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!

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

• vapor from cleaning products

• combustion by-products from natural gas, propane, oil appliances, & wood-burning fireplaces.

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.

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.

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.