B. PROMOTING CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE:
PROBLEMS WITH IMPROPERLY COMBUSTED FUEL: Improperly combusted wood fuel emissions are toxic to humans and animals. These emissions include: finely atomized liquid oils (creosote), very fine particulates, aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic organic matter, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. In fact, population densities in suburban and urban locations create significant local air shed pollution issues that essentially preclude the use of coal, wood and other fuels. Complete combustion reduces these by-products significantly. BUT! Remember this: Eliminating fuel usage is the same as burning fuel with absolutely zero emissions , impossible for any fuel, even natural gas! A well designed and constructed energy efficient building can reduce heating demand and fuel usage by at least half or more when compared to a “code built house.” By following the simple suggestions below, you will reduce fuel usage and annual fuel bills, create a comfortable and healthy environment for the occupants, contribute to a healthier local air shed, and realize a reasonably quick return on investment.
Install good insulation and caulking.
Install double glazed, argon filled energy efficient windows (or better). Install insulated thermally efficient doors and storm doors, with good quality weather stripping. Install an air-to-air heat exchanger (heat recovery ventilator) to provide ventilation. Insulate and caulk all rims joists. Insulate basements walls from floor to ceiling with methods that prevent the formation of mold and mildew. Utilize passive solar techniques whenever possible. Install water saving toilets, showers and faucets throughout. If you have access to natural gas, use a high efficiency natural gas condensing furnace or boiler to provide s pace and domestic water heating. Don’t burn wood unless you want to. Install only high SEER air conditioning equipment with variable speed fans to effectively control indoor relative humidity. HEATING A SWIMMING POOL: This is best accomplished with solar heating and an evaporation prevention blanket. Solar heating has proven cost effective, dependable and efficient for many years in many countries. Solar heating is efficient in almost every area of the US. Most people do not realize that a swimming pool requires a heater that may be several times the size and capacity of their residential space heater. However, during the spring, summer and fall the amount of energy required to heat a pool is easily provided by solar panels. For more information on solar pool heating products visit:
http://www.heliocol.com/ http://www.aetsolar.com/ http://www.h2otsun.com/
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Hydronic System Design Manual ©DECTRA CORPORATION - March 2013
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