Making your home safer doesn’t have to mean building a fire-proof fortress or installing a top-dollar security system. In fact, simple do-it-yourself measures are often the most effective. In this article, we’ve assembled five projects that cost $10 to $40 and take less than an hour apiece to do. These improvements will help protect you [...]
Since you now know that size affects your air conditioning system, it’s time to understand how to determine the right size equipment for your home. To do that your builder and HVAC contractor will need to use what’s called a “Manual J” calculation.
What Is a Manual J Calculation?
The Manual J calculation is a way to [...]
Definition:
A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface of the vehicle. Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert the sun’s energy directly into electrical energy. Solar vehicles are not practical day-to-day transportation devices at present, but are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises.
Some solar cars compete in races [...]
.Natural Gas and Oil Furnace Systems–Have a professional assess your needs and recommend the type and size of system you should purchase. Size is one of the most important factors affecting the efficiency of these systems. Too large a system costs more and operates inefficiently. Bigger is not always better. They have advanced technology [...]
Food deteriorates over time, and the rate of deterioration is determined by food acidity, oxidation, and food temperature.
The acidity (The amount of acid in substance, shown by a low pH. Can also means ’sharp or tart to taste’) or pH of a food affects both its taste and the rate at which microorganisms grow [...]
The absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that utilizes a heat (e.g., solar) source to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling system rather than being dependent on electricity to run a compressor. These refrigerators are popular where electricity is unreliable, costly, or unavailable, where noise from the compressor is problematic, or where surplus heat [...]
Scientific evidence has suggested that the air in homes is more polluted than outdoor air, even in the largest, most industrialised cities. Approximately 70 per cent of our time is spent indoors, so perhaps the risk to health is largely due to exposure to indoor air rather than that outdoors.
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A fireplace may add warmth and [...]
Looks like it’s about time to break out my slippers and sweaters again. Many people believe that life in my neck of the woods–Southern California–is warm and sunny year-round. But even here, fall brings crisp days and chilly nights. Of course, conditions in colder climates are far worse, but we’re not quite as well prepared [...]
If you’re looking for ways to trim the fat from your electrical bills, consider some of these techniques, drawn from the experience of commercial daylighting experts: Turning off lights that aren’t being used is a big one. Another is converting standard incandescent light bulbs to highly efficient compact fluorescents.
Compact fluorescents use from about one [...]
Thanks to technology, houses have evolved light years beyond their earliest task of providing simple shelter. They have become total environments that sustain, refresh and provide us with a high level of healthful comfort. From air conditioners to zone heating systems, a wide variety of machines and systems equip today’s homes for these responsibilities.
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There are [...]
Tankless Water Heaters by Stiebel Eltron, established in Germany in 1924, and Takagi, established in Japan in 1946, are the most reliable and well engineered electric and gas tankless water heaters made anywhere at any price. Remember that Germany and Japan make the finest automobiles and electronic products in the world and it’s no surprise [...]
If the motor runs but the blower doesn’t move air, the belt that connects the two probably has broken. Replacing it is an easy fix.
First, turn off all power to the unit and turn off the gas at the gas valve that serves the furnace.
Remove the door on the front of the furnace cabinet to [...]
During the hot summer months, attic temperatures can reach up to 160 degrees, and even though passive cooling systems, such as ridge vents, can certainly disperse the heat, more efficient ventilation can be attained through the use of attic fans. Though these fans can certainly cool down your attic, they have a much broader function: [...]
What’s the most common mistake people make in trying to save energy around the house?
Common mistakes people make include:
1.letting the furnace or air conditioner salesperson sell them a unit that’s much bigger than they need,
2.not getting the ducts checked for leakage when installing a new heating and cooling system,
3thinking that “since heat rises, we [...]
Efficient Oil-fired furnaces make your home more comfortable. Some models are less prone to causing indoor air quality problems or house fires.
Efficient Oil-fired furnaces may provide the following benefits in addition to reducing your energy bills.
Improved Comfort. Efficient furnaces provide greater comfort because they cycle on and off less often, and have improved controls [...]
Efficient LPG-fired water heaters may hold their temperature longer following power interruptions and operate more safely.
Many efficient water heaters are better insulated and will cool off more slowly if the heating elements are unable to operate. (Since they rely on electronic ignitions, even gas-fired water heaters are vulnerable to power interruptions.)
One type of [...]
Efficient LPG-fired furnaces make your home more comfortable. Some models are less prone to causing indoor air quality problems or house fires.
Efficient LPG-fired furnaces may provide the following benefits in addition to reducing your energy bills.
Improved Comfort. Efficient furnaces provide greater comfort because they cycle on and off less often, and have improved controls [...]
Types of Tubing
Older radiant floor systems used either copper or steel tubing embedded in the concrete floors. Unless the builder coated the tubing with a protective compound, a chemical reaction between the metal and the concrete often led to corrosion of the tubing, and to eventual leaks. Major manufacturers of hydronic radiant floor systems now [...]
Floor Coverings for Radiant Heat
Although ceramic tile is the most common floor covering for radiant floor heating, almost any floor covering can be used. However, some perform better than others. Common floor coverings like vinyl and linoleum sheet goods, carpeting, wood or bare concrete is often specified. However, it is wise to always remember that [...]
Controlling the System
A radiant floor that uses a concrete slab takes many hours to heat up if it is allowed to become cold. This can be very inconvenient while waiting for the slab heat up so it can heat the space. Because of this, most radiant floor systems are not permitted to go into a [...]
Radiant floor tubing can also be used to cool a house, but presently it is only appropriate for dry climates. The floor temperature is held at 68o F (20o C) by using either a small cooling machine (chiller) connected to the floor tubing or the steady 55o F (13 o C) temperature of the ground [...]
There is always some moisture in the air, even though we cannot see it. When that moisture is allowed to accumulate in a dwelling, the atmosphere becomes saturated and condensation occurs which can eventually result in damage to the structure of the building and its contents. This leads to expensive repairs and maintenance plus associated [...]
In 2000, the government made a commitment to bring all public sector homes up to a decent standard, establishing a 10 year target and an interim target to: “ensure that all social housing meets set standards of decency by 2010, by reducing the number of households living in social housing that does not meet these [...]
For decades cutting-edge architecture and sustainable design have, to a large extent,
existed in separate camps, with little dialogue among the leaders in the each field. In the
world of contemporary residential design, sustainability often ranked well below considerations of style and cost. Many sophisticated designers seemed resigned to the notion that aesthetics would be compromised if [...]
1.Consider the cost of comfort. For each degree you set your thermostat above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you can expect a 3 percent rise in energy costs.
2.If your air conditioner is turned off accidentally or because of a power outage, switch it off for at least 6 minutes before restarting to prevent damage to the compressor. [...]
Drinking water is water that is intended to be ingested by humans. Water of sufficient quality to serve as drinking water is termed potable water whether it is used as such or not. Although many sources are utilized by humans, some contain disease vectors or pathogens and cause long-term health problems if they do not [...]
A company that developed technology capable of creating water out of thin air nearly anywhere in the world is now under contract to nourish U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq.
The water-harvesting technology was originally the brainchild of the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which sought ways to ensure sustainable water supplies [...]
According to the Department of Energy, 40 to 60 percent of all energy used in homes goes toward heating and cooling. That’s a significant amount of money every month, considering that the average household energy bill in 2007 was $1,900. Whether you’re ready to replace mechanical equipment or just looking to improve the system [...]
Rick Yeager searches a home to find the source of a mysterious scratching behind the walls.
Home inspector Rick Yerger traces the noises in the wall of Steve and Christy Karsten’s home to a gas combustion furnace and the water heater. Something in the flue system is causing a backdraft and allowing deadly [...]
Hygrometers are instruments used for measuring humidity. A simple form of a hygrometer is specifically known as a “psychrometer” and consists of two thermometers, one of which includes a dry bulb and the other of which includes a bulb that is kept wet to measure wet-bulb temperature. Evaporation from the wet bulb lowers the temperature, [...]