Heating/Cooling Equipment
Heating and cooling of homes uses more energy. In cold weather, although we cosy up further to a crackling fire on a cold winter day, we probably do not realize in which our fireplace is one of the most inefficient heat sources we could probably use. A roaring fire could exhaust as much as 900 cubic metre of air per hour to the outside which must be replaced by cold air coming into the house from the outside. Our heating system must warm up this air which is then exhausted by our chimney. Thus, a fire place literally sends our energy cost right up the chimney along with volumes of warm air!
It might surprise you to know that buying a bigger room air conditioning unit will not fundamentally make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. Actually, a room air conditioner which is too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less efficiently than a smaller, properly sized unit. This is since room units work better if they run for associatively long periods of time than if they are continually switching off and on. Longer run times permit air conditioners to maintain a more constant room temperature. What is more, heating and cooling systems together emit GHGs and CFCs within the atmosphere every year, adding to global warming and ozone layer depletion. They also generate sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the chief ingredients in acid rain.
No matter what kind of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system we have in our house, we could save energy and increase comfort by properly managed and upgrading our equipment. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades along with appropriate insulation, weatherization, and thermostat settings, you could cut your energy bills and your pollution output in half. Here are a few suggestions in this regard.
Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended through the manufacturer. If you have central heating or cooling in your home, then have a professional check done once a year. The duct system, a branching network of tubes within floors, the walls, and ceilings, carries the air from your home's furnace and central air conditioner to each room. Ducts are made of sheet metal, fibreglass, or other materials. Unfortunately, various duct systems are poorly insulated or not insulated properly. Ducts which leak heated air into unheated spaces could add to energy loss. Insulating the ducts placed in unconditioned spaces is generally very cost effective.
Sealing ducts to prevent leaks is even more important if the ducts are located in an unconditioned area such as the rooftop. If the supply ducts are leaking, heated or cooled air is forced out of unsealed joints and lost. Additionally, unconditioned air can also be drawn inside return ducts through unsealed joints. In the summer, hot air could be drawn in that increasing the load on the air conditioner. Inside the winter, the furnace will have to work longer to keep your house comfortable. Either way, the energy losses would cost money. While minor duct repairs are easy to accomplish and ducts within unconditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated through qualified professionals using the appropriate sealing materials.
Sizing is evenly significant for central air conditioning systems that require to be done by professionals. If you have a middle air system within your home, set the fan to shut off at the similar time as the cooling unit (compressor). Instead, do not use the system's central fan to gives circulation, but instead use circulating fans in individual rooms. If the unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing it along with one of the newer, energy-efficient units. That would go far in reducing your energy consumption and especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition. Check your ductwork for dirt streaks and especially near seams. These imply air leaks, and should be sealed.