Heating and Air - How to Save Energy in Your Home

Whether you want to set a good example when it comes to preserving the environment or you just want to see a lower bill from your electric company, you are probably looking at your heating and air system first when it comes to finding places to save energy. While this isn't a bad place to start, don't miss other factors in your home that may play a role in forcing your HVAC system to run inefficiently. As long as it isn't on its last legs and is sized correctly for your home, the problem may not be with the system itself. Here are some things you can do to make sure you're getting the most out of it.

Creating an Energy Environment When looking around your home for ways to save energy, it's important to remember some simple rules. The first is the size of your heating and air system. If it is too large or too small for your house, you aren't going to get the best efficiency out of it. If you realize this prior to installation, you can invest in an HVAC company that will sell you a unit appropriately sized. Looking towards another important aspect of energy savings, check your insulation. This is important, not just in the attic, but in the walls and basement as well. Your conditioned air can escape from anywhere you let it. Finally, implement fans to supplement your A/C. You'll notice an immediate savings.

The Air Conditioning Unless you live in an area that rarely gets above 70 degrees, the most likely drain on your electricity in your A/C. Even if you only use it a few months out of the year, most people spend more to run their A/C each year than they do their refrigerator, which runs year round. If you aren't sure how much of your energy bill is to blame on the A/C, you can do a simple test. Take the electric bill from the last month that you didn't use it and take one from a month when you did. Subtract one from the other and you'll have the monthly cost of running your A/C. Now you'll know if heating and air should be your energy savings target or if you need to focus your attention elsewhere.

Important Factors There are several factors that influence how large or small your electric bill is each month. Look at the average age of your appliances. Older appliances are always going to use much more energy. If you don't have proper insulation, you're almost certainly going to spend more on heating and air. Finally, don't get stuck on the small stuff. Keeping your computer on, leaving the fridge open too long when looking for something to eat, and leaving a light on in the hall isn't going to make much of a difference either way, so don't stress about it.

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Geothermal Heating Use Slowly Gaining Popularity

The use and deployment of geothermal heating technology is quietly gaining strength. Although alternative energy technologies such as solar and wind appear to be more popular, the use of geothermal heating as an alternative energy source is quietly gaining momentum. The system is versatile and can be used for both heating and cooling, and the numbers of installations are growing by the thousands.

According to recent reports, several countries are emphasizing the use of geothermal heating applications in a number of national energy policies to promote the use of renewable energy resources in order to curbing the emission of greenhouse gases. The main component in the geo-exchange system is the heat exchanger. These devices are used to transfer heat from a warmer location, which are seen as the source, to cooler places, which are called the sink. The heat is transferred via plastic tubes that are filled with ethanol. The loops are placed are placed at least two metres under the ground.

Geo thermal heating technology has been proven to be an effective technology. During the colder months, the ground contains the heat supplied from the sun, and the sink to which the heat is to be transferred is inside the building to be heated. In the summer months, the reverse happen as the building is now warmer and becomes the source, while heat accumulates in the underground sink. The ethanol is used as the transfer fluid for its heat absorbency.

It is a simple and efficient transfer system that requires a bit of electricity, but almost 60% of the heat transferred comes from the free source, which is the ground. This makes geo-exchange systems much more efficient the best natural gas and oil furnaces. The technology was introduced almost thirty years ago, but little economic sense as fossil fuels were still relatively inexpensive, and only started to gain momentum about 10 years ago as energy prices continued to rise.

There are now about 80000 heat pumps installations in the US annually; the governments of several countries in Europe are offering rebates to induce more installations. Because prices of fossils fuels such as natural are still relatively low, it appears that the long-term benefits are not yet fully appreciated.

Perhaps the main deterrent is that the financial benefits are not yet fully appreciated as the systems are not yet inexpensive enough for mass adoption. But the environmental benefits are fully realized as there is no depletion of non-renewable resources and a much lower carbon footprint.

Developers are slowly beginning to see the long-term environmental and financial benefits of the technology and are hoping that the market can continue to grow with more government involvement, as banks and financial institutions are not yet particularly warm to the technology, partly because they do not fully understand it.

Some studies have indicated that there are several countries that would benefit from being converted to total use of geothermal heating. Support and backing for geothermal programs appears to be move at much faster rates outside of the U.S., where has been limited support in the areas of research and development, despite the enormous potential.

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Telltale Signs of HVAC Ductwork Problems

HVAC ductwork problems can go unnoticed for a long time, but the efficiency of this air delivery system directly influences the performance of a home's air conditioner, furnace or heat pump.

A home's HVAC may be losing as much as 30 percent of its conditioned air as a result of faulty or leaky ducts. The HVAC system contains of a long, branching group of duct pipes that snake throughout a home, hidden behind walls, ceilings and floors, or in the attic, crawlspace or garage. Because the majority of this system is hidden, home owners can have a hard time visually assessing ductwork's condition. Further, even if the ducts were installed correctly, over time connections can loosen or ducts can incur damage.

Most often, ductwork problems require the help of a professional; however, home owners can use the list below to confirm their suspicion of problematic ducts:

* Uninsulated ducts - When a portion of the ductwork system travels through areas that do not have access to cooled or heated air, like an attic or garage, cool air moving through the ducts will succumb to the hotter attic air surrounding the duct pipes, a process called conduction. In the winter, heated air can cool off for the same reason. This ductwork problem, however, is easily remedied by insulating ducts.

* Damaged ducts - A variety of factors can lead to damaged ducts, such as connections breaking loose, human interference or poor installation methods. No matter the cause, if conditioned air leaks out of the ducts, the home owner will pay for it in terms of higher energy costs because of reduced efficiency of the HVAC system. Sealing ducts can remedy leaks, but seriously damaged ducts may require that the home owner replace a portion of the HVAC system's ductwork.

* Poor duct returns - A healthy, efficient ductwork system relies on a balanced supply of air sent into the home, along with a healthy amount of return air that moves back into the HVAC equipment. The return air portion of ductwork is particularly prone to problems such as a lack of adequate return grilles, and the HVAC system is prone to leakage too. Proper inspection will identify the root of ductwork problems. There must be an equal amount of return air to support the supply air ducts. For every 1 ton of air conditioning capacity there must be 400 cubic feet per minute of air volume available in both return air duct and supply air. So for example, a three ton air conditioning units will need 1200 CFM of duct duct work in both supply and return air ducts.

For home owners experiencing hot or cold spots and restrictive air flow in their home should contact an HVAC professional. They will perform a comprehensive ductwork inspection in the home, and will make any recommendations to improve the home owner's HVAC service.

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Designer Radiators - More Than Just a Pretty Home Heating Solution

If you own one or more designer radiators you are probably already familiar with the aesthetic value that comes along with these functional decorative pieces. But these type of radiators are more than just something beautiful to have sitting in your living room. It used to be that replacing the central heating system in your home did not have any impact on the interior design aside from what colour the air vents would be and if they would coordinate well with the rest of your decorations. But with the introduction of designer radiators all of that has changed and now when you have a new or replacement heating system installed in your home you have the option of coordinating the unit with the rest of your home décor. Designer radiators have become a big part of home interior design and are able to add a lot of value to your home. However adding more of your own personal style to your home heating system is not the only advantage that you will be able to receive.

While one of the major benefits that you can get is the fact that they will make any room that you place them in look fabulous, these central room radiators have gone through several major upgrades over the past several years which have greatly improved their overall performance and functionality. Whilst more homeowners are becoming accustomed to putting their own personal style in their homes no matter how extravagant their style may be, these designer radiators have allowed individuals to do just that right down to their main source of heat. We no longer have to settle for the traditional standard colours and designs that were offered years ago for the basic radiator set up. Now homeowners have a choice when it comes to the modern or traditional design that they wish to choose for their home heating system as well as the colour and style of the unit itself.

Designer radiators are not only a decorative statement but they are also highly efficient and more functional than the basic systems were in the past. Most radiators these days are made out of very different materials that that allow the systems to be much more efficient than they were many years ago. These days designer radiators are made up of stainless steel as well as aluminum components which are much better heat conductors than the traditionally used cast iron models that we used to have many years ago. This allows you to heat your home much faster without having to use up as much energy in the meantime. The designer radiators that we have access to today are also more responsive as well which allows us to have a better handle on the amount of heat that is released so that our homes will be at the right comfort level at all times without have to use too much or an excessive amount of heat.

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Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product

It can be frustrating to get that power bill in the mail and realize how much you're spending on electricity. While your water heater is likely not the primary source of energy usage (this falls to the air conditioner in most homes), an inefficient product can certainly add waste to your bill. Thankfully, if you're shopping for a new one, the government has seen to it that you have all the information you need when it comes to efficiency. The Energy Guide label, required by federal regulations, gives consumers the numbers they need to make clear comparisons between various manufacturers and their products. Here's a look at various types of heaters and how you can compare them.

Conventional The most prominent type of water heater, the conventional model involves using either gas or electricity to heat the water, storing a certain amount of it in a tank. This way, it is ready to flow through the faucet or showerhead on demand. The average Energy Factor for these models is 0.64, though you'll see models both above and below that number. While popular, these models are hardly the most efficient type on the market because energy is constantly being used to keep the stored water warm.

Tankless The tankless water heater has gotten a lot of attention over the last decade. Instead of storing it and consistently warming it for use, the tankless model waits until the consumer demands the heat (by turning on the faucet, shower, or appliance) to start the warming process. These models often have a much better Energy Factor rating, though there are disadvantages. For instance, if you are the impatient type, you may not care to wait around for the water to heat up when you want to take a shower immediately. Still, the electricity savings can be substantial.

Heat Pump Available only for those who use standard electricity (as opposed to gas), the heat pump water heater uses heat from the atmosphere to warm the water. As with conventional models, a storage tank is used in these types, though they have a substantially better Energy Factor rating than either conventional or tankless models.

Increasing Efficiency Getting more efficiency out of your existing water heater may be just as important to saving money as buying a better model. Ensuring that any and all leaks have been patched up, implementing an insulation blanket, and having your unit professionally inspected and maintained can lead to better efficiency and lower bills.

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How to Stay Warm During Winter And Not Turn Up The Heat

Last summer was way too hot and some fear that it was an indication for what we could be in for this coming winter. They say that it is all caused by the changing climate and we can expect colder winters in the coming days. There are fears that we are about to face a record breaking winter season when it comes to the temperature.

Is there any basis for the fears? We could never really say, but it is important for us to be ready for it just in case. We need to make sure that we can stay warm this coming winter no matter what.

Our efforts, however, would be hampered by the fact that we need to spend wisely these days due to the financial crisis. We have to make, not just every dollar, but every cent count. So to help you in that aim, here are some tips on how you can stay warm during winter without having to spend a lot of money:

1. A space heater is an excellent means of heating up a small area within your house. You could turn down the thermostat and then use a space heater instead. That would effectively lower down your energy consumption for heating.

Using this method of heating would be effective if you are alone in your house or if you only use particular areas. You can just leave the other rooms unheated.

2. A simple and easy way of staying warm inside your house is wearing warm clothes or layering for warmer effect. By being fully attired to deal with the cold you need not worry about what the weather can bring to you.

3. A wood burning fireplace is considered by experts as one of the least efficient methods of staying warm, so if you are someone who cares about efficiency and energy consumption, then you would stay away from one. You ought to use a gas burning fireplace instead.

4. A great portion of the expenses used up by households on energy expenses each year goes to heating. That's why you should seek all of the help that you can get in order to cut down on those costs. One effective method is getting a programmable thermostat that can be set correctly for the right temperature of the room.

5. Try using candles to warm up a room. You can place scented and decorative candles to light up your room. They can only generate enough heat to raise the temperature by a little bit, but they would be good to look at.

6. You should open up windows and blinds during the daytime to allow sunlight to stream in. The sunlight can contribute in heating up the inside of your place at no additional cost to you. You can just close them during the night so that your place is not exposed to the outside.

These are some simple and easy steps that you can follow for heating up your place at no additional cost to you.

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