Saving energy??

VR3

Just curious what some of you guys have done in effort to save energy...

So far....

1) All energy star certified lights/fans
2) Attic fan to vent the attic in the summer
3) Timer/Switch for hot water heater
4) Programmed thermostat for AC/Heat
5) all seams of the house have been caulked/great stuffed, etc
6) Insulated attic door
7) Insulated interior/exterior walls
8) Added 20" of insulation to attic

Any ideas on other things that can be done?

I was thinking about next year putting some tint on the windows that sun directly hits in the morning... Shall see

BeRad

Be careful with the tint. If you tint a window AND have closed shades on it, it can create a heat trap and cause the window to crack with the temp change. I've replaced a 5' x 8' unit for one of our customers 3 times so far because of this (the guy won't listen to our advice, and we don't mind!). It seems to only really happen to windows facing sunrise, and only if there are blinds that allow very little airflow.

The tint doesn't really do enough to reduce heat transfer to make it worth while anyways imho.

messiah

BeRad wrote: »

Be careful with the tint. If you tint a window AND have closed shades on it, it can create a heat trap and cause the window to crack with the temp change. I've replaced a 5' x 8' unit for one of our customers 3 times so far because of this (the guy won't listen to our advice, and we don't mind!). It seems to only really happen to windows facing sunrise, and only if there are blinds that allow very little airflow.

The tint doesn't really do enough to reduce heat transfer to make it worth while anyways imho.

Dude, it's probably the hockey pucks flying around.

disneyjoe7

BeRad wrote: »

Be careful with the tint. If you tint a window AND have closed shades on it, it can create a heat trap and cause the window to crack with the temp change. I've replaced a 5' x 8' unit for one of our customers 3 times so far because of this (the guy won't listen to our advice, and we don't mind!). It seems to only really happen to windows facing sunrise, and only if there are blinds that allow very little airflow.

The tint doesn't really do enough to reduce heat transfer to make it worth while anyways imho.

Not a problem here, and it's hotter here then anything up there. Tinting was the biggest improvement I've made too date. And BTW have blinds on my windows all of them. I would call a pro to do it, you can't buy good stuff by yourself. I'm using LLumar DR35 love it.

Knucklehead

I use argon filled windows slightly tinted, heat transfer is minimal, a lot of natural light without the heat.

steveinaz

CFL lighting everywhere I could. Not only does it save the hassle of replacing bulbs constantly, the math shows about aa 73% savings in lighting electricity--not too mention less load on the fuse box.

I'm also going to tint the windows in the front 2 bedrooms to reduce heat in the summer. Those rooms get hot even with the AC on.

thsmith

Turbines on the roof, R30 in the attic, ridge vents, Seer 13 AC and new windows for most of the house. New water heater. New light bulbs whatever they are called and ceiling fans in most all rooms.

madmax

Be careful with that timer, you could cost yourself more if the heat up time is greater than the total "KEEP warm" on-time.



I'm at about 95% LED lighting. I could leave every light in the house on 24/7 and not see much change in costs. Its more expensive than CFL bulbs but I think they are pretty cool.

I keep my water heater on the lowest setting I can stand. In the shower it is set fully to the hot side for the right temp for me.

Infrared Black and Decker light oven! Oh man the steaks it can cook and much cheaper than the big oven.

Front loader efficient washer. Less than one cent electric per "quick wash" according to my meter. Hang clothes to dry with a small fan set on low underneath. Clothes dry in a few hours plus they end up on hangers!

Window tint

Jstas

7,000 hamsters on hamster wheels tied to little generators generating 3 watts each. I feed them a high carb diet (for energy) along with a steady dose of LSD (keeps them happy) and meth (keeps them going). I also have gigantic collection hoods to harvest the methane gas generated by their little digestive tracts. I use a compression system to make CNG and use it to power my own CNG based modified Gas/Electric car. The entire system is self-sufficient!

I'll be off the grid by December and selling credits back by March!





















Actually, no. But it sound cool, didn't it? :eek:

steveinaz

My next water heater will be tankless. Used them for years in Europe, it's a shame it took so long to gain popularity in the U.S. Like Max, I keep my water heater a little below the "norm" notch on the thermostat. No need for smoking hot water, and I'm sure it cost a ton to keep it that way.

Willow

Have you taped all the joints in your HVAC pipes?
insulators on hotwater pipes?
clean furnace filter?
low flow shower head?
Wash out the filter on your dryer with soap every once and a while?

disneyjoe7

My next hot water tank will be a Heat Pump hot water tank.

madmax

You could turn the stereo down and forget any other energy savers.

Face

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55534&highlight=energy

tonyb

I blast the heat,and open the windows, not cost efficient,but feels good.

mrbiron

If its brown, flush it down

If its yellow, let it mellow

If its red, go to bed......AT A HOSPITAL!

Jstas

tonyb wrote: »

I blast the heat,and open the windows, not cost efficient,but feels good.

I close all the vents in the house except the one in front of the bay window. Then I stand there in nothing but a bathrobe with the AC cranked as high as it will go then bask in the glory for all my neighbors to marve...I mean wretch at.

Sometimes I wave and they think that's creepy.

bigaudiofanatic

Solar panels?

Demiurge

I run a large home theater system and I'm super concerned about saving energy.

No, really.

ESavinon

Krell Class A mono amps! Two can keep a whole house warm, You can grill steaks on them, Heat water, create steam to run a generator. The possibilities are endless.