Heat Pump Retrofit

Thinking that you are spending too much money on heating your water? Have an old water heater that just isn't efficient, but works fine, so you can't justify spending the money to get a new one? Here's the answer.

A company based out of Tennessee has created an addition "heat pump" to heat residential water that sits on top of a regular water heater. This will allow your water to stay nice and warm, but without the high monthly price tag. It also helps homeowners to save money on energy costs.

Source: I originally found the article in flex your power's monthly article: http://www.fypower.org/news/?p=2894&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eNewswire&utm_content=601417125&utm_campaign=e-Newswire+Issue+642+_+htujb&utm_term=New+Heat-Pump+Retrofit+Gives+Homeowners+Option+to+Save+Energy+With+Existing+Water+Heaters But the short description that I will quote next is from: http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm/ID/3971/ Here are some details about the retrofit kit:

The engineers at AirGenerate (previously Beyond Pollution) appear to have done something remarkable: create an affordable, effective, heat-pump water heater that can be retrofit onto a conventional gas or electric water heater, more than doubling the energy performance compared with a standard electric water heater. The AirTap A7 water heater has a rated output of 7,000 Btu/hour (7.4 MJ/hour), a first-hour rating of 42.5 gallons (160 l), a maximum water temperature of 135°F (57°C), an efficiency of 240% (coefficient of performance of 2.4), and an energy factor of 2.11. (Energy factor is a standardized measure of performance of water heaters; the higher the number, the better.) All this is in a unit that measures only 18" wide by 14" deep by 14" high (460 x 360 x 360 mm), weighs only 48 pounds (22 kg), and sits on top of a standard water heater. The list price is $499. The energy factor and first-hour rating of the AirTap are certified by GAMA (previously the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association and now a broader association of appliance and equipment manufacturers).

This is an excellent option for energy-conscious homeowners who want to save some money, but not go replacing all of their appliances every time something more "energy efficient" comes out.

HOT Tips

Summer is Here! (Or at least it's well on its way), It is going to be a HOT one, so make sure that you are prepared.

Here is a list of tips originally posted at www.flexyourpower.org, http://www.fypower.org/res/summersavings/

The Best No Cost or Low Cost Tips to Prepare Your Home For Hot Weather Setting your air conditioner 5° higher will save up to 20% on cooling costs.1 Use fans to make indoor temperatures feel cooler, most ceiling fans use less energy than a light bulb. Have your air conditioning unit serviced to cut 15% of cooling costs. 2 Don't try to cool the great outdoors — Seal cracks, gaps, leaks and add insulation to save up to 20% on home cooling costs.2 Keep windows and doors shut and shades closed during the day, to keep your house cool and reduce air conditioning needs. » Get more energy-saving tips. The Best Investments for Summer Energy Savings Have your heating and cooling ducts professionally sealed to save up to $190 per year. 3 Install a programmable thermostat and only cool the house when you're home — It can save up to $180 per year and pays for itself in 6-9 months. 3 Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFLs to save on lighting AND cooling bills. 90% of the energy used by old incandescent bulbs produces heat, not light. If your old air conditioner breaks down, consider a high efficiency replacement. Replacing a 10-year-old central AC unit with an ENERGY STAR qualified model can cut 20-40% off your cooling costs. For more tips on keeping cool this summer see Flex Your Power's air conditioning tips.

Find more tips and suggestions on their website!

Dehumidification

A large part of how cool you feel in an air conditioned space during summer is how much humidity has been taken out of the air.

If there is moisture in the air of a room, the room may feel cooler than outside, but it can feel damp or claustrophobic. This is part of the reason that swamp coolers do better in different areas of the country. Newer air conditioning units allow more humidification during the summer to ensure that your home stays comfortable and cool, without making the air feel too "heavy."

If there is a respiratory problem in the home, additional specialty units can be used in conjunction with the original home heating and cooling system. These include, air cleaners, humidifiers and even ventilators. These specialty units allow for a higher circulation of air, even in a tightly sealed home.
Likewise, homeowners in some areas of the country (with high humidity) might consider an additional add on to their unit. A dehumidifying heat pipe is a fairly new development that will take humidity out of the air, before it enters the cooling phase, making your home considerably cooler during the hot summer.

Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy "Energy Savers" page, regarding the home. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12740

A dehumidifying heat pipe resembles two heat exchangers, located on either side of the air conditioner's evaporator coil. Several tubes connect the two sections. A refrigerant (usually an HCFC) inside the tubes pre-cools the incoming supply air by absorbing the heat from it. This causes the refrigerant in the tube to evaporate. The air conditioner evaporator cools it further, extracting up to 91% more water vapor than a conventional evaporator would. After the refrigerant in the tubes changes into a vapor, it flows to the condensing section at the other end of the system. There, it releases its heat into the air stream and returns to its liquid state again. Gravity then causes the refrigerant to flow to the evaporator end of the pipe to begin the cycle again.

Most models of heat pumps and central air conditioners can be retrofitted with dehumidifying heat pipes. You can choose either a replacement cooling coil that incorporates the heat pipe, or add-on heat pipes for the unit's ventilation system. You may also want to consider a complete air-conditioner unit that incorporates the heat pipe.

Although the heat pipes don't use any electricity directly, they cause the conditioned air to leave the system slightly warmer than it would have in the absence of the heat pipe, so it takes more energy to cool your home. The system also consumes more fan power to blow air past the heat pipe. However, the manufacturer claims that your thermostat can be set higher with the low humidity air, allowing a net energy savings.

If humidity is an issue in your home, there are several different things you can try to resolve the problem. Using extra fans to push air around the rooms will help to alleviate some of the humidity. Running them in conjunction wiht an air conditioner may also be helpful. Avoid cooking or hot showers that may add to the amount of moisture in your home during peak heat hours. Finally, consider upgrading your air conditioning unit and possibly adding on a humidifying or ventilating option. If that still fails, a dehumidifying heat pipe may be the answer. Although in Southern California, this issue shouldn't be that difficult to fix.

May Home Maintenance

Maintaining your home has a lot to do with how well it's components function throughout the year. With such a hot summer looming on the horizon, May is the perfect time to prep your air conditioner (and the rest of your home) for summer cooling practices.

This article comes from MSN's real estate pages: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=19522018>1=35000 The first area their suggestions touch on is your air conditioning unit. They recommend "babying" it. How's that? Replace or clean your filter before your unit is going to be in demand. This both helps efficiency, but also ensures that clean air is being cooled and circulated in the home. Other air conditioning tips they provide include utilizing May sunshine (which is warm, but not too warm) to kill any bacteria that might have been growing through winter. Air conditioning, since it uses refrigerant/coolant to provide the cool air to your home has a fair exchange of moisture. When you're running your air conditioning (and especially in older units) there may be some build-up of that moisture...in the forms of extra condensation, or sometimes mold and/or mildew. --> THESE THINGS are not good. (like mold in your home is ever good...) so it is best to have these particular concerns looked at by a professional. <--

Second, they recommend washing your windows. I'll copy and paste here, because they say it well.

Wash windows Cleaning all the windows and window coverings in your home is a big, satisfying and several-hours-long project. Choose a sunny day and, if possible, get someone to work with you. Remove curtains and blinds if you can. Clean windows and window trim, inside and out. Start by brushing (with a dry broom) or dusting the trim. If it's really dirty, wipe it down with a rag and soapy water. Outdoors, use a hose to rinse off the soap. To clean the glass, use a good-quality squeegee, the tool of professional window washers (for a demonstration, watch this instructional video on YouTube). Before purchasing a squeegee, check the width of your smallest windows. Assemble a pole (unscrew the handle from a broom) that fits your squeegee's handle, a microfiber cloth and a bucket. Use a few drops of liquid dish soap or a teaspoon of TSP in a two-gallon bucket of warm water. Many professionals like TSP, or trisodium phosphate, a powdered stain remover and degreaser found at hardware stores, for a streak-free finish. (Caution using TSP: In a hot solution, it can remove or take the gloss off paints and can darken aluminum or wood.) Apply the cleaning solution with a rag or mop. Immediately squeegee it off, wiping the blade between strokes to minimize dripping. Do one window at a time. Use the squeegee on the pole for hard-to-reach places. Consider engaging a professional to do second-story windows.

Then, they recommend cleaning and replacing any torn screens. This can help prevent the amount of dust and allergens in your home and it's warm enough so that they dry quickly enough not to make this a week long project. Fixing a screen is also pretty easy, you can buy the screen material by the yard at hardware stores. Just make sure you have the measurements and replace a cut-to-fit piece inside the metal frame (or for wooden, it may require several small nails - or a staple gun...).

They also recommend May as a good time to schedule a paint job for the exterior of your home. If your house isn't in need of a paint job, just use the garden hose to make sure you get all the dirt/mineral deposits...etc. off of the paint to prevent deterioration.

Last, they recommend inspecting home irrigation: hoses, sprinklers...etc. Figure you're going to use them during summer, and if they break you're going to have to buy a new one when they are expensive. Just save yourself the hassle.

Now I admit, I am a bit biased. I think the most important one of these suggestions is to make sure that your air conditioner works (being hot is just no fun). It's really easy to change out your filter and even easier to pick up the phone and schedule a service to prep your unit.

Energy Proof

Taking time to make improvements on your home always helps, but making improvements little ways all at once can make a HUGE improvement!

That's the idea behind the Energy Star program of completely energy-proofing your home. They provide a step-by-step list of all of the areas of your home that you should examine to find places where you could provide better energy usage. The main areas are basic common sense: make sure your attic has enough insulation, make sure windows and doors don't leak. To see their brochure for the program please visit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_hpwes Or see a copy on our website: www.sinclairair.com/resources or download it directly here: http://www.sinclairair.com/HPwESSampleBrochure.pdf Taking a little bit of time to check to see where your home could be drafty can save you money on saved energy costs. Plus, if you have children, this is a good way to get them involved in doing something around the home without too much effort/chemicals/and it can be fun.

If your home was built more than 20 years ago, it is probably a good idea to start thinking about upgrading various fixtures on your home. An AC or furnace unit usually lasts about 15 years. While, older windows aren't prepared for the insulation/sun protection that newer windows are manufactured for. These upgrades will help to spruce up your home by making it look nice and well kept, and also keep your home more comfortable. We all want space that is functional and looks well cared for. Consider upgrades especially if your home isn't as comfortable as it used to be. Does it stay cold in winter and fry in the summer? You should probably look at insulation, a new air conditioning unit and/or shades for the windows.

All of these upgrades in combination can make your home a happier, healthier place.