We encourage all of our employees and volunteers to conserve energy and use renewables wherever and whenever we can. In fact, Digital and Broadband's entire operation runs almost completely on renewable sources of energy.
Our energy saving partners and sources include:
Green Power is Flowing into
Austin
Most of Austin Energy's green power comes from wind turbines in McCamey and Sweetwater, Texas. The McCamey turbines have been operating since summer 2001. The Sweetwater turbines came online in December 2005. We expect more online very soon.
Austin Energy also receives electricity from several solar installations and three landfill gas projects in Austin and San Antonio.
Protection Against Rising
Fuel Prices
Austin Energy signs multi-year contracts
for renewable energy. At 750 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) in subscriptions and growing, Austin Energy's GreenChoice® is the nation's most successful utility-sponsored green energy program. GreenChoice electricity comes from clean, renewable sources.
New residential subscribers can sign up for Greenchoice energy via the Web, or by calling (512) 972-7548. Small business and commercial customers can learn more by completing this form.
Exclusively Green
When you join Exclusively Green's program here are the types of products you will be supporting
We believe
that supporting American manufacturers is a very green thing to do. If the
product is made here in America it does not have as far to travel and the workers
have protections. We keep hearing that there is no American made clothing. Not
only is that not true Exclusively Green carries organic cotton, bamboo and hemp clothes
that are made right here in America! They also carry pet products,
soy candles, recycled car tire novelties, and bags. They did not forget
about your little ones. They have bamboo blankets and clothing, and non-toxic
natural hardwood toys and more all made right here in America!
Take 10.00% off your order. Use discount code eglink10
A lot of good reasons why going tankless is a very smart move
Did you know that you're probably paying $50.00 or more per month simply to maintain the heat in a tank type water heater? Why? Because the tank loses its heat up the flue and then reheats, even while you're sleeping or at work. We call this standby heat loss.Do you use hot water mostly in the mornings and evenings and frequently run out of hot water in the middle of a shower? With a tankless water heater you can overcome the shortages of tank water heaters. Tankless water heaters never run out of hot water. Some models can even keep up with two showers at the same time indefinitely.
Rising energy prices require changes in the way we heat our domestic hot water. Because they only use energy when hot water is being used, tankless water heaters will likely save you more money over their expected life of 20 years than they will cost you initially. Besides energy efficiency, tankless water heaters take up less space, are easy to maintain, and are more convenient to operate.
Highly customizable venting. Some tankless water heaters can be vented horizontally and others can be vented vertically into the existing chimney. Most new tankless water heaters have computer-monitored safety devices and automatic water and gas valves. Tankless water heaters offer more flexibility in terms of possible applications and save space. Some can be used in boats, mobile homes and RV's, radiant heating systems.
Return on investment. The payback period for tankless water heaters is 3 to 7 years depending on how much hot water you use and the cost of energy in your area. The smaller the amount of hot water that you use, the faster the payoff. If you are single and are seldom at home using hot water, your energy bill reflects the low consumption because tankless water heaters do not experience standby heat loss.
The expected life of a tankless water heater is 20 years or more. We have customers who have used their tankless water heaters for more than 20 years and are still using them because tankless water heaters are serviceable.
If you have a tank, then you are limited to 40 gallons of hot water per hour. That's barely enough for a 20 minute shower in one hour time period and you still have to pay for standby loss, which can be up 15-20% of the energy bill!
Tankless water heaters are 80-99% energy efficient.When the water heater is actually used to heat the water, tank type water heaters are 40% to 60% energy efficient (the rest of the energy is spent to heat the exhaust and walls of the tank!), while tankless water heaters are 80% (gas) to 99% (electric) efficient. When you don't use hot water, you can save up to 15%-20% of your energy bill with tankless water heaters, because tank type water heaters are subject to standby heat loss.