Solar domestic water heater

Get your house off oil with a solar domestic water heater via Chelsea Green

Updated: 02.11.2008. 16:52

A few simple energy-saving moves

Power strip:

As much as 75 percent of electricity use by electronics occurs while the devices are off. Big-screen TVs, stereo systems and computer peripherals are some of the worst offenders. Curtail the loss with power strips that kill power when they sense inactivity.

Install a programmable thermostat

Install an Energy Star–qualified programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts heating and cooling temperatures based on a daily heating or cooling schedule.
For every degree you push the thermostat beyond your usual set points, you save an additional 2 percent on utility charges.

Fit a ceiling fan

Ceiling fans circulate the air in a room, evenly distributing the heat, allowing the heating to be reduced by a few degrees.

Add humidity

Dry air retains less heat and feels cooler against the skin. Increase ambient humidity with a humidifier this winter, and edge the thermostat down a degree or two.

Use a low-flow shower head

Showers account for 26 percent of a household’s hot-water use. Installing a low-flow shower head can shrink the flow from 3.5 gal. per minute to 1.5 gal.

Install tap aerators

A tap aerator can save 400 gal. of hot water a year. Translation: less work for the water heater. If the rated flow on your current aerator is visible, and if it’s above 2.75 gal./minute, then replace it with a more efficient model that emits 1.5 gal./minute or less. If the aerator’s flow rate has been scuffed off or it’s too hard to read, just replace it. The new aerator will likely have lower flow.

Upgrade old windows

Replacing old, single-pane windows with high-performance, double-glazed, low-e windows seems like a good idea, but at a cost of several hundred dollars each you’ll wait a while for the payoff. Inexpensive storm windows offer quick payback, especially for do-it-yourselfers. In testing performed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, exterior storm windows reduced winter heat loss in single-pane windows by 29 percent, whereas double-pane window replacements saved 47 percent.

Updated: 26.10.2008. 10:13

DIY Batch Solar Water Heater

If you’re not yet in a carbon-free home, installing a solar hot water heater will save you money and fuel all year round…yes…even in the winter. Here’s a project from The Carbon-Free Home that explains the steps. via Chelsea Green, DIY Batch Solar Water Heater

Updated: 13.10.2008. 11:50