The energy-efficiency tag has no wiki summary.
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Is it time to replace my water heater?
I have a 20+ year old, 115 gallon, electric water heater. Works like a champ, but I'm considering replacing it for a couple of reasons.
It's leased - I pay $20/mo.
It's 115 gallons for a house with ...
8
votes
5answers
7k views
Can I save energy costs by turning off the refrigerator for 1-2 hours every day?
Now that I'm looking into home automation, I'm thinking about automatically cutting off the fridge power from 3am ~ 5am. Given that modern refrigerators are well insulated, it should be able to ...
2
votes
1answer
161 views
Is a roof sprinker a good idea?
I live in an area where temperatures often reach 95°F (35°C). I have attic fans and soffet vents and radiant barrier. Is it worth adding a roof sprinkler? I have read about it working wonders ...
4
votes
3answers
581 views
Where am I losing heat from my house?
My house is about 5 years old and our local building codes required a 5-star energy rating (Melbourne, Australia). This means there's solar hot water and both the walls and ceiling are insulated.
But ...
1
vote
3answers
127 views
How do I know if my windows are energy efficient?
Hope this is a known one. New double glazing should be labelled, shouldn't it? But rather than getting new windows, are my uPVC windows fine? What checks? To elaborate - what should I look at on the ...
5
votes
2answers
101 views
How should I landscape my yard to make my home more efficient?
At some point in the future, I plan on owning a home and I would like to use landscaping to improve both the appearance and energy efficiency of the property. I have heard that the right landscaping ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Why are almost all of my house's HVAC floor registers placed near exterior windows?
My current house is a single story built over a crawlspace and all the HVAC registers are in the floor. In all of the larger rooms, at least one (and usually more) register was placed near an exterior ...
9
votes
4answers
7k views
Does lowering the blower speed of a forced-air furnace lower its efficiency?
My gas furnace has two options for the blower speed: MED, and MED-HI. It had been set on the higher speed, but that was too harsh, so I lowered it to the slower speed. Does that have any impact on the ...
10
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11answers
4k views
How can I increase the heating efficiency of a forced air system?
What are some DIY ways to increase the efficiency of a forced air heating system?
Please answer in Community wiki fashion: 1 tip per answer.
Edit:
As @Jay Bazuzi pointed out, tips can also include ...
3
votes
1answer
166 views
What are possibilities of balancing 3-phase consumption?
A lot of homes have a 3-phase electric connection. Each of the phases has some appliances connected to it. That implies power consumption in any moment on each phase is different, we have an ...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
Are there efficient ways to provide combustion air to heating appliances?
In a previous question we established that there probably should be a vent between my utility room (which opens into the kitchen and living space in general) and the outdoors (in my case the attic, ...
3
votes
6answers
3k views
Would putting a sprinkler on my roof help cool my home?
Anyone ever put a sprinkler on your roof to help out your A/C on unusually hot days? Just wondering if it helps.
8
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7answers
1k views
How can I audit my furnace?
I want to keep track of when my furnace is on, with an eye to reducing how much energy I use to heat my house.
I could compare it with weather data (temperature, wind speed, precipitation).
I could ...
1
vote
4answers
3k views
Will wrapping the stove pipes with copper pipes increase wood stove efficiency?
I've heard that wrapping my wood stove's chimney - the parts inside the house that go from the stove the the actual chimney - with copper pipes will increase the amount of heat generated.
Has anyone ...
3
votes
5answers
2k views
What are my options for replacing 50W GU10 lightbulbs?
I've been looking at replacing 50W GU10 halogen lightbulbs for something more energy efficient.
Some people say that LEDs cannot give you the same light (even 10W LEDs), and to use 11W CFL instead, ...
1
vote
1answer
114 views
Should I tie into the ERV or just vent outside to increase bathroom ventilation?
Our bathroom currently only has an intake connected to the Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) to remove humidity, and it's completely inadequate even for a quick shower. Should I install an exhaust fan ...
7
votes
3answers
467 views
How do I add an exhaust fan to an old attic?
Our house's attic retains a great deal of heat during summer. While we now have a good layer of insulation between the attic and the rest of the house I wonder if it would be worth it to add some ...
3
votes
2answers
118 views
Is there an online way to check my appliance power usage?
I'm considering replacing my old appliances (refrigerator, washer & dryer) with a more efficient model. Is there a website or simple method to look up their measured power usage ?
2
votes
1answer
202 views
looking for a WATT-O-METER with specific features
Recently i have bought an OWL+USB WATT-O-METER and got very disappointed. Making a long story short, i'm looking for a device that will give me:
accurate readings
good software for data management
a ...
0
votes
1answer
299 views
Energy Saver on new A/C doesn't work well
I just got a GE AEW12AM window a/c and the energy saver mode doesn't work that well. I'm used to the in-wall a/c that usually run for a few minutes then turn off for ten. This GE unit seems to turn ...
5
votes
2answers
668 views
Are radiator reflectors as effective as claimed?
I recently completed a survey to determine the energy efficiency of my home. The results weren't great but got me thinking about the quick and affordable things I could do to improve things and ...
18
votes
6answers
2k views
How best can I discover what is up with my electrical bill?
This might be subjective, I don't know. However, it's a serious problem for me. My electrical bill is outrageous. It's three times as large as my next-door neighbor, and four or five times the size of ...
4
votes
3answers
414 views
Calculate savings from/cost-effectiveness of installing a tankless hot water heater?
Following up on "Which water heater types do you recommend?" and "Are tankless water heaters worth it in cold climates", is there a way to calculate the point at which installing a tankless water ...
2
votes
3answers
598 views
How do I install plastic window insulation without damaging the trim?
I'm planning to install plastic window wrap on my windows for the winter, but the trim around the windows is nice wood and I don't want to leave a mark on it where the double-sided tape will be.
I've ...
13
votes
3answers
2k views
Is there a device that will allow a bathroom fan to run for 5 minutes after it is switched off?
There is one switch that controls the lights and fan in the bathroom. Users turn the light/fan on when they enter, and off when they leave.
I'd like for the bathroom fan to run for a time after they ...
3
votes
3answers
4k views
How much less power does a three-phase A\C unit use as apposed to a 220v unit?
I'm planning to install a 5 ton central AC. I'm deciding between a condensing unit that runs on 220V and a costlier unit that runs on 207Y three-phase.
My understanding is that three-phase motors use ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Can I use a stairwell ceiling fan to save energy?
We have a two story house, with a small ceiling fan mounted above the main stairway.
The house has separate thermostats for heating/cooling the upstairs and downstairs.
During the day, we spend 90% ...
3
votes
4answers
160 views
How do I determine if the energy savings are worth replacing windows for?
I have a house with an east-facing wall which is mostly windows. In the winter, during the day I almost never have to run the furnace because of how much the sunlight warms my house. During the summer ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I seal my baseboards from drafts?
Some rooms in my house have a pretty bad draft along the edge of the floor, where it meets the outside walls. But I am less than thrilled (to put it mildly) about the prospect of ripping out carpeting ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
My fridge runs way too much - is this because it doesn't seem to be level?
My refrigerator runs way too much - is this because it doesn't seem to be level? It doesn't seem to be any other reason.
5
votes
1answer
175 views
Is it possible to recover waste heat from a boiler?
I did a google search and came back with industrial products, but no residential prosucts.
I have a System 2000 boiler and hot water tank. When the furnace is firing, the temp of the exhaust through ...
5
votes
2answers
314 views
Is there a way to find out how often your furnace is running?
With winter finally setting in, and being the first year in our new house I would like to put some sort of measurement on how often the furnace is working, before I get the bill. Are there any known ...
5
votes
3answers
9k views
What's the difference between dimmable and non-dimmable LED lamps?
I have a large room in my house with 3 light fittings with a total of 10 40W GU10 bulbs. So, this is using 400W when they're at max output. (They're all on dimmer switches)
I'm interesting in ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
Should fan on heat pump be delayed turning off when system stops?
I have a heat pump system with emergency heat. I have a Honeywell RTH7600D thermostat. When the heat is running and I turn the temperature down, the system immediately stops. Isn't this inefficient ...
5
votes
4answers
645 views
What is the most economical and energy-efficient way to winterize windows?
We have vinyl windows (mostly double-paned) and live in a shady greenbelt in Seattle (i.e. wet and dark). We don't have much severe weather to worry about, just a pervasive damp cold that settles in ...
5
votes
3answers
326 views
Should I install external basement insulation that does not extend above ground?
Question : Is there a way to calculate energy savings for external, 2inch insulation on basement walls that does not extend above the soil surface, leaving the top couple feet of foundation wall ...
10
votes
4answers
615 views
Which water heater types do you recommend?
I would like to upgrade my current water heater with one that
Is able to produce/store more heated water so I won't run out
Energy efficient
Inexpensive
What are the advantages/disadvantages to ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Is a space heater or my window heating unit more energy efficient?
My roommate and I have noticed that, since our apartment faces south and we live right by the Hudson, our apartment is starting to be quite chilly in the evenings, and oftentimes is cooler inside than ...
5
votes
2answers
436 views
When insulating with closed-cell Spray Foam, what ERV and HVAC resizing considerations should I bear in mind?
I am building a 2800 sqft, two-story brick home in Austin, TX. I have heard many good things about the benefits of insulating with closed-cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (ccSPF)1, and have requested ...
10
votes
3answers
860 views
Are tankless water heaters worth it in cold climates?
I was thinking of switching over to a tankless water heater, but a friend of mine said they are not good in colder climates since the water coming in is colder and takes longer to heat. Is this a ...
3
votes
3answers
379 views
Shading windows from outside (awnings, shutters, etc) to keep house from overheating in summer
The back of my house faces west, and during July and August, the sun hits it directly in the afternoon through evening. On a warm day, this can cause the house to heat up quite a bit, so I'm making ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Why does using a dimmer with this ceiling fan and lights cause energy saving bulbs to flicker?
At a hotel I manage we purchased 34 ceiling fans with two integrated light sockets that operate on a dimmer all controlled by a remote control. Obviously using a dimmer with fluorescent bulbs won't ...
1
vote
3answers
441 views
How do you determine how much electricity is used by a device?
How does one go about determining how much electricity is used for a particular device? Where can I find the wattage ratings, and how do I calculate the cost based on my current electricity rates ...
3
votes
1answer
739 views
What is the process for draft proofing windows
I need to try to prevent drafts coming through and around my double glazed window units as much as possible. How can I go about detecting and sealing any leaks that are letting air through the window? ...
0
votes
1answer
250 views
is there a solar passive water condenser (from humid air) design anywhere? [closed]
i've looked around and i found only two related designs:
active electric water condenser.
solar passive water still (that distill dirty water)
not quite what i was looking for...
2
votes
1answer
170 views
How do I fix an irregular hole in my heater closet?
The plumbers cut a roughly rectangular hole in the water heater/heater closet floor when fixing the drain pipe for the condensate line. The closet is located in the garage. There are two 2" PVC ...
7
votes
6answers
3k views
Is insulating an unfinished basement worth it? If so, how should I go about it?
I have an unfinished, well waterproofed basement with cinderblock walls and a concrete floor. All but the top 6 inches / 15 cm or so is underground.
Would it be worth insulating the walls down there? ...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Understanding results of an energy audit
We had an energy audit done a couple of years ago on our 20 year old home. Basically, they hooked up a blower to the front door, and tested the amount of air leakage.
The written report suggested a ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
How can I seal around a light fixture/light switch outlet?
I Have a house built in 1972. I'm currently 80% finished in installing a ceiling fan into my master bedroom.
I had an energy audit about a month ago, which revealed that I had "pretty good sealing" ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Is it a good idea to pay for an energy saving audit of my new home
We have a newly built home but I'm not at all confident in the builder's prowess when it comes to energy conservation. Is it worth hiring someone (like our energy provider or other specialized ...
