Homeowners all over the world are considering a solar power kit or solar panel system for their home. This is a powerful way to save money, produce clean energy, and "go green". But before you do this you have to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. The less energy you use, the greater impact your solar power system will have on your wallet and the planet. There are several things you can do in conjunction with solar panels to create an extremely efficient, comfortable home. This article will teach you about energy efficient heating, air conditioning, and passive solar.
HeatingSomething else to consider is your temperature setting. Try lowering the temperature setting by one degree each week for four weeks. By the fourth week, chances are you won't notice that your house is four degrees colder. And if you are colder, doesn't it make sense to throw on a sweater instead of heating the entire house?Try the temperature experiment for cooling your home as well. Raise the thermostat by one degree each week for four weeks. Also, try simply opening the windows at night to let in the cool air. Chances are the night are is enough to cool your house while you sleep.ThermostatIn arid climates, swamp coolers are a wonderful option for cooling. Swamp coolers work best when they are placed in shady areas, as opposed the roof mounts we are used to seeing. And the same holds true for cooling: don't cool seldom used spaces and keep filters and ducts clean.It is noteworthy too that the state takes public safety seriously. It even has a public awareness campaign that aims to increase the Coloradans' disaster preparedness. The campaign called READYColorado outlines several types of disasters and how to deal with it, from prevention to restoration.How often does your system run? Is it running all day while you're at work? Many people believe that it is inefficient to shut the system off while they are gone for the day and then have the system kick on right before they get home. This is almost always untrue. A well-sealed, insulated home will maintain a comfortable temperature within 5-10 degrees over an 8 hour workday. Try it out for a few days and see for yourself.Sometimes the damages are hidden from plain view so expert inspection is a must to make sure that various parts of the house are properly replaced including floor and wall insulation.Air ConditioningAll of this provides a hardcore case for desiring to lower our exposure to formaldehyde. Some ways in which to do this is by opening windows or using a fan to bring fresh air into your home. You should also try to remove as many formaldehyde sources as you can from your home. This includes not smoking indoors (or not smoking at all) and not using unvented portable kerosene heaters. Of course, formaldehyde is also found in small amounts in many consumer products. To reduce your exposure to formaldehyde when using these products you should try to use them near a source of fresh air. If this is not possible, then you should at least make sure that you have plenty of ventilation when you are using them. If you choose to purchase a product that is made out of plywood or particle board, expose it to plenty of fresh air or make sure that it is covered with plastic laminate or coated on all sides. When purchasing permanent press fabrics you should wash these new clothes before you wear them.Passive SolarUnfortunately, there are currently no reliable tests to determine how much formaldehyde you have been exposed to or whether you will experience any harmful health effects. Until more research is done and new methods are discovered, your best course of action is to follow the above forestated tips.
What is passive solar? Passive solar is using the sun and your window treatments to heat or cool your home. Simply opening your blinds on the south side of your home during the day can raise the temperature inside by 10 degrees. Likewise, adding shade trees, window treatments, or awnings to the south side of your home can lower the temperature inside significantly. Plus these additions can add beauty and aesthetics to your home. An architect and a landscape architect can help you add beautiful and functional components to your home that will pay off with lower utility bills.
Author: Kriss Bergethon
No comments:
Post a Comment