Temperature is a measure of the level of motion or agitation of molecules and atoms in a substance. In other words, it is a measure of the intensity of heat. Thermometers, used to determine the temperature, do so in terms of one of two common scales of degrees: Fahrenheit (F), on which water freezes at [...]
Reflective insulation differs from other insulating materials in the manner in which it retards heat transfer. Unlike the others, it works by reflecting incident infrared radiation, thus reducing radiant heat transfer. Reflective insulation is fabricated from aluminum foil with backings applied to provide a series of closed air spaces. Its insulating value is derived from [...]
Air leaks are the largest energy wasters in most newly constructed homes. Efforts to create an air-tight seal around the home’s interior during construction are among the most cost-effective measures that can be made. While leaks are fairly simple and inexpensive to seal during construction, they are almost impossible to seal later. Begin by asking [...]
Whole House Fans are Energy Efficient Cooling For Your Entire Home As you probably know – the sun beats down on your house all day. On a sunny day the temperature of an attic can reach as high as 140 degrees! And this high temperature in your attic will keep the indoor temperature higher than [...]
In the temperate region the priority is maximizing exposure of buildings to the sun during the cooler months and maximizing summer shade. Winter wind impacts should be minimized, while allowing for good air circulation during the summer. Orient the home to face south or southeast. The ideal orientation is 12 degrees south-southeast. Locate living areas [...]
Thermostats are the controls that tell your heating and cooling equipment when to turn on and off. Slight changes to their settings can mean some of the quickest and easiest savings to be found in many homes. As a rule-of-thumb, you can save about 2 or more percent of your heating costs for every degree [...]
Most people don’t think of their refrigerator as being a big contributor to the home’s energy bill, but in fact it is the third largest energy consumer in most homes, right behind space conditioning and water heating. They are usually between 6 and 16 percent of a home’s total energy cost. Like air conditioners, refrigerators [...]
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, is the total cooling of the heat pump in BTUs divided by the total electrical energy input in watt-hours during the same period. Naturally, the SEER for a unit will vary depending on where in the country it is located. SEERs of 9 or higher are considered good [...]
To understand condensation, one must first understand a couple of other concepts. Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. Relative humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount possible at a given temperature. Air with a relative humidity of 50% is [...]
Air Curtains are aerodynamically designed high speed air blowers, generally in a laminar stream of air with sufficient quantity (cfm) and comfortable speeds(velocity) to offer the designed environmental protection through open doorways/service hatches. Generally installed atop the door opening to give a vertical air draft in case of air conditioning (cold air) or at the [...]
Even the best surge protector in the world is useless unless it’s properly installed and maintained. If the product uses a light as the failure indicator, make sure it is installed so the light can easily be seen. With units placed behind an entertainment center or curtain, it is hard to know if they are [...]
A few simple steps can add up to a load of savings. Set your thermostat at 78°F or higher. Each degree setting below 78°F will increase your energy consumption by approximately 8%. Use bath and kitchen fans sparingly when the air conditioner is operating. Inspect and clean both the indoor and outdoor coils. The indoor [...]
Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases. Keeping your system properly maintained will lower energy and repair costs, prevent breakdowns and prolong the life of your equipment. Some maintenance jobs should be left to the professionals, but there is much that you, as a homeowner, can [...]
If you are having comfort or air circulation problems in your home, investigate the ductwork to see if it is contributing to or causing the problem. Begin by locating the ductwork, tracing it from the heating or cooling unit to the rooms it serves. Now that you know where each branch duct leads, you are [...]
Portable fans are usually used for circulating inside air, rather than moving air into-or-out of the home. These are some of the most inexpensive fans to purchase and have very low operating costs, since they generally use less than 200 watts of power. At six cents per kWh, a 200-watt portable fan can run for [...]
Some parts of the house are never comfortable, no matter what you do. The rest of the house is fine, but one room is always too hot or too cold. Why is that, and what can you do to fix it? Your problem is probably caused by bad air ducts and/or poor insulation and windows [...]
To stay comfortable, there must be some moisture in the air, however excess moisture can cause problems. Moisture originates both inside and outside the home. The problems it creates can be controlled by minimizing the amount of moisture produced inside the home, minimizing the amount of moisture entering structural cavities like walls or attics, either [...]
If you’re building a new house, this can be a real concern. Your architect should be able to design adequate ventilation as part of the plan. But if you have an older house, there are usually enough ways for air to get into your house that tightening up will save you energy but still leave [...]
The best solution to electrical interference is eliminating its source. Here are some easy steps to try: 1. Turn on the appliance that is experiencing interference. Next, flip the circuit breakers in the Home off, one-by-one. When the interference disappears, you have found the circuit that is causing the interference. 2. To confirm your conclusion, [...]
The basic notion is that moving air (from ceiling, whole-house, or portable fans) makes you feel cooler, so you can turn up the air conditioner thermostat or turn it off altogether. Whole-house fans are a potential substitute for air conditioning, since they move large amounts of air through the house and require open windows. Savings [...]
While a blower door test is the best way to locate duct leaks, you can often locate supply duct leaks with your hand because supply leaks blow air out. However, return leaks draw air in, so you won’t be able to feel them easily. Duct repair professionals use a smoke pencil to detect return leaks. [...]
Always try to reduce your need and save Energy—— This savings is essential not only for your benefit , but for the benefit of the whole Human Community……For the better and healthy existence of your kids and the generation NEXT. One way to save Energy and money on cooling is to not operate an air [...]
In hot-humid regions, protecting the home from the hot summer sun and assuring good air movement in and through the site are the most important site design considerations. Therefore, site the home to maximize shade and wind flow. Position the home high to allow for air movement. Orient the home to face south or southeast. [...]
Site planning in hot-arid regions has three primary objectives: The first is maximizing shade in the late morning and all afternoon. This is especially important for outdoor living areas. The second is to maximize humidity, and the third is maximizing summer air movement. To accomplish these, the best orientation is generally 25 degrees south-southeast. Position [...]
Properly sizing an air conditioner is important, especially on whole-house systems. An improperly sized unit can cost you more to operate, and worse, leave you either uncomfortably warm, or cold and clammy depending on whether it is under or over sized. To shop knowledgeably, you should know that air conditioners are rated by how many [...]
How you operate your air conditioner can make a big difference in what it costs to cool your home. Here are some tips that can help keep your operating cost low without sacrificing comfort. Minimize Use – In mild weather, using natural ventilation or fans at night, and keeping the house tightly closed during hot [...]
Making “energy efficiency” a priority in selecting a new air conditioner will mean lower utility bills for many years to come. For most of the country, compressor-driven air conditioning systems are about the only choice, other than natural cooling or fans. The other option, evaporative coolers, only work well in arid regions like the southwest. [...]
Double-hung windows are probably the most common type of window. They open by sliding the bottom half of the window up or sliding the top half down. Because only half of the window area can be open at one time, they provide less ventilation than casement style windows. An advantage of double-hung windows is they [...]
Cooling Fans work in basically two ways. One, they are often used to move air around within the house making occupants feel cooler. In this mode of operation, they do not actually cool the air. In fact, a fan operating in a “closed” room will increase air temperature, because of electrical losses from the motor. [...]
Do not assume that all duct cleaning service providers are equally knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at least three different service providers and get written estimates before deciding whether to have your ducts cleaned. When the service providers come to your home, ask them to show you the contamination that would justify having your ducts [...]