Ideas For Achieving Energy Efficient Homes

With all costs on the rise, adding up to the already huge problem with the New York housing crunch and worldwide economic woes; more and more people are searching of ways to cutback on costs. In our homes, one of the largest shares where our hard-earned budget goes to is the energy bill, thus making the efficient use of energy a great way to reduce monthly expenses. With that said, let us look into superb ideas to achieve energy efficient homes which are practical whether you are in Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan or Queens.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #1:

Proper and Enough Insulation and Sealing

Other than maximized indoor comfort and increased home value, proper and enough insulation and sealing also makes your HVAC systems work less hard thus resulting to less operation costs and lower energy bills. Unknown to many homeowners, a well-insulated home extends beyond just the exterior walls and the attic. You should also ensure insulation in these areas: floors, ceilings especially those below unheated areas, basement walls, kneewalls, overhangs, and between interior walls.

Air leaks are silent predators that waste much energy even if you own a set of state-of-the-art energy efficient systems. Sealing should be approached in such as way that the whole house is benefited starting from the systems alone with its series of ducts and pipings to the walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, electrical outlets, and lighting and plumbing fixtures.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #2:

Lighting

Saving energy with lighting can be done in many ways.

• Replace existing lighting fixtures with efficient models that give off as much brilliance but uses up less electricity like compact fluorescent bulbs, reflector lamps and tungsten halogen.
• Make use of lighting controls such as dimmers and other devices that reduce the time that lights are on unnecessarily.
• Make full use of natural lighting.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #3:

Solar Panels

When thinking of energy-efficiency, nothing beats making full use of natural resources as not only are they powerful, they are free as well. One of the most popular innovations in natural resource-use is solar panels. Solar panels can come as solar thermal collectors with which the energy from the sun is used to heat water or liquid fuels, or solar photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #4:

Appliances

A good percentage of energy consumption in homes results from operating appliances. When shopping for appliances, it would be wise to pick those with the Energy Star label. Though the initial cost would be much higher, think about the long-term benefits. When computing the ‘real’ cost, you should also take operating costs and annual energy consumption into consideration. Looking into such factor proves that energy-efficient appliances are wise investments.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #5:

Proper Maintenance of Appliances and Home Systems

Without regular cleaning and proper maintenance, appliances and HVAC systems would be working laboriously. This added strain would not only lead to damages but more consumption of energy as well. So, check your manuals for recommended ways of cleaning and proper equipment maintenance.

About the Author:
Eugene Makeev uses his skills and expertise to help home owners in Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island avoid the common pitfalls by matching their needs with prescreened remodeling contractors New York.

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Ideas for Achieving Energy Efficient Homes

Green Hot Water - Add Convenience While Saving Both Water And Energy

Being green can be quite inconvenient. Saving water means low flow toilets, low flow water fixtures, and less greenery in the yard. These are all good proven methods of practicing water conservation, but sometimes human behavior can get in the way.

• Human behavior is a large part of the equation

Some of the research that was done for the California Energy Commission back in the 80s showed that many of the conservation methods were not effective due to how the occupants of a home behaved. The smart thermostats, loads of insulation, double pane windows, outlet gaskets, and air tight construction didn’t do a lot of good when the homeowner turned up the air conditioning and opened the windows.

• Wasting time, water, and energy

Another human thing to do is to run water down the drain while waiting for hot water. I’m not suggesting anyone jump into a cold shower. By all means, wait until the water is hot before you jump. But there are quite a few people who are simply not patient enough to stand there waiting for the hot water. These people turn on the hot water full-blast, and then go do something else while they wait. They shave, or brush their teeth, or start the coffee, and then return to the shower.

The problem with this behavior is that not only does it waste a whole lot of water unnecessarily, it also wastes energy. There is no telling how much HOT water was run down the rain. With a two gallon per minute shower head, running it for two minutes after the arrival of hot water would waste 4 gallons of hot water.

• Heating the water is much more expensive than the water being heated

The energy to heat water is much more expensive than the water itself. For example, let’s assume natural gas costs $1.37/Therm, an 80% efficient gas water heater, temperature rise of 90 degrees, and a cost of water of $.0002/gallon (national average). In this case, that 4 gallons of hot water cost 48 cents to heat, and the water cost less than a penny.

• Water conservation products – hot water demand systems

There are several water conservation products on the market that can eliminate both the wasted water and the wasted energy in these cases. The products are known as hot water demand systems. These devices not only eliminate running water down the drain, but get you your hot water faster than running the faucet.

The way these products work is to pump the water from the water heater to the fixtures at high speed, sending the cooled off hot water that was in the hot water pipes back to the water heater through the cold water line. When you want hot water you press a button, which starts the pump, and when hot water reaches the fixture, the pump shuts off. The pump is typically located at the furthest fixture from the heater, and can often supply fast waste-free hot water at more than one fixture.

• ACT Metlund and Chilipepper Sales Manufacture Hot Water Demand Systems

Chilipepper Sales model CP6000

Chilipepper Sales and ACT Metlund both manufacture hot water demand systems. The Chilipepper model CP6000 hot water demand system has a powerful 1/3 horsepower motor, hooks up to the plumbing with hoses by just turning off the shut-off valves under the sink, and retails for about $180. It’s powerful enough to handle pipe runs of up to about 400 feet, and will operate any tank type or tankless water heater. It comes with a 5 year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee.

• Metlund D’mand Systems

The ACT Metlund D'mand S-50T-PF Kit re-circulating pump has a small 1/40 horsepower motor, has ½ inch sweat fittings, and needs to be plumbed in on the meter side of the shut-off valves, requiring shutting off the water to the house. It retails for about $340.00 and has a three year warranty. It cannot be used with a tankless water heater, and is recommended for pipe runs of less than 50 feet.

The ACT Metlund S-70T-PF Kit has a small 1/25 horsepower motor, installs with ½” threaded pipe fittings, needs the water to the house turned off for installation, and retails for about $440. It has a 5 year warranty, and is recommended for less than 100 foot pipe runs or less than 60 feet with a tankless water heater.

The ACT Metlund S-02T-PF Kit has a 1/8 horsepower motor, installs with ½” fittings, meter side of the shut-offs, and retails for about $750.00. This model is recommended for pipe runs under 300 feet and works with tankless water heaters. It has a 5 year warranty.

• In conclusion

Home owners can be green by adding the convenience of fast hot water while substantially reducing the wastage of water and even water heating energy. Just saving that one 4-gallon wastage a day, with an electric water heater, would more than pay for the less expensive demand systems in less than a year, and the CP6000 in months.

Some water companies offer rebates for hot water demand systems. A water company in Arizona is offering a $200 rebate for installing one of these systems. The rebate makes for a very short payback period indeed.

All of these systems have life expectancies of about 15 years…the same as the average water heater. Be green, install a hot water demand system in your home and start saving time water, energy, and money!

Two hot water demand systems compared Metlund vs Chilipepper: Metlund d mand System Info.

For more information about all kinds of water heaters: Hot Water Heaters Instant hot water systems.

Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles