Tag: home energy

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Tips to Maintaining Energy Efficient Home Electrical Systems

Reviewed and Revised on 01/03/2014

Photo of a home electric meter

Electricity is uniquely unforgiving—even the smallest mistake can cause fire, injury, or death. This article is an introduction to your home’s electrical system, but is by no means inclusive. Contact a licensed electrical contractor for more information about your home’s specific electrical system and what changes, if any, should be made.

Common terms

An amp, short for ampere, measures the amount of electricity moving through a wire. …

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Passive Solar Design for Homes

 Reviewed and Revised on 11/15/2013

Passive solar design uses the sun’s energy to heat a home in the cold days of the winter, and wind (breezes) to cool a home in the warm days of the summer. You can benefit by incorporating both passive solar heating and cooling in a home design in order to save on energy bills and to reduce the impact of the home on the environment. Passive solar design often doesn’t require the use of mechanical
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No to Low Cost Actions to Save Home Energy and Money

Reviewed and Revised 01/03/2014

Simple tips designed to help you save energy in your home with little or no out-of-pocket costs.

Heating

  • Lower the thermostat when you sleep or not at home. Lowering the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hrs can help you save  5-15% annually on your heating bill.  Energy.gov website states that if the setback period is 8 hrs or longer than

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Phantom/Standby Energy Use by Home Electronics and Appliances

Reviewed and Revised on 11/04/2013

Power Buttong

Consumer electronics and appliances amount to about 15% of a home’s utility usage. Did you know these modern conveniences can cost you a lot of money even when they are turned off, but still plugged in?

 

Today an average American home is brimming with consumer electronics and appliances- televisions, DVD players, stereos, kitchen gadgets, etc. Most of the times these appliances stay plugged in, and are just turned off (but not unplugged) when not in …

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Questions and Answers about Caulking and Weatherstripping Your Home

Reviewed and Revised on 10/10/2013 

Image:Caulking170x135 78483112.jpg
 
In a well-insulated home, air leaks are the greatest cause of wasted heating and cooling energy. Caulking and weatherstripping are effective ways to rid your home of costly drafts.

Questions and Answers about Caulking and Weatherstripping Your Home

In a well-insulated home, air leaks are the greatest cause of wasted heating and cooling energy. Caulking and weatherstripping are effective ways to rid your home of costly drafts. Keep in mind that heat always moves toward …

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Using Greywater for Home Gardening

Reviewed and Revised on 10/17/2013

What is greywater and how can it be used?

Greywater is the domestic wastewater from all sources except the toilets. As per the EPA wastewater sources can include water from:

  • laundry

  • shower/bath

  • washing machines

  • dishwasher

  • kitchen sinks

Greywater can be used for home gardening and landscape irrigation. This can have two major benefits.

  • It reduces the need for fresh water and hence is a great way to conserve water as well as energy. Large amounts

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Questions and Answers about Energy Efficient Home Heating Systems for a Warm Climate

Reviewed and Revised on 10/15/2013

The following terminology can help one understand the energy efficiency of common Home Heating Systems.

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)

The efficiency of a gas (natural or propane) or oil furnace or boiler is measured in terms of its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which describes the heat produced from the energy used. This rating takes into consideration various losses that may be involved such as from pilot lights, heat out of the exhaust stack, …

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Questions and Answers about Energy Efficient Home Ductwork Systems

Reviewed and Revised on 10/15/2013

How does a duct system work?

Air distribution systems, or duct systems, are designed to supply rooms with air that is “conditioned”—that is, heated or cooled by the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment—and to recirculate or return the same volume of air back to the HVAC equipment. Your duct system has two main air transfer systems, supply and return. The supply side delivers the conditioned air to the home through individual room registers. …

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Questions and Answers about Home Insulation

Reviewed and Revised on 11/13/2013 

 

Photo of Batt insulation

Properly insulating your home will not only help reduce your heating and cooling costs, but also make your home more comfortable.

How does insulation reduce heat transfer?

Insulation is rated in terms of thermal resistance, called R-value, which indicates the resistance to heat flow per square foot of cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of heat transfer. Heat transfer is accomplished by conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is the …

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Questions and Answers about Shading Your Home for Energy Efficiency

Reviewed and Revised on 10/17/2013

In hot, humid climates, home designs should aim to reduce summer heat gain as the first priority. Walls facing east and west receive the greatest amount of heat, because they receive the direct morning and afternoon sunlight. Some of that heat is transferred (through conduction, convection, and radiation) into the home, which means your air conditioner has to operate longer and harder. It’s much more energy efficient to stop the heat from entering your home

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