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Saving Energy Saves Money
Although vast amounts of energy are consumed in industry, travel and business, this article is mainly concerned with how it is use in our homes. Often
the cost of heating fuel and electricity is as large as our mortgage
payment. Heating and cooling is by far the greatest of these costs.
Hot water heating is next, followed by the cost of operating lighting,
electrical appliances and water pumping.
For
many years, our country worried little about the cost of home
energy. There seemed to be an inexhaustible supply, and it was
relatively inexpensive. In the fifties, we were encouraged to
buy "all-electric homes" by none other than Ronald Reagan himself,
then host of "General Electric Theater." We were assured of "safe,
cheap and abundant" supplies of electricity thanks to "the peaceful
atom". At our peak of energy use in the seventies, we found that
more was not necessarily better, and perhaps using less energy
made more sense.
While
many consider our high per capita rate of energy use to be necessary
to fuel our equally high standard of living, it is interesting
to note that in western Europe, where people enjoy a standard
of living comparable to ours, they use only half as much energy
per person. "Why is this?", you may ask. The answer is simple.
Energy costs in Europe have been high for some time, and waste
could not be allowed. To
live an energy-efficient lifestyle does not mean that one must
make sacrifices or do without one's comforts. To the contrary,
a home that is properly designed for efficient energy use will
be more comfortable year-round, with less over-heating,. cold-spots,
and drafts. If a house is properly oriented to allow for maximum
winter sun and summer shade, heating and cooling costs will
be reduced drastically. Add to that good insulation, low infiltration
(of outside air) and proper window placement, and our job becomes
even easier.
Starting
with a good house design, there are several things that you can
do to save even more money on your heating and cooling bill. Here
are a few that require no fuel or electricity and very little
maintenance:
1)
Solar shade screens- These simple screens fit outside your windows
in locations where summer sun and heat enter the house, usually
on the southern and western exposures and over skylights. Though
they look like ordinary screens, these energy-savers block from
70-90% of the sun's radiation and accompanying heat. They also
afford additional privacy by providing an opaque appearance from
the outside. Many buildings in our area can go without air conditioning
entirely with the use of solar shade screens. Needless to say,
the screens cost far less than the conventional cooling equipment
that they replace, to say nothing of their complete lack of operating
or maintenance costs.
2)
Insulated window coverings- It is a common fact that a home's
greatest winter heat loss as well as largest summer heat gain
is through the windows. This why areas near windows are often
less comfortable. This is especially true in the winter, when
window areas are often drafty. How many otherwise well-thought-out
homes have rooms that often go unused during periods of the year
because they are just not comfortable? Attractive, effective insulated
window coverings can quickly solve these problems.
3)
Radiant shield- This is a new item on the market, and shows
tremendous promise in reducing cooling costs. This aluminum-clad
material can be applied to new or existing construction. Stapled
to the underside of the roof rafters, the radiant shield reflects
the sun's heat and keeps it out of the attic, keeping it considerably
cooler, resulting in a much lower temperature in the living
space. In many dwellings, use of this product can eliminate
the need for air conditioning. After
space heating and cooling, the largest user of home energy is
usually the hot water heater. Fortunately this energy drain can
easily be reduced with only moderate expense. Some people seem
to think that solar hot water was a 60's fad, and faded with the
times. Not true! Solar hot water was very popular in the Los Angeles
area in the early 1900's, and disappeared only when the hot water
heater manufacturers gave people free gas and electric hot water
heaters in exchange for their "old-fashioned" solar units, assuring
a perpetual market for their supplies of then cheap gas and electricity.
Well, it may have made sense back then, but one quick glance at
our utility bill tells us that we've been had. A family of four
often spends $50 per month or more to operate their electric hot
water heater. Solar energy is presently making hot water for thousands
of people all over the world, many in climates where sunshine
is far less abundant than this area. Solar hot water does not
have to be complicated or expensive. A moderate investment can
save a typical family many thousands in utility costs over the
life of a system.
All
the solar hot water systems that we sell are locally made and
are of the "passive type." This means that there are no pumps,
controllers, temperature sensors, solenoid valves or other moving
parts to malfunction. Also, no electricity is required for their
operation. When properly sized and installed, our passive solar
hot water systems can provide most or all of a family's hot water
during a large part of the year.
Woodstove Hot Water If
you heat with wood, the perfect compliment to any solar hot water
system is a hot water heat exchanger for your woodstove. Easily
mounted inside your woodstove's firebox, this simple device extracts
a small amount of heat from your stove and uses it to make hot
water during the winter months. While this heat exchanger can
be used without solar hot water, it really does make sense to
use both. Making hot water with both solar and wood heat, a family
can provide as much as 85% of their yearly hot water without their
gas or electric hot water heater ever coming on.
Instantaneous Tankless Hot Water Heaters Want
a quick and inexpensive way to save up to 1/3 or more off your
hot water bill? An instantaneous tankless hot water heater could
be the answer. Though they do consume fuel, these units are moderately
priced, easily installed, and far more efficient than their conventional
counterparts. The key to this model's efficiency lies in its tankless
design. The burner only comes on when you are actually using hot
water, instead of keeping a large tank of water hot 24 hours a
day. As a result, these units can pay for themselves in energy
savings in as little as two years.
The Energy Efficient Home The
Energy-Efficient Home will be much like your own home, but it
will have all of the improvements described above. It isn't likely
to cost much more than yours, but it will cost much less to own.
Keep in mind that at current trends, utility rates are likely
to increase ten-fold over the next twenty years! The equipment
discussed in this article will pay for itself within a few years.
After that, it's all savings. The Energy Efficient Home is the
home of the future. But the future starts right now. Why not let
Sierra Solar Systems help you begin your future, today.
Sierra Solar Systems Sierra
Solar Systems is Nevada County's oldest retail solar energy business.
Started in 1980 by local mechanical engineer Jonathan Hill, Sierra
Solar Systems has sold hundreds of systems to both area residents
and mail-order customers from coast-to-coast and in 23 foreign
countries. At the beginning, the small proprietorship sold only
solar-electric equipment.
While
still best-known for its experience in this field, Sierra Solar
Systems has expanded its inventory to include energy-saving devices
of all kinds. Its varied line now includes solar and woodstove
hot water, solar electric, small hydro electric, solar water pumping,
emergency power systems, generators, woodstoves, propane appliances,
insulated window coverings and solar screens, and books and gadgets
of all sorts. Sierra Solar Systems publishes a fascinating 140-page
catalog of its wares for $5.00, which can be picked up in person
or by mail from Sierra Solar Systems, 109 Argall Way, Nevada City
95959. Call 530-265-8441 for more information, or to make an appointment
for a free home energy consultation.
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