Energy
Cooling There are a number of ways to keep your home cooler—without the cost and energy use of air conditioning.
Use window coverings Close drapes, curtains, blinds and windows on south (in the northern hemisphere) and west-facing windows on hot days. This is particularly important with south-facing windows but should be done with all windows. At night, open them up to let the cool air in (if there is any).
Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioning Although they don’t actually lower the temperature of the air in the room, they lower the perceived temperature. Fans move the air around creating a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler because of increased evaporation of moisture on your skin. You’ll save a lot of energy by using fans instead of air conditioning.
Remember that since they cool you and not the air, there’s no point in having them on when no one’s in the room.
Shade your home Use trees, deciduous plants and/or awnings to shade your home and windows.
Air conditioning If you must use air conditioning, keep your thermostat set no lower than 77º F. when you’re at home, 85º F. when you’re away from home. Your air conditioner uses three to five percent more energy for each degree below 75º F. Set it to 77º F. for the most comfort at the least cost.
Pilot Light Turn off your furnace pilot light during the warm season. You’ll save both money and energy. For safety, your utility company will probably do this at your request.
Lighting Lighting is a major need in most homes, but it’s also a major expense. There are many easy ways you can cut down on costs and still keep the lighting you need.
Use compact fluorescent bulbs Turn off lights when you don’t need them Leaving lights on in an unoccupied room is a waste of electricity and money. Turn the lights off when you leave, and back on when you return. Despite what many people believe, the act of turning a light on uses very little electricity. It really does save electricity and money to turn them off.
Get up earlier and go to bed earlier Get up at sunrise and go to bed earlier in order to take advantage of natural light. Natural light saves energy and is easier on your eyes, you’ll be more in sync with natural rhythms, and you’ll save money on lighting.
Heating More than half of the energy used in the average home is on heating and cooling. Remember that your goal doesn’t have to be to heat the entire home; it’s simply to heat the people in it.
- Dressing warmly can be a major way of dealing with the cold; putting on a sweater is cheaper than raising the thermostat. Devices such as radiant heaters are also good because they use much less energy since they heat people, not the air in the room.
- Set your thermostat lower than normal
- Keep your thermostat set no higher than 68º F. during the day. Wear warm clothing if necessary. Set the thermostat to 55º F. before going to bed at night.
- Replace/clean your furnace filter regularly
- On sunny days, use passive solar heating
Ceiling fan During the winter, set your ceiling fan to run clockwise at low speed. This produces a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space.
Stay warm at night We lose most of our heat at night through our head and neck. In addition to warm blankets and warm pajamas or other night clothes, wear a nightcap. Socks or other comfortable foot coverings will keep your feet warm as well.
Power Power is what makes just about everything work. Producing it on a large scale requires lots of fuel, such as coal, oil and natural gas. If there’s a shortage of any of those fuels, serious problems can, and will, begin.
But you can produce your own energy, in ways that are sustainable, economic (at least in the long run), and most importantly, available.
Use less The three most important areas in your home where you can cut electricity use and save money are:
Lighting
- Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Turn off lights when you’re not using them .
- Turn down your heating thermostat.
- Turn down your water heater.
- Turn up your air conditioner thermostat.
www.michaelbluejay.com/electricity
An excellent website with very specific information on how to save money on your home appliances and systems.
P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor
An “electricity usage monitor” that measures the amount of electricity consumed by household appliances—even when they’re not actually being used but are simply plugged in. A great way to see where you can reduce your electricity consumption. [product]
Generate your own Depending on your climate and location, there are a number of options for generating your own power. If you’re fortunate, you might be able to combine two or three of these methods to ensure year-round power.
Solar energy
Solar is the most common form of renewable energy. The sun doesn’t have to be shining brightly to produce energy, but it helps. Solar requires a high initial expense because of the cost of photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. If you’re fortunate, you live in an area where your state or utility gives rebates, or at least loans, to install solar.
Real Goods
www.realgoods.com
The pioneer in home solar energy.
Real Goods Solar Living Source Book-Special 30th Anniversary Edition: Your Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living (Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook)
[book]
Author: Real Goods
The classic information catalog.
Small Solar Electric Systems
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10710
From the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wind energy
Wind is better than solar if your area has enough reliable wind. Wind turbines of various designs turn from the force of the wind and generate electricity. A number of firms have the goal of producing low-cost wind turbines for the home that are the size of a satellite dish. Unfortunately they’re not perfected yet.
Small Wind Electric Systems
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10880
From the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wind Energy Basics: A Guide to Small and Micro Wind Systems
[book]
Author: Real Goods
A guide to small and micro wind systems.
Wind Power, Revised Edition: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, and Business
[book]
Author: Paul Gipe
Renewable energy for home, farm, and business.
Hydro energy Hydro, or water, energy is best known from the large dams that block rivers and generate huge amounts of energy from the water’s flow—or fall. Micro-hydro, which produces up to 100kW, is the mini-version of hydro for the home. It’s the most efficient form of sustainable energy generation and is ideal if your home is right next to a year-round stream.
Pico-hydro generates up to 5kW of electricity. Low-cost (less than $US 20) water turbines from China are currently very popular in rural areas of Vietnam.
Micro-Hydro Power Systems
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=11050
From the U.S. Department of Energy.
Pico Hydro
www.picohydro.org.uk
Network promoting small hydro systems up to 5kW.
All About Hydraulic Ram Pumps
[book]
Author: Don Wilson
The device that can pump water from a flowing source of water to a point higher than that source using the force of gravity rather than power.
How to Live Without Electricity & Like It
[book]
Author: Anita Evangelista
Live off the grid but still have power, water, heating, and refrigerated food.
Power with Nature Second Edition: Alternative Energy Solutions for Homeowners Updated
[book]
Author: Rex A. Ewing
Highly-recommended book on solar, wind, micro-hydro, heating house and water and pumping water.
Use a solar battery charger With a solar battery charger and chargeable batteries, all you need is sunshine to keep all your battery-operated devices working. They’re available online and at a variety of local shops such as hardware and camping stores.
Buy a wind-up or solar-powered radio There are a number of radios on the market that are charged up by turning a hand-crank, or by using a small solar panel to charge the battery. Some models include both methods. You’ll never again need batteries or an electrical outlet to listen to the radio.
FreePlay
www.freeplayenergy.com
The pioneer in wind-up, solar and rechargeable technology.
C. Crane
www.ccrane.com
Excellent source of radios and other electronics.