Yes, energy storage systems are “fuel neutral.” Whether electricity is generated from oil, gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, or other sources, energy storage captures excess electricity at high efficiencies for optimal use during outages, peak hours, or whenever effective grid management is a challenge.

The primary benefits are:

Risk of Power Outages: Today’s electricity grid is increasingly vulnerable to threats from nature, terrorists, and accidents. Millions of families and businesses are victimized by outages (both sustained and monetary) each year. Power outages cost as much as $200 billion annually, according to the Department of Energy, while hitting the job-creating commercial and industrial sectors the hardest.

Saving Consumers Money: Energy storage can also let customers avoid premium pricing that utilities charge during times of peak demand. 

Clean Energy Integration and Energy Independence: Energy storage supports the integration of renewable energy generation. Energy storage can also help cut emissions as it takes more of the load off fossil-fuel generation. Peaking generation is one of the most costly and wasteful aspects of the grid, so making existing generation go further and avoiding capital and resource-intensive new facilities would make a significant contribution to our environmental priorities.

Economy and Jobs: In addition to reducing economic losses from major and minor annual outages, experts say that energy storage will be a critical technology in the electricity grids of the future.

Energy storage can lead to cost savings in two main ways. The first is by lowering the overall cost of providing electricity. The second is by allowing customers to avoid premium pricing (or “peak demand”). Industry insiders call this saving money on “both sides of the electric meter.” But broader energy storage deployment can save consumers money in additional ways. Shorter outages for residents after a storm, or an equipment failure can help save not only money but lives. And, fewer outages overall lead to less economic losses.

Yes. Energy storage has been a part of our electricity grid since the 1930s. In fact, energy storage enjoys a safety record that is similar or better than other electricity generation, distribution, or management methods.

During times of peak electricity demand – like when air conditioners ramp up on hot days – many utilities charge customers extra since they have to ramp up expensive additional electricity production to meet the demand. These charges are called “time-of-use” or “peak” prices since they are tied solely to WHEN a customer uses the electricity. For example, many households today run appliances like dishwashers and laundry machines on six-hour delays or in the middle of the night to avoid these higher electricity prices and save money on their utility bills. Energy storage works in similar ways, but since energy storage lets customers decide when to buy and when to use the power, a customer is freed from premium charges. Customers naturally purchase electricity at off-peak prices for use during peaks, which is like getting an airline flight on Thanksgiving or a rush-hour subway pass at an off-peak price. For residential and especially for industrial customers, these savings can be significant.

Yes. Energy storage has no direct effect on emissions. It requires no pipelines. Its systems typically require a minimal footprint. It recycles electricity. But, energy storage will also help cut emissions as it takes more of the load off traditional generation or allows it to operate in a more efficient manner.

An asphalt shingle underlayment is typically dry felt, that may be injected or coated with an asphalt saturant, or a synthetic sheet. The use of an underlayment is recommended for the following reasons:

– Resins may exude from the wood board decking. Underlayment protects roof shingles from the resins that may be released.

– Underlayments protect decking material from wind-driven rain that may penetrate the shingle layers.

– To validate their limited warranties, many manufacturers require the use of underlayment.

– The use of underlayments, particularly heavier grades, reduces “picture framing.” According to CASMA, picture framing is the visible outline of deck panels caused by irregularities in roof decking thicknesses.

– To obtain a Class A fire resistance rating, underlayments should be used underneath shingles.

Yes, you can definitely apply new shingles over existing shingles. Although, it depends on the condition of the roof. If the roof has one layer of shingles that are lying flat and the deck is in good condition, the existing shingles typically do not have to be removed. Check with local officials to make sure that your home/ building codes are being followed. During re-roofing is a good opportunity to examine roof ventilation to ensure vents are sufficient in number, positioned properly and are unobstructed.

Proper performance from shingles installed and used in cold weather climates can be achieved by following the recommendations listed below:

– Make sure that the roof is properly ventilated.

– Be careful when using shingles in cold weather. They tend to get brittle and may crack or break. Try not to throw, drop or bend shingles.

– If you are in an area that experiences freezing winter temperatures, eaves protection should be used to reduce water damage from ice dam formation. Use self-adhering eave protector membranes.

– Hand seal asphalt roof shingles in cold weather with an asphaltic cement recommended by the manufacturer.

– When applying ridge caps, keep the shingles that are being used as ridge caps in a warm place so that they will be flexible enough to bend.

– When recovering an existing roof with new shingles, make sure that the old shingles are flat.

– In areas that receive high amounts of snowfall, try not to damage shingles when removing snow. Damage caused by snow removal is not covered under our limited material warranty.

– Use caution if walking on a roof in the wintertime. The sealant bond between shingles can become quite brittle in cold weather. Therefore, traffic on the roof may cause sealant bonds to break.

The plastic release film on the back of roofing shingles does not need to be removed. The sole purpose of this tape is to prevent the shingles from sticking together in the package. Once the shingles have been removed from the package and are applied in the correct orientation on the roof, the release tape serves no purpose whatsoever. The shingle sealant, which bonds the shingles together, is located elsewhere on the shingle and will seal succeeding courses of the shingles together on the roof when warmed by the heat of the sun, soon after application.

Hail can affect asphalt roofing shingles. The damage caused by hail can be classified into two groups: Aesthetic Damage and Functional Damage. Aesthetic Damage results in slight granule loss and the life of the shingle is usually not affected. Functional Damage is characterized by substantial granule loss or cracking or penetration of the shingle. Functional Damage may result in short-term leaks or a reduction of the life expectancy of the shingle. According to CASMA Technical Bulletin No. 14, there are several factors that impact how roofing shingles perform in hail:

– Size and density of hailstones – Larger heavy stones will cause more severe damage.

– Age of the shingles – Newer roofing shingles are more resistant than older shingles, as the asphalt is less brittle and better able to absorb the impact energy.

– Angle of hail impact – Hail that strikes the roof at a 90° angle is more likely to cause shingle fractures, while hail that strikes the roof obliquely is more likely to result in spots of granule loss.

– Temperature – A colder temperature will be more likely to cause fractures as the asphalt will be more brittle than in warmer weather.

– Roof deck conditions – Solid roof decks on moderately spaced trusses offer better support to the shingle surface in resisting hail damage. Shingles on flimsy or rotted decking can be more easily fractured.

Buckling is when ridges form along the length of the shingle, with the ridge spacing usually coincidental with deck board joints. These ridges are caused by the shingle being distorted from the movement of the deck. Buckling can occur with any deck type, but is more common with board decks, and less common on plywood/OSB decks. Buckling can occur when a new roof is installed, even if the old roof did not show any buckles; when the roof is stripped, the deck may be exposed to moisture, causing dimensional changes in the supporting lumber.

The following will help to prevent buckling:

– Apply shingles as specified by the roofing material manufacturer.

– Make sure you have sufficient attic ventilation.

– Decking material should not be exposed to water before or after application.

– Use manufacturer-approved wood decking materials and make sure that they are conditioned to be at moisture equilibrium with the job site environment.

– Cover older dimensional lumber decks with a thin plywood sheathing prior to shingle installation.

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