A PENNY SAVED IS NOT ENOUGH
While the US economy begins the road to recovery, Americans continue to look for ways to save money, especially on their energy bills. As the deregulation of electricity begins in parts of the USA. penny saved
UU. In 2011, consumers will begin to see significant increases in the costs of their energy bills, although their consumption will probably remain the same. Because of this factor, many people are focusing their attention not only on buying new appliances and low-energy equipment for their homes and businesses,
but on finding fast and low-cost solutions that provide them with additional savings. Ecological advocates predict that the initial shock of higher bills will force more families to conserve energy by taking measures such as using LED bulbs, sealing the climate of their homes and buying more efficient appliances. penny saved
The refining of the equipment that conditions our homes and businesses is a way of having a significant impact on overall savings. With the numerous central air conditioning and heating systems on the market that offer greater efficiency and greater comfort, penny saved
one is far superior to the rest. The engineer, Jim Fung, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has found a way to revolutionize the air conditioning of residential or split systems by producing better cooling results with a smaller system, so he uses less electricity. Standard air conditioning systems reach the desired indoor temperature,
set on the thermostat, by producing cold supply air at a standard temperature of 55 ° F. This cold air is mixed with the space air until the desired temperature is reached. Jim’s addition of a plate-type heat exchanger to a basic residential split system air conditioner actually eliminates twice the humidity of an average unit while achieving the same indoor temperature with a 65 ° F air supply. penny saved
operate the air conditioner 10 degrees hotter, less electricity is needed. The result is a system that can operate at a significantly lower capacity to cool the same space. Although the cost of installation to add a heat exchanger is comparable to the cost of a daily replacement of the home air conditioning system, the savings amount to almost 40% per year with an estimated recovery time of less than five years.
Jim has implemented his design on air conditioning systems in various locations in the northeastern part of the US. UU., Including the Oceanic Naval Air Station in Virginia and the Plow of the Stars restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Aware that the existing HVAC system was not enough to compensate for all the body heat generated by its customers on busy nights, the owner of the Plow restaurant knew that it needed updating. While the owner was talking with local contractors about doubling the size of the HVAC system, penny saved
Jim presented his heat exchanger air conditioning design as an alternative, giving the owner the additional efficiency needed, without doubling the current system. Jim installed a slightly smaller system in the existing ducts in the building. Together with the heat exchanger, the new system was able to mimic twice the capacity of the original system’s size, giving the owner the optimal amount of air conditioning at a fraction of the cost.
In addition to the increased capacity, the design of the heat exchanger / air conditioner offers a unique by-product that was discovered during the test phase of the installation of a unit at the Oceana Naval Air Station. penny saved
Due to its ability to remove twice as much moisture from the air, condensation occurs constantly, creating a constant flow of water. Water leaving the unit is a form of distilled water that can finally be used as drinking water. When kept below the condensate drain, an empty 16-ounce water bottle is filled in approximately 15 seconds.
Because of this unique by-product, the heat exchanger used in conjunction with air conditioners in wetter climates could provide an additional form of drinking water for its residents. Another potential use of water is to capture it in barrels and distribute it to irrigate local gardens.
If you have a slightly tighter construction budget and are concerned about energy loss, you can always choose to re-insulate your attic. A material on the market today, called an energy barrier, blocks 97% of all solar radiation in your home preventing energy from escaping through your roof. penny saved
This technology, originally created by NASA as a barrier to isolate astronaut space suits, can be stapled directly to the beams of your attic to produce an average temperature change of 3 degrees. The addition of the energy barrier will have an estimated cost reduction of 40% in your electricity bill with a repayment time of less than three years.
One of the cheapest ways to reduce your energy consumption is to invest in technologically superior light bulbs for your home’s lamps. LED bulbs (acronym for light emitting diodes) are a fast and economical way to have a positive impact on your electricity bill.
There are several brands of LED lights on the market today and relatively easy to find at your local hardware and appliance store. The saving of LED lights is approximately 90% for incandescent bulbs and almost 50% for all fluorescent bulbs with an average recovery time of one year.
If you make the decision to save money by investing in energy efficient equipment and materials that will benefit you in the coming years, the options are at your disposal. All you need is the right approach. penny saved
By giving you the option of adding a heat exchanger to your air conditioner, switching to LED lights or installing more efficient insulation, you have the right tools to make a big impact. The adage, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” has gained even greater significance these days and there is no need to sit down and let high energy bills lower it.
There are many viable solutions to avoid the sudden increase in energy costs. The first step on the road to saving is to make the decision to properly invest your money at the beginning to help you save more money in the end.