Instead
of converting fuel into heat, heat pumps use energy (electricity)
to pump heat from one place to another. An electric heat pump
can take as much as 30% off your heating costs compared to
a gas furnace.
Heating and Cooling Systems
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity ... Ideal humidity level ranges
from 40 - 60 %. Any thing outside this range can lead to more bacteria, viruses,
molds and dust mites, and cause dry nasal passages, allergy and asthma problems,
damage to wood and more static electricity build up. To control humidity you
need:
• Properly sized heating and cooling equipment
• Controlled fresh air ventilation system
• A small dehumidifier installed in a large return air plenum
• Cooling system using variable speed air handler fan, 14 SEER two-speed
heat pump, and thermidistat
Things to consider:
•Size matters: a unit that is too big runs in short bursts, so it doesn‘t
control humidity as well
• Look for a high efficiency cooling system (with a 12 or higher SEER rating
-seasonal energy efficiency ratio)
• Ductwork should be properly sized, sealed, insulated, and located within
the envelope of the house
• Location, location, location! Put the unit in an area that is heated & cooled,
so it doesn’t have to work s so hard
• Every room must be provided with a source for air to enter (by transfer
grilles or ducts)
• A small room dehumidifier will improve comfort in summer, even with an
older system
• To ensure fresh air all year, some form of mechanic al ventilation should
be installed
• A programmable thermostat makes it easy to save money by automatic ally
adjusting for
when you’re away, or asleep!
As a component of a thorough ventilation plan, a whole HVAC
system like the one here can improve indoor air quality
and contribute to temperature comfort by distributing fresh
air throughout the home.
Indoor Air Quality
Is the air in your home making you sick? Sometimes, indoor air is even worse
than the smoggy air outside. If not enough fresh air enters a home, pollutants
can build up and cause health and comfort problems. While it is good to make
a home airtight to reduce leaks that increase energy costs, a tight house without
a way for fresh air to enter may have higher levels of pollution than other
homes. Since we spend, on average, about 80% of our time indoors, it makes
sense to keep the air healthy.
Because we breathe the air in our homes
every day without any thought, we simply assume it's clean.
However, we are potentially exposed to a number of indoor air
pollutants, including:
• odors from cooking & other activities
• gasses called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) given off by carpets and
glues in cabinets
• water vapor from cooking, bathing, and breathing
Health effects from air pollutants may
be felt immediately, as an irritant of the eyes, nose, and
throat. Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and other health problems,
like respiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer can result
after years of exposure. To ensure good indoor air quality,
it is important to:
• Choose appropriate fuel-fired equipment like furnaces and clothes dryers
that do not release unsafe pollutants in the home
• Install systems designed to improve indoor air quality. Mechanical ventilation
systems exhaust pollutants to the outside. In addition, some also introduce fresh
air into the home.
For homes in the coastal area of South
Carolina, it is important to ensure good indoor air quality.
Ensuring combustion safety of fuel-fired equipment, including
furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas room heaters.
Making sure the ducts of bathroom & kitchen range hoods
go outside Using a mechanical ventilation system to supply
filtered, fresh air Selecting low VOC products (paints, adhesives,
etc....) Reducing carpeted areas in the home; hard surface
floors collect less dust and pollutants.
Through superior design and system features, ENERGY STAR qualified
clothes washers can clean clothes using 50% less energy and
30-50% less water than standard clothes washers.
Appliances
About 38% of the energy bill of a typical American household is due to appliances.
By choosing energy efficient appliances, a family can reduce their energy
use by as much as 11%!
What would that mean for your family?
Take 11% off your monthly electric bill! On average, that would be $140 a year!
If every household in America used 11% less electricity, the total savings
would be 114 BILLION kilowatt hours ... equal to 53.5 million tons of coal
or 205 million barrels of oil, or 3 years of water running over Niagara Falls!
Kitchen
ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use at least 10% less energy than required
by current federal standards, and 40% less energy than the conventional models
sold in 2001.
The energy star qualified dishwasher uses
up to 25% less energy than the federal minimum standard for
energy consumption.
We can save about $100 over its lifetime
because it uses less hot water than conventional models.
Laundry
The compact, stackable washer & dryer meet Energy Star requirements. Through
superior design and system features, energy star qualified clothes washers
can clean clothes using 50% less energy and 30-50% less water than standard
clothes washers.
Rain barrels are a good way to reduce stormwater runoff and
to save water for a dry-spell. If you have gutters on your
house, you may be able to collect 55 gallons of water during
a 1/2 inch rain by connecting a downspout to a rain barrel
or system.
Water and Energy
Conservation
Use Less, Save More. In smaller homes, like this one, lights and appliances
use a significant amount of total energy. Reduce energy and water use and lower
your bills by thoughtfully selecting appliances, lighting and fixtures, and
prudently using energy in everyday living. The GreenHouse has energy-saving
lighting, high efficiency heating and cooling units, energy saving appliances,
and water-saving plumbing fixtures.
Most residential lighting is incandescent
-- these bulbs are standard in most homes. Compact fluorescent
lights are better; they use less energy than incandescent.
While these lights cost more initially, they last 6 to 10 times
longer, and save money in utility costs.
There are appliances designed to use less
energy- they have the Energy Star logo on them. These may initially
cost more, but the extra cost will pay for itself by reducing
monthly utility costs. As a bonus, because they are well-insulated,
they make less noise, too.
For homes in the coastal Carolina area, it is important to consider efficient
lighting and appliances to help reduce energy costs.
• Taking advantage of natural daylight where possible
• Using compact fluorescent lighting as much as possible throughout the
home
• Using Energy Star rated refrigerator, dishwasher, range, and washer & dryer
• Using low-flow plumbing fixtures to use less water
Save energy everyday. For example, when doing laundry, switching from hot to
warm water cuts energy use in half! Cleaning the dryer's lint filter reduces
energy use, too. In the kitchen, when cooking small meals, use small electric
pans or toaster ovens rather than a large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses
a third to half as much energy. If you think about it, there are lots of ways
to reduce energy costs.