Energy Efficient Air Conditioner Terms – Good to know for residential HVAC

Get *the* Best Wind & Solar Pak, ever, Easy Earth Energy.... Let me know how you like it!

At John C. Flood we often get asked what certain HVAC industry terms mean, so below we offer some common questions along with answers to help you better understand HVAC terms.

What size air conditioner do I need for my house?

Sizing a residential heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit depends on such variables as square footage of your home, geographic location, orientation to the sun, construction details, insulation values, window area and type, etc. Under sizing a system may lead to warmer or cooler temperatures than desired by some occupants. Over sizing the system may lead to humidity or moisture control problems in the space.

 

What is a BTU?

BTU stands for the British Thermal Unit (Btu). It’s a unit of heat energy within the inch-pound unit system, which is common today in the United States. The Btu is defined as the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit from 58.5 to 59.5.

A Btu is commonly used to indicate the heating and cooling capacity of a system, heat losses, and heat gains. To give an example of system capacity, a 10,000 Btu window air conditioner is capable of removing 10,000 Btus of heat per hour. To give an example in terms of heat gains, the typical heat gain added to a room by a person at rest is about 230 Btu per hour.

 

What is a Ton?

A ton is the unit of measurement for air-conditioning system capacity. One ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 Btus of heat energy per hour from a home. Central air conditioners are sized in tons. Residential units usually range from 1 to 5 tons.

 

What does EER mean? Should I spend more money for a higher EER unit?

EER stands for energy efficiency ratio. The higher the EER rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. This can result in lower energy costs. If you go to the US Dept of Energy’s Web site you can calculate the potential energy cost savings of a more efficient unit. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) posts a Certified Ratings directory, which lists EER ratings of various air- conditioning equipment.

 

What does SEER mean? Should I spend more money for a higher SEER unit?

SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher SEER can result in lower energy costs. Again, if you visit the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Web site you can calculate potential energy cost savings of a more efficient unit. Once more the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) posts a Certified Ratings directory, which lists SEER ratings of various air-conditioning equipment.

 

What does HSPF mean?

HSPF stands for heating system performance factor. The higher the HSPF rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher HSPF can result in lower energy costs. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) posts a certified ratings directory, which lists HSPF ratings of various air-conditioning equipment.

 

What does AFUE mean?

AFUE stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. The higher the AFUE rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher AFUE can result in lower energy costs. The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association at www.gamanet.org, publishes a directory of certified AFUE ratings.

Hope this helps.

 

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

Building Your Own Solar And Wind Power Systems ? Everything You Need To Know

In this day and age, the two most important things, which need proper attention are the environment and the economy. This is due to the fact that the environment seems to be powerless already because of the high-level of pollution nowadays and the economy is on its critical condition by now because of the increasing inflation rate every year. Thus, you have to act now and do your duty as a responsible human being. You have to do something which will benefit both the environment and the economy. As a matter of fact, one of the very best ways, which you can consider to help the two most important things here on earth is to try building your own solar and wind power systems.

It is quite undeniable that solar energy and wind energy are a renewable types of energy. When you say renewable energy, it simply refers to a type of energy which naturally comes from the environment. Such type of energy can be easily replaced as well as beneficial not only the human race but also to the environment. Hence, building your own solar and wind power systems is a very good thing for you to consider in these days. You just have to be aware on how to get started.

The following are the ways which you can consider in building your own solar and wind power systems:

1. Purchase a DIY solar and wind power system kit. There are so many DIY solar and wind power system kits available in the world market today. You simply have to carefully choose a kit which can be very helpful on your part. In addition, you also have to purchase a kit which is not too expensive but irrefutably effective. In doing so, you can surely save yourself from any regrets in the long run.

2. Carefully read all the instructions. All of the DIY kits on how to build a solar or wind power system include instructions on how you can do such task without the help of any experts. You just have to carefully read all those instructions in order to be truly successful in building your own solar and wind power systems.

3. Be patient and take your time in building your own power system. Patience is absolutely a virtue. Thus, you have to make sure to be very patient in constructing your homemade power system. You have to instill into your mind that you cannot construct your own power system in just a snap of your finger. This only means that you have to exert much of your effort so that you can come up with a very effective power system at the end of the day.

Indeed, building your own solar and wind power systems is not just a simple child’s play. Hence, you really have to bear in mind all the aforementioned ways in building or constructing your own homemade power systems. In this way, you can be sure that you can successfully construct your power system sooner or later, save the dying environment and somehow save a certain amount of money for your own sake.

Ready to stop relying on an expensive energy source?

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

Home Wind Power Information You Really Should Know

Home wind power is one of the best ways that you could possibly go if you are looking to save money and help the environment at the same time. The wind power industry is booming and you should get in on it as soon as possible. In this article, I am going to tell you why wind power is so great and how you can get started with your own very easily.

The first reason why wind power is growing so quickly is because it is totally renewable energy. This means that the energy comes from a source that will never run out. There will always be wind power available, because there will always be wind available. This is what makes wind power so attractive to many home and business owners.

Solar power has long been a very popular form of renewable energy, but wind is actually starting to take preference. Many governments from countries all over the world are looking at wind as a legitimate source of energy in today’s tough world economy.

The second reason why it is so great is because it is extremely accessible. Literally anyone can buy some materials, get some windmill plans, and starting building a home windmill that will power their home or business. The process is simple and millions of people all over the world have already started doing this.

Sure, some places in the world have more wind, but for the most part anywhere in the world can have access to wind power.

One more reason why wind power is so highly recommended is because it does absolutely not harm to the environment. Our society is becoming Greener every single day. This means that people are becoming much more environmentally conscious and adjusting their lifestyles accordingly. Power companies often release harmful toxins and gasses into the atmosphere. If you can eliminate your dependence on the power companies, you will be doing the Earth a great favor.

Also, with home wind power, you have the opportunity to save tons of money! Think about what your power bill is every month…now think about how much money you would be saving if you could reduce that bill. It is very common to reduce a power bill by 70% very easily with a home windmill. In many cases, people actually eliminate their electricity bill totally.

This is what draws a ton of people to home wind power. It’s ease of use and savings potential is just too good for the average person to pass up.

The world of home wind power is very exciting. I know I have gotten involved and I have really reaped the benefits of this great type of renewable energy. There are a few things you need to know before getting started, but they can all be learned fairly easily.

I recommend finding an online resource that will teach you everything you need to know before you get started. This will help you to save lots of time and money in the long run.

My totally Free 5 Day Home Wind Power Email Course teaches everything you need to know about home wind power.


You can check it out at http://www.yourhomewindpower.com

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

What Every President Should Know About Energy Part 2

In the first part of this presentation, an energy expert talks about the current energy use of appliances – anything that plugs in to a home or office. This talk expands the traditional definition of the appliance as well as outlines the efficiencies that are now achievable and future goals for even greater energy savings. In the second segment, Art Rosenfeld, the “Father of Energy Efficiency” examines the existence of heat islands in cities and how something as simple as cool roof programs may ameliorate a huge part of this problem. Series: The UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center’s Rosenfeld Series [7/2010] [Public Affairs] [Science] [Business] [Show ID: 18748]

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

To Buy Or Build Your Wind Turbine System – 3 Important Things To Know

These are the three important things to know for everyone who is thinking of installing a wind energy system. There are two basic ways to do it – buy it or make your own and here are the pros and cons for each method:

Tip No1: When to build your own wind turbine?

Building your own wind turbine is a great and cost-efficient method to harness the power of the wind. However, you should be aware of when to opt for this option and when to simply buy your wind power system. So when is it a good idea to build your own wind power system?

Generally, a home-made wind turbine would be good enough if you are looking to supplement to your conventional electricity source. If you are not looking to go completely independent and are simply wanting to have an alternative source of electricity, then you should definitely look into making your own wind turbine. You will definitely be able to do that pretty cheap and will have a wind power system, which will satisfy your needs.

Tip No2: When to buy a new wind turbine?

There are times when a home-made wind turbine, no matter how well it is made is simply not up to par to the prefabricated ones. And that time is when you need to not only supplement to your conventional power source, but when you want to go completely off-grid.

The major difference between a prefabricated wind turbine and a Do It Yourself one is in the aerodynamics qualities of the turbine. If you are looking to supply for all your electricity needs with this wind turbine you would need one as aerodynamic as possible and for that purpose you would need to opt for a prefabricated one.

Tip No3: Should you seek expert guidance?

Regardless of whether you are going to buy or build your wind turbine, there will be many things you are not so sure about with your wind power installation. There will be many questions, which a proper step-by-step guide has the answers to. Such a guide could reduce the time it takes you to set up your system and make the whole process rather enjoyable.

The truth is that there are many ins and outs of setting up a wind power installations. Deciding whether to buy or to build your wind turbine is just the start of the process. You would also need to look into the natural conditions in your area, how to connect your wind power system to your electrical system, and several other things. To get the proper guidance for these issues you had best get a step-by-step guide.

These were the three important things to know when deciding whether to build or buy your wind turbine. Now that you have the knowledge of what the important factors to consider are you can make the decision much easier. But what about the guidance you would need for carrying out your project smoothly, where can you get that? You can check out a selection of the available guides at the links listed below. Enjoy!

Want to learn more about this topic? Instantly access more free tips and reviews about Renewable Energy Resources here: http://profound-ebook-reviews.com/category/green-living/

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

How Can I Put Wind Energy To Use For My Home? Everything You Need To Know About Wind Turbines

Going green and saving on your energy bills does not have to be rocket science. You can really do a lot of things to cut back on your energy use. One of them is using wind power and therefore this article about everything you need to know about wind turbines. Of course there are many other things you can do but getting a wind turbine is one of the big things you can do.

We are not the first to realize the potential of wind power and we are not the first to harness this power. Windmills have been used for years, but it is the better technology that we have that is making it possible to generate enough energy from a wind turbine to make it economically viable. It is even possible to store it for later use.

Windmills have simply been substituted with the more technologically advanced wind turbines. They are still essentially the same thing, What the wind turbine does is to convert the energy from the wind into electricity that you can use immediately or store in batteries.

OK, even though very simplistic, that is basically everything you need to know about wind turbines. What is important is that you can now use that same technology to make a wind turbine for your back yard or even a home rooftop wind turbine.

With a backyard wind turbine or a home rooftop wind turbine you can easily make about 60% of your energy needs. This will give you a huge saving in your energy bills. What is even better, as technology is improving; your savings will go up,

Now, of course, you have two choices. You can build your own home rooftop wind turbine, your own back yard turbine, or you can buy one. If you buy one you will find that it can cost anywhere from $600 all the way up to $12,000.

The better option though is to build your own wind turbine. As far as “everything you need to know about wind turbines” go, this is the most important fact. A wind turbine is easy to make and it will only cost you a few hundred bucks. You even get easy to follow manuals to help you with it.

So, you choose. Buying or making your own is up to you, what is important is that no matter what, you will save on your energy bills. This will be a saving for many years to come.

As far as I can think this is everything you need to know about wind turbines. With this knowledge you can take action and save a lot of money.

With Everything You Need To Know About wind Turbines you can take action an build your own home rooftop wind turbine and start saving.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

What to Know About Energy Efficient Landscape Lighting

Statistics show that lighting products consume 24% of the electrical power generated in the U.S. and lighting products make up for approximately 25-45% of household and commercial energy costs. Statistics such as these are causing individuals take a closer look at their home lighting and make changes to adopt more energy efficient products.

This high demand has brought new energy saving devices that are now available to the consumer for both home and office. Many such devices are easy to replace and install. Your checkbook will thank you too, because the pay back period of implementing energy saving products can be as quick as 1 year with dollar savings being realized on the very next monthly utility bill. Many of the available products can be used in a variety of ways including exterior home lighting, outdoor lighting, and landscape lighting. Below are a few great energy efficient products that should be readily available at your local lighting or hardware store.

Dimmers – Table top, floor or in wall. Dimming devices can save up to 50% of the energy used simply by dialing down the light intensity. Dimmers also provide for a soft and relaxing mood.

Compact Fluorescent – There are many CFL lamps available today. It is best to choose those with the best color rendition and many with dimmable features.

LED – These lamps are the newest generation of lamp technology. However, LED’s have a lot of restrictions and guidelines. Choosing the best LED for the right application requires some knowledge of this technology and its capabilities. LED’s are the most efficient of all lamp sources (including fluorescent). I suspect the LED collection will be one of the fastest growing segments of the lighting industry in the near future.

Motion and Occupancy Sensors – These handy devices allow lighting to come on when movement is detected in a room or area. Using PIR (passive infra red) technology, these switching devices prevent lights from being left on for long periods of time.

Timing Devices – Timers allow specific lights to come on and off at required time periods. This provides easy control for light function. Timers can easily be set for lights to come on and off at multiple times. They can also be adjusted for vacation mode as a safety feature.

Photo Controls – Like timing devises, photo control allows the light to come on at dusk and off at dawn. Most photo controls are used for exterior lighting but they can also be useful in many indoor applications.

Solar – This technology is totally “carbon neutral” and off the electrical grid. Until today, most of the solar products were weak and could not hold a charge for very long. Today, with the advent of new “photo voltaic” technology, solar lighting can be very practical and a great solution to dark areas without electricity. Most of the solar products are built for exterior use but many can be used in sunny rooms, sheds and structures with some natural UV light. It is important to note however, that solar will not work with artificial light.

The bottom line is that besides the financial savings of using energy efficient products in the home or office, the goal of the U.S. to become more energy independent will happen more quickly as consumers begin making the effort of changing energy habits. This can be as easy as replacing a light bulb or turning on a switch.

Bruce Dennis is a part of the Light Club USA team based in Southern California. With more than 30 years of experience and expertise in the lighting business, Light Club USA specializes in indoor and outdoor landscape lighting products, low voltage, energy efficient lighting products and accessories. Visit www.LightClubUSA.com or call 818-349-2663 for information on our Low Price Guarantee.

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

Residential Wind Turbines – What you need to know to build your own


Residential wind power – your own personal power source – can provide 40-100% of your homes energy requirements, but to buy them ‘off the shelf’ can be prohibitively expensive. Energy usage in the US and Canada continues to increase, while increasing environmental regulations and cost contribute to slowing construction for new power plants. Further, every new powerplant and it’s source of fuel is a dramatic environmental impact on our planet. There has been an increasing call for decentralized power production – personal Residential power sources like wind and solar, but these can be prohibitively expensive to buy. One option? Build your own Residential Wind Turbine! But what do you need to know before you dive in? It can be expensive, or really cheap! Buying all the parts retail can cost more than just buying a complete unit; however, if you know where to look and what to look for, you can build your own for approximately $100 It can be complex, or laid out step-by-step! – few of us are electrical engineers ready to figure out the intricacies needed to build our own Residential Wind Turbine and wire it properly into the house. We need a guide to tell us and point out the pitfalls You need exceptional electrical and ‘build it’ skill? – NO! Basic tools, a workspace, and a extra-large helping of initiative are all that’s required! Almost anyone with the desire can build their own Residential Wind Turbine, if they have someone to guide and instruct them. One final warning, there are a lot of ‘guides’ out there created by corporations to sell their products and pieces, or by people with no experience copying others systems and hoping to cash-in on the growing interest. Look out for these, and find one created by those who do the work and have successfully lived ‘off the grid’ for years. You’ll get noticably better results.

Jon Patrick
If you found the above interesting, please check out my blog at: http://www.squidoo.com/Residential_Wind_Power for more information on how to live off the grid!

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

Solar Energy Advantages And Disadvantages: Do You Know The Major Pros And Cons of Solar Power?

If you have thought about using alternative energy sources, then you should be definitely reading this article. There are solar energy advantages and disadvantages which you should know about before making any decisions. 

In today’s world, when the cost of energy is going through the roof, there is a real need for an alternative energy sources. So it is important to know what the solar energy advantages and disadvantages are. 

Solar Energy Advantages:  

Solar power is a free and an endless source of energy.

 

When you use solar energy, there is no pollution.

 

Solar power is a great addition to other sources of renewable energy.

 

Solar power can be applied to power items like solar satellites and cars.

 

“Sun power” can help reverse the rapid destruction of the planet. 

 

Solar Energy Disadvantages: 

Large numbers of solar panels would be needed for large land areas to produce the necessary amount of energy.

 

Only places with lots of sunlight will get the benefits of solar power.

 

Powering a house using sunlight may be simple, but will become more complicated when it comes to providing energy for an entire country.

 

Not everyone can afford to have solar systems installed in their homes. 

 

Now that you have a feel for the solar energy advantages and disadvantages, you can better decide on what the best choice is for you. However, more and more people are moving to green lifestyle every day. Why? – Because everyone wants a healthy and long life for himself / herself and his / her family.  It means the pros of solar power are than its cons.

Also read:

Wind Power Efficiency: Wind Energy Benefits in Comparison with Other Energy Resources

Download the best DIY Energy Guide (a bundle of the 3 DIY Guides (Solar Panel Systems, The “$98 Solar Panel” Guide and “Solar Energy Bundle”) on Solar Panel How To and discover Top 5 Important Tips:

1.Step-by-Step Process of Creating Solar Energy

2.Secrets on How to Find ?Free? Solar Panel

3.How to install multiple solar panels and how to save energy using multiple batteries at the same time.

4.Important basics of PV solar panel installation that can be especially useful for newbies

5.Practical Tips on How to calculate How Much Money Solar Power can save your family budget.

If you download it just today at http://solarpanelmake.com, You Will Also Get 2 Valuable BONUSES:

$49.97 Value Build Your Own Wind Turbine

$97 Value 1+ Hour of ?Step-By-Step Videos? on how to build your first solar cell.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,