Technology Available Now
Many online resources are devoted to the basics--weather stripping, insulation, furnace filters, storm windows, and making do with your existing structure and appliances.
The transition to distributed power systems means we must first find and buy more energy efficient household equipment. Next, it means we must demand higher standards of efficiency, and integrated power systems added by home builders. LEED certification is one such set of standards builders can follow.
Efficient equipment becomes available as soon as technological innovation is rewarded by consumer choices. This a market economy, so when you replace household equipment, then do yourself a favor and do some research first.
Integrated solar power systems will soon be offered in new housing developments, just like your furnace, air conditioner, and water heater. So proper planning will allow a smart home buy to add the price of a solar system to the mortgage.
A solar water heater with a storage tank in the attic , a mixing tee and tankless booster to make your temperature just right can be controlled automatically.
12 volt lighting systems run super efficient bulbs, which last forever and come in many stylish selections. The decorating options are endless!
Diaphragm refrigerators compressors keep your food cold using a fraction of the energy, instead of the old fashioned rotating pumps that burn electricity freely.
Efficient heat exchangers in dryers will dry your clothes using elements that heat up to 140 degrees instead of 1,000 degrees or more, using less electricity, and making your home safer.
Residential Strategy: Buy Efficient Gear
| Televisions are notorious for burning electricity even when turned off. Flat screen TVs use far less power than old fashioned CRT screens, and even larger wide screen TVs should consume less than 200 watts. Check consumer reports like CNet for up to date information, and make sure Big Brother is really turned off when you punch the button. |  |
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Electric water heaters account for 30% of residential power consumption. Tanks get my "Energy Hog" award for the poorest design. Keeping water hot 24/7 takes a lot of energy. Switching to tankless water heaters saves money and provides an unlimited supply of hot water. Solar water heaters can be used in conjunction with tankless or tank systems to reduce costs further. |
| We all know how to save money by using compact fluorescent bulbs--just screw them in--and most people have heard about LEDs (light emitting diodes). LEDs are ultra efficient, work with 12 volt systems, come in every color frequency, and the price is coming down rapidly. |  |
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Here's an example of good ol' American entrepreneurial innovation! It's a heat exchanger retrofit device designed to fit inside your clothes dryer. This device reduces the amount of electricity needed to dry clothes by reducing the size of the heating element and increasing the size of the heat exchanger thereby increasing efficiency through improved heating of the air. This retrofit will also effectively eliminate house fires caused by a build-up of dryer lint. |
| Compost bins actually save electricity because in-sink disposal units consume copious amounts of electrical energy in addition to gallons of drinking water. Whether you choose a recycled plastic red worm condo, pure white yard art, or a wire mesh hoop, compost bins really do make a difference, and terrific soil. |  |
Be the Change! Call us TODAY! |
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