NKY Green Energy Guide

Energy-saving investments

            After you have designed your new or existing home to be more energy efficient through passive solar power and design, you can start thinking about different types of energy-saving investments.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Wind Turbines

In addition to the large commercial wind turbines, it is also possible to purchase smaller, residential wind turbines. These, like solar panels, can be installed as grid-tied or off grid. However, your home’s location is very important for these to be efficient. You have to have the space and appropriate average wind speeds that often requires higher towers, larger land lots, and non-urban locations. However, you can switch or “purchase” your normal utilities to come from “clean energy” sources by way of a Renewable Energy Certificate. The actual electricity in your home may not be coming directly from renewable sources, but you would be supporting and growing the demand and pool of clean energy generated.

ENERGY-SAVING SYSTEMS

            In addition to investing in renewable energy options, you can also purchase other energy-saving systems and designs.

Geothermal

Geothermal systems use the natural heat from water under the earth’s surface to power your home. Although it is not a renewable energy per say (because it is powered by electricity), it can substantially reduce the energy needed to heat or cool your home.

• Geothermal heat varies in different areas and is the most prevalent in the western United States; however there are always reservoirs at varying temperatures and depths that can be accessed in the tri-state area.

• A geothermal/ground source heat pump pumps heat from the earth into your home in the winter, and pulls heat out of your home and into the earth during the summer. There are fascinating videos of how this works.

• Just like everything else, not all geothermal heat pumps are made the same. You want to make sure you choose the correct one for your home.

Solar Tubes

            Another fun way to save energy and provide natural light for your home is solar tubes.

• Solar Tubes can go by several different names (Solatube, Sun Tunnel, Skylight Tubes, etc. ), but they all work the same way to bring natural sunlight into your home. They are installed through the roof and come through to the celling similar to a skylight. Unlike a skylight, these solar tubes have reflective material inside them that amplify the light outside and bring it inside in a more indirect and energy-efficient fashion.

• These tubes are great for interior rooms with no windows to be able to get lots of natural light. They are also better insulated than skylights, and they can require no electricity. For further reading about installing them in your home, you can check their website.

Solar Water Heating Systems

Solar water heating systems can be an effective way to heat water for your home by using the sun. These systems include storage tanks and solar collectors.

• There are two types of solar water heating systems: active and passive. An active system uses electric pumps, and a passive system uses natural convection and requires no pumps.

•  The best active systems for our area are the indirect/closed-loop circulation systems because they work in freezing temperatures.

• Because of our winter temperatures, the best passive system for our area is a Thermosyphon system.

Heating and Cooling technology

The following are a list of energy-saving devices and technologies that you can use for heating and cooling your home.

• Programmable thermostats can save energy by controlling the temperature when you are home or in specific rooms.

• Look for a furnace that has a high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings (90+%) and an air conditioner that has a high (15+) Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) . There are minimum efficiency standard ratings for different products; and you want to look for products that are ENERGY STAR labeled.

• If you have an old wood stove you could consider upgrading to an EPA-certified wood or pellet stove. Pellet stoves burn pellets that are made of wood and other biomass wastes; however, many do need electricity to operate. Higher-efficiency appliances are usually safer and have lower emissions.

• To increase the heating efficiency of an older fireplace, you can consider purchasing a high-efficiency fireplace insert. These inserts fit into or near your existing fireplace and use the existing chimney. These can function like a wood stove and can be almost as efficient.

EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY UPGRADES

            To have your home be as energy efficient as possible, you need to make sure your appliances are not using an unnecessary amount of energy. By simply choosing or upgrading to energy efficient appliances, you can make a huge difference in your energy consumption. Upgrading your furnace, air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, water heater, freezer, or any other major appliance may cost a bit more upfront, but will pay itself back in a few years from energy savings.

Further Reading:

http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/analysis/history-of-solar-power/ (a brief history of solar power)

https://www3.epa.gov/greenpower/gpmarket/rec.htm

http://www.geo-energy.org/default.aspx

http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/guide_to_geothermal_heat_pumps.pdf (heat pump guide)

http://www.nrel.gov/gis/geothermal.html (geothermal maps)

http://www.geoexchange.org/ (geothermal technologies)