Dear Friends-

We are always scouring the array of efficiency technologies out there in an effort to find cost effective ways to dramatically lower energy use and cost. Although some provide great benefits, a full home insulation job, for example,  can still make a big hit to the pocketbook.

Well, last year we found one of the most “no brainer” technologies of all. Its the Pentair Intelliflo high efficiency “variable speed” pool pump. By simply taking the voltage, amperage, and RPM numbers off of your existing pool pump label, we can do the calculations as to exactly how much energy and money this pump will save you.(and how much your current one may be burning through!) On average, it eliminates about 4,800 KWH’s per year for our customers, with annual savings ranging from $900 (LADWP, PWP, BWP) to $1600 (SCE/PGE). It would take a 3.5 kW solar system to produce this much energy! The average payback for this pump is 12-15 months. (based on past results, not a guarantee of future) We can also upgrade any outdated plumbing to increase efficiency even more. We have seen up to 95% less energy usage in some cases. Outstanding!

How does it work?

Just about 100% of customers we meet with pools have what are called “single speed” pool pumps. They have been the standard for years. Even though they may have fancy names like “Whisper Flow”, and “Ultra-Efficient”, they are in most cases the single biggest energy user in a home, sometimes costing as much as $6.00/day to operate!

They are very inefficient and act like a runner sprinting non-stop for 8 hours a day. The latest advancement in pool pumps is called “variable speed” pumps. They run longer, slower, and use magnets to create the inductive load that single speed pumps need 30% of their total energy just to generate. There is virtually no difference in flow rate, waterfall pressure, etc. With simple modifications pressure can even be increased if desired.

How much do they cost?

We install the Intelliflo pumps for around $2000. This may seem like a lot for a pool pump, until you realize that it may  potentially save you thousands of dollar per year. There are rebates too! Currently, they vary from as much as $500 rebate (LADWP) to $100 (Burbank) and $200 (SCE/SDG&E/PGE) for the Intelliflo Pump and the Intellicom II Controller (included) which will allow seamless integration with your existing pool system.

We will provide all paperwork necessary for your rebate application. All you need to do is sign in a few places, place in the postage paid Priority Mail envelope, and send it off!

Need a testimonial? We have many. One customer just received her first bill since installation, and it was $150 lower than last month. Wow.

If you are already a solar customer, this energy savings should be more than enough to cover an electric car. Or, you will end up with a significant surplus for which Burbank, Pasadena, SCE, and other utilities are starting to issue payment. (LADWP will get there, but not quite yet) If you have yet to go solar, the Intelliflo will reduce the size of the solar system you use through efficiency, likely savings you thousands of dollars in unneeded solar panels.

Have you installed many of them?

Mimeos has been nothing but thrilled with our pool partner, Todd Franzen, since officially working together starting late last year. Todd is quite possibly the most incredible mind when it comes to solar pool heating systems, variable speed pumps, energy efficient plumbing and water flow techniques, and more. We learn new things from him every day! Did you know that by simply changing out those 90 degree PVC bends in your equipment room with smooth sweeps, water flow rate can increase by 35%, and energy use decrease by the same amount? Todd has installed thousands of the Intelliflo “variable speed” pumps.

Questions? Please give us a call! Let’s get your ancient energy hog upgraded!

Thanks for reading!

Dear friends-

A new year has arrived, giving us all the opportunity to restart, refresh, and renew all sorts of commitments in our lives. Its a nice feeling, like a clean slate. We look back on 2010 as an incredible year for Mimeos, and renewable energy and efficiency in general.

With all the divisive gridlock that riddles our government, Congress still managed to renew and pass both the Energy Efficiency tax credits for improvements such as insulation, tankless water heaters, window and doors, as well as the 1603 federal business grant program for renewable energy installations. The programs were extended through the end of 2011.

We take this as a sign that the public and our representatives finally have spoken that lowering energy, reducing operational costs, and creating clean, pollution-free energy have finally become priorities for our country. This is a fantastic and exciting thing.

In these uncertain economic times, we personally feel that investing in technologies that will save you money, reduce or eliminate the need for fossil fuels, and make your property more valuable, is simply one of the smartest investments you can make right now. There are few things that are certain about the future, but what could be the extremely rapid escalation of energy prices on the horizon is getting close to one of those certainties. By protecting yourself now, it could become the most important decision you ever make to for the well-being of  yourself, your family, and your business!

More information about the extension of the above programs can be found here:

We are excited about 2011 as we build out our weather-proofing and energy auditing programs, while continuing to make solar happen for homes and businesses throughout the state. Our mission continues: to make the solar, efficiency, and sustainability processes informative, exciting, empowering, and affordable.

Happy New Year!!

Thanks for reading!

UPDATE: In December of 2010, the Los Angeles City Council vetoed LADWP’s vote to reduce solar incentive amounts, keeping the program as is. However, the program was significantly oversubscribed, so LADWP has put the program on hiatus until new funds are obtained, or the next budget cycle when more money will be appropriated, July 1 2011. LADWP continues to accept rebate reservations and will time stamp them for processing on a first come, first served basis when funding arrives.

Dear friends;

Just as solar energy was finally reaching a point of affordability never seen before, the LADWP Board of Commissioners approved a drastic lowering of the solar rebates for customers on October 26th, in light of a very strong showing from the community and local industry advising them against the plan.  The mission from the start of the LADWP Solar Incentive Program was to have a very aggressive rebate level to make the case for going solar compelling. Big rebates were a must since electricity rates in LADWP territory are some of the lowest in the state. This is truly unfortunate on so many levels, but we hope that they will reconsider when they review the matter in 90 days. We’re not holding our breath, though.

If your rebate reservation has been submitted, don’t worry! No changes go into effect until January 1, 2011 and you will be included in the existing program.

What happened?

• The LADWP Board was given very misleading, and inaccurate information on the run rate of the solar rebate budget by the solar group, creating alarm that the 9 year rebate program was getting way ahead of schedule and could be exhausted too quickly.  However, the applications have been artificially inflated due to dropping rebate Tiers and federal grant programs that expire at years end that are solely responsible for $0 lease programs, which make up 40% of installations. These will disappear in the new year. In fact the solar rebate program is right on schedule and budget.
• The LADWP Board slashed the solar rebates for customers essentially in half. Out-of-pocket costs will double, making solar unaffordable again for many. This is very unfortunate.
• The new changes go into effect January 1, 2011. It is very likely that solar in Los Angeles will grind to a halt, reversing the nascent growth of one of the few industries creating new jobs in the City of LA during a terrible economic time.

So what do we do now?

Get everyone we know with even the most remotest interest in solar to submit a rebate reservation before 12/31/2010!!! They will be included in the current rebate program so long as they are postmarked before the end of the year.

• Reservations are good for 6 months from the date of receipt, so you, your friends, neighbors, and/or colleagues have some time before they even need to consider installing solar.
• There is no obligation. If the timing never arrives, the reservation will simply expire. For commercial installations, a reservation is good for a year or more.

It sure wouldn’t hurt to call you City Council person to tell them you strongly oppose the modifications to the solar incentive program that LADWP approved. LADWP circumvented the City Council by only “modifying” the existing guidelines. Find your representative here: http://www.lacity.org/YourGovernment/CityCouncil/index.htm

From the start, the goal of Mimeos has been to make solar affordable for as many people as possible by driving down the price and using group purchasing whenever possible. We will finish out 2010 with our BEST GROUP DISCOUNT PROGRAM YET! (and if you received a proposal even 6 months ago, we have since driven the price down)

Please tell anyone you know that you feel might benefit about our Group Discount, and assure them that they will get the the most informative, affordable, and empowering solar experience possible.

Thanks for reading!

Dear Friends:

Many of you have been more than interested in efficiency improvements, including the high efficiency variable-speed Intelliflo Pool Pumps that we are installing for customers that can reduce electricity use by up to 95%. (average payback is 2 years or less due to all the savings) An extremely affordable way to reduce energy usage. These technologies fall nicely into our “Efficiency First’ model of lowering energy usage first, then installing a solar system that will eliminate up to 100% of your electricity bill.

If you are an LADWP customer, they have upped the cash rebate for these high efficiency pool pumps to $500 per unit, up from $300. This makes them even more affordable. They they have also upped the stakes for a variety of other efficient appliances, so make sure to read on.

Dear friends;

Summer is has arrived and will be gone before we know it! And after a rather gloomy June and unusual July, the sun has been showing itself regularly.

Your solar array will produce about twice as much power in the summer months than it will in the rainier, shorter daylight winter months. For that reason, it is important to help to maximize your investment’s production during these high performance months. Since our air in Southern California tends to be on he filty, dusty, and even sooty side, make sure to give your panels a rinse with the hose at least once per month. Add in pollen, bird droppings, and other stuff and it all adds up to lower the performance of your panels. More often rinsing is even better should your schedule permit. For the other half of the year occasional rains will do the job for us. The Renewable Energy Laboratory programs we use to calculate your system’s production do figure some dust and soiling into the equation, but keeping you panels clean will pay extra dividends.

You’ll notice a slight spike in production after they have been cleaned, as much as 10-15%:  Some simple tips:

-Since panels can get hot in full sun, to completely avoid the very rare instance of cooling hot glass with the water and creating cracks in the panel, best to give them a rinse in the AM or later afternoon/evening when not in full sun.

-Unless you plan to rinse you panels nearly everyday, regular water from the hose is fine. There are studies and opinions that one needs filtered, deionized water for the panels. The thinking is that minerals, salts, and other components in our public water supply could build up on the panels and cause issues. Again, if you were soaking them every single day, maybe this could be a very longterm issue, but generally you are just fine with hose water.

-We like to use Simple Green or similar biodegradeable, chemical free soaps when its possible to access the panels with a sponge, towel, or long handled mop. Some of the above junk needs a little help and a scrub here and there for the best results.

Thanks for reading!

Brought to you by Mimeos Sustainability Consultants- Solar Energy System Installers for Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay area, California.

Dear friends-

There really has been an explosion of interest in solar energy the last few years as prices have declined and incentives have increased.

What that also means is that solar rebates levels across the state are decreasing at a faster pace than ever.  The way that solar rebates work is that utilities most often set target installation levels in Megwatts (MW’s) with a corresponding rebate incentive associated with that level. As customers receive rebate reservations, install solar systems, and the target level is achieved, the rebate incentives drop to a lower, slightly less generous level. When the next target installation level is reached, again, the rebate incentive drops again to the next lower level. This continues, usually for 10 steps, until the rebate money is completely used up.

What most people don’t know is that you can apply for a solar rebate with any state utility and receive a rebate reservation, but in most instances, you have between 6 and 12 months to actually install the system. If you happen to know that you will install solar sometime in the next year, let us apply for your rebate! If for some reason the timing is not right for you in the next year, the reservation will simply expire. Apply as soon as possible and lock in your free month. For an average 5kw solar system, when a rebate incentive drops to the next lower level it means as much as a few thousand dollar in lost “free” money.

Really, this money is free, so don’t delay if solar is already in your plans! We’d be glad to guide you through the process if the timing is right for you.

Thanks for reading!

Brought to you by Mimeos Sustainability Consultants- Solar Energy System Installers for Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay area, California.

Dear friends:

Dear friends-

Leading more sustainable lives means keeping a look out for products and services that provide us smarter, healthier, lower impact options in our daily lives. We recently finished our first 3 spots on local green businesses.

Watch the video spots here:http://mimeos.net/lifestyle/

These are people and companies that we met and were inspired by their personal missions to provide better alternatives. They saw a need, took risks, and most importantly, have created healthier, cleaner, and more effective options than those currently available.

The Green Station, Ecosmart Solutions in Yard Maintenance: The Green Station has been on a mission to not only eliminate the harmful, polluting gas and oil emissions of traditional yard maintenance practices, but have created a certification program to teach gardeners to become their own stewards of the earth. The Green Station uses all electric emission-free tools, completely charged using solar energy. They implement composting and water efficient landscaping techniques to create a comprehensive sustainable maintenance solution. http://mimeos.net/lifestyle/

Naturally Green Carpet, Rug, Upholstery, and Duct Cleaning: Founder Bryan Angstman spent years developing a completely natural, citrus-based solvent that is one of the effective on the market. Keep in mind, “non-toxic” as many companies refer to their solvents, does not mean free of harsh chemicals that are best kept away from our families and pets. But green carpet cleaning is not just about the solvent, but also using less water, less electricity, and creating a much healthier home and office environment for each customer.http://mimeos.net/lifestyle/

Hollywood Electrics: LA’s first all-electric motorbike shop gives us new ways to travel while elevating speed, style, and performance. Best of all, these low maintenance bikes, scooters, and motorcycles need no gas, have zero emissions, and need just a standard electrical outlet to charge up. These bikes can change the game when it comes to commuting, and you’d never believe how you can tackle the hills with a bit of electricity powering your ride. These bikes are best for those with solar systems, but make sure you ask us about portable solar designs that will keep these bikes net-zero.http://mimeos.net/lifestyle/

We’ve tried these services ourselves at our own homes and were impressed with the results. Super clean carpets, meticulous landscaping, and probably the fastest acceleration we’ve ever felt! We’re fans of these better alternatives. We hope that you will give them a try yourselves. Please tell them that Mimeos referred you!

Thanks for reading!