“The most telling sign of a unit not functioning properly is when you notice the energy bill getting bigger and bigger when the price of energy isn’t increasing,”

Window technology has improved dramatically in recent years because of the conscious effort to save on energy. Below are some of the features to improve the thermal efficiency window.

1. Glazing.

Gone are the days when a window is made up of a frame, a glass pane and a latch. Today, energy-efficient window-designs require a minimum of two (2) layers of glass, called double-glazed windows. Double-glazing insulates almost twice as well as single glazing (single glass pane). It is also possible to add a third or fourth layer to further improve the results. Some of these windows use clear glass only; others opt to install additional layer of thin plastic films for tinting as well as further insulation.

2. Thickness of air space.

In between the two glass panes in a double-glazed window is a space filled with the air. With a thicker air space, the window will be better insulated because it will have a better transfer of heat. Thicknesses range from ¼ ” to 1”. If the air is wider than 1”, however, there is no further gain in performance.

3. Type of air in the space.

Traditional double-glazed windows were filled with air or flushed with dry nitrogen to ensure that the air does not leak. In a sealed glass pane, heat is carried to the top of the air space while cold pools settle at the bottom. By filling the space with a less conductive gas like argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO2), krypton (Kr), and argon-krypton mixtures, the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside is reduced. It should be noted that the thickness of the airspace also depends on the kind of gas that is used to fill it.

4. Edge spacers.

What holds the panes of glass apart are the edge spacers. These also provide the airtight seal in the window. Before, hollow-aluminum channels filled with desiccant beads were used as edge spacers. Since Aluminum is a highly conductive material, heat loss (or gain) is now occurring through the edges. Improvements to the material used include thin-walled steel with thermal breaks, or silicone foam or butyl rubber. A low-cost option when ordering windows would be to consider insulating edge seals with traditional aluminum spacers.

5. Low-E coatings.

Low-emittance (Low-E) coating are very thin, metal or metallic oxide layers set on a window glazing surface primarily to improve the heat transfer (reduce the U-factor). Heat is transferred in multilayer glass from a warm pane to a cooler pane. With a low-emittance coated material facing the air space between the glass layers, it blocks a significant amount of heat transfer, thus reducing the total heat flow through the window. Different types of low-e treatment are now available for different climate zones and different applications in any particular location.

Enough about the glass pane, let’s now focus on the materials surrounding the glass, the window frame. Different kinds of materials can be used for the encasement, depending on aesthetics (suits the design of the home), durability (resistance to storm, wind or extreme weather) and, of course, energy efficiency (U-factor).

Metals (aluminum, or light metal) for example are lightweight and easy to clean, but conducts heat rapidly. If metals must be used for window frames, ensure to place insulating material between the inside and outside of the frame and sash.

Wood (natural and composite) have better thermal properties, but must be treated for moisture and termite decay. Natural wood also contracts and expands through weather changes and can be heavy and thick, thus reducing the view and light passing through.

Plastics (fiberglass, PVC, vinyl) have the highest thermal resistance as compared to the previous, especially if treated with insulation. It has good moisture resistance and need no painting because color treatment is already incorporated in its production. However, at extreme temperatures, they may expand, warp or crack. Also, if exposed to sunlight for long hours, colors tend to fade over time.

Lastly, here are simple steps to ensure you are buying an energy-efficient window:

a. Look for NFRC label as your guide to energy performance (U-rating) and to suit your climate, before buying a window.

b. Choose windows with good warranties against the loss of the air seal. If the glazing seal is lost, not only will fogging occur, but also any low-conductivity gas between the layers of glass will immediately be lost.

c. Hire only skilled contractors to install your new windows. This will ensure that they will perform as well as they should.

What else are you waiting for? STOP throwing money OUT YOUR WINDOW!

© 2006 All Rights Reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. The copyright and this resource box must be
included. http://www.MyHomeEnergySavings.com

Here are some tips on how to save energy with your house heater.

1. Check if the rooms/house is/are sufficiently insulated.

The house itself should have proper insulation. Check if there are holes and gaps between window and door hinges. If your house has many glass windows, heavy curtains drawn at night can help conserve heat. Leaks between windows and door hinges can easily cool a room by allowing cold air to enter. Holes in walls can also bring the temperature down. Bare, concrete walls are cold and can easily draw out the warmth away from any warm body that comes into contact with it. Carpets, as well as curtains help insulate rooms. Wooden panels or carpeted walls can also help warm the room. These though are costly so if the family cannot afford them, at least make sure that the windows and door hinges do not have gaps, and that the walls do not have holes where air can easily escape the house, or enter the house from the outside.

2. Check the status of your house heater.

Most house heaters are powered by natural gas. Natural gas heaters make use of natural gas, an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that is lighter than air. Natural gas heaters have pipelines that go through the wall of the house to find their way into your house’s furnaces. Make sure that the pipes do not have leaks for the family’s safety and to save energy. A simple way to test for leaks is to pour water on the pipes. If there is a leak, bubbles will form. If the pipelines are old and rusted, have them replaces. Also, check if your furnaces are also in order: the vents should not be blocked to allow fumes to escape from the room. Consider annual maintenance check-ups if you want to avoid expensive repairs and replacements.

If your house heater makes used of electricity, make sure that the wirings are not worn o. Look for signs of rusting and other physical damage. Clean the heater regularly like twice a year to make sure that every thing is in order. If the house heater has been working beyond the prescribed number of years, consider changing the unit. Older heaters eventually become less-efficient with wear and tear.

3. Consider newer model/units of house heaters.

There are more energy-saving house heater equipments, whether solar or electricity powered, available in the market. Consider buying one to replace an old existing home heating system. These heaters have been engineered to give maximum performance with the least energy consumption possible relative to their forerunners.

The following are some of the energy-saving house heaters in the market today.

a. Electrical-powered

Electrical-powered house heaters provide the advantage of safety (relatively safer than natural gas and wood fuel), cleanliness (no bad fumes and debris from burning), and versatility (can be programmed to adjust the temperature and the length of time it will be used), and flexibility (portable) over other house heaters. Moreover, no pipelines are required thus, easy installation.

Electrical house heaters may come in the form of a portable unit (e.g. Air King 8540 Ceramic Oscillating Space Heater) similar to a portable air-conditioning unit like the. They can also be in the form of heat convector panels (e.g. Elnur Panel by Elnur), and electric thermal radiators.

b. Solar-powered

Engineers and consumers are gradually looking into harnessing the energy from the sun to run appliances, warm water, and warm the house. Solar-collecting panels placed on the roof where maximum sunlight is absorbed, makes use of silicon tiles to collect heat from the sun. Solar air heaters (e.g. Ra240 Solarmax Solar Air Heater and Solar Max 240 Solar Space Heating Unit by Cansolair) provide the advantage of being a cleaner source of energy than electricity, more safe since the possibility of fires due to electrical shorting is eliminated and there are no fumes generated unlike natural-gas heaters. Although the initial cash-out is definitely higher than that of electrical and natural-gas heaters, the household is able save up on electricity in the long run thus monthly electrical bills eventually go down.

(c) 2006 All Rights Reserved This article may be republished as long as this resource box is included. http://MyHomeEnergySavings.com and
http://MyHomeEnergySavings.com/blog

So, the next best thing to do is to turn your home into an energy saving home so that you can cut-back the bills to as far as 50% from your current total consumption.

How to do that? Here are tips that will guide you in making your home an energy saving home.

1. Create your own energy.

One of the best ways in creating an energy saving home is to produce your own energy. This is, in particular, one of the most lucrative alternatives to hefty electric bills.

One way to make an energy saving home is to use the renewable energy. This means that you will utilize more and maximize the capabilities of unlimited sources of energy like the sea, the sun, or the man-made energy-generating inventions.

These devices are very important especially in places wherein the climate is continuously changing.

2. Make use of the Solar PV.

This is one of the methods that will make your home an energy saving home.

Basically, Solar PV utilizes the energy that is coming from the sun in order to generate energy. The energy that will be produced is the one that will be used to operate different domestic devices and illuminations.

One good thing about Solar PV is that it does not make use of direct sunlight so as to produce energy. It is simply operational during day time.

With Solar PV, you can truly transform your house into an energy saving home. All you have to do is to purchase PV systems and attach them to your wall or roof that is looking towards the south, within the 90 degrees range, provided that there will be no tangible things that will take the limelight out of your house.

3. Use the natural heater.

If you want to turn your home into an energy saving home, it is best that you employ the services of a solar water heating system. This system uses the high temperature coming from the sun and transforms it into your water heater.

Solar water heating system has solar panels that are placed on your roof so as to collect heat coming from the sun’s rays. With this system, it naturally heats the water in your water storage system and eventually keeps the heat intact so that you can still use it on the later part of the day.

With Solar water heating system, you can be sure that your home will soon be an energy saving home minus the hefty electric bills.

4. Make a wind mill.

As a part of the energy saving home, small scale winds are also created in order to generate energy coming from the speed of the wind that operates the blades. These blades, in turn, will be the one that will generate electricity for your home.

However, because its energy is fully dependent on the speed of the wind, it is advisable that you place your small scale wind at the highest place in your area.

Nevertheless, using small scale wind can still lessen your electricity consumption and will definitely turn your home into an energy saving home.

5. Insulate your walls.

In order to make an energy saving home, it is best that you do cavity wall insulation. This refers to the insulation system that is placed in between your cavity walls or between the internal and external sheets of bricks that makes up the exterior part of your house.

For most places that have colder temperature, having a cavity wall insulation will definitely make an energy saving home by merely using it. It suspends the release of confined warm air and insulates the wall so as to impede “heat loss.”

With the cavity wall insulation, you will no longer make use of your heater, and so, you can save more money by cutting back your electric consumption.

6. Go for that glazed-window.

An energy saving home is one that has glazed-type windows. This means that the windows are layered with a certain protective coating and curbs any possible heat loss.

In this manner, the heat that enters your room or your house, for that matter, will not be lost instantly. And so, with enough heat to warm you through, you no longer have a use for a heater. Simply out, no heater means eliminated high electricity bills.

So, now that you know how to convert your home into an energy saving home, the next thing you have to do is to budget your other finances wisely. It doesn’t necessarily mean that with an energy saving home, you’ll be confident enough that there will be no high bills to pay and that you indulge into a shopping spree.

Having an energy saving home means there’s a solution to your financial problem but not as a means for a bigger financial problem.

© 2006 All Rights Reserved. You may freely distribute this article. The copyright and this resource box must be included. More free tips: http://www.MyHomeEnergySavings.com and http://MyHomeEnergySavings.com/blog

Homeowners who are interested in installing new heating or cooling systems will want to hire a reputable Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning or HVAC contractor such as Langton Heating and Air Conditioning, www.langtonmechanical.com. HVAC professionals are certified and trained to connect new equipment and repair systems that aren’t working properly. Additionally, HVAC specialists can advise consumers about the energy savings available with a heating or cooling system replacement.

Government credits and grants can total up to $1270.00 with the purchase of a new furnace. Additionally, homeowners who select a modulating high efficiency furnace will enjoy a yearly savings of $350 to $400 per year in electrical costs. The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE can provide homeowners with an efficiency rating up to 97.5 percent. Furthermore, Ontario residents are eligible to receive an additional $250 incentive when they replace a central air conditioning unit and an additional $250 incentive if the furnace is also replaced through the Save On Energy Program, www.saveonenergy.ca

The EcoEnergy Retrofit incentive dates have been extended and are now available until December 31, 2011. Claims must be received by February 1, 2012. Also, contractors can submit online claims, which must be completed by January 8, 2012. You must hire an approved energy auditor to start the process.

Homeowners who are fortunate enough to own a historic home can keep and utilize the original fixtures such as the cast iron radiators. The boiler system for the old radiator can be replaced with an efficient conventional boiler. This type of system burns fuel and the hot gasses created from this chemical reaction are pushed into a heat exchanger. The heat is then shifted into water and this process increases the temperature of the water.

It can be a challenge for homeowners who are faced with the decision of selecting a new heating or cooling unit. Several tips for consumers to keep in mind include spending time researching the right size and unit efficiency. Also, purchasing a reputable brand that offers an extended warranty is recommended.

A new unit can be affordable with the help of government and manufacturer incentive programs. Also, consumers should remember the bonus cost savings they’ll receive from hydro and gas bills. Choosing the right unit will pay for itself and provide homeowners with peace of mind.

Contact Green Way Solutions? Click here: http://goo.gl/7f4aY

Do you know that, in summer, the average American family pays about 40% of their energy bill for air conditioning of the house?

Green Way Air Conditioning Repair Services Include:

* Refrigerant Replacement
* System Tune Ups
* Emergency Services
* Heat Pumps
* Multi-Zone Cooling Systems
* Ductless Split Systems
* Thermostats & Air Cleaners
* Whole House Filter Systems
* Central Air Units
* Humidification and Dehumidification

Green Way Can Repair All Air Conditioner Brands, Makes and Models:

* Ruud
* Lennox
* Rheem
* York
* Comfortmaker
* Janitrol
* American Standard
* Carrier
* Trane
* Bryant
* Goodman

Contact Green Way Solutions @ 610.761.HEAT (4328)
** Ask For Dan and receive 10% off you service call!

Contact Green Way Solutions? Click here: http://goo.gl/7f4aY

Do you know that, in summer, the average American family pays about 40% of their energy bill for air conditioning of the house?

Green Way Air Conditioning Repair Services Include:

* Refrigerant Replacement
* System Tune Ups
* Emergency Services
* Heat Pumps
* Multi-Zone Cooling Systems
* Ductless Split Systems
* Thermostats & Air Cleaners
* Whole House Filter Systems
* Central Air Units
* Humidification and Dehumidification

Green Way Can Repair All Air Conditioner Brands, Makes and Models:

* Ruud
* Lennox
* Rheem
* York
* Comfortmaker
* Janitrol
* American Standard
* Carrier
* Trane
* Bryant
* Goodman

Contact Green Way Solutions @ 610.761.HEAT (4328)
** Ask For Dan and receive 10% off you service call!

Contact Green Way Solutions? Click here: http://goo.gl/7f4aY

A day in the life a HVAC installation technician is a difficult job. They are non-stop from the time they arrive at your home until clean up at the end. The day lasts between 8-12 hours. Their day goes something like this… Arrive at the home and identify where the equipment and electrical panel is located. Start pumping down the old system to recycle the refrigerant. When that’s complete, they are tearing out the old heater and air conditioner. The heater is more difficult in some cases due to gas lines, electrical, venting, condensate lines and sheet metal fabrication. If you are converting from a chimney vented heater to a high efficiency heater, then the technicians are drilling holes in your home for the vent pipes. While drilling those holes, the technician makes the hole for the refrigerant tubing bigger so it’s easier to run the new tubing. After tear out is complete, they bring the new heater inside and start with the sheet metal. With the heater set in place, you can the hook up electrical, condensate, gas piping and finally the vent piping. The air conditioner is much easier. You remove the old air conditioner, level the dirt or put rocks down, hook up the electrical disconnect, braze the refrigerant lines and get it on the vacuum pump. The next step is to install the Thermostat and hook up the thermostat wire in the heater. The final and most important step in the process is completing a thorough start up. They weigh in the refrigerant, test gas pressure, set air flow and program the thermostat.

Below I will give a few examples based on the size of homes and what it will cost. The sizes of the homes and equipment sizes are pure speculation. You will need a load calculation performed on your home to get the correct size. My sizes will be pretty accurate for my service area which is Delaware and Chester county Pennsylvania.

Example 1: Home is 2,000 sq.ft. (Chimney Vented 80% furnace Only)
A home this size will equate to a 70,000 btu/h furnace. Included with the furnace is return drop, supply plenum, gas piping, electrical and venting. Installed cost is $2,800.00.

Example 2: Home is 2,000 sq.ft. (Chimney Vented 80% furnace to a high efficiency 90% Furnace)
A home this size will equate to a 70,000 btu/h furnace. Included with the furnace is return drop, supply plenum, gas piping, electrical and venting. Installed cost is $3,900.00.

Example 3: Home is 2,000 sq.ft. (Chimney Vented 80% furnace and 13 SEER Air Conditioner)
A home this size will equate to a 70,000 btu/h furnace and 2.5 Ton Air Conditioner. Included with this system is return drop, supply plenum, gas piping, electrical and PVC venting. Installed cost is $5,000.00.

Example 4: Home is 2,000 sq.ft. (90% high efficiency furnace and 13 SEER Air Conditioner)
A home this size will equate to a 70,000 btu/h furnace and 2.5 Ton Air Conditioner. Included with this system is return drop, supply plenum, gas piping, electrical and PVC venting. Installed cost is $6,100.00.

1. Arrive at the home and identify where the equipment and electrical panel is located.
2. Start pumping down the old system to recycle the refrigerant.
3. Tearing out the old heater and air conditioner. (The heater is more difficult in some cases due to gas lines, electrical, venting, condensate lines and sheet metal fabrication.)
4. If you are converting from a chimney vented heater to a high efficiency heater, then the technicians are drilling holes in your home for the vent pipes and refrigerant lines.
5. Bring the new heater inside and start with the sheet metal.
6. With the heater set in place, you can the hook up electrical, condensate, gas piping and finally the vent piping.
7. You remove the old air conditioner, level the dirt or put rocks down, hook up the electrical disconnect, braze the refrigerant lines and get it on the vacuum pump.
9. The next step is to install the Thermostat and hook up the thermostat wire in the heater along with the power wire.
10. The final and most important step in the process is completing a thorough start up. They weigh in the refrigerant, test gas pressure, set air flow and program the thermostat.

Contact Green Way Solutions? Click here: http://goo.gl/7f4aY

Size matters a great deal when purchasing a new air conditioning system.
When it comes to the sizing air conditioners, Bigger is NOT Better. The cooling capacity of an air conditioner is measured in British thermal units per hour (Btu/hr.) or in “tons.” One ton of cooling equals 12,000 Btu/hr. If you get a system that is not big enough in capacity, the system will work too hard and use too much electricity attempting to cool the air. Conversely, if you get a system with too much tonnage, the system will cycle on and off too quickly to condition the air properly. This results in a clammy uncomfortable feeling cold rooms plus extra wear on certain parts of the system.
Air conditioning contractors use a complex process and formula to calculate the size of equipment and design each system. When sizing the air conditioning system, there are a few key factors you need to consider. You must measure the home, measure the windows and doors, measure the insulation in the walls and attic and verify the orientation of the home.
The cooling and heating needs of modern home can be challenging. For example, a high capacity kitchen vent hood can remove so much air from a home that it adds substantially to the cooling or heating load. Homeowners can mitigate this somewhat by minimizing use of the hood on its higher settings during the hottest or coldest months.
Within the U.S., demand for cooling and on air conditioning equipment varies greatly with location. At the extremes, the southernmost zone of the U.S. has approximately 4.8 times as many cooling hours as the northern, or lowest demand zone. Factors that affect the envelope include the R Value of insulation in attic, walls, and (if applicable) under the floors, proper ventilation in the attic, whether or not radiant barriers are present, the type of windows and doors, weather stripping, caulking, and more.

Dan Ulrich
President
Green Way Solutions Heating and Air Conditioning
www.gogreenwayhvac.com

Contact Green Way Solutions? Click here: http://goo.gl/7f4aY

Variable Speed Motors:
Is your upstairs warmer in the summer then the 1st floor? These motors are the single best thing you can do to your heater to increase comfort. The motor ramps up and down based on static pressure. In other words, it will force more air to the second floor where the air is needed. It works like a dimmer switch. Need more light, turn the switch to increase the light. If the variable speed motor senses that it needs more air, it ramps up. Its all internal and you do not have to do anything. They are also more energy efficient. They use about 75% less electricity then a standard motor.

Two-Stage Gas Valve:
Why run your heater at full capacity on a cool evening? With a Two-Stage Gas Valve, it will allow you to run your heater on partial capacity for those cooler days and when its freezing outside it will kick into full capacity. When we deign a heating system based on an outside temperature of 0 degrees it will maintain 70 degrees inside. How many times a year is it 0? (only a few times in Drexel Hill, PA) Which means 95 percent of the time your heater is oversized. This will also allow the system to run longer giving you better filtration and humidification. (If you have a humidifier.) If you were to boil a pot of water on the stove, would you use all the burners on just one? Just one right. A Two-Stage gas valve works the same way!

Ignition Systems:
Fewer and fewer furnaces have a standing pilot light, a flame that burns continuously, awaiting the next command to ignite the burners. Furnaces with intermittent, direct spark, or hot-surface ignition do away with the constant pilot light in various ways. That increases efficiency and is usually reflected in the furnaces’ high AFUE rating. (AFUE stands for annual fuel-utilization efficiency.) A standing pilot on a furnace will cost you about $7-$10 a month to run. Time to upgrade and get rid of that old inefficient heater.

Longer Warranties:
Some manufacturers’ have lifetime unit replacement if the heat exchanger ever fails coupled with a 10 year parts and labor warranty. Ask about warranties

Dual Heat Exchangers:
Heat exchangers are the components that draw heat from the burned gas. To draw more heat from the air they burn, energy-efficient furnaces supplement the primary exchanger with a second exchanger. Because the exhaust gases in that second exchanger may yield an acidic condensate that can cause corrosion, the second exchanger is made of stainless steel, lined with plastic, or otherwise protected.

Air Filtration:
Fitting a furnace with a media filter, which traps 85% of particulate in the air at .3 microns, or a high-efficiency particulate-arresting (HEPA) filter can reduce the amount of dust that is blown through the heating system. That may help people with asthma or other chronic lung diseases that might be aggravated by airborne particles. It does not take the place of airborne particles from entering the home, nor is it a substitute for limiting at their source those allergens that come from within the house, such as pet dander. Media filters will keep your system clean and extend the life if the heater.

Zoned Heating:
This feature employs a number of thermostats, a sophisticated central controller, and a series of dampers that control airflow to deliver different amounts of heating or cooling to different parts of the home. The larger the home, as a rule, the more useful zoning is. That’s especially true if sections of the home vary a lot in their heating or cooling requirements–because of wide variations in the number or type of windows, exposure to the sun and how many walls of the room are outside walls.

Dan Ulrich
President
Green Way Solutions
www.gogreenwayhvac.com

Contact Green Way Solutions? Click here: http://goo.gl/7f4aY