Week 1: Effective Heating and Cooling
Water Heaters:
On demand water heaters (Tankless) eliminate the need for a tank of hot water to be kept heated at all times, plus a solar water heater on the roof. Every day you get about 40 gallons of hot water for free. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it, which reduces or eliminates standby losses. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by up to 80 percent a year, and over the 20-year lifespan of the appliance will prevent more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Tankless water heaters also minimize piping and reduce standby heat loss. Water in the system is preheated by a solar thermal system on the roof of the house. The photovoltaic system can also provide power for appliances, including the refrigerator, and the power that isn’t used may be sold back in certain cities to the local electric utility.
Thermostats:
Turning down the thermostat in cold weather and inching it up during the warm months can save as much as 3-5 percent for each degree adjustment. In fact, as much as 60 percent of your energy bill may be heating and cooling related. Programmable thermostats can make the most prudent adjustments automatically during any 24-hour period but are grossly underused, About six out of ten households already have programmable thermostats but don’t use the automatic (programmable) function on them. Keep in mind that it costs more to reheat your home than to maintain the temperature with a properly programmed thermostat.
HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling):
Making changes to your HVAC system can contribute even more – something as simple as cleaning your furnace’s air filter monthly during heavy usage times can make a big difference. For new installations, separate units for HVAC provides for an even distribution of cooling and the units don’t short-cycle, or go for short periods of time and blow a lot of hot air, which often happens with an oversized system.
Other low-cost energy saving tasks to look into:
Get some new clothes for your hot water heater by placing an insulating jacket around it (usually costs under $25) and outfit your pipes for even less.
Shade your east and west facing windows to prevent the most brutal heat intrusion during summer months.
If your house doesn’t already possess dual-pane energy-efficient windows, why not start replacing those windows slowly, but start with those that receive the most intense sun exposure first?
Saving heat generating activities such as dishwashers and cooking until the evening hours can help you ease up on cooling costs as well as your local energy grid.
Using ceiling fans to move air on low speeds (even if TV reality remodeling shows think they’re not fashionable) can permit you to push the thermostat in either direction, providing more circulation of either cool or warm air.
And finally, keep in mind that overhangs and balconies protect the home’s interior from the hot sun.
