One More Way To Make your Windows Efficient

Similar to the way you change your wardrobe each season, you can also change your windows…or, at least, you can pivot them.

As we discussed in our article ‘What’s Next in Windows?’ the low-E coating on windows allows sun to heat our homes in the winter and block heat from the sun in the summer. This, of course, requires different amounts of low-E coating.

Change of Season

In the summer, we want to block the sun out so that we don’t have to rely on the air conditioner to make our homes comfortable. This means that we want a window with a low-E coating which will reflect the sun away from our home. In the winter, however, the sun is a free source of heat so windows that allow for high solar heat gain are best.

Finding the most efficient windows has long been about accommodating all weather conditions. Transition metal switchable windows have addressed this issue as discussed in the article ‘What’s Next in Windows?,’ but what else is out there?

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As our appliances get bigger and more powerful, the electrical grid remains the same. And since replacing the grid is more than a weekend project, it is time to look at some other solutions.

Sensing Overload

Scientists from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington have found that giving the grid a breather when it starts to go into overload may decrease the chances of grid failure. Specifically, they tested appliances with computer chips that are able to sense a grid overload. The appliance will then adjust so as to reduce the risk of grid failure.

So, your dryer’s heating element might shut down, but the clothes keep tumbling or your refrigerator’s compressor may temporarily switch off, but the light will still turn on when you open the door. These minimal precautions can give the grid a much needed break and help avoid a complete failure.

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Ever wonder where the biggest chunk of your utility bill comes from? It actually comes from your appliances, namely your refrigerator. It is the chief energy guzzling appliance in your home, consuming a whopping 13.7% of house-hold energy, over 1000 Kilowatts of electricity a year, and nearly five times the electricity of a color TV., according to the U.S. Department of Energy . Luckily, newer Energy Star certified models will save you a bundle on utility costs.

Big Consumer

Refrigerators, surprisingly, are a big chunk of our utility bills. They consume almost as much as a color TV, clothes dryer, and freezer combined! We often shut off the lights and turn down the heat to save energy, meanwhile, huge amounts of energy are escaping from the refrigerator door as we scour for a midnight snack.

But we are not the only ones to blame, our out-of-date refrigerators are just as guilty. In fact, according to Energy Star, refrigerators from before 1990 use enough extra energy in a year (over a current Energy Star models) to light a house for four months! Efficiency has been improved with better insulation, more precise temperature and defrost gauges, and more efficient compressors. And improvements have been continuous—models today realize nearly 40% savings in energy use over refrigerators in 2001.
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