In my previous post " Tips on saving in energy bills for buildings" I got a nice comment from a reader that most of the tips suggested were practically non-doable in a common housing buildings due to high initial investment and/or longer payback period. That comment intrigued me to elaborate more on tiny-mini low budget tips which any one can apply in her/his house and can save money and earth. These tips are even given by electricity providers also.
Dimmer switches are the device for controlling brightness of the lights, these switches works very similar to regulator/controller of the fans for controlling speed. A light bulb, on full brightness, can be used for lighting the space for reading and same can be dimmed in night to work as night bulb. Use of dimmer switch saves allot energy, about 25% on dimming on light saves 20% of lighting energy and this smart device pays back in less than an year. Another magical device programmable thermostat pays back its cost in less than an year and provide 20-25% energy saving on heating and cooling. Occupancy and motion sensor turns off lighting in unoccupied space, these sensors can ideally be placed in bathrooms, kids room, hallway, drive way or outdoor. These sensor not only save energy on lighting but also increase the life of bulb and save on maintenance. Energy saving and payback depends upon application but energy saving can be up to 50% for the lighting and pay back period varies from 6 months to 2 year.
I mentioned in my previous post too, windows are the main source for heat gain in summer and heat loss in winters, more we work on heat/gain from windows more we'll save on energy. Energy saving windows film can reduce heating and cooling energy bills by holding 38% escaping heat in winter and 65% of solar heat in summer and above all blocks 98% of UV-rays which cause fading of furniture. Energy saving windows film returns back its cost from 6 months to 2 years. Curtains and drapes do not only to cover windows for privacy or control day light but they have huge potential in saving heat loss too, these inexpensive curtains can reduce thermal loss up to 25% (Source:Eclipse blackout curtain). In a summer hot day a window loose more heat through a square foot than entire wall and solar gain through the glass accounts for 20% load on A/C .A fabric awning can save up to 65% on south facing windows and up to 77% on west facing windows and reduction 8 F-15F (5C-8C) in internal temperature. Use of swamp (evaporative) cooler is always better option than using air-conditioner for people living in hot, dry place like Phoenix, Arizona or by in large south-west USA or most of the plain area of India, it uses 4-5 times less energy than A/C and initial cost also far below. Another interesting inexpensive method is while roof, it can save up to 20% of energy use. According to tips given in website of texas electricity providers in summer AC at 78 F makes room comfortable and checks on electricity bill.
A story on energy saving tips cannot be complete without mentioning energy star products, CFL and LED lights. Emphasis on turning off and unplugging appliances when they are not in use is another valueable tips given by texas electricity providers.
It is always said plant tree save planet here I would add "plant tree save planet and save energy and money" it is observed that shading due to tree can cut cooling cost 20-40% and similarly energy used in heating can cut down by 10-25%.
than using Energy saving windows film,.the design can be made climatoligically,.by claculation sun paths,.and by shading devices,.sun breakers,.or calculating the room radiation we can avoid the energy saving windows,.so that design cannot be complicated,.climatology gives the techniques abt the low radiation,.etc,.and it helps out the to gain more pluspoints in the design,.
ReplyDeletebest examples are in India,.legend architects like laurie baker,.designs wont have more electric devices,.those are very simple ,.following climatology,.and passive cooling systems,.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with you window films can be better option than glass in terms of initial cost. Even simple film gives alot cooling effect, we have used in our home. I also agree use of overhang, awings and proper thick curtain can also save alot energy bills
ReplyDeleteno madam,.i was not saying abt the cost,.but asking why the window films,.has to be used,.but yes these are coster,.and until there is a failure in the design of a project the alternates can be used as per the conditions,.but first the desgn should be climatology,.
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