Tag: <span>energy saving</span>

[ad_1]

Whoever says you can’t “kill two birds with one stone” when becoming more energy efficient is absolutely wrong! There are ways to cut down on your home’s energy expenses while adding beautiful landscapes to the yard and, in turn, likely increasing your home’s value.

A well designed landscape will:

* Cut your summer and winter energy costs dramatically

* Protect your home from winter wind and summer sun

* Reduce consumption of water, pesticides, and fuel for landscaping and lawn maintenance

* Help control noise and air pollution

By planting trees in optimal locations, you can save up to 25% of your home’s energy consumption for heating and cooling, which ends up being anywhere from $100 to $250 annually. In less than 8 years, you will have likely earned back whatever price you put into landscaping the lawn to begin with. And, as stated above, you are realistically raising the value of your home in the process.

“Shading and evapotranspiration (the process by which a plant actively moves and releases water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperature as much as 9 degrees Fahrenheit.” In addition, the temperature directly underneath the tree may be reduced by as much as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. As well as all of that, the cost of summer air condition bills can be decreased by as much as 15% to 50% with the aid of properly located landscaping.

Depending on what part of the United States you are located in, wind chill factor may be an issue during the winter. As you know, this can drastically drop the temperature by numerous degrees. By adding trees and fences as a windbreak, you can shield your home from the biting wind. When the freezing cold wind hits the walls and windows of your house, it decreases the temperature inside, causing more heat to be needed to offset this temperature reduction. With these landscape additions, you can counteract the negative results of this cold air and prevent having to run the heater as high or as often.

Landscaping Strategies by Region

* Temperature

o Maximize warming effects of the sun in the winter

o Maximize shade during the summer

o Deflect winter winds away from buildings

o Funnel summer breezes toward the home

* Hot-Arid

o Provide shade to cool roofs, walls and windows

o Allow summer winds to access naturally cooled homes

o Block or deflect winds away from air conditioned homes

* Hot-Humid

o Channel summer breezes toward the home

o Maximize summer shade with trees that still allow penetration of low angle winter sun

o Avoid locating planting beds close to the home if they require frequent watering

* Cool

o Use dense windbreaks to protect the home from cold winter winds

o Allow the winter sun to reach south facing windows

o Shade south and west windows and walls from the direct summer sun, if summer overheating is a problem

[ad_2]

Source by David Tanguay

[ad_1]

Energy companies generally report huge profits, yet they never seem to stop increasing the prices they charge consumers. Many people know that shopping around for their car or home insurance can save them money, but do you realise that switching energy supplier can also reduce household bills? The industry regulator, says that most gas and electricity customers have never switched providers. This means people could be wasting money by not hunting out a better deal.

There are thought to be tens of thousands of different tariffs available through energy suppliers, with discounted rates often available for those who take gas and electricity from the same company. So just how do you find the best deal?

Regulations forced energy firms to simplify tariff structures. But this actually increased the number of options. This means the best way to get the best deal is to use a comparison or switching site.

As with comparing insurance deals, this takes a bit of effort. Before you start find out the name of your current supplier and tariff, how much you pay and how much you use. Entering this information into a switching site will bring up the best alternatives.

But it is not always as simple as that. For starters, you must ensure that you are comparing like-for-like figures. And bear in mind that an introductory rate might not last long and the standard charges once that has ended can be a huge increase. It also pays to consider customer service and admin processes.

Then there are the different rates. Variable rates will inevitably rise. But a discounted fixed tariff allows homeowners to better budget their money. Dual-fuel deals also offer discounts.

Managing your account online and paying by Direct Debit can also bring an additional discount. Going paperless and setting up regular payments is good for your budgeting and helps you stay on top of your finances.

Furthermore, green energy tariffs are becoming more common. These are designed to reduce carbon emissions and the impact we have on the environment. Green energy comes from renewable sources such as solar and wind energy and does not use fossil fuels.

Once you have found the best deal for you then it is time to start the switching process. You can do this yourself or use an online service. There is then a cooling off period of 12 or 14 days, during which time you can change your mind without penalty. There can also be penalties and deadlines for leaving your current supplier, so make sure you know when your current contract runs out and start the switching process in plenty of time. Once the cooling off period is ended the process begins properly and it can take four to eight weeks for your new supplier to take over. You will get a final statement from your old supplier, and you will either have to pay a final balance or receive a credit.

[ad_2]

Source by Lyndon Miles

[ad_1]

There are a number of ways you can save money on your electrical bill. One of these ways involves installing solar panels on your roof or backyard. These can be installed using DIY instructions or you could have a professional install them for you.

The energy provided by a system using solar energy panels is electrical. The panels provide DC current. An inverter can be used to convert the DC current to AC current. This current can be used by various appliances in your home.

Different solar energy systems can be purchased at your local building supply store or other related retail outlets. These systems will be sold according to their potential power output. The more power they are capable of producing, the more they will cost. The low power units will be ideal for outdoor lighting, small water pumps and various outdoor tools. If you are purchasing a home size or business size system of solar energy panels it would be best to seek out a local retailer that specializes in these systems. There is also plenty of information available on the internet. These resources will discuss different solar energy panels and where they can be purchased.

There are solar panel systems available that be can used as roof top tiles. They will look like your roof top but will provide you with an abundance of free energy from sunlight. You can also install ground mounted solar panels in your backyard. Solar panels can also be installed on the roof your backyard shed.

Installing panels that absorb the Sun’s energy will involve a certain cost. How much it will cost involves a number of factors. These factors involve the cost needed to provide you with the energy you desire. The amount of power you will need will be directly to the size of the system you will need. Of course where you live will be another factor. If you live in an area where you receive an abundance of sunshine installing sun absorbing panels will be the most cost-effective.

Different solar panel systems will give you different amounts of power. Having a professional install solar panels will be expensive. You may not see a return on the money you spent for a number of years. However you could install solar panels yourself. You will need proven installation plans. These will should give you step by step instructions. These plans should also give you places to purchase the necessary parts and tools to make your solar panel construction project a success.

Best Regards

[ad_2]

Source by Paul Luciw

[ad_1]

Here are the TOP TEN Compressed Air “Rules of Thumb” – designed to respond to the questions that industrial air compressor users ask about most.

1. CFM delivery per Horse Power expected at 100 PSIG:

o For “home owner” type of air compressors—2 to 2.5 CFM per HP

o For Industrial Air-cooled 2-stage air compressors—-3.5 CFM per HP

o For Small Vane & Screw air compressors (25 HP or less) 4 CFM per HP

o For large Piston, Screw & Centrifugal air compressors–4.5 to 5 CFM per HP

NOTE: THE MORE CFM PER HP – THE LESS ENERGY USED.

2. Air Receiver Size needed for these types of inlet control:

o Modulating Control—————0 to 1 gallon per CFM

o On-Line/Off-Line—————– 3 to 4 gallons per CFM

o Stop-Start/ Variable Speed– 4 to 6 gallons per CFM

NOTE: THE MORE AIR STORAGE  – THE LESS ENERGY USED

3.  Amperage per Horse Power:

115 Volts——-  1 phase——– 10 amps per horse power

230 Volts——-  1 phase——– 5 amps per horse power

208 Volts——-  3 phase——– 3 amps per horse power

230 Volts——-  3 phase——– 2.5 amps per horse power

460 Volts——-  3 phase——– 1.25 amps per horse power

574 Volts——-  3 phase——– 1 amp per horse power

NOTE: THE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THE MOTOR – THE LESS ENERGY IS USED.

4. Air Piping Size by CFM and Pressure Drop:

o Compressor Room Header—0.25 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping

o Main Line—————–0.5 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping

o Loop Line—————–1 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping

o Branch Line—————2 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping

NOTE: THE LESS AIR PRESSURE DROP – THE LESS ENERGY USED.

5. Size your Compressed Air Line Filters to be twice (2x) your compressor CFM flow rate.

o This will lower your pressure drop 2-3 PSIG and save an additional 1% on electrical energy costs.

o Elements will last twice (2x) as long and this can save on your maintenance costs.

6. Lowering Air Compressor Pressure settings by 2 PSIG will result in a 1% energy savings.

7. Lowering Air Compressor Inlet Air Temperature by 10° F will result in a 2% energy savings.

8. The average energy cost to operate an air compressor is approximately $0.10 per horse power per hour.

9. Compressed Air system leaks totaling the size of a 1/4″ orifice, at 100 PSIG, running 24 hours a day will waste approximately $15,000 worth of electrical energy a year.

10. Using Synthetic Compressor Lubricants can save you up to 9% of the energy cost of operating your compressor as compared to using a non-synthetic lubricant.

COMPRESSED AIR DEFINITIONS:

CFM= Cubic Feet per Minute  – Volumetric air flow rate.

Inlet Pressure = The actual pressure at the inlet flange of the compressor.

PSIG= Pounds Per Square Inch Gauge

AMPS=Abbreviation of the plural for Ampere, a unit of electrical current

Pressure = Force per unit area, measured in pounds per square inch (psi).

Pressure Dew Point = For a given pressure, the temperature at which water will begin to condense out of air.

Inlet Temperature = The total temperature at the inlet connection of the compressor.

Knowing these “Rules of Thumb” can assist you in understanding many of the basics of compressed air. Applying these tips can help save you time , energy and money.

[ad_2]

Source by Tommy McGuire

[ad_1]

When it comes to home improvement, window replacement is often thought of last, especially with projects like remodeling a kitchen, bathroom or putting in hardwood flooring. Homeowners may not think about the added value new windows can provide as well as the savings incurred on those high heating and cooling bills. Some advantages might not be obvious, but they are clearly felt in the pocketbook.

The best part is that energy efficient windows don’t just save energy and money; they also help better the environment. By conserving energy, you help reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to smog, acid rain and global warming.

Facts about Window Replacements

Here are some important things to consider: how old is your home? Are your windows the original windows?

Windows will age with time, and as the years roll by, you may begin to notice the obvious changes. Your windows may appear outdated or worn. Wood windows may show signs of rotting, warping, or become termite infested. Vinyl can begin to peel. Cranks in the old casement windows may not work. Over time, these changes can become very visible.

If you notice any deterioration you may want to contact a professional window contractor to inspect your windows and make suggestions about repair or replacement.

Replacing Your Windows Can Lower Costs and Save Money

Saving money is a priority for most homeowners. As rising energy costs hit our pocketbooks harder and harder each year, energy saving home improvements make good sense. Replacement windows can save you money monthly by reducing your energy consumption and lowering those heating and cooling bills. Making your home more energy efficient also boosts your home’s resale value. Always ask about the warranty on your replacement windows. A transferable warranty (one that can be transferred to a new owner) is best.

New Replacement Windows Add Beauty to Your Home

It’s easy to overlook the advantages of new windows. New windows can add value to your home and change the look of your home’s exterior adding beauty and curb appeal. New windows will make your home look brighter inside and out. Today’s windows come in a variety of colors and styles to coordinate with your home’s existing color scheme. A wide variety of interior and exterior frame colors can help create that look you want, reflecting your personal style. With all the new styles and types of windows available on the market today, just about anything is possible!

New Replacement Windows Do More Than Save Money

Once you decide to replace those old windows in your home, it pays to research window options carefully. Much has changed over the years in replacement window technology. Fortunately, many manufacturers now offer high quality, energy efficient replacement windows.

Replacing old windows with today’s more energy efficient models is an investment that should pay off in the long run by lowering your energy costs, and increasing the value of your home. Replacement windows can provide you and your family with security as the newer windows are manufactured with security features, they can be easier to clean and provide a sound barrier to aid in noise control to keep those unwanted noises out.

Window Contractors Can Help You Make the Best Decisions

Hiring a qualified, professionally licensed, window contractor can help homeowners make the best decisions when it comes to choosing new window replacements. They can help you with any questions you may have, and provide an estimate. They can help take the worry and confusion out of replacing those old windows.

[ad_2]

Source by Donna Kshir

[ad_1]

LED lighting is truly the next generation technology which features numerous benefits to not only consumers for Home LED Lighting, but businesses alike, with LED Downlighting products and LED Tubes which can replace out-dated, buzzing fluorescent lighting. LED lighting offers such benefits as a higher energy efficiency than CFLs and fluorescents, lower power consumption, lower maintenance costs, longer lifetime (50,000 hours compared to less than 10,000), durability and brighter light output than conventional fluorescent lighting. LED lighting is slowly filling the Home Lighting and Business Lighting market place with such innovative products as LED T5 and LED T8 Tubes, Flexible LED Lighting, and LED Down Lighting.

Fluorescent lighting contains toxic materials such as mercury which is harmful to environment and human body. Did you know that if you drop or break a fluorescent bulb you must leave the room for 4 hours, due to the toxic materials floating in the air, which could cause respiratory damage, or Asthma in the long run for workers who have to deal with these fixtures daily. For workers and personnel who replace fluorescent tubes at work such as electricians are the most impressed by LED tubes, since they are not only easier to install, requiring no ballast, but they are worry-free, as they can last upwards of 10 years, on for 24 hours a day, and do not contain any toxic materials like mercury dust that fluorescents do. For quick installation, LED tube lighting can be placed and installed directly into existing fluorescent T5 and T8 sized sockets, you only need to remove the ballast, plug the LED bulbs in, and you’re done! Contrary to popular belief, LEDs are very easy to install in this day and age, and the bulk of LED products are now “plug-and-play” while still offering a slick look with unmatched energy savings.

Although fluorescent lighting is more energy efficient than incandescent lighting, it is still an energy wasting monster when compared with LED lighting. For businesses who have a large electric bill, switching to LEDs could cut your energy bill in half, while still keeping all of the brightness, and no fluorescent flickering! Even with the most advanced state of the art CFLs, fluorescent lighting accounts for a high percentage in existing lighting all over the world, switching from fluorescent lighting into LED lighting can greatly reduce the global lighting power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Now let’s do some detailed analysis to compare LED and fluorescent lighting, and there is no doubt that LED will defeat fluorescent lighting.

First of all, LED lighting is more energy efficient than fluorescent lighting due to the high efficacy of LEDs. LEDs for interior lighting have already broken the efficacy record of 100 lumen per watt, while fluorescent lighting only has an efficacy of around 60 lumen per watt. LED has a power factor of 0.9, which means most of the power is converted into light, but when fluorescent lighting works, a huge amount of power is converted into heat which will be dispersed finally. LED lighting consumes only 30% energy as fluorescent lighting to deliver the same lumen output.

Secondly, Flexible LED lighting has a much longer lifetime than fluorescent lighting since LED lighting is solid state lighting which more stable and reliable. LEDs can last over 50,000 hours which means 17 years under normal use. Whereas fluorescent lighting only has a lifetime of around 5,000 hours, which means you have to replace them as often. Using LED lighting can greatly save your expenses which are used to buy new light bulbs and pay for the labor.

In addition, the light quality of LED down lighting is much better than that of fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is always flickering when start up, while LED lighting is quick to start up without any flickering. We all know and have seen or live with flickering fluorescent tubes on a daily basis. They’ve actually been proven to cause headaches, due to the micro-pulse wavelength they emit. Using LEDs can reduce workplace strain, headaches, and increase efficiency, with workers at top performance, minus the migraines from CFLs!

When on for hours a day, for a long period of time, fluorescent lighting may have some hot spots due to heat it generates, which does not happen to LED lighting. These hotspots cause the rest of the light to become dimmer, and quickly results in a dead CFL tube, a perfect reason to switch to LED T8 Tubes or T5 tubes, depending on the socket size. Fluorescent lighting / CFL pigtails can cause eyestrain, but LED lighting does not as a result of its uniform and unparalleled balanced light output, and does not flicker or emit a low pitched humming like the earlier fluorescent technology. Today, Flexible LED Lighting, Home LEDs, and Downlighs / LED Tubes are more eco-friendly than ever, beating fluorescent lighting by upwards of 500% – Translation: Savings on your energy bill for both your home and office lighting fixtures. And of course, Fluorescent lighting contains toxic materials such as mercury which can cause air pollution if broken, and when thrown out and can cause permanent damage to the lungs and throat / skin if contact is frequent, or daily.

In contrast, LED lighting is solid state lighting which does not contain any filaments that could break (like incandescent) or hazardous materials like CFLs. Someone may say that the upfront costs of LED lighting is too high, due to the technology used to achieve such a high lumens per watt (efficacy) rating, it is true. However, think about the long term energy savings, and savings you will get from not needing to replace the lights, for up to 5 or 10 times as long, depending if the light replaced was incandescent or fluorescent. Either way, the more high energy halogen, incandescent, or fluorescent lights you replace, the more money you will save every month. Some towns and states even have a tax-rebate / government program that pays you / reimburses you for energy saving LED bulbs. Check with your local town, half the bill could be on them due to recent energy grants and programs setup by President Obama in early 2010. Over the full life of the LED fixture / tube or bulb, the money saved by using LED lighting will be enormous? Why’s that? When factoring in the true price of lighting, you must include all 3 variables: Upfront costs, maintenance costs, and a maintenance main to routinely replace your lights.. that is of course, if you aren’t using LEDs!

In my opinion, LED lighting will replace fluorescent lighting since it meets the requirements of sustainable development, incandescent lighting, due to energy savings and durability, and halogen lighting due to the heat, safety factor, and of course energy usage! Replace your money hungry lights at the home, office, hotel, casino, college, dorm, or even your RV to save battery power! Go green and truly be eco-friendly with LED lighting, and don’t forget to PROPERLY dispose of CFL lights in a sealed garbage bag (or two, or your garbage mans health).

[ad_2]

Source by Kris Slevens

[ad_1]

Installing Smart Street-lights system is the first important step towards establishing a smart City. A smart lamppost network constitutes the structural foundation required for an advanced control over illumination, security and other progressive functions in roads and various outdoor areas. The intelligent lighting system provides two-sided communication between light poles and a control center; each lamp post’s location is precisely defined by a GPS mapping system; light poles continuously transmit data to the control center, and controllers have the ability to manage maintenance and light performance for individual lamps through the computerized network. However, the first and most vital motive for installing these cutting edge systems is the substantial reduction of energy consumption, which is the most immediate and beneficial outcome.

Smart street-lighting systems bring the best results using high performance lamps such as LED semiconductor bulbs. Those kinds of economical bulbs have an extended lifespan and superb controllability over many different factors, but their primary merit is the high energy efficiency potential. Innovative street illumination systems save approximately 30% of the energy consumption, and may result in up to 80% energy saving, when used wisely together with LED lamps. Due to the fact, that approximately 40% of a city utility bill is consumed by street lamps, the energy saving technologies may dramatically change municipalities’ budget distribution.

The smart street-lights system enables timely responses to maintenance and environmental issues as well as an extraordinary monitoring of illumination performance. Each light pole transmits real-time data reports to the control center, consisting of the bulb and driving circuit status, performance details, lamp tilt etc. The precise information regarding energy consumption combined with other data, which is received from diverse optional sensors enables operators to analyze current and future scenarios, reach relevant conclusions, anticipate outages and failures and successfully carry out both long term and immediate solutions.

Smart networks are remotely controlled by a local concentrator that may fine-tune the lighting intensity, direction and color of any specific lamppost or of any defined light poles clusters according to specific circumstances. The facility managers may use intelligent automatic scheduling or modify the lightning values manually to suit the climate, sunlight, traffic density and other surrounding conditions that tend to change frequently.

One of the essential and most effective features applied in smart electricity systems is the dimming option. When used with highly performing luminous sources, the dimming prolongs the bulbs’ lifespan and dramatically decreases the energy consumption without compromising the vehicles and pedestrian safety.

The productivity of intelligent street-light controls is instantly reflected in lower electricity bills; however, the reduction of energy waste is also expressed in wider terms of ecological benefits. The radical decrease of energy consumption results in similar cuts of greenhouse gas emission and furthermore prevents construction of additional power stations around the world.

Energy efficacy is not the only advantage of smart street-lighting. Applying innovative technologies that allow real-time delivery of data and a remote control over illumination is translated into a considerable diminution of maintenance costs, avoiding light pollution and creating a safer environment for both humans and property.

Intelligent lighting systems form an extensible infrastructure. The smart grid may be used for managing supplemental sensors and components that promote a further reduction of energy waste. Extensions such as weather and pollution sensors, traffic signals, and special plugs for external use provide the controllers with an important data regarding the required lighting level.

Smart street-lights are, in fact, computerized networks that allow communication between illuminating sources and a control center. Conventional street-light’s management and maintenance cannot compete with the performance of an intelligent system. Humans cannot gather, process and analyze the same amount of data and surely not in a similar speed as computers do. The possibility of adjusting lighting consumption and performance to suit various factors results in a great efficacy and energy saving, which may be greatly enhanced by the use of efficient luminous sources that have compatible functionality.

[ad_2]

Source by July Shaff

[ad_1]

Have you ever received your power bill & thought “what the heck happened here?!” or “who used all this power?!” I have. Gone are the days of when power was about 10c per Kw/h & your bill was a couple of hundred dollars. Depending on where you live, you might have peak, off peak, summer tariffs etc. & it’s a bit confusing how the utility company actually calculates your bill in the end. Well you know what? I detest ‘donating’ money to utility companies. One of my pet hates. I prefer to save power. They rake in millions of your hard earned dollars every year & at times when you most need it, there’s blackouts in summer & it’s 100 degrees in the shade! Or there may be ‘brownouts’ when you’re working on your PC or taping a TV show & it’s ruined what you were doing as your screen flickered off for a second. “Increasing burden on our infrastructure” they say, “the population explosion creates a high demand on resources” sprouts the government. It’s time to fight back! Stop ‘donating’!

Some of these tips are SO obvious but do you reckon your kids know to save power?…or practise them?

Probably not. Train them too.

Here are some things to do to save power:

~ Switch the light off when you leave a room.

~ Switch off appliances at the powerpoint when you’re not using them. (yes even a tiny bit of power is being used when the PP switch is on)

~ Turn off your TV/stereo/video/DVD player standby switch when it’s not in use as it’s using a lot of power in standby mode.

~ Toss your incandescent light bulbs & use energy saving bulbs (CFLs)- their cost has nose dived in recent years & they last for 1000’s of hours – a real no brainer that a lot of people are using to save power.

~ If your home has them or you’re considering it – LED downlights are a terrific substitute to halogen type bulbs, use a fraction of the power & are an attractive alternative to conventional room lighting.

~ Looking at new whitegoods? Check out their ‘star’ rating for energy efficiency.

~ Front loading washing machines use less power than top loaders, plus most modern units just use cold water & heat water themselves when required.

~ Have a clothes dryer? Only use it if you have to – hang your clothes up (or better still, get the kids to do it!)

~ Insulate your home – your roof space is a critical area to keep in the warmth in winter & cool in summer as well as draught proofing windows & doorways. Do you have old sash type windows? These are very draughty so a reasonable fix is heavy drapes or replace them – go for the extra expense of double glazed or laminated windows. Your energy savings will pay for them in the long run.

~ Utilize thick roofing & wall batts if possible. Or choose an alternative – recycled paper based insulation can be ‘pumped’ into your roof or wall space. I’ve used this in my daughter’s bedroom roofspace & it made a massive difference. I wound up getting this for free from the government & the result was 2 great things – I got to save power & my favourite – save money!

~ Seal any gaps there might be on the exterior of your home like window & door architraves, eaves & loose roof tiles.

~ Set your air conditioner to 75 to 80 instead of 65 to 70 in summer. If you’ve got a split system A/C, make sure your inverter or compressor unit is housed in the shade or a cooler area if possible. A great system I did see once was a very high pressure misting device used in the vicinity of the inverter to cool the area around it utilizing “latent heat of vaporization” as used in some greenhouses. A great way to save power in your home as it doesn’t have to work as hard.

~ Hot water heaters. Set them at 140 – 150 this will be fine for adults & decrease it to 120 – 130 if you’ve got kids. Switch it off if you’re going away for a while. Solar H/W systems are great but critically need to be fixed north facing. Depending where you live & how much sunlight you get per day, you’ll still need to use the H/W boost on short winter days & obviously cloudy days too. “Heat pumps” are a relatively new innovation utilizing latent heat in the atmosphere to warm your water as well as an ‘air conditioner in reverse’ to heat the water on cool days or to your desired temperature. I’ve just had 1 installed & it’s fantastic + incredibly it’s cheaper to run than my old solar H/W system! What’s this system done for me? Another chance to save power – 1 of my favourite hobbies! They are expensive but I feel really good about it because it’s energy efficient AND I’m using rain water for it – win win.

~ Cooking. Your microwave oven is a proficient energy user as it only cooks your food compared to just heating your conventional electric oven. But, try to avoid using it to defrost something – plan ahead & let nature do it. If you can upgrade, get a fan forced oven as they’re more efficient too. Try to use wise practises like using a lid on your pots & pans. If you’re a carnivore, you can use other methods to cook now & then like having a BBQ & if you don’t have 1 – go out & get yourself a kettle oven. They are fantastic, the flavour is to die for & you’ve got many options to use for fuel like briquettes, charcoal, wet & dry wood etc. Bonus – it’s a way to save power & money.

~ Solar power. An expensive option for sure. Those who proclaim it can be done cheaply are probably pulling your leg. Get a system up & running for $200? I’d question the quality of such a system. We all know that going this way could take a sizable chunk out of your wallet if you want to take a sizable chunk out of your power bill. But you’d have to weigh up the pros & cons. Do you live in a particularly sunny area? Are you handy enough given the right tools, materials & know-how to build your own solar panels & install the array & infrastructure? Or do you get it done professionally? Do you just want to save power or will your system have the capacity to make your meter spin backwards? Power grid feed in tariffs vary widely dependent on where you live & are an excellent incentive. One other thing, if you’re lucky enough to have a shed, workshop or barn with a separate electricity meter, then that’s a great opportunity to produce your own power purely to make money with feed in tariffs & help your community as well.

~ Wind power. There are many different systems & turbine designs out in the market & again can be built by the home handyperson from kits or scratch. Obviously producing electricity is reliant on the consistency of breeze in your locality & if it’s not quite up to scratch then combining them with a solar powered system could be an option. Scout around on meteorological sites & the like to determine if it’s viable to power your home by these means.

[ad_2]

Source by Paul Happ

[ad_1]

Do you use prepaid meter at home? Does your prepaid meter run out fast? Do you wish to increase the length of time it takes before you go to refill your prepaid meter card? Then this piece is ideally for you.

BE CONSERVATIVE

Turn off appliances not needed at any particular point in time. Sometimes we tend to leave our Tvs and other appliances on standby mode. While this may be a trendy thing to do, it is not a good energy conservation principle.In some homes the accumulation of appliances on standby mode could be enough to power a small fridge. By turning appliances not needed on at a particular point in time you simply save electricity by doing so.

WATCH OUT FOR EFFICIENCY

Buy only energy efficient appliances. Appliance A and Appliance B could be the same thing but their energy consumption may not be the same. This is usually reflected in their prices. Conventionally the more the energy efficiency of an appliance, the more expensive it is. However, the money pays back itself from the energy consumption. Always look at the wattage or power of the gadget and see if it is worth buying.

GO FOR DIGITAL INVERTER TECHNOLOGY

For appliances with compressors, look out to see if it is inverter compliant. It is usually written on the surface of some products like washing machine and refrigerators. For ACs, LG has led the way in this technology with their innovative LG Inverter V Gen Cool cooling unit. Inverter compliant compressors save more energy.

INSTALL A SOLAR WATER HEATER

If you use hot water regularly. It will save you more energy and hence less energy bill if you install a solar water heater once and for all and not heat your water using electricity. Solar water heaters are very efficient as they turn 80% radiation into heat. Once installed you will be using free energy to heat water. The cost of heating water from public utility daily in 5-12 months is enough to install a solar water heater. This simply implies that they are very cheap to install.

LED TVs ARE LIT

Replace the LCD tvs at home with LED tvs. LCDs consume as much as 3 times the energy an equivalent LED tv will consume. The beauty of LED is that you can even control and set the power consumption to lower levels yourself using the ecological friendly mode. They save a lot of energy.

Increase thermostat of the fridges.

Just like a house, a refrigerator will use less electricity if its thermostat is re-set to a higher (warmer) temperature. Owing to the singgle-evaporator design of most refrigerators, a change of temperature in the

freezer compartment generally results in a temperature change in fresh-food compartment Grimes et al.

Grimes examined the impact of compartment temperature on energy use on 1977-vintage automatic defrost refrigerator. Energy consumption rose 26% from the warmest acceptable to the coldest possible settings. A

more recent study of nine large, 1993-vintage US refrigerators found 6.5%increase energy consumption for 1

degree centigrade reduction in freezer

Switch to LED bulbs.

LEDs save more energy than the ring like white energy saving bulb. By now we no longer talk about the incandescent bulbs but for the sake people who do not know. Incandescent yellow bulbs consume a lot of energy. Two 60w bulb is equivalent or even more than an efficient 6 feet standing fridge. We place emphasis on LED bulbs because they are the most energy saving bulb in the market. This piece is a detailed explanation of how LEDs save energy more than the other types of bulbs available in the market.

EXPLORE FREE ENERGY IF YOU ARE GREEN

Use appliances in the middle of the day when you’re generating more solar energy. For example use appliances such as your dishwasher and washing machine during the middle of the day rather than in the evening. The reasons are obvious. You can turn of the input into your inverter to have the inverter supply power to these loads using your sun energy. By doing so, power consumed by such appliances will not read on your pre-paid meter. You would have saved yourself a lot of money by doing so.

CONTROL THE THERMOSTAT OF WATER HEATER MANUALLY

Another good money saving tip that you can do is to turn down the thermostat of your water heater. The truth is you are not always washing your hands and taking a bath all the time. You can reduce the thermostat to 120 degrees lower. You can do this after everybody in the house has taken their bath or when going to bed. This is a huge money saving technique.

PROVIDE GOOD INSULATION AT HOME

One of the most beneficial saving energy techniques you could use is to reduce the power consumption of your home or building. How can this possibly be done? By the use of ceiling insulation that is installed by experts in the field of insulation, you will reduce the energy needed to keep your home or building at a comfortable temperature which in turn leads to less strain on the heating and cooling systems which saves you money and increases your chance of saving energy and the environment. Using this saving energy technique will eradicate the single largest contributor to global warming while putting money back in your pocket! It’s a win win situation.

CLEAN THE AIR CONDITIONER FILTERS REGULARLY

Air conditioners consume a lot of energy if the air filters are dirty. They tend to work more when these air vents are dirty. It is a good practice to clean these air filters at least once in every month. In climes or periods when the environment is really dusty, it is advisable to do so twice a month. A lot of energy will be saved by doing so.

In conclusion, as energy prices continue to escalate, it is best to control the amount you pay on energy bills by investing in energy efficient appliances.

[ad_2]

Source by Emeka Victor Onwueyi

[ad_1]

1. Choose an architect who understands low energy efficient house design

• Be sure that builders are aware of the low energy aim of your house
• Choose tradespeople that have both knowledge and experience in energy efficiency
• Remember many architects/builders don’t go beyond minimum building standards and regulations but minimum isn’t the most efficient.

Minimize Your Heat Loss:

• Keep your house plan simple and compact – A house that is compact and without extensions will have less heat loss due to the reduction in the external walls and roof area. Remember that single storey houses such as bungalows lose more heat through the roof than two or three storey houses where the rising heat is used throughout the levels before reaching the roof.
• External walls should have high level insulation
• Ensure there is good controlled ventilation and draught-proofing
• Your architect can provide energy calculations of expected annual fuel bills

Maximize Your Solar Heat Gain:

• Build along the East West axis – An energy efficient house will capture the free energy from the sun to heat your home and water. Ideally where possible choose a site where your house can face the sun (external blinds can prevent overheating in the summer months) and be sheltered from prevailing winds.
• Houses in the northern hemisphere should locate most windows on the south side with reduced window size on the north side, and vice versa for houses in the southern hemisphere – Most windows should face the sun side to benefit from solar gains. However, some windows will have to be on the non-sun side to enable good daylight in all the rooms in your home.
• Kitchens and breakfast rooms are mostly used in the mornings, so for houses in the northern hemisphere a south-east orientation will take advantage of the morning sun. For houses in the southern hemisphere then a north-east orientation will take advantage of the morning sun.
• Halls, stairs and bathrooms can be located on the side that doesn’t get much sun as there are less frequently used.
• Locate living rooms and main bedrooms on the sun facing side
• In two storey houses consider having your bedrooms on the lower level (cooler for sleeping) and your living rooms on the upper level further reducing your heating requirements as upstairs gets warmer
• Use the sun’s energy
  • Wind Turbines can take full advantage of wind power generation
  • Heat Pumps use the sun’s energy – all renewable energy systems are complementary to an energy efficient house design

Install Energy Efficient Heating And Hot Water System:

• Renewable energy systems
• Solar heaters
• Use a condensing boiler if using gas or oil
• Install easy to use controls

More information on these can be found at the Home Heating Systems and Solutions site.

Consider Thermal Mass

• When thinking of an energy efficient house remember that the use of certain materials will also improve the ‘thermal mass’ of your house by their ability to slowly absorb solar heat during the daytime and then slowly release this free heat through the night – The common materials used for thermal mass are:
  • Adobe bricks (mud or earth bricks)
  • Rocks and stones
  • Concrete (preferably concrete with stone)

  This is because they have:

  • High specific heat – able to store a large amount of heat for a long period of time like the heat bricks in a sauna
  • High density – basically the weight (mass) of a material in relation to it’s volume (it’s size) – the greater the mass per unit volume the greater the density
  • Low thermal conductivity – slow absorption and slow release of heat
• Thermal mass is not insulation, it is the amount of specific heat that can be stored in a material (water has high thermal mass by being able to store a lot of heat). Insulation materials have a lower thermal conductivity to restrict the flow and absorption of heat.

Insulation

• The percentage of heat loss from a house is approximately:
  • 42% Roof
  • 12% windows
  • 12% Unblocked chimneys and draughts around doors
  • 24% walls
  • 10% Floor
• So when thinking of building an energy efficient house understand that installing insulation at the build stage is the easiest and cheapest way of improving your homes energy efficiency.
  • You can upgrade standard timber framed walls by using 140mm studs instead of 90mm studs – this will allow you more insulation. Masonry cavity walls can be improved by being filled with polystyrene insulating foam and by using lightweight thermal blocks.
  • You should have at least 250mm of loft insulation, 100mm of insulation between the joists and 150mm of insulation laid across the top. Loft conversions require careful attention especially if dormer windows are installed but a high standard of insulation can still be achieved.
  • Heat loss from the floor varies with different floor types. However, ground floor insulation is pretty easy. Generally a 125mm layer/sheet of polystyrene is used this size will be increased if installing underfloor heating to minimize heat loss.
  • Ensure insulation overlap between elements, e.g, between the wall and loft/roof cavity
  • Ensure air gaps such as wall cavities are clear of debris that can bridge therefore compromising the insulating air gap
  • Make sure fibre insulating materials are not compressed (packed tightly) as this will undermine its ability to properly insulate
  • Make sure that all insulating materials are kept dry
  • Be sure to seal all holes where services such as water and gas pipes enter your home

Windows And Conservatories

• You’re always going to lose more heat through windows than through walls especially single pane windows. To minimize heat lost through windows ‘Low-E’ coated double glazing should be installed in all new houses.
• Double glazing does not only reduce heat loss, it also offers some sound insulation. With double glazing the two panes are generally vacuum sealed. However, you can get argon-filled units (gas filled), and triple glazing which are well worth considering if you can afford them.
• Conservatories can save you a little energy by acting as a buffer between the adjoining wall by trapping the heat from the sun, thereby reducing the heat loss from the room separated by the adjoining wall. To be effective, conservatories should be located on the sun facing side of the house and preferably not overshadowed by trees or other buildings.
• Conservatories correctly placed should not require any permanent heating, but the doors that separate the house from the conservatory should be double glazed and shut when not in use.

Efficient Home Heating

• A well insulated house is a low energy consuming house meaning that energy efficient house heating requirements are lower than a similar sized house which is poorly insulated.
• Your heating system should take into account:
  • Fuel source and availability
  • The time you will spend in your home – quick or slow response systems
  • Construction material – timber framed houses should have responsive heating, such as radiators or air heat pumps, as the timber retains less heat than concrete, for example
  • Underfloor heating systems are not suited for houses built from lightweight construction materials, like timber frame, because of their slower heating response
• You can have hydronic underfloor heating (wet or water based) systems combined with radiators. These are usually designed with the underfloor heating downstairs and radiators located upstairs.
• Tiled solid screed floors work the best with underfloor heating. If you prefer a softer floor finish rather than tiles you should consider rugs rather than fitted carpets for better heat transference/output within the room.
• Renewable energy systems such as heat pumps and solar heating are perfectly suited for energy efficient house designs.

Ventilation

• Ventilation is an important aspect not to be overlooked as it provides both fresh air and removes stale air and moisture. Removing moisture prevents bacterial growth thus maintaining a healthy living environment.
• Kitchens must have extractor fans or passive stack ventilation (PSV). PSV works using the principle of ‘rising’ warm air carrying stale air up and out.
• Mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery do offer filtered air and a reduction in noise intrusion as windows can be kept closed. However, unless you are using a renewable power system such as photovoltaic (PV) or wind turbines, then the power required to run the fans rules it out as a feature for an energy efficient house. Also, for a heat recovery system to work efficiently the house must be well sealed.
• All rooms should have trickle ventilation – allowing air to come in at a trickle rate to provide required room air change rate per hour (ACH).

Lighting and appliances

• These should be low energy rated (low-wattage) saving you money in running costs and helping the planet by reducing CO₂ emissions.

So now you can save the planet and save yourself running costs by building an energy efficient home.

[ad_2]

Source by George Meates-Dennis