Foods in the freezer — are they safe? Thousands of people each year call the USDA to inquiry about the safety of items stored in their own home freezers. The confusion seems to be based on the fact that few people understand how freezing protects food. Here is some information on how to freeze food [...]
This article is part 4 of Sunspaces.
Glazing
Glazing is clear or translucent materials that allow sunlight to penetrate and warm the room. Glass is the most common glazing material, and many sunspace developers choose glass for its durability, clarity, and appearance. But plastic glitter may be cheaper, stronger, lighter and easier to work with, making [...]
This article is part 2 of Sunspaces.
Sunspaces serve three main functions: they are a source of auxiliary heat, they provide space to grow plants and have fun living areas. The design considerations for these features are very different, and although it is possible to build a sunspace that will serve all three functions, some [...]
This article is part 5 of Energy-Efficient Lighting.
Cool light is preferred for visual tasks because it produces higher contrast than warm light. Contrast is the brightness difference between different parts of the visual field, which is the area of space you can see at a given instant without moving your eyes. Warm light is [...]
This article is part 2 of Advanced Technology and Alternative Fuel Vehicles.
Transportation accounts for more than 67% of oil consumption in the USA-more than it produces. Today, our country imports more than 54 percent of its oil, and suggested that this could increase to 75% by 2010.
According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the [...]
This article is part 6 of Air-Source Heat Pumps.
Like combustion heating systems, you control heat pumps using thermostats.
If you leave and return at regular times everyday, you’ll save money by using automatic thermostats, which minimize energy use during the times the home is unoccupied. However, choosing an automatic thermostat’s reactivation time requires considering the [...]
This article is part 5 of Energy-Efficient Water Heating.
Note: Installation is more difficult on gas- and oil-fired heaters. Ask your local furnace installer for instructions.
1. Cut the tank top insulation to fit around the piping in the top of the tank. Tape the cut section closed after the top has been installed.
2. Fold the [...]
This article is part 4 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System.
All batteries will wear out in 1-15 years, even if they are rarely used, because the acid in the battery wears down the internal components regardless of use. However, you can maximize the life of your battery bank by adhering to the [...]
This article is part 6 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House.
Houses that incorporate all of the above elements of energy efficiency have many advantages. They feel more comfortable because the additional insulation keeps the interior wall at a more comfortable and stable temperature. The indoor humidity is also better controlled, and drafts are reduced. [...]
This article is part 6 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
Through specially designed systems, energy from the sun can be used to heat water for your home. Depending on climate and water use, a properly designed, installed, and maintained solar water heater can meet from half to nearly all of a home’s hot water [...]
