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Solar systems, renewable energy, energy efficiency and your home

Solar systems, renewable energy, energy efficiency and your home


Solar systems, renewable energy, energy efficiency and your home

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 08:41 PM PDT

Reduce your energy bill with renewable energy

Use renewable energy to produce electricity and reduce electricity bills can be a solid long term investment. Depending on the type of technology, you can expect a full return on investment within 3 to 18 years. With financial or tax credits from the utility or state or national government, the return on your investment over time can be reduced by half.

However, under the first step, considerAll renewable energy systems must, at your home or business more energy efficient. In general, the basic rule that for every $ 1 spent more energy efficient your situation, is $ 3 to $ 5 to save the cost of renewable energy system. Let's see about some basic ways you can go your home more energy efficient.

Make Home Energy Efficient

One of the easiest things you can do to reduce the energy consumption is to change yournormal incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Energy efficient light bulbs energy consumption 65-75% in less than a regular bulb that produces the same amount of light. Replacing a regular light bulb 100 watts to 32 watts CFL, you will have $ 60 to $ 80 to save on electricity costs throughout the lamp life (10,000 hours). Now imagine how much you save if you changed all the bulbs to energy saving light bulbs!

The technology of these lamps has been developed and improved rapidly inIn recent years, while the cost came to be dramatic. You will find that compact fluorescent light bulbs that time as required for most lamps and lighting is dimmable CFL!. Head out, buy at your local department or hardware store and compact fluorescent lamps for most of the lights as possible. The investment is worth it.

Another alternative to traditional bulbs are fiber optic. Tubular skylights look a little 'how to polish the stove pipes that start with a transparent dome on topRoof and are available in some rooms for the day of enlightenment. Often we see customers with fiber optic lighting in hallways and bathrooms to bring. The light is natural, and naturally in some plants may be lighter than a 100-watt light bulb type.

Energy Star and Energy Guide

One of the largest consumers of electricity in most homes is the refrigerator. In most households, the refrigerator is the number one powerEvery power consumer after the heating or cooling systems-based. If your refrigerator is more than 10 years, is likely to be electrically very inefficient. You should replace your refrigerator has a current, a high Energy Star rating. Remember that just because a refrigerator, Energy Star have earned the label does not mean that is the most efficient model available, it just means that the efficiency mandate from the Federal standards of efficiency is at least 15%. You can alsomost research on the online Energy Star Web site. There is the type of mark, and the size of the refrigerator to sort and search for energy efficiency. Can If you are shopping in stores, contact the yellow Energy Guide tags that are attached to all new refrigerators (and many other devices). Energy is another guide for state program by Energy Star, the information on the annual energy consumption provides and shows you where each model ends in a comparison with similar models. Formaximum energy savings, choose the model that is a leader in efficiency in its class.

Phantom Loads

Also known as "phantom loads" are the subtle devices consume mind constantly releases small amounts of electricity loads 24 hours a day, even if it does not really do anything useful. While each device by itself can not consume much energy, the combination of all right in your home consume the equivalent of two or three 60-watt bulbLight bulbs left on all day and all night. During a single year amounted to over 1 megawatt-hour, in other words, the power saving enough for a whole house for 2 or 3 months!

What are these mysterious Spirit invites? The best known examples of "power" are adapters or power supplies that are free to use mobile phones, laptops, cordless phones, answering machines, radios, inkjet printers and many other appliances. They are actuallysmall transformers, rotating AC wall current in current use by the DC device. During one of these devices consume only a small amount of energy (eg 30-20 Watts), a dozen of them, continuously and simultaneously consume a significant amount of electricity. What's worse is that even if you do not charge the phone or battery for your cordless drill that the AC adapter can continue to use electricity only because they putWall. Other phantom loads are well camouflaged devices that have the "instant on" feature, as most modern TVs, VCRs, DVD players, radios and many many computers. During all these devices are turned off presumably, they are actually consuming every 3 or 20 watts continuously, only to be ready to use them.

How do you remove the consumption of energy from these parasitic loads? One of the simplest solutions is to simply connect these devices in aCiabatta, which is an on / off switch. When you are done with the devices and close them by the rule, and then just press the power switch on the power strip. Many people are part of their nightly routine to turn off power strips, just before going to bed. For AC power adapter that you use at night, like to recharge a cell phone, put on a separate power strip that turns off during the day if you bring your cell phone. Simple solutions such as these could reduce your mindelectrical loads up to 80%. Real-time dollars, this means savings upwards of $ 120 per year in electricity costs, depending on local utility rates and how it has undertaken to reduce phantom loads.

A special note for people who plan to live off-grid are

If you plan to use an off-grid solar, wind or water system plan and a 12 or 24 volt battery, often able to find the devices andDevices directly to these voltages. The advantage of using equipment that does not need a power supply that consumes unnecessarily, if the device is in operation. After all, what is not an AC adapter to convert standard household alternating current to direct current for the device type, and it is rare that the conversion efficiency.

Energy Efficient Cooling

During the summer (and in warmer climates), air-conditioningOften, the largest consumer of electricity. An economical way to reduce the demand on air conditioning cooling your attic with a fan to keep rooftop solar. Powered by an integrated solar module, solar roof fans, if your attic is heated to intervene during the day. Venting the hot air from the attic all day to stay cooler and under the floors, as a result of your air conditioner runs less clear.

Fans of the solar roof can have a good do-it-yourself or carpenters to install.They need no wiring. A hole must be cut in the roof, the fan in the attic slipped and the edges are well insulated with the roof. The solar panel of the fan is installed as designed, lasts at least 25 years. A fan solar roof is another wise investment that pays for itself very quickly.

For people who live in areas that are relatively dry, but warm live, have evaporative coolers (swamp coolers also known) is an alternative cost, low power consumption to conventional airAir conditioners. Evaporative coolers use about 25% of the energy of an air conditioner would. Unfortunately, many people live in climates that hot weather, it is also relatively humid. Under these conditions, evaporative coolers will not work effectively.

Another simple way to reduce costs and green house in the air conditioning on deciduous trees, their leaves shade your home in summer and drop their leaves for more sunlight in winter conditions. It is shading your homeless heated, and therefore requires less cooling from air conditioning. Planting a tree in this scenario is twice the environmental impact, it is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using less electricity, because both of the same tree absorbs carbon dioxide.

Energy efficient appliances and

Many other devices in your family, a new version and greater energy efficiency. Here is a brief list of other devicesThey should be replaced with more efficient versions: hot tubs, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, telephone, VCR and DVD, ceiling fans, fax machines, computers and photocopiers. To find out which brands and models are certified Energy Star and to find out which of these are more efficient Energy Star Web site that you visit the site: www.EnergyStar.gov. To find out how much electricity your appliances consume really invest in a gauge of economic strength as the Kill-A-Wattmeters.

For many families, the largest bill is the cost of heating. Probably the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to reduce heating costs is to buy a programmable thermostat. You can turn off the oven thermostat to automatically, if you are not home and turn it on, just before you come. You can easily recoup your investment in the new thermostat in your little one winter, less for the heating system. See your local store or hardware companies for prices and HVACAvailability of different models.

Another key step to reduce the heating bill at home has kept air leaks and adding insulation. According to the Energy Star seal air leaks and adding insulation can reduce heating costs by up to 10%. For homes with attics, is one of the most simple and effective way to put down insulation in the attic. Visit your local hardware store to find out how much insulation is recommended in several areas of your homeRegion.

In recent years the use of solar air heating systems are becoming more popular. Mounted on an exterior, south-facing wall or roof, solar air heating collectors can reduce a home or business heating costs by up to 30% per annum. They cost much less than a conventional heating system, solar air heaters typically pay for itself in 3-6 years. Typically last for 18 to 35 years and require only minimal maintenance. In connection with yourexisting heating system, solar air heating systems simply reduces your heating needs, if you have even partial sunlight.

There are two basic types of solar air heating. There are those that blow cool outside air and heat in your home or office. That there are those who take the air inside the building to increase the temperature by another 50 to 90 degrees Celsius and blows it out to (also known as convection solar systems). Newer homes andBuildings, which tend to be tightly closed and stagnant air in winter is twice the size of you will benefit from the fresh solar air heaters. Old houses are usually by nature and experience draftier full air exchange with the outside a couple of times a day. These houses are from the solar air heaters, circulating the air in the room and enjoy the increase of temperature. Typically, a foot 4×8 is recommended for air solar collector 750-1000 square feet of space at home.

WaterHeating Efficiency

Models efficient heating hot water in recent years are available. If you have an old hot water heater is probably not with efficiency in mind. Again, check the Energy Star website to find out what is the more efficient boilers.

Another good alternative to traditional hot water tanks are instantaneous water heaters. These systems heat water only when itsis used. Heating systems normally used in much of North America, maintaining a large tub of hot water to be used only few times a day. For hot water and ready for a traditional hot water tanks this time to stop consuming energy during the day if you need it or not. Heaters consume energy only when you need hot water, doing the typical budget of 30 to 50% of the cost of heating water. You can find water heatersHeaters, natural gas, propane and electricity usage by a variety of manufacturers.

Solar Water Heating offers you the best return on investment

The energy (natural gas, propane, electricity, etc.) are needed for water heating, 60-90% may be a solar heating system to preheat water before it enters the water reducing the existing traditional boilers. Extraordinarily effective and efficient, even in northern climates, solarWater heating technologies have matured over the past 30 years. Designed to be easy for the last 30 years or more with minimal maintenance, paying the solar water heating usually for himself in his first 3-7 years of use. The solar hot water collectors heat your home with water, which are usually placed on the roof of the house. The hot water is produced, stored in an insulated tank until ready to use your home. Your only football on the traditional hot water heatingWater when the water temperature is not high enough. The solar hot water systems can be installed by experts in the do-it-yourself, but it is recommended that a licensed plumber or hydraulic check or making more complicated the plumbing.

Energy efficiency – Your first step to clean energy and energy independence

To take the first step before buying a solar or wind power to your current needs is to reduce these needs in an intelligent way. MoreThe houses can cost-reducing their electrical needs of 20 to 30%, without making any changes in the lifestyle of residents. We will provide you with many tips for saving energy in this article, such as:
The replacement of light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones.
Update your old appliances with energy star who has a very low annual energy consumption evaluation.
Minimizing the number of hidden ghost (ghost) loads in your home.
Insulate your home andfor the colder seasons.
To make creative use of vegetation to keep the house cool in summer and optimize the sunlight entering the house in winter.
Using solar thermal technologies (not to be confused with the technologies of solar energy), to effectively reduce costs, the traditional air or water heating systems work in order.

There are literally hundreds of other little tricks to make your smart home, which further reduces your electrical needs. Consider raising aCopy of the book '10 Minute Energy Saving Secrets – 250 Easy Ways Big Bucks Year Round "by Jerri Farris Save many other ways to learn quickly and easily to reduce household energy consumption.

© 2009 Old Store, Inc. – "Making Renewable Do-able" (TM)

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