merkel wants to accelerate the development of renewable energies. In Germany the ministry of environment is working at the “Renewable Energy Act” to make it more effective. Up to the year 2020 Chancellor Merkel wants a contingent of renewable energy of 40 % of the whole electrical power usage.

The ministry of environment made some proposals for better integrating the renewable energies into the electrical market. The government wants to create more incentives to involve the renewable energies into the electrical market.

In case of turning off all the atomic power plants, Germany has to develop in renewable energy all the time.



 
 
Wind energy in Germany



At the turn of the half-year 2011 it is the first time the percentile part of renewable energies in Germany exceed 20 %. For Germany it is a very delightful development and they try to be a good example for the use of renewable energies in the future.

It is caused by the fact that Germany has to revolutionize the energy generation because of the decision to phase out the nuclear power. So the Government had to react and started to encourage these kinds of energies more than ever before.
The biggest part of renewable energies in Germany is the wind energy (6.5 % of the whole energy consumption). With that wind energy is ahead of solar energy and hydro power. In Germany there are more than 22,000 wind turbines located in the federal areas.
The next step of the German government will be to facilitate the offshore wind energy. They declared the target to install wind turbines with a capacity of 25,000 MW by 2030. This project would also produce new jobs for about 7,000 workers.
Some German companies that manufacture wind turbines:

- AREVA Wind GmbH
- Avantis
- BARD Holding
- Enercon (biggest manufacturer of onshore wind turbines)




Solar Energy in Germany

The solar energy still enjoys an enormous growth in Germany, 94% of the Germans estimate the extension of renewable energies is very important. And solar energy belongs to this category.


The contingent of solar energy in 2010 was 2 % of the whole electrical power. So it’s twice as much than the year before.

Germany is one of the top photovoltaics installer in the world. The PV capacity of May 2011 was more than 18,000 MW. Some market analysts expect that the contingent of solar energy could reach 25 % by 2050.

The ”Renewable Energies Act” of 2009 also encouraged this development. “Renewable Energies Act” requires that every new built house has to use one renewable energy technique. And in Germany many people decided for the solar energy because of the efficient way to get energy. Furthermore, the house owners can earn money with their photovoltaic facility, because the not used energy will be injected into the energy grid and gain money for every kilowatt hour.

In fact, with all new technologies and a bigger demand starting after 2009, the costs have the potential of being reduced up to 30 % for the manufacture and the installation of solar systems.

Per the forecast from experts, the delivery of electricity from solar energy will reach the delivery of electricity from offshore wind turbines in 2014.

In the long run solar energy will be one of the cheapest ways to generate energy.

Posted by Laura Strauss of Bad Soden-Salmuenster, Germany and Jan Hofmann of Maintal, Germany  

Thursday, October 6, 2011

We Would Like to Hear What You Think !




Electrical Systems and Services, Inc has been involved in the renewable energies movement for over 2 years. As you have been reading on this blog, during that time, ESS has done many wind turbine, solar systems and lighting projects in Southeast Wisconsin. These various projects have been done for business locations, as well as public and private schools and residential applications. The possibility for installation locations goes much further than that. Think of all of the energy saved if we had more renewable energy being used to heat our water for personal use, or heating water for a pool or hot tub or even the floors of our homes. Churches, Motel/Hotels, Restaurants, Apartments & Condos, Banks the list is endless when it comes to Renewable Energy potential.


Since you have been reading our blog, you know of some of these projects ESS has completed, and maybe many of you have seen these projects first hand. It certainly is a pretty thing to see, when you think of these renewable energy projects as saving us from the grips of depending on others for electricity.
Some of you have taken the time to comment on some of the postings, we appreciate your participation and observations.


We know that this blog receives many hits, so for this posting we are asking everyone to comment on your thoughts on the “Green Movement”. Ask yourself, "Is this Renewable Energy promotion all that it is talked up to be". We know that technology always has room for improvement, so please comment and tell us how you feel.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Want to know the Difference?


Solar Thermal vs. Photovoltaic

It is important to understand that solar thermal technology is not the same as solar panel, or photovoltaic, technology. Solar thermal electric energy generation concentrates the light from the sun to create heat, and that heat is used to run a heat engine, which turns a generator to make electricity. The working fluid that is heated by the concentrated sunlight can be a liquid or a gas. Different working fluids include water, oil, salts, air, nitrogen, helium, etc. Different engine types include steam engines, gas turbines, Stirling engines, etc. All of these engines can be quite efficient, often between 30% and 40%, and are capable of producing 10's to 100's of megawatts of power.

Photovoltaic, or PV energy conversion, on the other hand, directly converts the sun's light into electricity. This means that solar panels are only effective during daylight hours because storing electricity is not a particularly efficient process.

Heat storage is a far easier and efficient method, which is what makes solar thermal so attractive for large-scale energy production. Heat can be stored during the day and then converted into electricity at night. Solar thermal plants that have storage capacities can drastically improve both the economics and the dispatchability of solar electricity.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Storing Solar Energy in Batteries

4 Types Of Battery Suitable For Home Solar Power System




There are many diverse types of batteries you can use in conjunction with a home solar power system. All batteries rely on chemical reactions to convert stored chemical energy to electrical energy. The 4 types of battery suitable for solar use are described and contrasted below.



1) Lead Acid BatteriesLead acid batteries are the most common type of batteries  found in automobiles. This type of battery relies on the conversion of lead and lead dioxide in a sulfuric acid solution to lead sulfite to release electrons. This reaction can be reversed to recharge the batteries.
Pores in the lead and lead dioxide plates allow greater surface area for the energy-providing reaction, allowing sudden bursts of high current. Although lead acid batteries are less efficient than other forms, they are preferred because they can provide the high amount of current in a short amount of time needed to start a car.
Because automotive batteries should never be highly discharged, they are inappropriate for the powering of home systems, which often require repeated discharges of power. Thus, lead acid batteries are not suitable for residential solar power system



2) Lead Acid Deep Cycle Batteries. In contrast, lead acid deep cycle batteries are designed to have a large amount of their stored power discharged between charging sessions. Their plates are non-porous to allow the battery to withstand deep cycles (up to 80% discharging).
RV marine batteries often do not last as long as other deep cycle batteries. However, they are small and compact, which makes them easy to handle and install. They often come “sealed,” which makes them safer to use indoors. Unfortunately, sealed batteries are sensitive to overcharging, which may shorten their lifespan.
These types of batteries are usually 12-volt, and have varying capacities (up to 100-amp hours). To obtain a larger storage capacity, batteries would need to be attached in parallel, which is less efficient than having a single large battery.



3) Electric Golf Cart BatteriesGolf cart batteries are designed for deep cycles, which give them a longer lifespan and better performance. They are usually lightweight and cheaper per amp hour than RV/marine batteries. They also have the advantage of being less sensitive to overcharging.
Because they are generally 6-volt, while most home systems are 12-volt, they will need to be connected in series, which is more complicated than using a single battery. Because they are not sealed, they need to be stored in a well-ventilated area and occasionally be given water.
Golf cart batteries have too limited amp-hour capacities for use in a large power system. Industrial or stationary batteries are available in 2-volt units, so the appropriate number of units need to be combined. They have very high amp-hour capacities, but are significantly more expensive than other types of battery and very heavy.
Their weight (up to 350 pounds per 2-volt cell) will often require special storage and transportation. Among all, the electric golf cart batteries are the most suitable for home energy system because of its cost and practicality.



4) Nickel BatteriesNickel batteries use nickel alloy plates (nickel cadmium or nickel iron) instead of lead plates. Unlike lead-acid batteries, these plates are stored in an alkaline (basic) instead of an acidic solution. While excellent for home power use, the cost is significantly higher than that of lead acid batteries.
Nickel allow batteries can last up to fifty years, and require less maintenance, as they can be fully discharged without damage. Unfortunately nickel alloy batteries are more difficult to dispose of than lead-acid batteries.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Solar and Wind Energy? ESS can help!

Looking at installing your first renewable energy system?

Well, if the system is designed, installed, and maintained properly, like we do at Electrical Systems and Services, it should be your only renewable energy system! I guess it comes down to this: There are many reasons not to generate your own electricity from the wind & sun, including significant economic, utility, and zoning barriers. But at the end of the day, we face certain truths: Fossil fuels are a limited energy resource, our current electric generation methods are compromising the rights of our future generations to inherit a healthy planet, and the cost of grid electricity will continue to go up.

Renewable energy gives us the ability to change this balance of power. We can make and use clean energy in our neighborhoods, on our farms, and at our businesses.

We  know that when all the costs are factored in, renewable energies are more economical than burning coal or splitting atoms, and we can feel good about it.

If you’re considering any renewable energy, I say great!

Wind & Solar energy are both remarkably simple and amazingly complex.


So do your homework. We can help, contact us at Electrical Systems and Services. We have all the resources to inform you with all you need to know about renewable energy projects.

An educated  consumer is the renewable energy dealer’s best friend.  And when your
system is up and running, you can take the time to sit back and enjoy.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

MOTION OR OCCUPANCY SENSORS

 Motion or Occupancy Sensor Light Switch


Fit a motion sensor light switch to automatically switch off lights when a room is empty


  • The Motion Sensor Light Switch  is a new product which will only turn lights on in a room when it is occupied. By automatically turning off the lights when no-one is in the room, the manufacturers claim that an average of 128 hours per year of unnecessary lighting will be avoided, reducing electricity consumption for the lighting by 10%.

  • The light switch is sold as a complete, easy to install unit which can be quickly fitted as a direct replacement for a standard (non-dimmer, single way) switch. A manual switch is provided so that lights can be switched ON or OFF, or to enter AUTO mode. When in AUTO mode, the fitted PIR sensor (which covers 110 degrees with a range of 5 metres) detects if someone is in the room. A second adjustable light sensor ensures that the lights are only turned on when it is dark

  • A delay time setting (8 secs to 6 mins) is provided so that you can set how often you want the motion detector to check the room for inhabitants. The longer this time is set, the longer the lights will remain on after you leave the room. The shorter the time, the more likely it is that the lights will turn off while you are still in the room - potentially a problem if you are sat in an armchair not moving or walking backwards and forwards directly towards the motion sensor.
Contact ESS for more information on how we can install these money saving devices in your office or plant.



Friday, May 13, 2011

SOLAR FACTS

Here are the five most practical and popular ways that solar energy is used:


1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We see these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden products. Portable units can be used for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems are used for traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.

2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems through a solar collector is a very practical way to heat water for your pool or hot tub.

3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by the sun's rays and the heat is then transferred to water in a hot water tank.

This method of collecting the sun's energy is more practical now than ever. In areas as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, solar thermal to heat water is economically sound. It can pay for itself in three years or less.

 4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or business power. In many parts of the world, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible way to supplement the power of your home. In Japan, photovoltaics are competitive with other forms of power. In the US, new incentive programs make this form of solar energy ever more viable in many states. An increasingly popular and practical way of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.

5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. If you have enough sun power at your site, you may be able to go off grid. You may also integrate or hybridize your solar energy system with wind power or other forms of renewable energy to stay 'off the grid.'

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

GIFFORD SCHOOL - OFF GRID SOLAR POLE LIGHTS

GIFFORD SCHOOL GOES GREEN

Next time you find yourself traveling on Highway K thru Franksville, check out the 2 Solar Pole Lights at the west entrance to the Gifford School parking lot. The project was a part of the overall parking lot restructure. The off - grid lights were installed instead of using the old "wired to the grid" lighting system that uses electricity supplied by WE Energies. Working with Racine Unified School District, ESS located, assembled and installed the lights. The LED lights use only solar power to light the entrance to the school parking lot.
Great Job RUSD & Gifford School.
All of your current and past students, teachers & staff can be proud of the fact that Gifford School is doing its part to go "GREEN"




SAVE MONEY WITH SOLAR WATER HEATERS

Solar Water Heaters


Solar water heaters—also called solar domestic hot water systems—can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use—sunshine—is free.

How They Work

Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't.

Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

Pumps circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home. They are popular in climates prone to freezing temperatures.





Passive solar water heating systems are typically less expensive than active systems, but they're usually not as efficient. However, passive systems can be more reliable and may last longer. There are two basic types of passive systems:

• Integral collector-storage passive systems

These work best in areas where temperatures rarely fall below freezing. They also work well in households with significant daytime and evening hot-water needs.

• Thermosyphon systems

Water flows through the system when warm water rises as cooler water sinks. The collector must be installed below the storage tank so that warm water will rise into the tank. These systems are reliable, but contractors must pay careful attention to the roof design because of the heavy storage tank. They are usually more expensive than integral collector-storage passive systems.


Solar water heating systems almost always require a backup system for cloudy days and times of increased demand. Conventional storage water heaters usually provide backup and may already be part of the solar system package. A backup system may also be part of the solar collector, such as rooftop tanks with thermosyphon systems. Since an integral-collector storage system already stores hot water in addition to collecting solar heat, it may be packaged with a demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heater for backup.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Gateway Technical Institute adds 3 Windspire wind turbines


For those of you that have driven or walked around the Racine Gateway Campus you have probably noticed the newly installed Windspire wind turbines. ESS installed the three units and they are now producing electricity for the campus. The units are located on the east side of the building and are very easy to see.

Just another way Gateway is looking to improve the look of the campus for the students and to help offset  the rising energy costs.




SITING YOUR SOLAR MODULES

The two basic issues with the siting of a solar energy system are :




1. Face panels to the south

2, Avoid shade from trees, buildings or hills.

It is important to carefully site PV systems, especially those that use crystalline cells. A shadow across just part of a crystalline cell based PV system can virtually turn it off, while a shadow across a thin film cell based PV system or a solar thermal system will simply reduce its output.



Think about both the sun’s daily path and its annual path when considering how objects may shade the solar panels. Shading may result from trees, dormers, chimneys, and neighboring buildings. Remember - trees grow, and neighbors may build additional structures that block the sun. However, Wisconsin has a solar rights law that guarantees your right to solar access.

 Axis trackers adds installation cost, but increases efficiency of modules significantly. These arrays will track the sun throughout the course of the day and the racking itself will physically move from east to west every day.




Single axis tracking systems


Solar panels with single axis tracking systems. The panels can turn around the centre axis. ESS can provide the actuators that tilt the panels.

Dual axis tracking systems


Dual axis tracking is typically used to orient a mirror, to redirect sunlight along a fixed axis towards a stationary target or receiver, however you can also gain extra yield on you PV cells. ESS can provide you with quality actuators that move your panels.

Friday, March 25, 2011

DREAM WITH THE WIND

Why Small Wind?


For homeowners, farmers, small businesses, and public facilities, a wind turbine is a smart investment that will lower your monthly expenses, increase your net worth, and help support manufacturing jobs. At the same time it will help clean the air, slow climate change, and move us towards energy independence.

For remote sites without grid power, a wind turbine can significantly lower operating costs over a diesel generator and provide sustainable power where the power grid cannot reach.

Electrical Systems and Services, Inc. is an authorized dealer of Bergey Wind Turbines




Why Bergey?

Bergey Windpower is the oldest and most experienced manufacturer of residential-sized wind turbines in the world.

Thirty years ago Bergey pioneered the radically-simple “Bergey design” that has proven to provide the best reliability, performance, service life, and value of all of the hundreds of competitive products that have come and gone in that time. With only three moving parts and no scheduled maintenance necessary, the Bergey 10 kW has compiled a service record that no other wind turbine can match. We back it up with the longest warranty in the industry.

There are now many new small wind products on the market. Though sometimes heavily promoted, these new entrants lack the track record that provides confidence as a sound investment. Over the years Bergey wind turbines have often replaced unsuccessful competitive products. The bottom line is that wind turbines are a big investment, and Bergey is the wise choice.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

HERE ARE SOME NUMBERS ON SOLAR GROWTH

US Solar Energy Industry Experiences Record-Breaking Growth in 2010




Photovoltaic installations double over 2009; Largest concentrating solar power plant in 20 years comes online; Solar heating and cooling reverses trend and expands



WASHINGTON, D.C., and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The U.S. solar energy industry had a banner year in 2010 with the industry’s total market value growing 67 percent from $3.6 billion in 2009 to $6.0 billion in 2010, according to the U.S. Solar Market InsightTM: Year-in-Review 2010 released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) and GTM Research. Solar was a bright spot in the U.S. economy last year as the fastest growing energy sector, contrasting overall U.S. GDP growth of less than 3 percent.



In total, 878 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) capacity and 78 MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) were installed in the U.S. in 2010, enough to power roughly 200,000 homes. In addition, more than 65,000 homes and businesses added solar water heating (SWH) or solar pool heating (SPH) systems.



The U.S. PV market made the most significant strides in 2010, more than doubling installation totals from 2009 according to the latest U.S. Solar Market InsightTM report. This expansion was driven by the Federal section 1603 Treasury program, completion of significant utility-scale projects, expansion of new state markets and declining technology costs.



The section 1603 Treasury program helped fourth-quarter installations surge to a record 359 MW and was critical in allowing the solar industry to employ more than 93,000 Americans in 2010. Originally set to expire at the end of 2010, the 1603 Treasury program was ultimately extended through 2011.



In addition, market diversification was a distinguishing characteristic of U.S. solar energy development in 2010. Sixteen states each installed more than 10 MW of PV in 2010, up from only four in 2007. The top 10 states for PV installation in 2010 were: California, New Jersey, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Florida, North Carolina and Texas.



Cost declines were also an important factor in the 2010 solar expansion, as technology costs fell and the industry matured further, capitalizing on greater economies of scale and improved installation practices. In the residential and commercial-property segments, installed annual PV system cost declines of 8 percent and 11 percent respectively spurred record build-out.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

More Solar PV Information

Solar Electric (Photovoltaic)



  • Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight via an electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of material, called semiconductors. Electrons in these materials are freed by solar energy and can be induced to travel through an electrical circuit, powering electrical devices or sending electricity to the grid.



  • PV devices can be used to power anything from small electronics such as calculators and road signs up to homes and large commercial businesses.



History

  • The PV effect was observed as early as 1890 by Henri Becquerel, and was the subject of scientific inquiry through the early twentieth century. In 1954, Bell Labs in the U.S. introduced the first solar PV device that produced a useable amount of electricity, and by 1958, solar cells were being used in a variety of small-scale scientific and commercial applications.



  • The energy crisis of the 1970s saw the beginning of major interest in using solar cells to produce electricity in homes and businesses, but prohibitive prices (nearly 30 times higher than the current price) made large-scale applications impractical.



  • Industry developments and research in the following years made PV devices more feasible and a cycle of increasing production and decreasing costs began which continues even today.



Present Status

  • The cost of PV has dropped dramatically as the industry has scaled up manufacturing and incrementally improved the technology with new materials. Installation costs have come down too with more expereinced and trained installers. However, the U.S. still remains behind other nations that have stronger national policies to shift energy use from fossil fuels to solar. Globally, the U.S. is the fourth largest market for PV installations behind world leaders Germany, Japan and Spain.



  • Most modern solar cells are made from either crystalline silicon or thin-film semiconductor material. Silicon cells are more efficient at converting sunlight to electricity, but generally have higher manufacturing costs. Thin-film materials typically have lower efficiencies, but are simpler and less costly to manufacture. A specialized category of solar cells - called multi-junction or tandem cells - are used in applications requiring very low weight and very high efficiencies, such as satellites and military applications.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Windspire catches the wind

Another area of renewable energy ESS is currently involved in is wind power. We have many installations of the Windspire wind turbine in very visable locations. Here is some basic information on the Windpsire wind turbine.

About Windspire


The Windspire Wind Turbine is a radically designed, low-cost, low-noise, attractive wind power turbine for use in urban, suburban, rural and remote locations. Windspire is a propeller-free, vertical-axis design that features patented technology that maximizes energy conversion from wind into electric power, regardless of changing wind speed and direction. Electricity is generated with vertical airfoils that rotate around a center shaft, which will offset energy consumed from the utility. Thus reducing your electric bill and also reducing your impact on the environment. Windspire is designed & engineered in the US and is 100% made in Michigan at a former automotive facility, putting laid off auto-workers back to work. The Windspire has been featured in Fortune, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, and on “20/20”, CNN and NPR. Electrical Systems and Service, Inc. (ESS) is Southeastern Wisconsin’s Authorized Windspire Dealer and will perform a free site assessment and proposal for your Wind Turbine System.

Friday, March 4, 2011

SOME "GREEN" NUMBERS TO SAVE YOU SOME "GREEN"

Be Seen with Green



“Focus On Energy” Rebate Offer for LED Retrofit Fixtures


We are excited to show you how in just a few minutes you can go green and start saving money and energy. And with the current Wisconsin “Focus on Energy” Rebate offers, going green has never been so easy.
It’s as simple as taking out your old incandescent light bulb, and replacing it with a LED Retrofit Fixture and start being seen with green. These LED lights are cutting edge technology, which will increase your energy profile in the eyes of your customers; providing them with a first-hand example of leading energy efficiency technology. These lights install directly into, your existing Edison-base sockets, and can be self- installed; eliminating all installation costs.

How simple is it to save money and energv by simply installing LED retrofit fixtures?





  •  Let’s assume you have 25, 75 watt incandescent lights that run for an average of 12 hours 
  •  That means those lights consume (25 x 75 x 12) 22,500 Watts every day.
  •  This leads to 675,000 Watts every month!
  • At $0.16 per kW, it costs you $108.00 every month on your electric bill.

  •  Now let’s assume you replace those incandescent lights with a 12 watt LED retrofit fixture.
  •  The LED lights consume (25 x 12 x 12) 3,600 Watts per day.
  • This leads to 108,000 watts per month.
  •  At $0.16 per kW, it only costs $17.28 per month

  •  That’s an energy savings of $90.72 each and every month by just taking a few minutes to install the new 12 Watt LED Retrofit fixture.

The savings are not over yet:


  • The average Life of an incandescent bulb is 750-1000 hrs.
  • Based on an estimated 12 hours per day of use, your average light bulb lasts 84 days.
  •  This means that each bulb needs to be replaced 4 times per year per fixture.
  •  That is 100 new light bulbs each and every year!
  •  At an average of $2.00 per bulb and add a labor cost of $2.00 per bulb installed, you will spend $400.00 per year just on new bulbs and installation.
  • This averages out to be a cost of $33.33 each month on old inefficient light bulbs.
  • The manufacturers stated lifespan of the LED down light retrofit fixture is 50,000 hrs.
  •  Based on your estimated 12 hours per day of use, your LED down light retrofit fixture will last 4167 days, or 11.4 years,
  • This fixture requires no maintenance, which means no additional cost every month.


Now let’s look at your savings every month:


  •  Your energy saving per month is $90.72.
  •  Your material and labor savings is $33.33 per month.
  •  This is a total savings per month of $124.05.
  •  This means in only 15.1 months, based on the total savings per month, the LED Retrofit Fixtures will have paid for themselves.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

DID YOU KNOW?

Facts About Solar Energy



Myth: Solar Energy works well in only warm, sunny climates.

Reality: Solar technologies work efficiently even in cloudy climates. Proper design allows for solar systems to function up to 30 consecutive days without sunlight.

Myth: Solar Energy is too costly.

Reality: There are hundreds of applications where solar is the least expensive method for delivering power. Every solar system will save money over its lifecycle.

Myth: Solar Energy is not as reliable as conventional energy technologies.

Reality: Solar is often more reliable than other energy sources. The National Renewable Energy laboratory had found photovoltaics to be “the most reliable source of electric power ever invented.” Solar Energy is reliable since it is not subject to power blackouts or breaks in a systems network.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Flip the Switch to better lighting !

Lighting Services—Indoor & Outdoor

Experts in troubleshooting & solving lighting problems– Fast & Reliable

Contact Us if you have these or any other lighting issues :

Ballast Replacement and Disposal
Fixture Cleaning and Repair
Complete Lighting Maintenance Services      
Sign Installation and Repair

Parking Lot and Area Lighting Services         
Emergency and Exit Lighting
    Interior and Exterior Lighting Systems
LED Lighting Systems



Thursday, February 24, 2011

Save Energy and Money too !

At ESS ,we continue to find ways to help our customers save energy and money by designing and installing energy saving projects. Read the letter we received from Wisconsin Focus on Energy.


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Solar Systems - Grant Money available in 2011


· Currently WE Energies is providing Grant money ranging up to $100,000 for customer owned (NFP) renewable energy projects. Also, Federal/State  incentives are available.
· These can save you 50% of the cost: A $15,000 system may cost less than $7500.
· Today’s Solar systems are efficient, can be installed fast, last 30 plus years and can reduce your electric bills significantly. Also, they are good for the environment.
· Electrical Systems and Services, Inc will engineer, design and install your solar
      System. We will work with WE Energies & the State to get your grant approvals.