ENERGY CONSERVATION
It's easy to get shocked with a big energy bill during the cold winter months. There are a number of steps that can be taken to help keep those costs down to improve heating efficiency. Although some steps may require the assistance of a contractor, many others can be done easily and quickly by any do-it-yourselfer.
Your home's heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system is the most obvious place to start, since this is probably the largest power draw, and the greatest source of energy loss as well. Get your HVAC systems serviced regularly and change the filters on your heating unit. A dirty filter can dramatically decrease heating efficiency, yet it only costs a few dollars and takes only a few minutes to replace.
Sealing your duct system is also an easy way to save energy. A duct system that has leaks will take in unheated air and blow it into your home. Seal the leaks with duct mastic, instead of duct tape. The attic is also a common source of drafts, so you should make sure to seal the air spaces in the attic. Holes or tunnels for plumbing or wiring, if left open, may cause cold air to move inside the walls throughout the entire house.
A hot water heater is also a major consumer of energy, and many are inefficient. A tank-style hot water heater should be wrapped if it is an unheated area of the house. Tankless, on-demand hot water heaters may improve heating efficiency, since they do not have to constantly heat a large tank of water.
A zone heating and hot water Solar heating system can greatly reduce home or business energy consumption.
Windows are another obvious source of heat loss. Ideally, windows should be positioned so as to let in the sun. Double paned windows also work very efficiently, both in winter and summer. Make sure they windows are tightly sealed, and of course, weather-stripping should always be used in the cool months to seal any open spaces that exist around windows or doors.
If you are building a new house, some design elements may also be considered, such as landscaping. Strategically placed trees may help save hundreds of dollars in heating and cooling costs. Motion detectors both outside and inside can also cut costs by automatically shutting off lights when nobody is around. In addition to motion detectors, other electronic control systems can save energy, such as programmable timers and sensors that automatically shut off other electric devices when not in use.
How the Heating & Air Conditioning Technician Can Assist
The HVAC technician is a professional that labors in the field of heating, ventilation, air conditioning service and support. Essentially, the HVAC technician will be associated with either the installation process for HVAC systems, or focus on the repair and maintenance of systems that are already in place. The HVAC technician may work as an independent contractor or be employed by a company that specializes in climate control solutions for businesses and residential properties.
When the HVAC technician is associated with the installation of a new system, he will be proficient in reading blueprints connected to the installation, and will participate in the preparation of the space for the installation of the required equipment. This may also include the ductwork construction and installation as well as the main components for the system. The HVAC technician will be responsible for making sure the installation is conducted in compliance with local regulations, and that the unit will provide efficient heating and air conditioning for the space.
For the HVAC technician that is concerned with maintenance of existing systems, the focus is on inspecting each component in the system. This will include making sure that each portion of the overall system is still functioning within acceptable levels of efficiency. If a component is found to be wearing out or in danger of breaking down, the technician will engage in repairs to the unit that will correct the situation. The HVAC technician will also check for ventilation efficiency of the system and make adjustments if necessary.
Electric Space Heaters
Electric space heaters are considered energy hogs with very good reason. The smallest electric space heaters can use about 3000 watts (10,236.43 BTU's) per hour. Larger electric space heaters may use over 11,000 watts (37,533.56 BTU's) in an hour. Using electric space heaters instead of central heating may increase your overall energy costs for heating by about 70%.
Some people also use propane-based space heaters, called combustion models. These may be good for emergencies when electricity is not available but they do need to be properly vented so as not to release dangerous carbon monoxide into a home’s air. For these, one purchases either propane or diesel fuel, but never gasoline. Many combustion model space heaters are measured by British Thermal Units (BTUs) only.
Essentially a BTU is a measurement of the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water by one degree. It is transferable to watts, but costs of energy will depend largely on the source. If you happen to live in an area where propane is inexpensive, propane based space heaters are often considered less expensive to run. They may use about 2300 watts (7,847.93 BTUs) to 4100 watts (13,989.78 BTUs) in an hour.
Space heaters should always be used in very safe settings. They should be kept away from children, and combustion models, unless they are rated as safe for indoor use, must be ventilated. Space heaters account for numerous fires each year in the US, about 25,000. These often result from improper use.
On the other hand, even though space heaters do consume more energy, if they are used sparingly, and safely, they may ultimately use less energy than central heating. This is because central heating heats all the rooms in one’s home. If one only wants one room heated for a short period of time, it may prove more economical to use a recently built, small space heater, such as a kerosene heater, using K-1 kerosene.
One can also save money and energy by carefully reading the manufacturer’s recommendations on space heaters. One should purchase a space heater that is large enough, but not too large for a particular room’s dimensions. It does not make sense to purchase space heaters that are supposed to heat larger spaces than one has, and it will cost more in energy.
Cooling Equipment
Energy consumption for home air conditioning accounts for almost 5% of all the electricity produced in the U.S. for all purposes at a cost to homeowners of over $15 billion. This translates to roughly 140 million tons of carbon dioxide. Follow these steps to lower the energy you use for cooling.
Step 1: Reduce Your Need for Air Conditioning
Step 2: Find a Good Contractor, such as Shoreline Mechanical!
Step 3: Select a New System
Step 4: Improve the Efficiency of Your System, Old or New
Reduce Your Need for Air Conditioning
Before you consider upgrading your cooling equipment, the cheapest way to save money and energy from cooling is to reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning in the first place. This can be done in several ways:
1. Insulate and tighten your house: Improving insulation and air sealing prevents heat from entering your house. Your highest priority should be to check insulation levels and air leaks between your living space and the attic.
2. Get rid of inefficient appliances: Inefficient appliances give off a lot of heat. Especially consider replacing or discarding old or auxiliary refrigerators; replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescents; and unplug electronic equipment when not in use.
3. Consider "cool" exterior finishes: When replacing your roof or painting your house, using light-colored or other "cool" roofing and siding products can reduce your peak cooling demand by 10-15%. There are a number of roofing products that can dramatically cut down on heat gain without blinding the neighbors. Start by looking for ENERGY STAR Reflective Roof Products.
4. Shade or improve windows: To keep high-angle summer sun out, consider horizontal trellises for your east and west-facing windows. Protect south-facing windows with deciduous trees or climbing foliage so you can take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter, when the leaves fall. New windows on those walls that get the most summer sun should have low-e glazings to block unwanted heat gain.
5. Cool with air movement and ventilation: Fan operation uses less energy than air conditioning and can be adequate for attaining desired comfort levels unless you live in a very humid climate.
Ceiling fans. Ceiling fans cool by creating a low-level “wind chill” effect throughout a room. As long as indoor humidity isn’t stifling, they can be quite effective. Just remember that a fan cools people — it doesn’t actually reduce room temperature — so turn it off when you leave the room. Look for ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans.
House fans. Unless you live in a very humid climate, installing a large fan in your top-floor ceiling is a very effective way of cooling your whole house down without central AC. These fans suck air through the house, inducing a strong draft in rooms where windows are open as it pulls cooler, outdoor air inside. Check with your local home improvement retailer about available products and installation.
Utilize a Good Contractor Such as Shoreline Mechanical: Because no two houses are alike, it is very difficult to advise what kind of new cooling system will be the most appropriate, efficient and cost-effective for your house. That is why the first step in replacing your system is finding a contractor who has experience in high-efficiency systems, such as Shoreline Mechanical.
* Our skilled air conditioner and heat pump technicians will always perform a cooling load calculation to determine proper sizing before making a recommendation.
* Shoreline Mechanical will check all ducts before installing a new system. All ducts must be correctly examined to make sure they are sealed and insulated (where outside the building envelope) with supply and return systems balanced.
* Call Shoreline Mechanical to schedule a time when we could meet with you to discuss how we can best serve you and allow us to give a system analysis with costs to repair, upgrade or replace.
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