Review Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

Thinking of making the switch to clean and green? Don't go shopping for your solar array before you've looked at some strategies for keeping the cost down.

If you've done any research at all you already know that the cost factor is what's preventing a large scale solar powered system from adorning every roof. The good news is that new technologies have recently been perfected that will dramatically reduce the cost of a solar power system.

Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

Also, there are easy and affordable changes you can make right now that'll save you tons on your conversion to solar energy while keeping the planet a shade greener.

Reduce Your Use

How much power do you use right now?Your monthly energy bill will report how many KWH or kilowatt hours your household used during that month. If you haven't done anything to reduce your use up to this point you should realistically be able to cut your current amount of power use in half.

Here's how to painlessly reduce your use:

1 - Insulate, insulate, insulate.

* Plug every escape route you can identify.
* Double up on the insulation in floors, walls and attic.
* Ensure that no air is passing through dryer vents, chimneys, attic doors, electrical outlets and around doors and windows. On a breezy day hold a match or lighter flame near any suspicious areas. If it flickers, air is moving in or out. Find the leaky spot and plug it.
* If it's time to replace the windows, seek out the most energy efficient types available.

2 - Hot water solutions.
* 120° F (48° C) or less is the ideal temperature for your hot water heater for energy reduction and safety from scalding. Most families use their hot water in the morning and after supper yet the water is kept hot even when no one is in the house or everyone is asleep. Programmable water heaters only heat water when you tell them to - saving hundreds of dollars per year on your hot water heating bill.
* Wrap your hot water tank with an insulating blanket (made especially for this purpose).
* Better yet, install a solar hot water heater. More about that below.

3 - Use a power bar.
* Plug your TV, computer and stereo equipment into a power bar which can easily be turned off when the equipment isn't in use (at night and when you leave the house). When left plugged in to a regular outlet these types of equipment continue to use small amounts of power while in stand-by mode even when they're turned off.

4 - Reduce heating and cooling costs.
* Turn the air conditioner off or up and furnace off or down when you leave the house and save scads of money every month.
* Progammable heaters and air conditioners, like programmable water heaters, heat and cool your household only when you need it.
* Heat and cool only the rooms you're using at the moment and close doors to the unused rooms.
* Strategically placed ceiling and rotary fans reduce the need for air conditioning.
* Insulating draperies and shutters keep the indoor temperature where you want it. By preventing the escape or intrusion of air you'll have more control over the temperature in your living space. There's little point in cranking the air conditioner up if the sun is blazing through the windows, conversely, you'll lose precious heat especially at night, through uncovered windows when the weather is cold.

* A solar power attic fan expels trapped heat from the attic space reducing your home cooling costs in the summer and prevents the accumulation of health threatening molds.

5 - Make Use of Small Appliances and Laptops
* Toaster ovens, electric kettles, electric fry pans, slow cookers, etc. need much less energy than the stovetop or oven.
* Laptop computers use way less energy than desktop models.

6 - Lighting Options.
* Incandescent bulbs convert most of their energy to heat rather than light which makes incandescent light inefficient and expensive. Switch to those curly fluorescent bulbs or LED lights for big savings (We really like the LED bulbs which stay cool, draw very little power and emit a clean white light).
* Install dimmers on your light switches to get lots of light when you need it and less light when you don't.
* Eat by candle light a couple of nights a week.
* A scented candle in the bathroom provides enough light while keeping the air sweet.
* Use solar powered motion lights around your yard to light the way safely for family and guests and to discourage intruders.
* LED string lights reduce electricity needs at Christmas and look lovely year round.

7 - Laundry Strategies.
* Front loading washers use less power, water and detergent than top loaders.
* Look for the energy star when purchasing a new washer to ensure that you're getting one of the most energy efficient models on the market.
* Wash and rinse your laundry in cold water (studies have proved that there is little benefit to using hot water for laundry) and wash full loads only.
* Use a solar powered clothes dryer (commonly referred to as a clothesline). Not only will you save a bundle on energy costs but the sun will bleach your whites while adding a delightful fragrance.
* When you must use a dryer make use of the cool cycle as often as possible.
* Appliances that make things hot or cold use the most household power. Focus on temperature altering appliances for the most dramatic energy savings. These include, refrigerator, electric oven, central air conditioning, central heating, freezer, washing machine,
dryer, electric stovetop and dishwasher. Dust or vacuum the coils on the back of your refrigerator every month or two. When the time comes to replace these appliances, purchase the most energy efficient models available.
* Unplug the fridge and store perishables in a basement cold room or underground pit and add a wood burning stove or use energy efficient space heaters to further reduce your energy needs.

Passive Solar Principles - Use the Free Stuff

Passive solar applications can dramatically reduce the need for heating and air conditioning.
Before you spend tens of thousands of dollars on a photovoltaic array (solar panels) take advantage of the free stuff. Incorporate as many passive solar strategies as your situation allows. It's as simple as letting the sun in where and when you want it and keeping it out where you don't along with making use of shade trees and natural breezeways available on your property. Here's how:

Staying Cool with Passive Solar Strategies

If you're trying to keep a box of air cool in a hot environment, it makes good sense to keep the hot air out of the box by using insulation on the walls, floor and ceiling and plugging any holes that let the hot air in. Adding window and door openings to that box makes it a little trickier to keep the interior temperature stable. Here are some passive solar energy techniques to help you keep your cool.

* Insulation... Lots of insulation
* Awnings keep the area immediately around windows and doors from heating up and prevent overhead sun from entering the house. Install retractable roll up awnings if you want to let the light in during the winter.
* Covered Verandas provide deep shade on a sunny side of the house and along with making a shady outdoor space they keep the sun from making the house overwarm.
* Ceramic, stone or marble floors stay cool underfoot and can be covered with area rugs during cooler seasons.
* Take advantage of the wind if you're building or renovating. Situate openings so that seasonal breezes can wend through the house.
* Add shutters or insulated window coverings especially over south and west (north and west in the southern hemisphere) facing windows.
* Trees, trellises and potted plantings can be situated in front of south and west facing windows to keep the sun out. Choose deciduous trees if you want the sun to come in during winter months.
* Plant more trees. The shade and evaporation produced by a single, mature, hardwood tree in a day is equal to the effect of 10 window mounted air conditoners running for 20 hours. All that and it purifies the air too.
* Create a shady oasis on the cool side of the house. Arrange trellises, potted shrubs and plantings around a pergola and train hardy foliage to grow up the trellises and over the pergola. Surround a free standing awning with leafy plantings to establish a cool gathering place for family and friends.
* Add an outdoor cooking area and keep the heat out.
* Skylights and windows that are slanted inward make it very difficult to keep the sun out when you want to. If you really love the idea of a skylight and live in a hot climate, situate it in an area where direct sun will not be allowed to enter.
* High ceilings work well in hot climates by allowing hot air to rise above the living space.

Warming Up with Passive Solar Energy
* Insulation, it can't be overstated. Insulation is the key to maintaining a desired indoor temperature.
* Thermal Mass absorbs the heat of the sun and radiates the heat into the home. Very dense materials such as ceramic tile, stone, brick and concrete soak up the heat of the sun and continue to warm the interior space for hours after the sun has set. In order to be effective the material should be at least 4 inches thick and situated where direct sunlight strikes it. Floors, window seats or half walls constructed of thermal absorbing materials situated close to south and west facing windows are some ways to catch the sun's warmth and use it to heat your home. Once you get the heat in, keep it in.
* Shutters or insulated window coverings help to keep the cold out and heat in. Keep them open to allow the sun to stream through the windows and heat your space during sunny times. When the sun isn't shining, close them to prevent the loss of heat and preserve the warmth in the house.
* Windows and Doorways should be most abundant on the south and west sides of the house to allow lots of winter sun access to the house. Minimize windows and doors on the north side to prevent the escape of your hard earned heat.
* Trees and plantings. On south and west sides of the house deciduous (leaves fall off in the winter) trees and shrubs or annual vines (hops grow really fast) shade windows during the hottest part of the year but allow the winter sun to warm your interior space when the branches lose their leaves. On the windy side of your property a row of evergreen trees block winter winds and make it easier to maintain heat in the house.
* A mudroom or separate entry area gives you more control of your interior temperature by containing cold air when the door is opened to the outside.
* Pergolas and Arbours - Rather than deeply shaded porches, in a cool climate you'll want to have more control over the amount of sun allowed to access your home. Train seasonal vines over a pergola or arbour to provide shade during warm seasons and sun, when the leaves fall off during cool seasons.
* Roll Up awnings are a great way to shade windows during hot seasons while allowing you to let the sun's heat in during cold seasons.
* Low ceilings keep your hard won heat in the living area. It's much easier and less expensive to keep a space with an 8 foot ceiling warm than it is to keep a room with lofty 16 foot ceilings heated.
* Skylights, if you can't live without them, should be constructed of very well insulated glass to prevent the loss of heat.

Add a Solar Water Heater

Why start with a solar power hot water heater? Because water heating costs represent about one third of your energy costs and a solar water heater uses a low tech flat plate collector to heat the water. That means that it's the cheapest way to get into the solar energy market. Add to that the fact that cost recovery time for solar water heaters is 5 years or less and that gives you the biggest and greenest bang for your buck.

There are tons of things you can do that'll make your home more efficient and prepare your space to take best advantage of the free solar energy that falls on your property every day. By themselves these changes will save you thousands on your energy bill but more than that they'll dramatically reduce your setup costs when you're ready to add a residential solar power system.
When you add your solar array, start with what you can afford and ensure that you can add to it in the future.

Solar Power Home - Before You Buy a Photovoltaic Solar System