Fibreglass Batt Insulation

Purpose: Insulating a loft properly with fibreglass can lead to savings in the money spent on heating a house. This is because a poorly insulated roof can lead to heat seeping out. Effective loft insulation alone can lead to a 20% savings on energy bills. A good insulation will help in keeping the house warmer during winter and cooler during summer.

Things to Consider: When planning to insulate a house with fibreglass batts, ensure that you have enough number of batts without a vapor barrier to cover the entire area of the attic. If measuring the attic is a problem then the floor surface areas under the attic will be the same. Have your retailer deliver the bundles of fibreglass batts to your house. You will find that these batts are bulky and hard to transport. Remember to wear proper protective clothing including a dust mask, eye protection, and heavy clothing. It may even be good idea to have someone tape your gloves to your sleeves. Fibreglass batts when installed properly with proper vapor retarders, ventilation, caulking, and weather stripping can help to create an effective building envelope.

Benefits of fibreglass: The common constituents of fibreglass batts include soda ash, ground sand, and boron. Fibreglass acts as a good insulator because it has a number of trapped air spaces or cells. Air does not move out of these cells and thus helps in preventing heat loss. Fibreglass also acts as an acoustic insulator. This is because a fibreglass batt has a number of anechoic chambers that reflects sound inwards from a number of diverse surfaces. Another benefit of fibreglass is its non-corrosive nature. Fibreglass has no effect on the corrosion of steel or aluminium and can be applied directly on sheet metal.

Energy saving facts: The insulating capacity or the R-value of fibreglass varies a great deal. A high R-value for fibreglass would be R38. Size of fibreglass batts vary depending upon the area that the insulation needs to cover. A wall having 2″ X 4″ wall stud will require a fibreglass batt that has a thickness of 3 ½ inches. Insulation that is thicker will need to be compressed to fit into the space and this is not ideal. When fibreglass batts are compressed, they tend to lose their R-value.

Installation: The ideal way to install fibreglass insulation is from within the house and placing it against the sheathing. This fibreglass should be covered on the outside with an air barrier and an exterior siding. If insulating the attic, the insulation should be laid flat between ceiling joints. Some fibreglass batts come with a paper facing that acts as a vapor barrier. Vapor barriers are essential to prevent the flow of moisture and air through the insulation. They also come with an edging which ensure that stapling the batt in place is easy. If the batts are stapled incorrectly, then there could be small channels of air which pass through it and reduce the R value. This also goes on to present fire safety issues.

One disadvantage of using fibreglass is that is has lower resistance to fire as compared to other insulating materials. Another disadvantage of using fibreglass is that its R value reduces significantly once the insulation becomes wet. Care should be taken when handling fibreglass batts as fibreglass is made up of small particles that can affect your skin and respiratory tract. Protective measures such as the use of facemasks should be undertaken when installing fibreglass.

Energy Saving Doors

Why use energy saving doors:
Insulating the outside door is your first line of defense when it comes to saving energy. Today, advances in new door developments have ensured improved quality in terms of insulation, which helps reduce heating and cooling costs to a great extent.

Types of door insulation:
A common design of an exterior door is to have a polyurethane foam insulation core that is surrounded by a steel skin. Another option is to have a door with a fiberglass skin. These doors may even have a magnetic strip which acts as weather stripping to effectively seal the door. This door will not require any additional weather stripping. Glass doors are sometimes used. However, glass is a poor insulator and loses heat rapidly. In order to correct this, modern glass doors have a metal frame with a plastic insulator located between the inner and outer frames. This plastic insulator is known as a thermal break. Sliding glass doors will cause more loss of air than a normal one. Even with weather stripping, glass doors will have poor insulating values over years of usage.

Energy consumption facts:
Energy lost due to gaps around doors and windows accounts for 12% of energy consumed. The total area of the gaps is equivalent to a hole of the size of a brick on calculation. Doors are given energy performance ratings. These ratings reveal how much heat gain or loss these doors will have and the amount of sunlight that will be transmitted into your home. The various measures for this include the U factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), and air leakage. The U factor measures how much non solar heat flows through the door. On the other hand, SHGC measures that fraction of heat that passes through the door into the house by either direct transmission or by absorption. Factors such as climate, orientation of the house, and external shade, all affect the required rating needed for the door to be effective. R-values are used to determine the insulation value of the door. Doors with steel and fiberglass covers have R-values of R-5 to R-6.

Installation of energy saving doors:
Pre hung door frames will need to be installed by removing the existing door and its frame. Foam caulking will have to be used to seal the door frame without any gaps. This will ensure that no air escapes from or into the house around the frame.

Energy-Efficient Mortgage

What an energy-efficient mortgage is all about:

An energy efficiency mortgage (EEM) is a scheme that provides additional monetary benefits in terms of qualifying for loans when a person intends to purchase an energy-efficient house. This is because energy-efficient homes have lower operating costs for home owners. These homes consume less energy, allowing owners to spend their savings incurred on other housing expenses.

A home’s efficiency is measured by a home energy rating. This rating is a benchmark system which allows prospective buyers to compare between the energy costs of various homes. The rating is conducted by a resident energy professional. This report helps the lender calculate the current present energy savings that are incurred.

The principle behind an energy-efficient mortgage:
A conventional energy-efficiency mortgage allows a consumer to increase the amount he can borrow by a dollar amount that is equal to the estimated energy savings. Under such a scheme the value of the loan adjusts the value of the home to reflect the value of energy efficiency measures.

A FHA energy efficient mortgage allows the borrower to add the 100% cost of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in addition to the approved mortgage loan. However, in this case, the additional costs incurred should not exceed $4000 or 5% of the value of the home up to as maximum limit of $8000. These loans are available for both site built and manufactured homes.

The third form of energy efficiency mortgages is the Veterans Administration EEM. This special scheme is meant for military personnel, reservists, and veterans. The limit of a loan in this scheme ranges from $3000 to $6000.

How an energy efficient mortgage really helps:
The benefit of opting for an energy efficient mortgage is that it increases your buying power to buy an energy-efficient home or make improvements to an existing one. The debt to income ratio for purchasing an energy-efficient home is higher. This means that you get more money for the same income level. Though an energy efficient mortgage has higher repayments than a traditional mortgage, the savings incurred within the house manages to equalize this. The benefit of a scheme such as the EEM is that it can be used even on a home that has already been purchased but is energy efficient.

Dual Technology Sensors

What dual technology sensors are all about: Dual technology sensors are automatic lighting sensors that combine the benefits of both passive infrared (PIR) sensor and the ultrasonic sensor technology. These sensors are used to automatically control lighting systems within a room, switching them off when not in use. These hybrid sensors are ideal for rooms where it is critical that untimely switching off the lights while occupants are in the room should be avoided.

What makes dual technology sensors different: Dual technology sensors are built to minimize false triggers from switching of lights to save power. The sensor allows lights to remain on if either the PIR or ultrasonic sensor is triggered to ensure that the light stays on. This reduces the chances of light switching off unexpectedly if there is a person sitting motionless in the room. These sensors are ideal for classrooms and conference rooms where there may not be enough motion for other sensors to detect, yet it is critical that the lights remain on when required.

The principle behind dual technology sensors: The passive infrared technology is used to detect motion across the sensors path while the ultrasonic technology helps in identifying when a person is approaching a sensor. A person needs to be identified by both the sensors for the lights to be turned on. It takes detection by only one of the sensors to ensure that the lights remain on. These sensors are sensitive enough to detect a person walking into the room or even a person who is sitting at a desk writing continuously.

How dual technology sensors save energy: Passive infrared sensors help in reducing the number of false alarms and accidental switching off lights when occupants are in a room. The use of these sensors reduces the lighting bill by switching off unnecessary lights whenever not in use. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of energy saved can be as much as 90% of energy consumed. The amount of actual savings incurred depends on the size and purpose of the room. For example, a private office may save only 13% to 50% on their energy savings while a storage area can save as much as 45% to 80% of their energy expenses.

Installing a dual technology sensor: Care needs to be taken when installing a hybrid occupancy sensor. Like all other sensors, these sensors are highly visible and can be easily vandalized. Sensors need to be placed properly to ensure that they cover the area which they are meant to. Inaccurate placement of the sensor can lead to the sensor not detecting a person properly. Additional technologies such as the use of timers can complement the effectiveness of the occupancy sensor. Dual technology sensors may also be combined with a light meter that can trigger the lights if they fall below a certain limit. Today sensors are becoming compact enough that they can be integrated into an average wall box.

Ideally, a hybrid occupancy sensor should be ceiling mounted. This will give the sensor a 360 degree field of view of the room enabling it to catch minor motions. For effective use the occupancy sensor can be combined with a lighting control system. The lighting control system will allow the user to dim the lights whenever required. For example in a conference room the lighting may need to be dimmed during a presentation.

Buying an Energy Efficient Home

Why buying an energy efficient home is important:

Buying or renting an energy-efficient home can help to reduce the expenditure spent on maintaining the home in the long run. Buying an energy-efficient home can be an intimidating task, if a buyer does not know what to look for in a home.

The principle behind energy-efficient homes:

An energy efficient home is designed to help in reducing the amount of energy conserved within the house. An important principle for energy-efficient homes is to preserve the protective envelope of the home. This is done by using effective insulation techniques and taking other measures to ensure that the home is sealed from the forces of nature. This will ensure no heat is lost or gained from the house curbing unnecessary waste.

Homes in the US today use more than 20% of the energy that is generated nationwide. Fifty three percent of this energy is derived from natural gas resources. The energy efficiency of the house can be judged by calculating the cost of heating and cooling per month or year. Conducting an energy audit for the house will evaluate its current efficiency level and the amount of investments required to bolster the efficiency level of the house.

What you need to look out for when buying an energy efficient home:

When looking out for a new house, one should inquire about a house’s home energy rating. This rating helps you to judge the energy efficiency of the house prior to purchasing it. Finance for the new house can sometimes be funded by an energy efficient mortgage. In fact, opting for energy efficient improvements in your house when refinancing it, may allow your interest to be tax deductible.

An Energy Star certified home will give you the best results when it comes to having a home that is not only efficient but pleasant to live in. These homes are designed to use 30% less energy resources than what is stated in the National Model Energy Code. These houses have high performance windows installed with insulation and sealing that are of high quality. The heating and cooling systems of these houses are top notch and highly efficient. An Energy Efficient Home Raters audit can be performed to ascertain an estimate of the cost of the home’s energy use.

What make a home energy efficient:
The actual cost of construction of the energy efficient home is only a fraction of the cost of the entire house. It is possible to identify an energy efficient home by checking some crucial factors. Care should be taken to check the house’s insulation in the attic. One should inquire about the age of the furnace—the older the furnace the less efficient it is likely to be. Similarly the age of the air-conditioners, the water heating and piping affect the degree of energy efficiency. The condition of the roof also affects the energy efficiency level of the house. Older the roof the less energy efficient it is likely to be and a poor insulator in the process.

Advanced Home Control Systems

What are advanced home control systems?

Advanced home control systems are used to control appliances, audio/video, HVAC, lighting, etc. to name only a few of the dozens of appliances that these systems work with. They are available under names like smart home, home automation, integrated home controls etc.

Control systems are also being increasingly used in homes to find out track and monitor energy consumption of different gadgets. These systems provide easy accessibility from remote locations by phone or computer. For example, these systems enable residents to switch on their water heaters remotely from places far removed from their house. Thus, one can switch on the water heater while driving home from work and have boiling water ready on arrival.

The debate whether advanced home systems are energy saving or energy consuming:

Though there has been much talk about energy home control systems and their energy saving potential it is still unclear exactly how many units consumers save by installing these systems. The systems are energy consumers initially; their energy saving potential needs to be carefully assessed if one does not want to end up paying more instead of saving on energy bills. For example, these systems can automatically turn on and turn off lights by sensing the occupancy in a room, but the lighting energy consumption is typically on a small portion of the residential energy use.

Costs associated with heating and cooling of living space:

Heating and cooling of the living space accounts for the largest energy consumption in the typical home. The automation of these systems could provide the largest energy savings. Sophisticated HVAC systems have been developed that allow residents virtually infinite flexibility in scheduling air temperatures within the home to suit their lifestyle. However, with temperature changes of less than four to five hours, little savings in energy can be realized. During this time, energy is either released or stored in the thermal mass of the home. This stored energy must be overcome when the air temperature changes back. It needs a sophisticated thermostat with a suitable programmable system to reduce system energy use while still allowing the residents to continue with their lifestyles.

The actual savings due to thermostat setbacks will depend on weather conditions, the thermal efficiency of the house envelope, and the thermal mass of the structure. According to a thumb rule, 3% energy costs can be saved for every °F of setback. Based on this assumption, reducing the winter set point by 5°F would reduce heating energy consumption by 15%.

What is aerogel insulation and why use it

What is aerogel insulation and why use it:

Aerogel insulation is a modern-day transparent insulating material that has a high insulation value. Insulating materials are essential to prevent heat loss or gain from a house or office environment. Though the use of aerogel is not very common, there have been instances where aerogel has been used to insulate skylights. The transparent characteristic of aerogel makes it an ideal insulating material for this purpose.

The origin of aerogel:
The first aerogels were prepared as early as 1931 by NASA. Aerogels are silica gels (or gels of other metal oxides) which have their liquid content removed by a process of super critical drying.

Aerogel is a semi-transparent, brittle material. It feels something like Styrofoam; the material disposable cups are made of. Aerogels are extremely lightweight as they consist of 97% air and weigh only 90g per liter. It has a high insulating R-value of 250 or better.

How Aerogels work:
Aerogel is such an effective insulating material that astronauts in space are using it. A mere 18mm of aerogel is sufficient to insulate an astronaut to withstand a temperature of–130°C. Where physical space is a constraint aerogel can prove to be an ideal alternative. A thin layer of aerogel will easily outperform a traditional insulating blanket. Aerogel also has a very good fire resistance capability. One of the disadvantages of using aerogel insulation is that the shape that it is available in is limited. Aerogel is manufactured in round, oval, or cylindrical shape.

How aerogels save energy:
Aerogel is a new age structural insulating material that is being developed. It is a very effective insulating agent because it manages to nullify effect of heat transfer by convection, conduction and radiation. This means that the material prevents heat from flowing through the material, or heat being transferred by the movement of air or heat being transferred by infrared radiation. Aerogel has a thermal insulating quality equivalent to 10 – 20 glass windowpanes. This accounts to an overall energy saving of 30% for households. If windows were made of aerogel, it would significantly lower heating bills by preventing unnecessary heat loss or gain. The super low density of the material ensures that it is ideal as a lightweight structural material. This combined with its super high internal surface area; Aerogel can be used as a very good insulating material.

Various types of aerogel insulation and how to use them:
Today, aerogel blankets have become commercially available. These are made of a composite of silica and aerogel and a fibrous reinforcement that turns brittle aerogel into reinforcing fibers. The main application of aerogel is still for industrial purposes. The basic form of an aerogel insulation system is a blanket. This blanket is made of aerogel-based radiation shield layers along with a low thermal conductivity aerogel / fiber matrix. The common shapes of aerogels that are available are blanket, sheet, sleeve, or clamshell shape. These blankets of aerogel can be used as substitutes to multi layer insulations. Sheets or sleeves of aerogel are also available. These add a backing material or outer skin over existing insulation. This will act as a weather barrier to prevent condensation of moisture or air escaping. Aerogels also provides additional safety and strength during the installation and improves durability in harsh environments.

Washer Dryers

What are washer dryers:
Washer dryers may be stackable or side-by-side. In order to be stackable, the washer needs to be a front loading washing machine. A front loading washing machine will have a smooth flat top which will allow you to place the dryer on top of it. The controls of the dryer will be placed at eye level allowing you easy access of the controls. The advantage of buying a stackable model is that it occupies the space of only one washer.

The difference between having separate stackable washer dryers and a washer dryer combo is that the latter will usually use the same drum to dry clothes. The benefit of these models is that they save space and no venting is required.

Optimal installation of your washer dryer:
Ideally place your washer-dryer combo in an insulated room or warm environment like a basement or garage. Ensure that your dryer is vented properly and that the vent is free from any obstructions. Having a good seal on the flapper that is connected to the hood of the vent is essential to ensure that unwanted air goes in through the vent whenever the dryer is not venting.

How to use your washer-dryer optimally:
In order to ensure that the dryer part of your washer-dryer combo works efficiently there are a few steps to take into consideration. Clean the dryer for any lint before using it. Dry a full load at a time in the dryer but take care not to overload the machine. If using a washer dryer set from the same manufacturer, it is unlikely that you will have this problem as both appliances are likely to have same capacity ratings.

Prolonging the life of your machine:
In order to prolong the life of the machine, it is advisable to dry similar fabric clothes together. Clothes should be segregated depending on the weight of the fabric. If your dryer has a moisture sensing machine to switch off then use it to preserve the quality of your clothes. If you have a number of clothes to dry, dry them one after the other. This will ensure that the residual heat left over from the pervious dry cycle is utilized effectively.

Additional savings

For the ultimate amount of savings, try to drip dry as far as possible. Drip drying clothes on a line will ensure that less amount of electricity is used and preserves clothes longer. Removing clothes faster from the washer to dry will help speed up the drying process. Front loading washer dryer combos will always dry faster and more efficiently than top loading models as their drums spin faster. Using a gas dryer to dry clothes will work out as a more cost effective option. Remember, buying an energy star appliance will ensure that your washer is an energy efficient device.

Top Mounted Refrigerators

What are top mounted refrigerators?

Top mounted refrigerators are one of the most common models of refrigerators available. These fridges have the freezer compartment situated at eye level. The main fresh food compartment, however, is placed at waist level.

The standard width of a top mounted refrigerator is approximately between 23 inches and 36 inches. These fridges have a depth ranging from 27 inches to 33 inches. The height of these fridges is between 60 and 69 inches.

Buying a top mounted refrigerator:

When shopping for a refrigerator, it is likely that the most range of options available will be in the top mounted range of refrigerators. Before looking for top mounted refrigerators, decide upon the price range you are looking for and list down the features that you expect to have. Some of the common features that are available in top mounted refrigerators are filtered water dispensers and temperature controlled crispers.

Choosing the right size refrigerator:

The size of the model you decide on depends on how much food you will need to store. A typical family of four will need a fridge with a volume of 540L to 620L. Though a number of models of fridges will have the same volume, it is likely that the freezer volume might vary from one model to another. In order to utilize space to the maximum, look for fridges that have clear shelves instead of wire. Some models of fridges even come with sliding shelves allowing you to slide the whole shelf out, letting you reach items at the back easily.

The advantage of choosing a top mounted refrigerator:

The benefit of these fridges is that they have a considerable amount of capacity to store fresh food. Access to the freezer section is easy as it is at eye level. Look for a fridge that is energy star compliant to ensure that it is efficient when it comes to electricity consumption. The average star rating one should look for is between 3 and 4.5. A smaller bar fridge can be rated at 2 to 2.5. Though energy saving fridges may cost more, in the long run, the savings incurred over the lifespan of the fridge makes up the difference. Top mounted fridges are considered to be the most energy efficient model of fridges available. They also take up less space than a side by side model and have the greatest range of variety to offer.

Things to look for in a refrigerator

Things to think about before your search for the right refrigerator:

When buying a refrigerator there are number of factors to take into consideration when selecting the right model. The first decision to make is to settle on an acceptable price range, this will limit your options. The second is to decide what kind of model you would like to settle for. Some of the most energy efficient fridges are top mounted fridges. It is also in this category that the most variety is found. Other options are bottom mounted and side by side models. Each of these has their advantages and disadvantages. Fridges today are available in a number of finishes, plastic being the most common and stainless steel an alternative. Today fridges come with doors that open 180 degrees. This helps in loading large trays and pans into the fridge. It also helps if there is limited loading space around the fridge.

Size does matter – selecting the right capacity fridge for your needs:

Identifying your space requirements is a crucial step in selecting the right fridge. A fridge that is half-empty will not be efficient as a lot of energy is required for cooling the empty space unnecessarily. It is also more likely for a large amount of cool air to escape when the fridge door is opened in such a scenario. A fridge too small will mean that there isn’t adequate room to meet your cooling needs. An average family of four will require a fridge that is 540L to 620L.

Storage options within the fridge:

Fridges with ample amount of door storage will help store items that need to be easily accessible. Ice dispensers help reduce the number of times you need to open the freezer and save energy in the process. Think about where you will install the fridge and the amount of space surrounding it. A fridge with two smaller double doors will need less space to open as compared to a single large door fridge. Look for shelves that can be slid out to easily access contents at the back of the fridge.

A salad crisper will help keep vegetables at an optimum temperature separate from major food items. A shelf dedicated to dairy products will help keep these foods fresh and contaminant free at the ideal temperature.

Features that make your fridge easy to maintain:

In order to maintain your fridge look for a fridge with removable shelves. Spill proof shelves will come with a small gutter that stops spills from overflowing into other compartments. There are even shelves with antibacterial enzymes, which help destroy bacteria on food.

Look for fridges with removable doors. This feature allows you to change the side on which the door opens by simply changing the hinge.

Fridges that have castor wheels are an added benefit. The advantage of this is that the fridge can be easily moved for maintenance purposes and it makes access to the condenser coils easier.

The right kind of freezer to keep things cool:

If you have a lot of frozen food and constantly access the freezer, a chest freezer might be a better option. These models have the added advantage of preventing a rapid loss of cool air whenever the door is opened and are thus more energy efficient.

French door fridges with their freezers are more efficient than a side-by-side model. This is because the French door model allows the user to keep any one door open at a time. Additionally, these fridges have a common freezer drawer at the bottom of the fridge. Opening the freezer drawer is more economical in preventing cold from escaping as compared to opening a top mounted freezer. The layout makes it easy to access the fresh food compartment.