Alabama Solar Association
Find on this webpage . . . Ctrl + F
Your House Temperature
is Escaping thru your Windows
-
Did you know the R-value of a single pane window is R-1? {Your walls are probably R-13.} Double pane windows, or single pane with Storm Windows, is just R-2!
-
Thermal curtains and or shutters can bring the effective R-Values of windows to R-13.
-
Now, that's a good investment!
Insulate your Hot Water Heater
Water Heating is 12% of your Electrical Use.
Install a water heater insulation jacket.
A thick insulating water heater jacket fits easily around your heater and can prevent up to 45% of heat loss. Test to see if you need one by touching the outside of your hot water heater. Does it feel warm? If so, you need to add an insulating jacket.
Buy EnergyStar
Appliances and even whole buildings rated "EnergyStar"
are certified to use less energy
and produce a lower carbon footprint than do 3 out of 4
of their competitors.
Your
House
House H/C Thermostat
Use a programmable thermostat.
Set your thermostat & dress accordingly
Winter, while awake, 66 degrees
" asleep, 62 degrees
Summer, while awake, 77 degrees
" asleep, 79 degrees
Turn the lights off when not in use.
"Lighting has an enormous impact - approximately 12 % - on the energy use in your home."
Using compact florescent lamps (CFLs) cuts electric consumption up to 75 percent. Using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) saves up to 90 percent.
Turning them off when nobody is using them saves 100 percent.
Replacing all your bulbs with energy efficient ones and then leaving them
on all the time just wastes
energy more slowly.
Dehumidify in the Summer
Most of our discomfort in the summer comes from the 'mugginess' as a result of our high humidity.
Run a dehumidifier in the summer to make the house temperature 'feel' more comfortable.
In the winter, humidify.
Install a Solar Hot Water System
Solar water heating systems are 4 times more energy efficient and 5 times more cost effective than solar panels for electricity.
Test to see Where your Electricity is Going
Use a Kill a Watt meter to measure the cost of any 110-volt electrical device over time. Read and use your imagination..
Choose a Light Color for your Roofing
“Roofs are your heating and cooling systems’ biggest nightmare.” Lighter colors reflect more sun & its heat, while darker colors absorb it. “A cool roof” can be 50 to 60 degrees cooler than a conventional dark-colored roof, reducing the cooling load on your home, saving energy, and reducing utility costs.
Cooling Aids
Cooling, not heating, is the biggest use of electricity in an all electric
home at 16%.
Raising the cooling temperature 1º reduces the air conditioner load by about 5%.
Get shade trees – this can reduce the inside
temperature by up to 20º.
30% of home heat load is from direct sunlight--Window shades, reflective films, or screens can block up to about
60% of the sun's rays.
Insulation
In Alabama, the recommendation is:
-
R30 – R60 in the attic
-
R19 – R25 in the floor
-
Blown or roll insulation in the walls and R5 sheathing in addition to the siding, inside walls, etc.
-
Low e windows (or reflective film) or storm windows
Put AC Unit in Shade
Follow DoE advice and put it on the north or shaded side of the building.
Not enough shade, plant more!
Caulk your Air Leaks.
A $3 tube of caulk from your home improvement store is the most cost-effective energy saver on the market.
This lowly product will give you the highest rate of return per dollar spent than any other form of repair, and just about anyone can do it.
Install Ceiling Fans
Run them on low speed to keep room air evenly distributed.
Set them to blow downward in the summer to aid cooling and upward in winter to move warm air hugging the ceiling into the lower portion of the room.
Insulate Your Attic !
If your attic is badly insulated,
you can be losing 1/2 of your
house heat thru your roof in
the winter. For about a $1000. you
can have insulation blown on your attic floor, increasing it to R-40.
Green Tips In & Around the House
Laundry - Use PVC-free Dryerballs
They will soften and scent your clothes without any artificial chemicals. These specially-designed spiked balls fluff and soften fabrics. The fluffing action also reduces drying time up to 25%, saving energy and money in the process!
How can you save the planet and your paycheck
at the same time?
You can start today, around your house & work, with these conservation tips. If you do little things, every day, it adds up. And it will save you money. ASA believes everyday conservation is as important as Renewable Energy.
And did we mention it will save you money?
Kitchen & Laundry
When washing dishes & clothes,
Use cold water.
Warm water cuts grease easier when rinsing dishes pior to washing. A few drops of liquid detergent in cold water works even better and reduces sewer clogs.
Say No to Paper Towels
Whenever possible, use an old towel reused as a rag.
Compost
It’s a great and green way to get rid of coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, leftovers, vegetable wastes, paper towels, ... You can simply pile it up in your backyard and let compost happen naturally, or you can speed up the process with various machines.
