Green Daily

I lot of this stuff I've already implemented into my home. My family also unplugs all appliances that are not used on a constant basis and many other tricks such as: television (unplug when not in use), recharges (they still draw power even when not charging anything), off peak use of appliances (dishwasher, dryer, washing machine, etc.), energy saving light bulbs, and we use solar powered lights outside. I know this is a little off subject but I found this interesting video on saving money that I've used and has made a difference in my home energy use - basically my energy bill has drastically decreased. Oh, oh, here is the link: http://coaches.aol.com/money/mary-hunt/reducing-bills?step=4

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Methods to reduce your utility costs at home
Well, we’re all reeling from our utility bills. We are all aware of the rising costs of utilities. So, what can you do to cut energy/utility consumption and costs?
Obviously, the best way to cut your utility bill is to go with a non-utility company source of energy. Solar power or Wind power can be used to warm your house, it is known that geothermal can be used to cool and heat the home. While these are great choices, there are a few simple steps you can take to cut that monstrous utility bill.
Vent Covers – In most homes, there are rooms that rarely get used. A very simple and very cheap way to cut your heating costs is to isolate those rooms from the rest of your home. To do this, you should close the vents in the room. The vents, however, rarely close well. To make the strategy effective, you should buy vent covers and place them over the vents. The covers are a form of plastic and keep heat from coming out of the vents. Next, close the door to the room in question and leave it. By using this strategy, you can effectively make your home smaller by excluding the square footage that has to be heated. The smaller the area, the less energy you will use and save money to heat the home. (for safety reasons use carbon monoxide detectors..
Windows – Windows are the single biggest energy wasters in your home. Your windows must seal tightly. If they don’t, heat will escape out of them causing your heater to fire up over and over. If you make sure your window fit tightly into the frame when closed, you can significant cut the utility bill. It sounds like a small thing, but it really ads up. (it also reduces wind and increases comfort level). During the summer shade you windows with landscaping or owning. (window shades or curtains)
Programmable Thermostat – Heating your home accounts for fifty percent of your utility bill. While a warm home is necessary for basic living in the winter, the home doesn’t need to be heated all of the time. If there are periods during the day where nobody is home because of work or school, a programmable thermostat can be used to slash your heating costs. Simply program the thermostat to turn off during the relevant time and turn back on before anyone gets home. Cutting four to eight hours off of your heating needs each day will add up quickly on your utility bill, you can also lower the temperature a few degrees. Adding a humidifier can also increase the comfort level and save energy during the winter heating season.
Furnace filter should be checked and changed regularly. Reduce drafts and insulate your air ducts. Wrap your hot water heater to maintain the heat. Insulate your attic and install attic fan(s). Utilize energy efficient light bulbs indoor and outdoor (CFL/LED). Shut off lights and appliances when not in use. Use photocell to turn on and off outdoor lighting. Utilize rebates and tax credits minimize the costs of implementing energy saving methods and supplies/equipment.
During Summer in geographical areas where temperature at night drops bellow 65 degrees, open windows and bring in fresh air with a fan (which is healthier) and shut down the Air conditioning system. (add ceiling fans)
Utilize water saver aerators for you faucets and shower, repair all leaky faucets and toilets, and reduce toilet tank capacity.
Review your telecom/cellphone/internet/cable bill quarterly and modify the service according to your current requirements and available programs.
If your utility bills are completely out of control, there is something fundamentally wrong with your home. You need to go ahead and get an Energy Audit. An auditor will come out and inspect your home. They can then identify the problem, what should be done and provide other tips and methods to slash your bill. Depending on how bad your situation is, an energy audit can cut your utility bill by 50 percent or more and utility bill audit may get you a refund.
Power costs are high and expected to continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Take proper steps to cut your utility bill now and you will reap the benefits for years.
Yehuda Draiman, Energy Consultant
Dec. 24, 2007
PS
As a homeowner you are faced with only 3 options:
1. Continue to open your wallet and let the utility companies take whatever they want in ever increasing amounts forever!
As the years go by you'll have nothing to show for your money except cancelled checks.
2. Reduce your energy usage by reducing your standard of
living - sweat when it's hot, wear extra clothing and shiver
when it's cold.
3. Cut your energy consumption for Air Conditioning and Heating dramatically by making your home energy efficient. This will increase your home's resale value, and make it quieter and more comfortable.
Reallocate some of the money you saved which you would have normally paid to the power company to cover the cost of making your home energy efficient. (utilizing rebates and tax credits)
The object is to cut your home energy consumption for heating and cooling in half. To do this the transfer of heat between the outside and inside of your home must be reduced to a minimum by effectively insulating the envelope of the home. If the Air Conditioning/Heating system doesn't continuously have to come on to maintain the desired temperature inside your home, your electric and gas bill will drop dramatically. It's that simple.
Under insulated attic space, would be brought up to today's energy efficiency standards, air infiltration rates on exterior doors would be reduced with weather stripping, inaccurate analog thermostats would be replaced with accurate programmable digital thermostats, and poorly insulated single pane windows/doors with aluminum or wood frames-would be replaced with the super energy efficient windows/glass, high performance Low-E glass. Plus, suspended between the two layers of glass, microscopically thin, transparent, high tech membrane that controls the solar energy in the summer that would normally enter your home. During the winter, the heat is reflected back inside the home.
Because of the extreme high energy efficiency level the Window obtains, the factory issues each Homeowner a written "Fuel Savings Pledge" which guarantees over 40 percent MINIMUM reduction in energy consumption for cooling and heating.
The vast majority of the money a homeowner pays on a utility bill is for cooling and heating. The savings generated by cutting energy consumption for heating and cooling in half (combined with Rebates and tax saving offers) can more than cover the cost of the retrofit.
Making your home more energy efficient by properly insulating your attic, reducing air infiltration rates, accurately managing your Air Conditioning and Heating system, and installing the high-tech, super insulating windows with Specialized Glass, your family and your home can get more - much more while your energy/utility provider gets less.

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ERV Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems Reduce Long Term Costs and Improve Indoor Air Quality

Is the indoor air your breathe is as fresh and healthy as it can be?

As building science professionals have known for some time, an effective ventilation strategy is an absolute requirement for all homes. Mechanical ventilators exchange air inside the home with fresh air from the outside. This helps to reduce indoor pollution levels, and greatly increases the comfort level inside the home.
Many ventilation designs are including Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) to improve the system efficiency. Besides providing controlled ventilation, ERVs are able to filter, humidify, dehumidify, heat, or cool the incoming fresh air. The most popular design of ERVs utilizes a desiccant wheel to remove both heat and a significant amount of moisture from the incoming air, which reduces the load on the air-conditioning system. But while ventilators and ERVs can add tremendously to the comfort and efficiency of a home, they must be installed correctly.

One of the more recent developments in the ‘green’ technology industry is the creation of environmentally-friendly buildings that use energy-efficient technologies to reduce power consumption.

Energy consultants point out that creating ‘green’ buildings and improving the air quality inside such facilities utilizing ERV can and do go hand-in-hand. ERV Systems that reduce demand for energy while improving ventilation are increasingly in demand.

ERV – Energy Recovery Ventilation systems saves energy, increases indoor air quality, reduces contaminates and odors.

The use of ERV technology “energy recovery ventilation systems,” or ERVs. Such systems are designed to reduce energy consumption and improve indoor air quality (IAQ) by capturing and recycling building energy to humidify, pre-cool or dehumidify incoming air.

ERVs, the research first said, are most popular in areas with more extreme outdoor temperatures, like Northern states where winters can get quite cold, or Southern states where very warm temperatures and high humidity demand more energy consumption to maintain comfortable indoor environments.

“The focus on IAQ is another key trend benefiting ERV, as people become increasingly conscious of the importance to maintain air quality through properly designed and managed HVAC systems,” Energy consultant said in the energy audit survey.

Market growth for ERVs, Energy consultant said, is driven largely by energy conservation policies that are challenging building custodians to reduce energy consumption for indoor climates. The firm cited as an example the 90.1 standard from American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) which currently dictates “energy recovery systems for applications of 5000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) and larger with 70 percent outside air (OA).”

ASHRAE 90.1 is a standard that specifies at least 50 percent total effectiveness for ERVs, Energy consultant said.

The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also have various standards and regulations regarding energy recovery and IAQ.

Energy Consultant said two main obstacles lie in the way of more widespread use of ERVs: lack of knowledge and the need to reduce operating costs in the short term. Since building owners and facility managers rely for the most part on contractors to select and install heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, if the contractors are not up-to-speed on ERV developments they may pick products that aren’t as energy-efficient as they could be.

Also, Energy consultant noted, HVAC contractors work within budgets and therefore tend to buy equipment based on its price rather than long-term cost benefits. It therefore is important to educate contractors about ERVs, and some of that burden falls on manufacturers. The Green Building Council is also playing a role through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program that evaluates buildings to determine the environmental performance during their entire lifecycle.

ERVs aren’t just good for the planet; they’re good for people, too.

“The focus on IAQ is another key trend benefiting ERV, as people become increasingly conscious of the importance to maintain air quality through properly designed and managed HVAC systems,” Energy consultant said in the report.

When IAQ isn’t managed properly, people living or working in unhealthy buildings can develop sick building syndrome from pollutants in the air they breathe.

“With half of all illnesses attributed to indoor airborne contaminants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared IAQ a public health priority,” Energy consultant said. “Ventilation with outdoor air is the only strategy that can simultaneously reduce the levels of all indoor pollutants.”

Compiled by: Yehuda Draiman, Energy analyst – Northridge, CA

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