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FROM FALL TO WINTER

With fall quickly fading and the cold weather deepening, our
attention turns to winter preparations. November brought
Thanksgiving and gratefulness, and for solar installers
everywhere but the southwest, that's the start of our winter
season. November was weirdly ideal for installing with almost
spring type weather across our region but now we have to be
prepared for the severity of winter-and winter will be here soon
enough. We have installed systems in Northern IL in the dead of
winter (Peoria Dec 20-22) and Champaign (Jan 27-29) before.
Both times it was bitter cold but nothing beats the Central Iowa
system we worked on where it was 9 degrees in the sun. Of course
nothing compares to the solar company I was talking to at a
conference who installed in Alaska where they had to heat the
wire to get it to bend.

Many systems end up getting installed at the end of the year (or
ordered then) as people decide they want to take advantage of
the 30% Federal tax credit so it is a time we end up hustling a
lot and dealing with the weather.

Dealing with the weather is a regular occurrence when we are
doing winter scheduling. For example, we did put up a pole and
run the trench now for a pole mount system before it gets too
wet so that when we have free time and the equipment (system is
scheduled to be installed end of December) we can finish the
install without the mud and/or freezing conditions.

Any southwest solar companies want help in the winter? I think
our crew would love to come to a sunny location.

What are some things you do to prepare for winter?

WINTER ENERGY SAVING TIPS

This winter, save money and stay warm. Keep your energy bill and
your pollution output low this winter by taking a whole-house
approach to heating.

* During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades
on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the
sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the
chill you may feel from cold windows.
* Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when home.
* By resetting your programmable thermostat from 72 degrees
to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one
is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your
heating bill by up to 10 percent.
* Weatherize your home-caulk and weatherstrip any doors and
windows that leak air.
* Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.
* Replace furnace filters regularly.
* Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and
basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the
levels recommended for your area.

FEATURED PRODUCT:
High Lifter Water-Powered Water Pump

This is one if the hottest selling items we have to offer at AES
- and for good reason! This pump gives folks in rural settings
another opportunity to cut out the energy middle-men! It
harnesses the natural pressure built by piping water down hill
to supply the "energy" necessary to pump water up hill to a tank
or pond. In other words: the High Lifter can pump water up to
1,000 vertical feet and can deliver up to 1,500 gallons per day
— with NO fuel source!

All you need in order to take advantage of this revolutionary
pump is between a 30 and 140 foot fall from the source of water
to where the pump is installed and a flow of as little as 1
quart per minute! If you think you've got an application for
the High Lifter, give us a call and we'll see if it will work
for you!

Product Highlights:

* Quiet
* Self starting
* Light weight [6 lbs.]
* Owner installed and maintained
* Completely rebuildable
* Capable of 1100 foot lift with a 140 foot fall.
* Can deliver up to 1500 gallons per day.
* Works on as little as one quart of water a minute.