Many homeowners are considering a solar power kit or solar panel system for their home. Solar power is a wonderful way to "go green" and produce clean, renewable energy. But before you do this you have to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. Many public utilities will require that you complete an energy audit before they will give you a rebate for installing solar panels. The California Solar Initiative requires everyone that is seeking a rebate to complete an audit before they even get solar installation estimates. Many utilities and states are now giving incentives for improving energy efficiency since the easiest way to save energy is to quit wasting it. This article will help you start an audit and evaluate your home to make sure you are saving as much energy as possible. Lets get started.
For the price of a happy meal you can weather strip an exterior door. With a caulk gun and a little paint you can prevent what Dad would have called "bought air" from leaving the house through cracks and crevices. Often just simply pulling tight and locking windows and doors will improve their efficiency. And if you want to get really efficient you can rent an infrared camera and see exactly where heat is escaping your home.The Power BillWindows and DoorsDr. ChefTelevision: Take off the power plug of your television set when not using it. This may not sound a big deal but this tiny step will help save power.Washing Machines: Do you use your washing machine as often as you want? Do you use your washing machine even when there are not enough clothes to wash? Minimize the number of washes by washing full load of clothes every time.Geysers: Keep the geyser thermostat at the minimum heat. You do not need to heat the water at a very high temperature or for too long.At what temperature is your thermostat set? Did you know adjusting it up in the summer or down in the winter just 4 degrees can reduce your electrical consumption by 20% or more? Wasn't Dad right when he used to talk about wearing a sweater around the house? You can also close the doors and vents to seldom-used rooms to prevent heating spaces that nobody occupies.Modern cooking - Although classical cookery must constitute the basis of all innovations, the trend today is towards safe and efficient storage, simplification of food preparation methods and service, and improved nutrition. The classical art of cooking and modern cooking are dependent upon one another. Only those innovations and classical dishes which conform to basic nutritional principles in terms of ingredients, methods of preparation, and all other culinary rules can be considered modern.Passive SolarFrom the back desk,LightingCar: For an air-conditioner equipped car, pull up the windows of your car before switching on the air-conditioner.To audit your energy consumption, first you should know what your consumption is. Take a look at your bill, it will tell you how many kilowatt-hours (kw-hrs) you use in a month. The average American home uses about 940 kw-hrs per month. How far are you above or below this? Make it a goal to reduce your power bill by 10-20% over the next six months. And when you achieve that goal, try to reduce your consumption by another 10-20%.
For more information on energy conservation, solar panels, and going green, visit our website http://www.spheralsolar.com/solarpanels.html
Author: Kriss Bergethon
No comments:
Post a Comment