Tag Archives: Department Of Energy

Winterize It!

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Taking a few green, energy-saving steps in the colder months can lead to big savings all around.

Winterize It!

Although we’ve been spared the monumental snowfalls of the previous couple of years so far, the 2011-12 winter in New Jersey is far from over. There is still plenty of time to perform these super easy green winterizing tips for your home.

The first thing I recommend is checking your house for drafts. Get down and check under doors especially. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, anywhere from 5 to 30 percent of your energy use can be wasted as a result of drafts. You can purchase an inexpensive draft guard or under-door weather strip from many retail home improvement or hardware stores. Or you can make one yourself with some material and sand, rice, or even kitty litter for filling. You can also use a rolled up towel for free if you don’t mind the aesthetics. For windows you can purchase inexpensive draft kits or weather stripping.

Drafts coming in under your doors aren’t the only thing that can zap your energy and increase your bill. What’s coming through them can hurt too. Simply installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by as much as 45 percent by reducing air flow. The same can be said for storm windows. Purchasing energy efficient doors, windows and skylights may qualify for federal tax credits to offset the costs.

Keeping the cold air out is a great start, but controlling the environment inside your home can help, too. Be sure to replace or clean the filters frequently on your heater or furnace. Once a month is a good recommendation during heating season. You can also consider switching to a permanent filter, which not only adds up to less waste, but traps at least twice as much of many pollutants and debris. Electrostatic filters and HEPA filters are also typically better at controlling mold and bacteria.

The easiest way to control your energy put-out indoors? Turn down your heat when leaving your home. For every degree you lower your thermostat during heating season, you can save up to 3 percent of your heating bill. And who wants to pay for energy that no one is using? I always recommend a programmable thermostat, if you don’t already have one, as the easiest way to control home heating costs.

Don’t forget to make the most of the heat of the sun. Keep windows and blinds up and open during the day to warm your home naturally. Be sure to close them in the evening or in rooms that don’t get much sunlight to better insulate the room from cold air and drafts.

Did you know you can run ceiling fans in reverse (clockwise) to produce a warming effect by sending warm air near the ceiling back down into the room?

And what about winterizing your vehicle? Be sure to check your air filter, tires, fluid levels, and windshield wipers throughout the cold weather season. Operating your car efficiently saves you money and, in many cases, reduces emissions.

When we finally do get that long-awaited snowstorm, be ready. Use a de-icer on your sidewalk or driveway made from magnesium chloride instead of sodium chloride or calcium chloride. It’s safer, does less damage to surfaces like concrete and melts ice at a lower temperature. If you can, use electric snow removal products rather than gasoline-powered ones. While electric products do consume energy, they do not emit greenhouse gases. Or better yet, as I’ve said before, use a good old fashioned shovel—if you’re in physical condition for it or can utilize older children or neighbors for labor.

It’s very easy to make sure that this winter you stay green, and keep your hard-earned money from flying right out of those cold, drafty windows.

 

http://gloucestertownship.patch.com/

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Simple do it yourself home repairs can save money

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Isom Hill is a heat-and-air technician with an interesting analogy.

“Just think of an A/C system like the human body that inhales and exhales,” he said.

“For instance, there are many different environments we breathe in, and we have hairs – or filters – that clean the air we breathe,” he explained. Dirty filters can lead to numerous air conditioning failures.

A dirty filter in a home’s cooling cycle can lead to freeze up due to poor air flow. Likewise, in the heating cycle, a dirty filter can cause your furnace to overheat due to the lack of air flow.

“There is a high percentage of calls that could be prevented by a routine filter change,” said Hill, who was one of two local handymen who offered us tips on simple home maintenance that may prevent you from having to spend a ton of money.

Changing filters is “the equivalent of brushing your teeth,” said Tony Cooper, owner of Cooper’s Home Repair. “Preventative maintenance is so much cheaper than repairs because who knows what you’re going to run into.”

You should change your air filter each month, Cooper said. He’s forgetful, so he makes sure that whenever he pays his mortgage, he changes the filter.

And cheaper filters are fine, he said. The more expensive ones may last longer, but they clog up faster, reducing air flow.

Here are some other handy tips Cooper offered:

Garbage disposals. Once every three months, empty a cup of ice into your garbage disposal and turn it on. This sharpens the blades, keeping the disposal running well and the blades really sharp.

Caulking. Proper window caulking can prevent water from deteriorating a home’s exterior. (For great tips on caulking, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s website, tulsaworld.com/usdecaulkingtips

Heaters. If yours is more than 10 years old, have a certified technician come in at least once a year and service your A/C and heater. They’ll check the heat exchanger, which can crack and allow carbon monoxide in through the house. So servicing your A/C can prolong its life and protect yours, he said.

Plumbing. If you have floor drains in your garage or in a bar sink you rarely use, put enough water in there to open the P trap, which drains waste water and seals off vapors coming from sewage. If you haven’t run water down the drain in a while, gases can build up behind it, leading to an unpleasant smell.

Popular Mechanics provides tips on basic plumbing dos, don’ts

First, a disclaimer: We are by NO means suggesting you be your own plumber.

But if you’d care to trouble-shoot some simple stuff and don’t think you know your way around all those pipes and what not, Popular Mechanics’ website has an awesome list of tips.

Here are a few:

Know where your pipes are. Pounding nails and driving screws is all well and good, until you puncture a copper or plastic supply or drain.

What to do: Buy a stud sensor that also detects pipes and wirings. You can also look around in the attic or the basement (if it’s unfinished) to get a sense of where pipes are hiding. Finally, if the wall will be covered by whatever you’re building or installing, you can always carefully cut a test hatch to find plumbing lurking in the walls.

Don’t over-tighten. If tight is good, really tight must be better. Right? Wrong.

What to do: Given what I just said about the hit-or-miss quality of many plumbing components today, you’d think that a generous application of wrench torque is called for. Not so. A clean, properly cut and fitted joint that’s been sealed just doesn’t need to be massively tightened. In many cases, after bringing the parts together firmly hand-tight or using a wrench, often all it takes is another half a turn. In fact, brass–copper gas fittings are particularly vulnerable to wrench damage from over-tightening, while steel pipe is more forgiving.

Leak test. Always. It should be obvious: Make a thorough leak inspection before closing up and moving on.

What to do: When you’ve installed a new valve component (or the valve itself), aggressively open and close the valve, as well as running hot and cold water through it. Do the same when checking drains. Run water down a drain and fill up a sink or tub and then drain it to check for leaks. Check gas lines with a soapy water and detergent solution or spend a few dollars for an 8-ounce bottle of bubble-creating leak detector sold on the Web or at a plumbing supply house. The advantage of this material, as opposed to dish detergent, is that it creates larger, more brightly visible bubbles than detergent does.

Be kind to your septic system. The guys at Popular Mechanics are asked this question all the time: “Should I use an additive to improve the performance of my septic system and reduce the need to pump the septic tank?” An additive can be almost anything from sugar or enzymes to a dead chicken (we’re not kidding about the chicken – we get that one plenty).

What to do: Don’t bother with additives, especially the chicken. A properly designed, built and maintained septic system will last for decades and trying to reduce pumping intervals will more likely lead to a clogged leaching field as solids, not clear effluent, flows out of the septic tank and into the leaching field. A septic-tank-pumping company can advise you on how often the tank needs to be pumped. It will depend on the tank’s size and how many people live in the home. Likewise, avoid excessive use of chlorine bleach or caustic chemicals that can kill off beneficial digestive bacteria in the septic tank.

 

http://www.tulsaworld.com/

Furnasman

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Nine Ways to Cool Down Air-Condition Costs

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House Real Estate 01 Nine Ways to Cool Down Air Condition Costs
Hear that? It’s the sound of your air conditioner running and the sound of your bank account drying up.

Heating and air conditioning your home take a 43% bite from your monthly utility bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Here’s how to reduce those costs in summer.

Improve Plantings Around Your House

“Most heat that accumulates inside a house comes directly from the sun shining onto the roof or through windows, and heating the house directly,” says John Krigger, owner of Saturn Resource Management, which offers energy conservation training in Helena, Mont.

Planting leafy trees around the building’s exterior will stop the sun from reaching inside your home. “Even for the cost of going to the nursery and buying a 15- to 20-foot-tall tree, trees are still the best value,” Krigger says.

If the trees or shrubs shade your air conditioner, you could boost your AC’s efficiency by up to 10%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Clothe Your Windows

Solar screens, or mesh-like window screens, intercept up to 70% of solar energy before it gets into the house, Krigger says. Window screens are particularly effective on east- and west-facing windows, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Window films are another option. They are transparent, metalized sheets that reflect heat before it can be transmitted through glass.

However, windows must be shut for window films to work, while solar screens do double-duty, keeping sun and insects out even with windows open.

Flip a Switch

Go ahead, get comfortable. Lower your air conditioner’s thermostat setting to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home. But let that number rise to a warmer temperature at night or when you’re away from home. You can save 5% to 15% on your air-conditioning bills by raising the temperature setting on your thermostat when you’re away and don’t need cooling, according to the Department of Energy.

Fan It

No need to invest in fancy fans. Krigger says the key is to circulate air inside the house. If possible, locate fans on your house’s upper level and open windows on a lower level. If you live in a one-story house or apartment, you should close windows near the fan and open windows in rooms far from the fan, preferably on your home’s windward side, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Moving air also helps evaporate the sweat from your skin, says Paul Scheckel, an energy efficiency consultant in Montpelier, Vt., and author of “The Home Energy Diet.”

“Evaporational cooling is an incredibly efficient process for removing heat, and our bodies do it all by themselves. A little help can increase the cooling effect,” Scheckel says.

Chill in The Basement

Camp out in your basement, says Stan Cox, author of “Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer).” In your eco-cooled basement, a television, couch or futon and a cold drink may be all you need.

However, Scheckel says don’t open basement windows when outdoor air is heavy with humidity. “Warm, moist air will cause condensation on cool surfaces such as basement walls, ultimately increasing the humidity in your home,” he says.

Don’t Bake or Cook on The Stove

Skip the stove-top boiling and oven baking, Cox says. Decrease indoor heat by making microwave nachos or eating a cool salad. If you must boil pasta for tomorrow’s potluck, cook in the evening.

After cooking, turn on the kitchen exhaust, and use the bathroom exhaust fan after a hot shower. “Remove heat and moisture at the source,” Scheckel says. “Reducing humidity can help increase comfort.”

Maintain or Replace Your AC

“AC efficiency is mostly a function of the technology,” Scheckel says. “Keep the filter clean to allow for good air movement and keep the unit level so the condensation drains properly.”

If you replace your older room air conditioner with a newer unit, you could cut your energy costs in half, according to the Department of Energy. Look for a high-energy-efficiency ratio, or EER, or an Energy Star-qualified unit. Higher EER ratings mean a more efficient air conditioner. Energy Star refers to a system adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to identify energy-efficient products.

Let Humidity Set Your AC Pace

Set the AC fan speed on high, except on very humid days, says the U.S. Department of Energy. On humid days, set the speed on low. The slower air movement through the air-condition equipment removes more moisture from the air, improving comfort in your home.

Splash in The Bath

Hop in the shower, spray yourself with a water bottle or use a cool cloth on the back of your neck. And if you don’t chill out right away, don’t give up, says Cox, the environmental writer and scientist. “Our comfort range depends on the temperatures we have experienced in recent days and weeks,” he says. “The body and mind adjust to rising temperatures.”

 

http://www.foxbusiness.com/

Furnasman

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Tips for saving energy, money during the summer

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With the recent arrival of the first day of summer, the days of heat and humidity have only begun in the area, which can mean increased energy costs for residents trying to keep cool.

In a typical household, about 43 percent of the utility bill goes to cooling and heating the house, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

But there are ways to save on energy while still saving money.

Raising your thermostat is the number one energy saving measure Dominion Power recommends.

Dominion media and community relations manager Bonita Harris said the company encourages customers to keep their thermostats at 78 degrees in the summer.

She said the temperature is comfortable and not too warm, which can be a health risk.

Homeowners cut energy costs by 1 percent for each degree warmer they keep their homes in the summer, Harris said.

If 78 degrees isn’t for you, Harris said it also helps to turn up the thermostat when you leave the house, so energy isn’t being used to cool rooms when you aren’t home. This is particularly easy to do if you have a programmable thermostat in your home.

However, Harris does not advise turning off the air conditioning altogether during the day while you’re at work because when you do get home, the system has to work even harder to cool the house.

You can also close the doors and vents of the rooms that aren’t occupied to conserve energy.

If you would still like your home cooler, a ceiling fan is the way to go instead of pumping air conditioning.

“A ceiling fan uses less electricity than air conditioning,” she said.

In fact, the use of ceiling fans can save about 25 percent on energy bills, according to Dominion.

Fans can lower the room temperature by up to 10 degrees and are especially effective because they circulate air downward, Harris said.

To keep your air conditioning running efficiently, Harris said the filter needs to be changed once a month, even if the packaging didn’t require it.

In addition to monitoring cooling systems, homeowners should cut down on activities that create excess heat to reduce energy.

Harris said activities that use hot water, such as doing the dishes, should be completed during early morning or later at night when it’s not as hot outside. Doing this will reduce the amount of heat in the house, which takes some work off the air conditioning.

Harris said another simple thing people can do to reduce heat is to use cold water for dishes and even while running the garbage disposal. She said it helps the disposal stay cool, and it reduces hot water usage.

“It’s one of the small things people can do,” Harris said.

Changing to energy efficient light bulbs can also help reduce energy costs in the home. Harris said it doesn’t cost a lot to invest in compact florescent lamps, or CFL bulbs, but they have a great return.

She said CFLs use less energy, last longer and generate less heat than incandescent light bulbs.

This is something that can help reduce utility costs all year long.

And just like in the winter, saving energy in the summer means keeping the air out. To ensure as little air is getting in your home as possible, you should check the seals on windows and doors.

Harris said weather stripping and caulking are effective and affordable ways of renewing those seals.

Additionally, using blinds, shade or heat control film on windows can be a good way to keep heat out of the house.

Harris said heat control film, which can be a little pricier, is a good alternative for homeowners who don’t want blinds or shades to take away from the view or appearance of their windows.

For more energy saving tips, visit www.dom.com/about/conservation/summer-tips.jsp.

 

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/

Furnasman

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