Jun 20 2017
Energy Efficiency | Home Remodeling
Consider Energy Efficiency During Home Remodeling.
When doing a major home remodel, keep energy efficiency in mind. Every year, much of the energy homeowners consume is wasted. Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to clean the air we breathe and reduce energy costs. Remember, you’ll be paying for energy inefficiency every month for as long as you own your home.
You hear a lot about making your home more energy efficient—how it can help to reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and help to protect the environment. But what does it all mean if you’re remodeling or building a new home?
A whole-house systems approach.
If you’d like to design an energy efficient home you should use what’s called the whole-house systems approach. This approach helps homeowners, architects, and builders develop successful strategies for optimizing home energy efficiency.
Designing and building a new house or renovating an existing house to be highly energy-efficient requires careful planning and attention to detail. If you’re remodeling a home, be sure to conduct an energy audit before making upgrades to determine what energy efficiency improvements should be made to your home.
Remodeling projects that involve replacement or significant alterations of walls and roofs, windows, doors, heating and cooling systems, duct work, and lighting can all have a big impact on your home’s energy use. This is a particularly good time for sealing ducts and adding insulation in walls that otherwise could not be done easily or cost-effectively.
To ensure that your new or renovated home takes full advantage of a whole-house systems approach, hire an experienced design and building team and insist that they use a whole-building systems approach from the beginning of the design process. Your designer can perform a whole-house computer simulation that compares multiple combinations of variables to arrive at the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solution.
These variables could include:
- Site conditions.
- Local climate.
- Appliances and home electronics.
- Insulation and air sealing.
- Lighting and day-lighting.
- Space heating and cooling.
- Water heating.
- Windows, doors, and skylights.
Some benefits of using a whole-house systems approach include:
- Reduced utility and maintenance costs.
- Increased comfort.
- Reduced noise.
- A healthier and safer indoor environment.
- Improved building durability.
You can use the whole-house systems approach with any home design. Once you’ve reduced your energy loads requirements as much as possible, consider adding renewable energy systems that generate electricity and heat water.
Would you like a complimentary…no obligation …project consultation? Please feel free to call for more details.
Goodiel Electric, LLC
.
Glenn Goodiel.
Mobile: (772) 263-2333.
Skype: (772) 263-2333.
Florida License – EC13005097.
Call Goodiel Electric, LLC. for a Great Deal.
Call master electrician and Martin County based electrical contractor Glenn Goodiel for all your electrical service needs.
In Martin County, Goodiel Electric, LLC. services Hobe Sound, Indiantown, Jensen Beach, Jupiter Island, North River Shores, Ocean Breeze Park, Palm City, Port Salerno, Rio, Sewall’s Point and Stuart FL.
In St. Lucie County, Goodiel Electric, LLC. services Port Saint Lucie, St. Lucie West, Tradition, Torino, Tesoro, Lake Charles, Lake Forest, Magnolia Lakes, PGA Village, The Vineyards, St James Golf Club, The Cascades, Fort Pierce, and the unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County FL.
Aug 1 2017
Air-source Heat Pumps for Treasure Coast Homes
Air-source heat pumps for energy efficiency.
For South Florida homeowners air-source heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Because the Treasure Coast seldom sees extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures its residents can take advantage of heat pump technology. There are three types of heat pumps: air-to-air, water source, and geothermal. They collect heat from the air, water, or ground outside your home and concentrate it for use inside. This article focuses mainly on air-source heat pumps.
The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. Today’s air-source heat pump can deliver one-and-a-half to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. High-efficiency air-source heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more comfort all year around. Air-source heat pumps have been used for many years in nearly all parts of the United States, but the Treasure Coast area is ideally suited for heat pump technology.
For homes without ducts, air-source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump.
Advanced Features to Look for in Air-source Heat Pumps.
A number of innovations are improving the performance of air-source heat pumps.
Unlike standard compressors that can only operate at full capacity, two-speed compressors allow heat pumps to operate close to the heating or cooling capacity needed at any particular moment. This saves electrical energy and reduces compressor wear. Two-speed heat pumps also work well with zone control systems. Zone control systems, often found in larger homes, use automatic dampers to allow the heat pump to keep different rooms at different temperatures.
Some models of heat pumps are equipped with variable-speed or dual-speed motors on their indoor fans, outdoor fans, or both. The variable-speed controls for these fans keep the air moving at a comfortable velocity, minimizing cool drafts and maximizing electrical savings. It also minimizes the noise from the blower running at full speed.
Although most heat pumps use electric resistance heaters as a backup for cold weather, heat pumps can also be equipped with burners to supplement the heat pump. Back-up burners help solve the problem of the heat pump delivering relatively cool air during cold weather and reduces its use of electricity. There are few heat pump manufacturers that incorporate both types of heat supply in one box, so these configurations are often two smaller, side-by-side, standard systems sharing the same ductwork. The combustion fuel half of the system could be propane, natural gas, oil, or even coal and wood.
In comparison with a combustion fuel-fired furnace or standard heat pump alone, this type of system is also economical. Actual energy savings depend on the relative costs of the combustion fuel relative to electricity.
Have you decided that an air-source heat pump is right for you? Do you have a heat pump that needs to be serviced? Give us a call; we can help you every step of the way.
Would you like a complimentary…no obligation …project consultation? Please feel free to call for more details.
Goodiel Electric, LLC
.
Glenn Goodiel.
Mobile: 772-263-2333.
Florida License – EC13005097.
Call Goodiel Electric for a Great Deal.
Call electrician and Martin County electrical contractor Glenn Goodiel for all your electrical service needs.
In Martin County, Goodiel Electric, LLC. services Hobe Sound, Indiantown, Jensen Beach, Jupiter Island, North River Shores, Ocean Breeze Park, Palm City, Port Salerno, Rio, Sewall’s Point and Stuart.
In St. Lucie County, Goodiel Electric, LLC. services Port Saint Lucie, St. Lucie West, Tradition, Torino, Tesoro, Lake Charles, Lake Forest, Magnolia Lakes, PGA Village, The Vineyards, St James Golf Club, The Cascades, Fort Pierce, and the unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County.
By Glenn_G • Energy Efficiency, Heat Pumps, Treasure Coast • • Tags: air-source heat pumps