DIY Energy Audits and the A-Hah Moment

In the preceding post on-Less Weight Equals More Horsepower I used the comparison on how the US Automakers figured out how to make our Automobiles use less gas by lightening the vehicles weights which increased horsepower which equates into less Petrol needed for operation and how the same principles can be applied to a Buildings Energy Use and Needs. The principles I will be blogging about applies to any building-Residential or Commercial and can be used to give your Bank Account More Horsepower!

Lets start by going room by room and looking around at all the Gadgets/Appliances that are using electricity. Simple DIY Energy Audits -that anyone can perform on your building. Keep in Mind the Following two bullet points when Inspecting the Gadgets and Appliances.

• What Gadgets or Appliances in your building are always on and consuming energy? This is Vampire Power [i].
• Rule of Thumb? “ If your appliances are old enough to Vote it needs replaced with a newer Energy Star Appliance. [ii] ”

Here are examples of my energy use for my buildings for my DIY Energy Audit Home Office Location (Home Office).

I performed a Room by Room walk-thru inspecting taking notes of everything that used electricity. (When I’m performing a Computerized Energy Audit using Equest Software I log the information into the program and it does the math for me plus outlines areas for improvement with ROI for all costs involved.) But we’re going Old School on this Energy Audit and you will only need a basic calculator or pen and notepad.

The Benefits of Performing an Old School Energy Audit by hand and figuring things by hand is the A-Hah Moment of Energy Use- you will gain a greater understanding of:

watts of energy, kilo watts, how watts and kilowatts translate into dollars.

Location

Time in UseHrs / day

Electricity UsedMeasured in watts

Vampire PowerYes or No

FORMULA FOR ESTIMATING ENERGY CONSUMPTION (Wattage × Hours Used Per Day= total watts )

Cost to Operate in St Louis using Ameren UE combined electricity rate plus service fees =.11/w1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 Watts (total watts ÷ 1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption) x $.11= Amount in $.

Bedroom 1(hours per day spent sleeping 8.7)
Clock Radio	24	10	yes	240	0.26
TV	4	133	yes	532	0.53
VCR DVD	2	20–25	yes	50	0.05
2-Lights- 3 bulbs ave 65 W	4	260	no	1040	1.4
Fan	8.7	65	no	565.5	0.57
Bedroom 2 [which has dual functions in my Residence as Home Office and Dining Room]
Clock Radio	24	10	yes	240	0.24
Lights-1 overhead with 2 light bulbs-2 desktop lights Ave W of 40×3= 120 w	4	120	no	480	0.48
Computer [i] 1- 200w=800w	4	200	no	800	0.8
Laptop Computer 2	1	60	no	60	0.6
Tablet Computer	0.5	22.5	no	11.25	0.01
Internet Access [ii]	24	1.22	yes	29.28	0.03

Living Room-Lights w/2 Situational Lights 120 w Total	2	240	no	480	0.48
Living Room 1 Overhead w/ 2 light bulbs 120w total	2	120	no	240	0.24
TV	2	133	no	266	0.27
VCR/DVD	2	20-25	yes	50	0.05
Bathroom Over Head Lights	4	100	no	400	0.4
KitchenGas Stove with Pilot light Zero Electricity DemandRefrigerator Number 1 in-use 100% Wall Clock- Batteries Zero Electricity Demand Coffee Maker: Dishwasher: Lighting-3-100w+1-60w=360w MicroWave
	0	0	no	0	0
	24/3=8	725	yes	5800	0.58
	0	0	no	0	0
	2	1000	no	2000	0.2
	1	1500	no	1500	1.5
	4	360	no	1440	1.4
	1	1000	no	1000	1
Hallway/Stairway Lights	12	100	no	1200	1.20
Laundry Room Washer Dryer Lights 2-120w total	2	400	no	800	0.8
	4	3000	no	12000	1.32
	1	120	no	120	0.12
Mechanical Room: Furnace 50% use 3 hrs / day Water Heater Gas	3	750	No	2250	0.25
	0	0	0	0	0
Exterior Lights 2-120w=240w total	10	2400	no	24000	2.4
Totals

TYPICAL WATTAGES OF VARIOUS APPLIANCES

Here are some examples of the range of nameplate wattages for various household appliances Aquarium = 50–1210 Watts Clock radio = 10 Coffee maker = 900–1200 Clothes washer = 350–500 Clothes dryer = 1800–5000 Dishwasher = 1200–2400 (using the drying feature greatly increases energy consumption) Dehumidifier = 785 Electric blanket (Single/Double) = 60 / 100 Fans Ceiling = 65–175 Window = 55–250 Furnace = 750 Whole house = 240–750 Hair dryer = 1200–1875 Heater (portable) = 750–1500 Clothes iron = 1000–1800 Microwave oven = 750–1100 Personal computer CPU – awake / asleep = 120 / 30 or less Monitor – awake / asleep = 150 / 30 or less Laptop = 50 Radio (stereo) = 70–400 Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet) = 725

Televisions (color) 19″ = 65–110 27″ = 113 36″ = 133 53″ – 61″ Projection = 170 Flat screen = 120 Toaster = 800–1400 Toaster oven = 1225 VCR/DVD = 17–21 / 20–25 Vacuum cleaner = 1000–1440 Water heater (40 gallon) = 4500–5500 Water pump (deep well) = 250–1100 Water bed (with heater, no cover) = 120–380

FORMULA FOR ESTIMATING ENERGY CONSUMPTION-Use this formula to estimate an appliance’s energy use:

• (Wattage × Hours Used Per Day) ÷ 1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption

1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 Watts

Multiply this by the number of days you use the appliance during the year for the annual consumption in kWh per year.

ESTIMATING ANNUAL COST TO RUN AN APPLIANCE

Multiply the annual consumption in kWh per year (that you calculated above) by your local utility’s rate per kWh consumed to calculate the annual cost to run an appliance. Note: To estimate the number of hours that a refrigerator actually operates at its maximum wattage, divide the total time the refrigerator is plugged in by three. Refrigerators, although turned “on” all the time, actually cycle on and off as needed to maintain interior temperatures.

EXAMPLES:

Window fan:
(200 Watts × 4 hours/day × 120 days/year) ÷ 1000
= 96 kWh × 11 cents/kWh
= $10.56/year

Personal Computer and Monitor:
[(120
Watts + 150 Watts) × 4 hours/day × 365 days/year] ÷ 1000
= 394 kWh × 11 cents/kWh
= $43.34/year

What is the Best Defense to fight these upcoming high summertime cooling bills? Energy Conservation is the best defense and will provide the Fastest ROI- Return on Investment for your $Money$.

i http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html

ii446 Kw/ year / 365= 1.22 source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26cable.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=energy-environment&adxnnlx=1309172425-vWWbjwsKwmR0zJvE%20C7U5Q&

i Vampire Power

Certificate of Completion-Residential Energy Auditor Training for Scotty-Scotts Contracting

ii  rules of thumb on Energy Conservation as taught by ICast .

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Frost or Snow on Roof or Lack Snow is a sure sign…

Snow on Roof or Lack Snow is a sure sign….

On the Frosty Mornings when you are outside your house scraping your cars windshield to prepare for your drive to work. Take a look at the Roof of your Home. -Lack of Frost or Snow on your Roof is a sure indication that it was melted by the Heat as it rises from the Interior of your House into the Attic Area–

Snow on Roof or Lack Snow is a sure sign…

• Does the Frost or Snow cover the whole roof?
• Are there places where the snow and frost melt first? (not caused by the Suns Rays)
• Is there Frost and Snow on the Garage Roof but not on the House Roof?
• Does your Neighbors House have Frost and Snow on their Roof- but-Your Roof Doesn’t?

Any or All the above may mean that:

1. Lack of Insulation In the Attic
2. Air Infiltration from the Interior of the House into the Attic Area
3. Uninsulated Heating Ducts inside the Attic

Scotts Contracting can Inspect your Attic for Proper:

1. Insulation Levels
2. Adequate Ventilation
3. Uninsulated Heating Ducts
4. Air Infiltration

Email scottscontracting@gmail.com and Scotty will provide a Free Estimate to Fix any of the Above Issues on your Home. I will also provide a Cost Saving Analysis that will provide a ROI on your Investment. 

Weatherization doesn’t cost it Saves! – Rule of Thumb: For Every $1 Spent on weatherization You will Save $2-$3 on your Home’s Energy Bills

• Example: By adding the suggested Inches of Insulation you will save 10-30% amount on the Energy needed to heat your Home= Lower Heating Bills and Greater Comfort Levels for you and your family

Additional Green Blog Posts:Energy Star Home Improvement Tips ,Insulation and Thermal Performance ,Which Kind Of Insulation Is Best? ,Radiant Barriersfor your Attic,Insulating Roofs, Walls, and Floors, Roof and Attic Ventilation ,

Email scottscontracting@gmail.com or use the contact form below and Scotty will provide a Free Estimate to Fix any of the Above Issues on your Home. — Scotty, Scott’s Contracting

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Air Sealing a Ceiling Electrical Junction Box

CAD Design-Weatherize-Insulate-Fire Block-Electrical Junction Box

CAD Diagram explains how to Build and Air Tight Electrical Junction Box located in most Attics

Sealing Air Leaks

Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter and can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. You can save on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.

Hint: Use Fire Rated: 5/8″Fire Rated Drywall or Sheetrock with Fire Proof Caulking to Create the Air Tight Seal

Fire Proof /Air Tight Electrical Junction Box Cover used in Attics

Tips for Sealing Air Leaks

re-posted from:http://www.energysavers.gov/tips/insulation_sealing.cfm

How Does the Air Escape?
Air infiltrates into and out of your home through every hole and crack. About one-third of this air infiltrates through openings in your ceilings, walls, and floors.

• First, test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weatherstripping.
• Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.
• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.
• Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls.
• Look for dirty spots in your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of your house. You can seal the holes with low-expansion spray foam made for this purpose.
• Look for dirty spots on your ceiling paint and carpet, which may indicate air leaks at interior wall/ceiling joints and wall/floor joists. These joints can be caulked.
• Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with more efficient windows, such as double-pane. See Windows on page 18 for more information.
• When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes—24 hours a day!
• For new construction, reduce exterior wall leaks by installing house wrap, taping the joints of exterior sheathing, and comprehensively caulking and sealing the exterior walls.
• Use foam sealant around larger gaps around windows, baseboards, and other places where warm air may be leaking out.
• Kitchen exhaust fan covers can keep air from leaking in when the exhaust fan is not in use. The covers typically attach via magnets for ease of replacement.
• Replacing existing door bottoms and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets is a great way to eliminate conditioned air leaking out from underneath the doors.
• Fireplace flues are made from metal, and over time repeated heating and cooling can cause the metal to warp or break, creating a channel for hot or cold air loss. Inflatable chimney balloons are designed to fit beneath your fireplace flue during periods of non-use. They are made from several layers of durable plastic and can be removed easily and reused hundreds of times. Should you forget to remove the balloon before making a fire, the balloon will automatically deflate within seconds of coming into contact with heat.

Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home
Areas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the areas listed below.

Dropped ceiling Recessed light Attic entrance Sill plates

Water and furnace flues All ducts Door frames Chimney flashing

Window frames Electrical outlets and switches Plumbing and utility access

Scotts Contracting is available to assist you in improving your Home or Business Energy Demands.  Please use this form to Contact Scotty, Scotts Contracting to schedule a FREE Energy Analysis for your Property.

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Job Notes and Material Suppliers-Energy Star Bay Window-

Build and Job Notes for Custom Bay ‘Energy Star’ Window Build

Click Here to See the Before and After Job Site Photos of the Energy Star Bay Windows

• Existing Wall 2 x4 Framing with zero (0) Insulation or Vapor Barrier

• Note: Owners Plan on Adding Insulation in the Future. Insulation will not be needed in the Bay Window Area at that time.

• Bay Window Ceiling, Floor, and Adjacent Wall- R13 Faced Batt Fiber Glass Insulation with 6mil poly VB

2×6 and 2×4 Framing Members @ 16” OC

Header Attachments Combination: Liquid Nails, 3/8” x6” Lag Bolts @ 16“OC, 3” Deck Screws

Additional Support (Floor & Ceiling) Added to Existing Building Frame. Total 4-2×6

Bay Window Roof System and Floor System are Self Supporting

Simpson Strong Tie Joist Hangers Utilized for the Bay Window Flooring System

2×4 Staggered Floor Joists utilized for Energy Efficiency and Added Strength

Roof Hip and Roof to Existing Wall Flashed for Added Water-Proofing

Existing Window Opening was utilized and un-changed 76”x59”

Windows: Energy Performance Rated- Soft Light Vinyl Windows

• U Factor= 0.46
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient= 0.58
• Visible Transmittance= 0.60
• Condensation Resistance= 43

Roof: 30yr White Asph Shingles, #15 Roofing Felt

All Exterior Wood Framing Members and Trim Boards: 

• White Finish or Wrapped with White Aluminum. To Match Existing Windows on House.
• All Exterior Joints and Connections Caulked and Sealed with a 

• combination of Silicone Caulking and Spray Foam Insulation (Closed Cell, Window and Door Sealant by Dow)
• East Property Boundary Line Established by Edge of Existing Side Walk. 

• Distance from East edge of House Foundation to Edge of Side Walk is 71”

• Bay Window protrudes 15” from Building.
• Leaving 56” Un-obstructed egress
• Clear Un-obstructed Distance between Bay Window and East Porch Steps is 38 ½”

Materials Supplied by

Windows: Berry Door and Window
Lumber and Misc Materials: Home Depot Southtown #3011
Roofing: Roofing Supply Group of St Louis
Flooring: Hampton Flooring

Click Here to See the Before and After Job Site Photos of the Energy Star Bay Windows

Just a Few of the Reasons I Choose to Offer Westinghouse Solar Panels

1. Racking, 
2. Wiring, 
3. Grounding and 
4. Inverter are built into a larger-format 235-watt panel (AC Power), thereby
   
5. delivering higher performance and
   
6. lower installed cost.

Get Your DIY Solar Kit Today

Westinghouse Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:WEST), a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, today announced the release of their second-generation AC solar panel. This new panel will be available in the second quarter at a very attractive price point.

Westinghouse Solar’s new AC panel has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of residential rooftop installers. Improving on the original patented design, the racking, wiring, grounding and inverter are built into a larger-format 235-watt panel, thereby delivering higher performance and lower installed cost.
In 2007, Westinghouse Solar pioneered the concept of integrating the racking, wiring and grounding directly into the solar panel. This revolutionary solar panel, originally carrying the “Andalay” name, quickly won industry acclaim.

• In 2009, the company again broke new ground with the first AC solar panel, reducing the number of parts for a rooftop solar installation by 80 percent and reducing labor by 50 percent.
• This first AC panel — which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award — has become the most widely installed AC solar panel. Continuing on their path of innovation,
• Westinghouse Solar’s second generation AC solar panel is based on a large format design, and includes a number of differentiating features that contribute to the panel’s reliability, performance and safety.

“Much like the Prius, innovations can take time to gain market acceptance before they become a standard among mainstream consumers,” said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Westinghouse Solar.

• “Market data for AC solar panels clearly show rapid homeowner and installer acceptance. The performance, reliability and safety benefits of our AC solar panels are particularly appealing to the legions of new solar installers, especially electricians, HVAC contractors and home improvement companies.
• As ordinary solar panels become a commodity, our focus on delivering a product that dramatically lowers installation costs —
• while backed by a brand that consumers know and trust — sets us apart from the rest of the industry.”

Scotts Contracting-St Louis Renewable Energy

Westinghouse Solar Installation

and Operations Manual

If you are interested in a Solar Electric System for your Home or Office.  Scotts Contracting can supply your Solar Panels (from any number of sources) , Inverters, Wiring Diagrams, Photos, Instructions and Any Other Needed information so that You can Create your own Electricity and Get out From Under Ameren UE’s Dirty Coal and Nuclear Agenda.  DIY and Save!
or Scotty can lend a hand.

Scott’s Contracting

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What is the Time Frame for Your Project? 1-3 Weeks 3 Weeks - 3 Months Over 3 Months Just Researching Options

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About Westinghouse Solar:

(Nasdaq:WEST) Westinghouse Solar is a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems. Award winning Westinghouse Solar Power Systems provide the best combination of safety, performance and reliability, while backed by the proven quality of the Westinghouse name.

Guest Post-Dryer Net-Energy Saver

Guest Post Provided by: Scotty, Scotts Contracting GREEN BUILDER, St Louis “Renewable Energy” Missouri–http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com&#8211; contact scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com for additional information or to Schedule a “Free Green Site Evaluation” Home Repair and Green Building Entrepreneur !!!

Benefits of the DryerNET

• Saves energy.

• Saves money.

• Keeps heat from the dryer in the house.

• Cuts down on drying time.

• Adds humidity to the air.

Web page:  dryernet.com

Email:  dryernet@gmail.com

Wall RValue, Configuring Wall RValues, Wall RValue Testing

On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 11:14 AM, Scott’s Contracting <scottscontracting> wrote:

Wall R-Values that Tell It Like It Is read the article at St Louis Green Blog

Reducing Energy Needs by Stopping Air Filtration

Stopping Air Filtration

by Scotty Scotts Contracting St Louis Renewable Energy

This Green Build Blog Post 2 additional areas Bad Air can enter your home and how to stop the air.

In all the research I do on Energy Efficiency for Homes. There is one theme that presents itself in all the areas of Improving a Buildings Efficiency. Stopping Air Filtration. To make this simple and easy to understand I’m going to use Good Air and Bad Air.

Good Air is: the air that is created by whatever heating and cooling source you utilize.

Bad Air is: Un-Wanted Air that enters your Home from Exterior Sources

This Green Build Blog Post will center around exterior walls of your Existing Home and the various spots that air Enters your Home. In the Aticle: $1 Dollar Spent Earns $2 Dollars I mentioned sealing around the “obtrusions”.
I’m now going to point out 2 additional areas Bad Air can enter your home and how to stop the air.

• Inside the Basement or Crawl Space is the Box Sill of your Home. Seal the Area against Bad air by caulking the Cracks and Joints where all the boards join together and the point where the Wall attaches to the Foundation-(Sill Plate, Box Sill, Floor Joists

• Electrical Outlets- Easy fix install Outlet Plate Receptacle Insulating Sealer

My goal as a Green Builder is to lower the energy needed in the Homes and Business’s I service. I do this by taking a whole house approach to a Home’s Energy Needs by retrofitting homes and business for future Energy Efficiency. Whether you choose to DIY or Hire outside Assistance-Build Green-Scotty

Scotts Contracting offers Free Green Site Inspections

Green Links

See the Main Site or use the search bar for specific article topics.

St Louis Arch and City

sister site at: St Louis Renewable Energy for additional coverage on Green and Sustainable: Design Build Contractor, Green Building Services for St Louis, Products, News, Advice, Best Practices, Tips, Resources and more.

 

 

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