WHOLE-HOUSE ENERGY CHECKLIST - 50 Steps to Energy Efficiency in the Home

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Permalink Reply by Robert Schultz on June 19, 2009 at 8:34am

Printed out the checklist, and all the Technology Fact Sheets that I could find at EERE. Plenty of reading material to help make my 100 year old house much more energy efficient. Put some insulation on those old bones.

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Permalink Reply by Anachronism on December 1, 2009 at 10:13am

Dated 11/20/2009
Hi Robert. (This information can make "Those Old Bones" work for you.)
This comment relates to added information placed on 8/22, 2009 and is as follows: Even a Heating Engineer would have trouble calculating the energy storage of “one cubic foot of static” air mass at 80 degrees or 100 degrees in said space, as it would change from second to second as all conditions changed.
The heat energy generated and captive in the interior space of the attic will literally heat the interior volume of 141,075 cubic feet to 78 degrees (Plus) on a normal winter day. The exterior walls a 12” thick and has an R-27 rating and the attic ceiling is 12” of fiberglass batting. There are no openings from the interior of the building above the closed doors on the first floor.
On Saturday the 14th of November, 09, I went to BARRON Heating/air Conditioning Company to inquire if information is known as to a method of calculating the amount of Btu’s collectable in 26,125 cubic feet of air contained within the attic space?
Mr. Gary Lee's, a certified Heating Engineer, answer was very logical in that the ability of any specific “Cubic Foot of Air” to hold energy changes every second and the fact it has produced excess heat, above and beyond the amount need for the last 25 years indicates the “Volume and btu’s” are in excess of what is required to maintain 74 degree’s or more.
Mr. Gary Lee’s information is “spot on” in that if it works, even if impossible to “Calculate”, at any one point in time, that my system functions and produces excess heating which is easily dissipated by allowing the extra heat simply to be exhausted from the building using any adjustable/temperature, activated opening to dump excess heat generated.
This takes us to the next stage of the question, how to calculate the amount of attic air space volume and its ability to capture the Solar energy needed to heat a specific volume within a residence typically constructed using or having an attic space:

Separate document: "Ratio of attic air volume to interior air volume" to generate enough Passive Solar Heating to maintain 74 Degrees During Winter Months.
Here's is a Document which could help you determine if solar would work for your home,
RATIO OF ATTIC AIR VOLUME TO INTERIOR AIR VOLUME
TO GENERATE ENOUGH PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING
to maintain 74 degrees in Winter Months
(2,016 Sq. Foot House) width length
Floor space in house 36' X 56'
Attic Air space 36 X 56
You Divide 14,112 cubic ft by 2 which gives an attic volume of
(Divide the attic space by 2 as you have two triangles)
Cubic Volume Attic Space --Inside Height
16,128 HOUSE 8
14,112 ATTIC 7
7,056
Ratio of house to attic volume is then 44%
My Mini-storage attic volume to interior building volume is:
building volume is :19% to 21%
The typical house has double the ratio
of my Mini projects. Therefore it could
produce excessive amounts of "FREE"
heat for the typical single family home.
MAIN BUILDING BURLINGTON VANCOUVER
LENGTH 95 X 145
WIDTH 55 X 74
HEIGHT OF 27' and 21'
INTERIOR VOLUME Burlington 141,075 Vancouver 225,330

ATTIC VOLUME Burlington
Vancouver/Monroe/Mount Vernon
Burlington & Bellingham, Wash.
LENGTH 95' 145'
WIDTH 55' 74'
ATTIC FLOOR TO PEAK
Burl 10' Vancouver 9'
ATTIC SPACE Burl-52,250 Vancouver --96,570
DIVIDE BY 2 (NOT SQUARE) Burl-26,125 Vancouver--48,285
(Attic is two triangles Spaces)
RATIO/BUILDING INTERIOR Burlington ------Vancouver
TO ATTIC SPACE 19% 21%
CONCLUSION: MY MINI STORAGE USED 21% OF ATTIC
CUBIC SPACE TO BUILDING SPACE AND FUNCTIONS TO PRODUCE
AN "EXCESS OF HEAT" TO MAINTAIN 74 DEGREE'S OF INTERIOR
INTERIOR TEMPERATURE -DAILY -FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.
Vancouver has a "Combination Passive Solar Cooling System",
and Maintains a cool 73 interior degree temp when "SUMMER" exterior temperature is excessive.
NO compressors, chillers or other cooling systems, "total Passive Solar".

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Permalink Reply by James Everitt on August 16, 2009 at 8:00am

Coming Soon: Battery-Powered Homes?

If you can create your own electricity, this new battery will be able to store enough to last about a day.

This new battery featured in Popular Mechanics is a reminder that there are definitely incentives that go beyond being green if you're thinking about adding solar panels or wind turbines to your home.

Sure, you'll save money by using less power, and you'll also get tax incentives and possibly make some money by contributing to the power grid. Or you can go the opposite route, and attempt to get entirely off the grid if you have the $2,000 needed for this new Ceramatec battery.

Imagine a future with no electricity bills ... it's like our first step toward Utopia!

Eight cheap ways to make your home more energy efficient!

P. S. While you're at it, you might want to consider some of the new government incentives available to potential homeowners willing to ... to their new home.

CONTINUE ARTICLE: Coming Soon: Battery-Powered Homes?

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