Energy Efficiency and Conservation energy prices will only continue to increase

Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency and Rebates for ENERGY STAR Appliances are available.

Drafty rooms? High utility bills? Inefficient, old appliances? Inconsistent temperatures throughout your home? Poor ventilation and humidity control? Inadequate insulation? Sound familiar?

The key to achieving energy savings in your home is a whole-house energy efficiency plan. To take a whole-house approach, view your home as an energy system with interdependent parts. For example, your heating system is not just a furnace—it’s a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout your home using a network of ducts. Even a top-of-the line, energy-efficient furnace will waste a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are not properly sealed and insulated. Taking a wholehouse approach to saving energy ensures that dollars you invest to save energy are spent wisely.

Energy-efficient improvements not only make your home more comfortable, they can yield long-term financial rewards. Reduced utility bills more than make up for the higher price of energy-efficient appliances and improvements over their lifetimes. In addition, your home could bring in a higher price when you sell.

Solar Photovoltaics our cold temperatures and snowy winters are not a barrier to solar PV's electrical production

A solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system is a reliable and pollution-free producer of electricity for your home or office. And they're becoming more affordable all the time. PV systems also provide a cost-effective power supply in locations where it is expensive or impossible to send electricity through conventional power lines.

Did you know that Cape Vincent receives the most amount of sun in Northern New York State? The cool waters of Lake Ontario reduce the amount of cloud formation, thereby allowing for more sunny days then in the rest of the St Lawrence River Valley.

Net Metering Defined New York’s law requires all utilities in the state (investor-owned, publicly owned, municipally owned, and cooperatives) to offer net metering to eligible customers and that they do not impose any extra charges or fees not imposed to other non-net metering customers. The law specifies that billing for net metering customers should be annualized. At the end of each month, net excess generation is credited toward the following month’s bill. At the end of the annual billing cycle, if there is any net excess generation by the customer, consumers are paid the utility’s avoided cost for that generation. If a customer uses more electricity than the customer generates during one billing period, the customer will pay regular rate for the energy used. (NYS Department of Public Service)

Solar cells, also called photovoltaic (PV) cells by scientists, convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV gets its name from the process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage), which is called the PV effect.

The PV effect was discovered in 1954, when scientists at Bell Telephone discovered that silicon (an element found in sand) created an electric charge when exposed to sunlight

Solar Thermal Now is the time to take advantage of tax credits and rebates

Solar water heaters—also called solar domestic hot water systems—can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use—sunshine—is free.

Before you purchase and have a solar water heating system installed, you may want to consider following:

• Consider the economics of a solar water heating system
• Evaluate your site's solar resource
• Determine the correct system size
• Determine the system's energy efficiency
• Estimate and compare system costs
• Investigate local codes, covenants, and regulations
• Are you eligible for any rebates and tax credits?

Solar water heating systems almost always require a backup system for cloudy days and times of increased demand. Conventional storage water heaters usually provide backup and may already be part of the solar system package. A backup system may also be part of the solar collector, such as rooftop tanks with thermosyphon systems. Since an integral-collector storage system already stores hot water in addition to collecting solar heat, it may be packaged with a demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heater for backup.

Geothermal a Geothermal system can save you money by eliminating your fossil fuel delivery. tax credits are available.

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are electrically powered systems that tap the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence: the earth. These systems use the earth's relatively constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for homes and commercial buildings.

• My backyard has shallow bedrock. Yes, we can drill through rock. It will be more expensive, but can easily be done.
  
  
• Do I need to have open water? No, water supply is not necessary. Closed loops using an antifreeze solution can be installed in a horizontal well field or in vertical wells.
  
  
• Is it expensive to install? Complete system costs, after tax credits, are about the same as traditional heating and ventilation systems.
  
  
• I live on the St Lawrence River. Can I put the loop in the water? It all depends. We would have to sample your water for hardness and temperature.
  
  
• Is it reliable? Do I need a backup system? Yes, it is reliable; geothermal uses the same technology that your refrigerator/freezer uses. That said, most geothermal systems have an integrated electric backup coil.

Rebates, Incentives and Financingwe can help you find money to pay for your renewable energy system!

Fourth Coast Inc is a NYSERDA certified solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installer. Fourth Coast Inc is an IGSPHA (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) certified designer and installer.

Municipal Consulting our nation's infrastructure was constructed in the early 1900's. Asset Management allows municipalities to plan for future upgrades before the infrastructure fails

We offer comprehensive municipal services to elected officials and appointed leaders: capital projects, everyday business and customer service.

The economic foundation of our municipalities includes roads, bridges, sewers, water systems and public buildings. These assets are the economic backbone and extremely high value assets that cannot be allowed to deteriorate. Local Governments are faced with energy, infrastructure, and development projects daily. Often these projects take our municipal leaders by surprise, and lead to underfunded projects. The maze of regulations and tight timetable for project funding presents a challenge for efficient and affordable project execution.

For strategic, operational and financial reasons, asset management is becoming an increasingly important area of project planning and decision making for municipal governments. New demands for better service provision and trends towards decentralized systems of public services and potential synergies and changing roles in the public and private sectors in local governments are creating the need for better management of municipal resources.

This is the first step to building a stronger community.

Project Development & Management the process that takes a project from concept through construction

Project delays and escalating costs are discouraging to everyone involved. Projects that are ultimately built but do not meet expectations in addressing needs are also frustrating.

Development

• Inventory infrastructure assets: roads, utilities, structures etc
• Evaluate end of useful life, cost to replace
• Prioritize projects based on analysis - what will fail first? What needs to be replaced next?
• Develop project to point to present to funding agencies
• Concurrently, research/market project to funding agencies
• Obtain funding agency interest
• Make application to funding agency, submit to regulatory agencies.

Management

• Identify potential problems with schedule
• Refine and verify schedule
• Confirm funding and regulatory agency concurrence
• Confirm permitting approval
• Break ground
• On site monitoring; constant communication between owner and contractor
• Problems will occur. Solve them quickly! Lingering problems cost money
• Listen to your contractors, they have tons of experience in the field

Gallery

Please visit us on facebook for more project photos.

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  Private Residence, Town of Hammond
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  Private Residence, Town of Hammond
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage

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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Town of Rodman Highway Garage
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  Private Residence, Village of Morristown

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  Private Residence, Village of Morristown
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  Private Residence, Village of Morristown
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  Village of Gouvernuer Wastewater Treatment Plant
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  Village of Gouvernuer Wastewater Treatment Plant
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  Village of Gouvernuer Wastewater Treatment Plant
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  The Clipper Inn and Restaurant

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  The Clipper Inn and Restaurant
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  Town of Alexandria Municipal Building
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  Town of Alexandria Municipal Building
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  Town of Alexandria Municipal Building
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  Town of Alexandria Municipal Building
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  Town of Alexandria Municipal Building

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  Town of Alexandria Recreation Arena
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  Town of Alexandria Recreation Arena
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  Town of Alexandria Recreation Arena
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  Town of Alexandria Recreation Arena
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  Town of Alexandria Recreation Arena
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  Town of Clayton Recreation Pool Facility

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  Lockwood Civic Center, Ogdensburg, New York
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  Lockwood Civic Center, Ogdensburg, New York
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  Lockwood Civic Center, Ogdensburg, New York
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  Lockwood Civic Center, Ogdensburg, New York
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  Town of Clayton Cerow Recreation Park, Clayton, New York
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  Town of Clayton Cerow Recreation Park, Clayton, New York

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  Town and Village of Clayton Joint Highway Garage, Clayton, New York
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  Town and Village of Clayton Joint Highway Garage, Clayton, New York
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  Watertown Housing Authority, Watertown, New York
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  Watertown Housing Authority, Watertown, New York
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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York
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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York

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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York
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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York
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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York
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  Private Residence, Watertown, New York
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  Northern Federal Credit Union, Carthage, New York
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  Northern Federal Credit Union, Carthage, New York

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  Northern Federal Credit Union, Carthage, New York
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  Northern Federal Credit Union, Carthage, New York
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  LaFargeville Central School, LaFargeville, New York
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  LaFargeville Central School, LaFargeville, New York
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  Victorian Convenience Store, Clayton, New York
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  Victorian Convenience Store, Clayton, New York

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  Victorian Convenience Store, Clayton, New York
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  Quik Med, Watertown, New York
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  Quik Med, Watertown, New York
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  Quik Med, Watertown, New York
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  Sackets Harbor Waste Water Treatment Plant, Sackets Harbor, New York
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  Sackets Harbor Waste Water Treatment Plant, Sackets Harbor, New York

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  Sackets Harbor Waste Water Treatment Plant, Sackets Harbor, New York
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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York
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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York
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  Private Residence, Clayton, New York

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About Us Fourth Coast Inc was formed on the belief that we, as a global community, should make collective efforts to reduce our consumption of energy.

residential, commercial, government, education, non-profit

Augusta Withington formed Fourth Coast, Inc in 2008, bringing over 20 years of financial and consulting experience, with particular expertise in project development and implementation for the private, public and non profit sectors. Having previously worked at a local architectural and engineering firm, she subsequently decided to branch out on her own with a specfic intent and concern: how to create a better environment for the current generation as well as for those to follow.

After earning an economics degree, Withington worked for many years in the financial industry. In 2004, she started a successful computer consulting business working primarily with non profit agencies in the Thousand Islands region.

Current projects range from asset inventory and management, and development of energy conservation strategies to design and installation of solar photovoltaics, solar thermal and geothermal energy systems at municipal, commercial and residential buildings in the St. Lawrence River Region. The company's focus on project development and financing has helped both private and public building owners reduce energy use and implement appropriate alternative energy solutions.

Employment Opportunities

Come join a productive and happy team!

Fourth Coast Inc and St Lawrence Engineering DPC offer a variety of career opportunities including the following:

1. Renewable energy system design
2. Renewable energy system installation
3. Environmental Science
4. Project Management
5. Civil Engineering
6. Construction management
7. On site project inspection

Send us a resume and a note with how you would contribute to Fourth Coast Inc / St Lawrence Engineering DPC!