Kitchen Remodeling Contractor in Charleston, SC

Electricity, running water and a full tank of gas are often taken for granted. Many are guilty of leaving the lights on after leaving home or taking a longer shower than necessary. While everyday habits like these may seem harmless, they contribute to a larger problem.

October is National Energy Awareness month, a fact not well-known during a time when climate issues continue to garner discussion, according to a study conducted in September by finance analysts at WalletHub. Energy efficiency is simply not taken as seriously as other issues, especially in the Southeast, the study suggests.

Research shows South Carolina ranks last among 48 states (Alaska and Hawaii were excluded) when it comes to saving energy. And with utility prices rising as fast as temperatures, the Lowcountry’s long and sweltering summers are a burden on many households. The average South Carolinian spends around $234 a month on gas and electricity, one of the highest rates nationally.

In a recent interview with the Charleston City Paper, Eddy Moore, director of decarbonization for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, outlined why the Palmetto State struggles to be more energy efficient. Part of the reason, he says, is because the state’s building code is 15 years out of date.

“A lot of our homes, whether they’re old or new, have leakage in the building envelope — which is the division between outside and inside,” he said. “You’re essentially either heating or cooling the outdoors.”

Moore said there are some programs to increase energy efficiency through power companies such as Dominion Energy or Santee Cooper. And more aid is on the way in the form of federal funding. But these solutions have not been enough in South Carolina to make a significant change.

“On the one hand, we have utility programs that so far haven’t had to meet any performance target. And then we have — for the first time ever — a really significant size potential government program that would be run using federal funds,” Moore said. “Those programs need to be sensibly coordinated so that we get the most out of our money and we save the most energy possible.”

As part of the study, experts weighed in on ways to decrease energy costs and improve a household’s energy efficiency.

Arthur van Benthem, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, recommends doing the simpler tasks first.

“Many people focus on expensive projects that save very little energy. For example, replacing windows is very costly,” he said. “The impact on energy bills is negligible. Sometimes a simpler solution, like adding a door in your drafty hallway area, is cheaper and more effective.”

Barry D. Solomon, professor emeritus of social sciences from the Michigan Technological University, said that just being mindful of daily tasks can make a big difference.

“Turn off lights when not in use, upgrade to LED lightbulbs, don’t run the dishwasher or washing machine with less than full loads, wash clothes in cold water when possible, caulk and weatherstrip gaps and cracks around doors and windows, install a programmable thermostat, perform periodic maintenance on air conditioning units (e.g., clean or replace filters and vents) and adjust the temperature on air conditioners, thermostats and water heaters so you do not overcool or overheat more than necessary.”

For more information on ways to increase energy efficiency, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-energy-efficient-states/7354

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Tagged: electricity, energy efficiency, energy efficiency study, S.C. last in energy efficiency, S.C. ranks last

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Two flood drainage projects are one step closer to the finish line for historically flooded areas in West Ashley.

The City of Charleston is accepting $2 million toward two West Ashley stormwater management projects.

The state funding will pay $1 million each into the budgets of construction projects for the DuPont Wappoo Drainage Improvement Project and the Windermere Drainage and Outfall Improvement Project.

Officials say the problem for both communities is historically flooded areas because of undersized drainage pipes.

The Windermere project covers over 130 acres of studied areas in Windermere East and South Windermere. The area covers the Old Windermere neighborhood, Folly Road and near Highway 17.

The $1 million in state funding will help add a new drainage outfall through the back of the St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science along Chadwick Drive. Officials say the Windermere area has a 24-inch diameter pipe carrying all the stormwater. The addition of four 48-inch diameter pipes will better carry all the water out of the neighborhood and into the marsh system.

The Director of Stormwater Management, Matt Fountain, says the improvements will greatly reduce flooding for residents.

He says the typical flooding that happens after up to three-inch afternoon rainstorms will be no more. He says the occasional extreme tides may still produce flooding in the area, but it will drain quickly thanks to the new pipe system.

Another $1 million is going toward the Dupont-Wappoo construction project budget. This project covers about 1,700 acres of land, including neighborhoods around Citadel Mall.

Officials say the long drainage system currently sees a lot of constriction because of the high rate of development in the area.

City and County officials are designing phased improvement plans for larger drainage pipes. The state funding helps to begin the final design of the first phase. This phase covers the neighborhoods surrounding East Orleans Road that connect to the mall. This phase includes finalizing permitting and construction next year.

“You’ll see a regional improvement within that basin, like part of the stormwater basin for Dupont-Wappoo will get improved from the first project,” Fountain says. “Then we’ll keep adding more improvement areas in as we keep building those subsequent phases.”

Fountain says correcting the issues for Dupont-Wappoo residents is a huge priority for the city, as residents, roads and buildings see major flooding. He says it is a complex fix for this large basin.

Fountain says both projects will take some time to fit the new pipes with the area’s high development.

“You’re trying to figure out ways to do the improvements without too many negative impacts to adjacent property owners or finding that real estate to be able to acquire,” Fountain says. “Even on Windermere here, we’re having to acquire right of drain appeasement from some of the residential properties to bury some of the pipes like at the front of the yard right at the front of the road.”

Fountain says officials planned community meetings in the past to discuss the projects. He says public meetings will continue to share final designs with the community.

City council members are expected to approve the grant funds in Tuesday’s meeting at 5 p.m.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

|Updated: Oct. 22, 2024 at 4:05 AM EDT

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The future of the Citadel Mall is on its way to becoming a new and improved development.

The City of Charleston had its Design Review Board meeting earlier this afternoon and approved the design guidelines presented.

This is a 75-page-long document, outlining some of the design elements that will be considered when that process begins including mixed-use outdoor and indoor properties.

Kim Simmons is the assistant manager at Edwin Watts, right across the street from the Citadel Mall.

“The Citadel Mall needs a facelift,” Simmons says. “You know I just think it would be great for this area and West Ashley in general, to have more things to do too.”

She says the potential ideas for the redesigns could improve their business, among other local stores in the area.

The applicants presented their final draft of the Design Guidelines for future development, where they want to incorporate a Charleston aesthetic while considering West Ashley families.

“Oh, the beautiful pastel colors, the columns, and the Spanish moss…if they could get that somehow designed in, I’d spend as much time as I could there,” Community member Mick Levitz says.

While presenting their ideas to the board, the applicants suggest a traditional, timeless environment while modernizing what needs to be done.

Design Review Board member Ashley Jackrel says the outdoor space, landscaping and greenery in the design guidelines could improve the location’s sustainability while attracting more people.

“This is kind of a sea of asphalt right? Like who wants to hang out in the Citadel Mall parking lot in the middle of summer… I know I don’t. And so there have been some really creative strategies employed there at the mall but in terms of really making it a healthy environment it really takes a full overhaul, right?” Jackrel says.

Following the meeting board members were excited for future plans.

“So it is incredibly difficult to come up with a design guideline document outlining what the expectations are, without really being kind of somewhat restrictive with what that creativity could look like in that final product,” Jackrel says.

As for the next steps, these are the expectations set for the future designers and architects which have not yet been confirmed.

The applicants did say they expected to start development in 2025, but Jackrel said it may take longer depending on their creative process.

The 88-plus acre existing site includes over 1.1 million square feet of retail uses, and the document stated that Belk, Dillard’s, Target and the Medical University of South Carolina are staying put.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Thousands of Charleston County voters made their way to the polls on Monday for the first day of early voting in South Carolina.

The Executive Director of the Charleston County Board of Elections, Issac Cramer, said as of 1 p.m. on Monday they had over 6,000 voters cast their ballots saying that during the 2020 election year, they only had 5,500 voters for the entire first day.

Cramer said that by the end of the first day, they expect the number of early voters to be over 10,000, which is double from 2020.

“It’s very clear that people are showing up to vote. Everyone is excited. Obviously there has been a lot of anticipation, but we’re mirroring what other parts of the country have already done during the early voting period. We’re seeing that engagement, the enthusiasm, and the turnout number is going up every minute,” Cramer said.

The early voting period will go until Nov 2. Voters can visit the polling locations Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Polling locations will be closed on Oct 27.

Cramer said each day throughout the early voting period they expect their voter turnout to continue to grow.

“We do not expect numbers to drop significantly at all. It tends to continually go up. The last week is definitely the biggest week of turnout, so we just encourage people if they’re ready to vote, go ahead and cast your ballot now. Skip those election day lines,” Cramer said.

Cramer said it was crucial that voters check out their sample ballot which can be found here. He said that this year the ballot is longer which takes people more time to vote in person. He encouraged people to read through the sample ballot online and do their research ahead of time so voters would be prepared when they come in to vote.

Curbside voting is offered during the early voting period for those unable to go inside to vote.

As far as wait times, Cramer said that it depends on the time of day. He said lunchtime tends to be busier, but that the amount of voters tends to drop around 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. He said for those who don’t want to wait in line that the least busy time to come is at the end of the day.

Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority has extended its Route 103 taking voters to the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Election headquarters in North Charleston. You can find that route here.

Charleston County early voters can vote at any of the seven following locations:

Registered voters need a valid photo ID to check in. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a South Carolina driver’s license, a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card, a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit, a South Carolina voter registration card with photo, a United States military ID and a United States passport.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Published: Oct. 21, 2024 at 1:50 AM PDT|

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Monday marks the first day of early voting in South Carolina, so Charleston County voters can now cast their ballots at any of the seven different early voting locations.

Over 100,000 early voters are expected in Charleston County alone, which would be record-high numbers amid a recent law change, according to the Executive Director of the Charleston County Board of Elections, Issac Cramer.

“We do anticipate early voting to break records for Charleston County because of the excitement in the voters. They want to cast their ballots, it’s a presidential election, and also [for] the convenience,” Cramer says.

In 2022, the Early Voters Bill passed allowing early voters to cast their ballots without a reason, making this the first major election that the law will be in effect. Only a valid photo ID is required to check in.

“The Early Voters Bill that passed in 2022 gives all voters in Charleston County the ability to cast their ballot without an excuse, in person, early… We are trying to get the message out that they don’t need a reason anymore. If they just want to vote early, they can,” Cramer says.

Acceptable forms of photo ID include a South Carolina driver’s license, a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card, a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit, a South Carolina voter registration card with photo, a United States military ID and a United States passport.

Cramer encourages people to vote early because it’s the easier option since voters get to choose the location, time and date that they would like to vote, rather than being constricted to 12 hours on election day and only going to an assigned polling place.

“We’ve got a lot of great feedback about our vote centers across the county, and we want our voters to know that they can vote at an accessible location, we offer curbside at every one,” Cramer says.

Early voting is open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and will last until Nov. 2. CARTA will not be offering free rides to the polls during early voting, but they will be on election day.

Early voters can vote at any of the seven following locations:

To find early voting locations anywhere in the state, click here.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.