Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
leaking, take these thermal measurements prior to sealing and insulating your ducts.
Then take the same measurements after you make the repairs. You should see an im-
provement in the amount of heat transferred to your living area. More sophisticated
devices are available to monitor any number of appliances throughout the home and
send the information by WiFi signals to a central collection station and display for
the homeowner to observe.
So you can see there are a number of options available for the homeowner to
monitor energy consumption and collect the information required to measure the
effectiveness of the conservation steps they have taken. This information provides
feedback on the efforts made to seal and insulate your home or replace high energy
consuming appliances. Homeowners should inventory all the energy consuming
appliances in the home and record small time frame consumption values for these
appliances so that they compare them to see which appliances are high consuming
appliances. Whole house monitoring devices help us understand how high energy
consuming systems such as heating and air conditioning effect our energy consump-
tion at different times during the day. For instance, it might be interesting to com-
pare the electric consumption for one hour during the hottest part of the afternoon
on a hot summer day to the electric consumption for one hour during the middle
of night. These comparisons help homeowners understand more about energy con-
sumption in the home and what they can do to lower costs.
1.7
Renewable Energy Sources
Using renewable energy sources is an excellent way for the homeowner to lower
energy costs. However, it takes a more technically inclined homeowner to take ad-
vantage of these renewable energy sources. Installing renewable energy sources on
and around your home can supplement your energy supply. It is only possible when
they are affordable and available. The most popular renewable energy source is so-
lar power. Solar panels mounted on the ground or roof can supplement the electric
supply for the home. In some cases solar systems can also supply energy back to the
electric grid and earn credits on the homeowner's electric bill. Other, more specific,
systems like solar water heaters, solar water pumps and solar attic fans also take ad-
vantage of the sun's rays. Wind power systems mounted near the home can provide
electric power in a similar way to solar panels. Certain circumstances may allow the
homeowner to take advantage of hydroelectric power. With any of these electrical
supply systems it's important to have storage batteries in order to save the power
during times that the sun, wind or water is not available. Once your renewable en-
ergy systems are in place, it will be helpful to utilize data management systems to
track the energy produced. Also you will need controls and switches to manipulate
the energy in such a way to make it most beneficial to you. Many renewable energy
systems have backup generator power to supplement the renewable energy source
when needed. Probably the oldest example of renewable fuel is wood. Wood is a
renewable resource that people have used for thousands of years as a heat source. In
