The latest must haves for the environmentally conscious are wind turbines and roof-mounted solar panels. According to the Royal Academy of Engineering, the latest elitist craze adds a minimal amount towards reducing Britain’s carbon mission. However, a mass of people are making their eco-conscious contributions with wind turbines turning up all over London and the surrounding more country areas on eco conscious homes and offices.
High Technology Solution

These current technological solutions are not only cost effective and friendly to the environment, but millions of pounds will be wasted unless the Government updates their building standards on offices and homes.

Doug King, an Engineering professor at the University of Bath states that the wind turbines are a bigger waste of energy on city homes, because they expend more energy than they actually produce. In actuality they are energy guzzlers instead of the environmentally friendly machines they are made out to be.

Energy Saving Trust

Last year’s field trials by a government-funded Energy Saving Trust validated these findings. The trials proved that the most productive building-mounted wind turbines throughout the city and suburban areas had actually developed only £26 of electricity annually. A majority of the wind turbines were actual consumers of electricity due to the fact that during the low times, the machines needed to collect power from the grids. With these findings in mind, who could possibly think that this latest technology would be thought to be environmentally friendly.

Professor King proposes a better solution for the British government whereby their goal for 2016 would be to have new homes be more carbon-neutral and instead be reduced in favour of developers and builders making charitable contributions to wind farms and other projects that support renewable energy ideas. King, the writer of a detailed report dealing with low carbon buildings also states, “Wind turbines and solar cells on the roof achieve little or nothing and are what I describe as eco-bling. It’s about trying to say to the general public, I’m being good, I’m helping the environment.” King also feels that the housing could be more energy efficient by installing a better grade of insulation and finding a way to trap rays of sunlight.

King also says that because the Government has failed to update and replace the aging power stations, most offices would need a total redesign to lower energy use. He blames the Government for failing to abide by their own standards and advice.

What it comes down to is that in order for wind turbines on country homes to be energy efficient like they were initially intended, they would have to be so large their vibration would do severe damage to the home on which they were installed. Professor King states that by putting micro generation technology on your home it could cost over {10,000 and cut back on emissions in trivial amounts. He proposes an alternative procedure where developers and builders offset the emissions of new homes and contribute funds of approximately {3,000 per each dwelling that would go towards wind farms. Then we could all be on the road to a “greener” way of life. These eco technology advances make it a great time to make Property London much greener for all.

High standards of insulation, double glazing and economic use of heating systems all add towards cutting down use of energy and costs year round. Solar shading and sun awnings are something that can add to these savings in an easy to install and low cost way. They can be fitted at the construction phase or retrospectively with little disturbance or effort. There is a large range of designs and materials to suit every type of property and requirement.

In the UK we tend to focus on winter as being the season when we expect the higher bills due to keeping cold out and heat in. Modern construction methods however recognise that the reverse of this in the summer, ie keeping the heat out of the house is a result of the same principles. A poorly insulated house or property stays cold in the winter but hot in the summer. Modern housing has high standards of thermal block work, insulation boards, double glazed windows and doors and roof and floor insulation to provide ambient indoor temperatures using the minimum amount of energy. Savings for the property owner and cutting down on energy demands are expectations we are becoming more and more conscious of.

Solar gain from windows, doors and the actual building materials is stored up and provides an element of heat that may be welcomed in winter but can make rooms, shops , offices and conservatories overbearingly hot in the summer. Switching on air- conditioning to cool a room down uses the same if not more energy as heating that same room.

Solar shading, sun awnings, internal blinds and tinted windows reduce the solar gain in the summer to comfortable levels without the need of this very expensive system. In many hot countries shutters are closed during the day just to keep the heat out. External shading has the greatest effect as you know from sitting under a sun shade on a beach.

Traditionally these were wooden hinged shutters but in recent years inbuilt shutters and roller shutters which offer security as well as comfort have increased in popularity. They can be manually or power controlled.

South facing windows especially catch the sun for the longest periods so are the prime candidates for sun awnings or shadings. There are several types available from simple roll out bright and cheerful striped fabrics to cantilevered systems with sophisticated opening and closing mechanisms. Metal or wooden supports and beams are used with the semi permanent type of suns shading which is much more versatile and can be automated and adjusted to suit the requirements of the site. Louvered shutters and roller shutters are available in timber, plastic or metal and may incorporate photovoltaic cells to power those motors or to angle them for most efficient operation.

Year round comfort and cost savings besides adding an attractive finish to your property are just a few of the benefits of sun awnings, solar shading and roller shutters.

Author Bio

This article has been written by Dan who writes for an online company specialising in energy efficient products for the home such as insulated roller garage doors and insulated sectional garage doors. For more information on products of this nature, contact your local specialist.

HVAC, which stands for “heating, ventilating, and air conditioning,” is an integral part of a comfortable home, office, shop, or building. It controls the air temperature and humidity, keeping a space warm during the winter and cool during the summer. Further, HVAC systems keep air circulating throughout the home so that air remains fresh and not stale. The problem with HVAC systems is that they can use a lot of energy – and they can run up your bills. Having an efficient HVAC system in your home is of vital importance in order to conserve resources and keep costs low.

Heating Systems

In a home, heating systems are smaller and usually consist of a heater or furnace, which heats air, water, or steam. The hot air is then circulated through the house via a network of ducts and vents. Most heaters or furnaces are fueled by gas or oil, which can be costly and squander environmental resources. Other heating systems are run by electric. In this setup, a filament is heated, and then the heat is transferred to the air. One may be familiar with this process in the form of baseboard heaters or radiators. Having a drafty room can greatly contribute to wasted energy and make the room feel colder than it should with a heating system. Drafts can cause the furnace or heater to work overtime, driving up the use of energy and resources.

Ventilating

Ventilation neither heats nor cools the air; instead, it circulates it throughout the home, keeping air fresh and clean. In smaller houses, some people may just open windows in order to keep air moving. However, in larger houses, this may not be effective enough and also may not be enough for basements or attics without windows. Some people employ fans to aid in circulation when windows are not enough. Exhaust fans or systems can also be installed; this is not uncommon in spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning and refrigeration are often lumped together since both processes involving the removal of hot air and heat. Air conditioning systems in the home work in a similar fashion to that of the refrigeration process as they remove hot air from a space, making the room feel cooler. This also helps control humidity. The same duct system that is used for the heating system can also be used for the air conditioning system. Units generally work by moving air between fan coils from inside to outside. The inside coil is the evaporator coil, and the outside coil is the condenser coil. The evaporator coil is responsible for collecting heat from the inside, while the condenser coil is responsible for moving the heat outside. The cool air produced from this process is then pushed throughout the house by the duct system and circulates through vents.

Today’s Energy Standards and Improvements

Geothermal Heat Pumps

People first began looking at HVAC energy improvements in order to cut down on high energy bills, but, recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has restructured its restrictions on HVAC energy requirements due to heightened awareness of environmental problems and consequences. There has been much research regarding alternative energy resources including wind, the earth’s heat, water, and solar power. A new type of heat pump that uses the ground’s constant temperature as an energy source has been developed, called a geothermal heat pump. A few feet beneath the earth’s surface, there is a constant temperature of about 45-75°F, which is more reliable than using air above ground because this air constantly changes in regard to the current outdoor temperature. In most of the United States, temperatures vary greatly between seasons, so the outside is not a steady temperature. By using the ground as an energy source, HVAC systems do not need to work as hard because they do not have to constantly adjust to the outdoor temperature, resulting in less energy use. On the right, how the heat pump works during the summer; on the left, how it works in the winter.

Forced Air Systems

Forced air systems are efficient because they can be used for circulating both heated air and cooled air. However, they still require a heat source such as a furnace or boiler. In order to make this method most efficient, it is best to have a thermostat that monitors the temperature of the heated/cooled rooms and can turn the system on or off depending on temperature needs. That way, the system does not need to remain on, wasting energy, when it is not needed. These systems can also be used with a heat pump or air conditioning system that moves heat instead of trying to change the heat. Moving the heat is more energy efficient because it takes less energy than actually converting the heat to a cooler form.

Standards for Energy Efficiency Measurement

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) publishes industry standards and resources, and it was formed in order to bring together those working with HVAC systems in order to advance their knowledge and create guidelines for the industry. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) works to promote knowledge of HVAC for both private entities and the public. Many of the standards for energy efficiency are a result of research from both NADCA and ASHRAE, and these standards are created, maintained, and updated in the Uniform Mechanical Code that is produced by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Offices (IAPMO) and updated every three years. The current industry standards for energy efficiency are measured in Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). SEER measures the energy output of a machine in British thermal units. The standard measurement for SEER in order for a machine to be classified as efficient is 13. For an appliance to receive an Energy Star classification, the SEER must be at least 14. The higher the SEER number, the more energy efficient the machine. Older machines would often have a SEER rating of 9, but, now, that is unusual and much less common because of improvements in technology and resources. Further, older machines are being replaced by newer, more energy-efficient models.

How to Increase Energy Efficiency in Your Home

The easiest step to increasing energy efficiency in your home and cutting down your bills is only using air conditioning or heating when you really need it. Turn off the system when you are not home or at night in the summer when temperatures are cooler. If you do not want to worry about this yourself every day, install a thermostat that can monitor the temperature for you. Keep your windows closed when using heating or cooling so that the system does not have to overwork and make up for the extra hot or cool air entering the house. Be sure to have the system cleaned and checked at least yearly so that dirt, dust, animal hair, or other particles do not clog filters and make the system work harder than it absolutely needs to. Sealing the ducts throughout your home can also ensure that energy isn’t being wasted by making sure the air is going directly to the rooms and spaces in your home instead of being leaked out elsewhere.

The Bottom Line

Industry standards have increased significantly over the past years, moving from a SEER rating of 9 to a standard of 13-14. This increase has been made possible by technological developments such as geothermal energy pumps that have allowed people to move away from traditional sources of heat (i.e., gas, oil), which deplete our natural resources and cost more. Though newer appliances and machines may be more expensive to install, their running costs are lower in the long term, and they save more energy as well. New technology and higher, more rigid standards decrease heating and cooling costs and reduce our carbon footprint. An efficient HVAC system in your home will help you save money and help maintain and support the environment – so not only are individuals affected, but so is our earth.

Sources:
1. http://www.nyserda.org/programs/geothermal/default.asp
2. http://www.hometips.com/how-it-works/forced-air-heating-systems.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/seer
4. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hvac
6.  http://www.nadca.com/consumerinformation/

This article is from WellHome, which provides Home Energy Audits with the ability to upgraded Windows, HVAC, and Home Insulation. WellHome also performs Duct Tightening and Air Sealing to create a more comfortable and well balanced home that performs at its best level. WellHome allows the homeowner to get a bigger picture of the efficiency of the home and its ability to maintain comfortable temperatures and air flow.

If you’re fed up with your local utility or current residential energy company, now’s the time to consider switching. Moving from one provider to another is no longer a hassle, and it can be beneficial. Here are four reasons changing energy companies can make your life better.

1) Better Pricing

One of the biggest reasons why you should issue the pink slip to your existing energy company is financial: to save on energy bills. In states where electricity competition is allowed, prices tend to be lower due to many companies competing for your business.   This scenario is great for the consumer because it allows you to choose the best rates at the time of sign-up. Also, if you don’t have a contract with your current energy company, you are free to shop for new service providers whenever you want to.

2) Environmentally Conscious Energy Access

Another useful benefit is being able to purchase green energy. Many forward-thinking energy companies offer options for supporting green energy, which you typically can purchase for only pennies more per month. This can give you the peace of mind that you are helping the planet and still getting the service that you need.

3) Amazing Rewards Choices

Your energy provider should appreciate your business. As such, some companies offer rewards for customers, which are highly customizable. Saving for college or another purchase? Want to get airline miles or hotel points for that next trip?  Or do you just like getting cash back?   We’ve seen at least one provider that offers access to options to get air, hotel, rail or travel points and retail cash for your favorite stores.

4) No Change in Service

Switching energy companies can provide you with all the great benefits listed above, without sacrificing the perks and services you’re already used to. First, no matter what, your power will still be delivered by your local utility, so you don’t have to worry about an interruption in service.  You can still expect the same level of customer service as you enjoy with your current energy company and generally you’ll receive one consolidated bill for both your delivery and supply.

Switching energy providers is truly a win-win situation; you can expect to reap the benefits of competitive prices, access to “green” energy options, and rewards programs, without sacrificing the services you’ve already come to expect from an energy provider.

Jessica writes about a wide variety of topics.  She especially enjoys writing about energy. You can learn more about Energy Plus Company at www.energypluscompany.com

Aside from adding natural beauty to your landscaping, trees offer a great number of benefits! For starters, they purify the air and clean the water, what a positive effect that would happen if everyone planted trees, even if it is for the sole purpose of blocking cold winter wind and hot summer sun. Trees also provide food and shelter to wildlife, help prevent soil erosion and combat global warming.

North and Northwest Tree Recommendations

To reap the full protective effect that trees can offer, it is important to plant the right types of trees in specific location. Evergreens should be placed in the North and Northwest locations of your landscaping. These will remain dense in the winter to block those cold brutal winds that wreak havoc on your heating bill. This also reduces fossil fuel usage and carbon dioxide emissions.

If you have an overly large yard, the trees should be planted no further than the distance of one or two tree heights from the house. This is also going to help reduce drifts of snow from accumulating at your door and driveway that you have to shovel.

East and West Tree Recommendations

The only trees that you want to plant on both the East and West sides of your landscaping are the deciduous variety. These are trees like maple, oak, cherry, birch, dogwood, elm and crabtree that get nice and full come spring. Not only do these types of trees add beauty to your landscaping when they’re in bloom in the spring, they provide a splash of color in the autumn before the leaves fall.

Of course, the most important thing is that these trees will shade your home to help keep it cooler. You will find that you will not have to run your air conditioning nearly as often to keep your home cool. If everyone did this, utility companies wouldn’t have to struggle to provide energy to residents and businesses.

Depending on where you live, you may be familiar with the rolling brownouts that many companies enforce during peak demand times which is extremely inconvenient. Other areas simply reduce energy levels, causing electronics to suffer and air conditioning units to work even harder to try to accommodate the temperature setting. Planting trees is a contagious action! If you do it, so will your neighbors and this act will snowball. Such a small act can invoke a huge positive change.

It should also be noted that it’s always recommended to plant a shrub or even a small tree a bit closer to your home to shade your central air conditioning unit. Believe it or not, the sun affects these units too and they work as much as 10 percent harder when they are left exposed.

Keep in mind that planting trees to shade your patio or deck will make your outdoor living space more comfortable and you’re less likely to have a yard that looks like a blanket of hay come mid-summer.

This is a guest post from My Garden Hammock A site dedicated to the humble hammock with some great tips on choosing a hammock bed for the garden or even to replace your bed