Your Questions About Save Energy At Home

adminsta answers:

Standby energy is an easy place to start, most electronics use energy even when they are turned off. Use power strips with switches to plug in your tv, dvd, game system etc. And flip them all off when not in use. Shut down your desk top when not in use, make sure the speakers and monitor are also off or unplugged, a surge suppressor with a switch makes it easier. Unplug chargers including laptop, battery chargers, electric tooth brushes and ipod docking stations. Many use energy even when empty.

Use drapes on windows, block drafts, weather strip and insulate. Turn your thermostat down a few degrees and replace with a programmable thermostat if possible, make sure filters are in place and clean.

adminsta answers:

I am not a specialist, but have come across this before.

I followed the arguments from both sides with interest as both seemed plausible. BUT I got the definitive answer when my neighbour actually tried it out when they went on holiday for a couple of weeks.

They are always going on holidays, so know how much that month’s bill should be when they have been away for two weeks. When they left the heating on low while they were away, the house did seem to warm up a bit quicker when they come back, but they were still cold for a few hours even so. Not only that, but when they checked their bill, it was nearly as bad as if they had been home all the time.

So for them, they save a ton of money on their fuel bills by turning the heat off. Your situation is similar enough that I think your flatmates are right, it would save them a lot of money by just turning it on and off. That is not really the point though is it? You need warmth and you work from home, so cannot escape the cold like they can.

I am tempted to say they should not be so selfish as to make you freeze during the day as that is unfair when they are out in warm offices/Uni. Or wherever. But how bad is the money situation if you are sat there at night hugging hot water bottles until the heat comes on? If money is that tight for you all, then maybe you could compromise and say have it come on for an hour in the morning, a hour in the evening and an hour at night? The rest of the time you might have to sit there in your coat to keep warm.

Incidentally, how are you boiling water for the hot water bottles? A microwave oven is by far the cheapest method of boiling water, you will just have to be very careful as microwaved water can “spit” if it has been boiled for too long and is suddenly knocked or something like that.

Good luck!

adminsta answers:

Yes it is possible to set it up at your home, and yes it can save you money, and no it is not difficult.

You can build your own solar panels, and depending on how much you have to spend for the solar cells themselves, the cost is no more than $200. For a 100 watt panel. If you salvage materials and really shop around, you can probably get this cost down well below $100.

A couple of sources for how to build a solar panel are:

www.instructables.com
www.earth4energy.com

In regards to hooking the panels up to your home. The solar panels are generating DC current, and most homes operate on a AC current.
You will need an inverter to convert from DC to AC.
Also, everywhere I know of, you are prohibited by law from connecting an alternative power source to the Grid system (your utilitiy companies power lines) unless you are a licensed electrician.

You can build your system and get everything ready, but you would need this licensed electrician to make the final connections.

What happens next is simple. You have a kilowatt meter on your home which your utility company reads to determine how much to charge you. If your solar system is generating more power then you are using, the meter will turn backwards. When the utility company reads the meter, if it has gone backwards more then it has gone forward they will cut you a check for the power you generated.

During the day is normally the peak power usage time for most homes, and this is also the peak time that your solar system is generating. You might be able to slow down your usage of utility power during the day, but it might prove more efficient to store your solar power in a battery bank, and then at night when your home usage goes way down, the batteries can be turning your meter back for you.

I have also seen people who have installed DC lighting through out their home, and even some DC appliances. They then wired these items directly too the solar system bypassing the homes regular electric lines. By doing this they eliminate the need for an inverter, and they greatly reduce their need for utility company power. You lose a lot of your Kilowatts when you use an inverter, and with a straight DC system you can greatly reduce the number of solar panels needed, and also reduce the number of batteries required for storage. You always want enough battery storage to provide at least 2-3 days of power. DC flourescent or LED light bulbs use very little wattage compared too incandescent bulbs.

The other thing you must remember. The solar panels operate with sunlight. You will want them facing South for optimal efficiency, and they must have clear unobstructed sunlight. If you do not have a South facing roof, or your South roof is shaded by trees or other obstructions, you can always place your solar array somewhere else and wire it into the home. A garage, barn, or any building with a South facing roof will work. If nothing is available, you can also have your solar array free standing on its own stand.

A really nice thing about a solar system. The solar panels do not have moving parts, so there is nothing too wear out. Depending on the location, and the environment they are in, you will need to wash them off occassionally but other then that they are pretty much maintenance free. If you let the outer cover get dirty, it blocks the sunlight from the solar cells, and reduces the amount of power generated. So what I’m saying is, once you get the solar system built and hooked up, it will pretty much run on its own. The exception would be the batteries. If you use a battery bank for storage the batteries do have a life span, but depending on the batteries used, that could be a few years or 10 or more. You can start off with as little as one panel, and then add panels as you go. It is very easy to add panels to an existing system. Over time you may not need your utility company at all.

adminsta answers:

You have a good point, but raising the temperature back to what is was before is only part of the issue.

The main issue is the heat loss from the home to the outside environment. Lets say you have the themostat set at 70 during the day, 50 at night, and the outside temp is 30 degrees. During the day, the home will loose heat based upon the temp difference of 70 – 30 = 40 degrees. At night, the heat loss will be based upon 50 – 30 = 20 degrees. So the furnace will have to run only half as long during the night. Yes, it will have to run a little longer in the morning to get back to 70, but for the entire day, it will definitly save energy to set the thermostat back at night!

Hope that helps.
Bill

adminsta answers:

Go on line there are piles of them don’t forget wind energy check out Jay Leno’s home and garage he is going right of the grid with his power and he has the name of the companies he buys from there was an article in Popular Mechanics awhile back on it

adminsta answers:

According to this article http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2249045/india-launch-55-per-cent not yet, but perhaps soon.

See also the link in the article for India’s “National Solar Mission.”

If your electricity is expensive, it may still be worth it to do a grid-tied solar install.

adminsta answers:

Check your windows and doors for drafts and seal or cover (with plastic) if needed. Check light switches and electrical outlets for drafts and get foam insulators for those ( at Home Depot or Lowe’s) Make sure you have insulation in you attic or crawl space. Turn off unnecessary lights, unplug t.v.’s or appliances with clocks you don’t use since they still draw electricity even when not in use. If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down (to conserve water). Only do laundry or a load of dishes when you have a full load. That’s all I can think of for now. Sometimes your electric co. Will do an energy evaluation for you and give you some tips. Good luck.

adminsta answers:

65 degrees at night; 70 during the day (& a little one should ALWAYS wear at LEAST socks, around the house in the Winter).