Now, after the June installation of 76 low-emissivity (Low-E) windows throughout the building, the Delaware workers are keeping cool.

To fund these improvements, Newark applied for and received a $147,800 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant will reimburse the labor and material costs of purchasing and installing more efficient windows and lights. The city expects to see annual energy savings of approximately 125,920 kilowatt hours and $12,592.

“Employees are more comfortable in their offices,” says Carol Houck, assistant to the city manager. “But most importantly, there’s less heat and cooling loss so our facility is more efficient.”

Buying domestically

For the windows, the city sought an option that maintained the proper temperature indoors, lowered energy costs and contributed to a productive work environment—all delivered by American manufacturers.

Tim Vollentine, a sales representative for Aeroseal Contracting, a commercial exterior vendor, helped the city find the best replacement for its old single pane, aluminum windows: the choice – low-E, double pane, fiberglass windows by Marvin.

A 30 year window industry veteran, Vollentine sees upside as more organizations look to save money through energy conservation efforts.

Low-E coatings are microscopically thin and are applied to the surface of glass panes. The coatings control heat transfer through windows and can reduce energy loss by up to 50%. Check out Energy Savers for more on Low-E windows.

“When the government made the stimulus funds available and tied the requirements to thermal efficiency and energy savings, fiberglass windows became a more viable option,” he says. “When someone’s concerned about energy efficiency, it’s a challenge because you’re trying to achieve the best possible performance at the best price with multiple considerations to balance.”

Newark is looking at other project with energy efficient lighting retrofits are next. Graybar Electric, a components, equipment and materials distributor, will supply the occupancy sensors. HD Supply, an infrastructure and energy product distributor, will provide the Universal Voltage Ballasts, electrical devices that regulate lighting. Tecot Electric will deliver the lamps.

Emissivity

One term that many buyers don’t understand is emissivity — a measurement of how well something radiates absorbed energy. The more reflective something is, the less emissivity it has.

“Windows coated in low-Emissivity materials, help control the temperature inside a building,” Vollentine says. “Low-E glass reflects radiant energy from the inside, keeping heat inside rather than allowing it to be lost through the windows. It also reflects radiant energy from the outside, keeping the building cool in summer.”

The exact amount of energy and cost savings from the window replacements won’t be known until the city compares year-over-year bills, but Newark’s Houck expects it to be substantial because employees no longer feel compelled to adjust the heat and cooling system.

JMD Corporation recently purchased the exclusive rights to the duct sealing technology and acquired Aeroseal LLC, a company focused exclusively on promoting Aeroseal technology as a primary means of residential and commercial energy conservation. The company recently launched a national campaign to expand its regional dealerships and service providers in order to make Aeroseal services available to homeowners throughout the U.S.

Aeroseal works by sealing duct leaks from the inside of the duct system. Applied as an aerosol mist, the non-toxic spray travels throughout the home’s duct work attaching itself to leaks where it accumulates until the hole is sealed. According to Aeroseal, the process is 95 percent effective at sealing air duct leaks.

“Our customers save hundreds of dollars a year on their energy bill, so the application usually pays for itself in just a few short years – and then the rest is money in their pocket,” said Neal Walsh, vice president of sales and marketing for Aeroseal. “In addition to saving energy, our customers find that Aeroseal also provides a dramatic increase in their home comfort with more effective cooling and heating in all the rooms throughout the house.”

In their 2009 report Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy, research firm McKinsey and Company ranked sealing ducts at the very top of the list as potential for increased home energy efficiency in existing non-low-income homes. At the same time, the report ranked the application as one of the lowest cost-per BTU saved.

“More than upgrading windows or insulating walls and attics, Aeroseal makes a real difference in improving home energy conservation,” said Walsh. “We estimate that on average, 30% of heated and cooled air in residential homes is lost through duct leaks and now there is a simple way to seal those leaks without having to tear into walls or replace expensive duct work.”

Aeroseal technology has won a number of prestigious awards including the DOE Energy 100″ award from the U.S. Department of Energy and The Best of What’s New award from Popular Science Magazine.

With the launch of Aeroseal LLC, the new duct sealing solution will be made available to home owners throughout the U.S. For more information on Aeroseal duct sealing or to find a local Aeroseal service provider visithttp://www.aeroseal.com or call (877) 349-3828.

Each year, the editors of This Old House review thousands of home products and ideas that have emerged over the past twelve months and select those that they believe to be the most innovative. With the 2011 launch of a new company dedicated solely to the service and support of the aeroseal duct sealant technology, this award highlights a significant new energy savings solution now available for the first time to thousands of home owners concerned with high utility bills and sustainable living.

“I’ve been watching the development of the aeroseal technology and eagerly awaiting its general availability,” said Thomas Baker, building technology editor for This Old House magazine. “Leaky air ducts are responsible for a huge energy loss problem in America and having the aeroseal solution made available for the first time to many home owners is very exciting to see.”

Developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with partial funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the EPA, aeroseal duct sealant is applied as an aerosol mist that is driven throughout the interior of a home’s duct system. The mist finds the thousands of leaks that typically plague a home’s duct work and bonds to the leaks, forming a permanent seal. Studies by the EPA and others found Aeroseal to be 95 percent effective at sealing air ducts, a result that can save home owners on average $600 to $850 a year on their home heating and cooling costs.

“This Old House is one of America’s biggest and most trusted brands in home improvement and we are honored to be recognized by their expert staff,” said Neal Walsh, vice president of sales and marketing, Aeroseal LLC. “We appreciate their help in educating home owners about a breakthrough technology that addresses a critical concern in home energy conservation.”

Aeroseal technology has won a number of other prestigious awards including the DOE Energy 100″ award from the U.S. Department of Energy and The Best of What’s New award from Popular Science Magazine. The company Aeroseal LLC is focused exclusively on making the new duct sealing solution available to home owners and building owners throughout the U.S. For more information on aeroseal duct sealing or to find a local Aeroseal service provider visit http://www.aeroseal.com or call (877) 349-3828.