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But we are not the only ones to blame, our out-of-date refrigerators are just as guilty.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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As we become more aware of how our homes affect the environment surrounding us, it may be time to take a look outside. Your driveway has a bigger impact than you think.

Rainwater that falls onto paved driveways, sidewalks, and roads has no place to go except straight to drainage systems or the nearest pond or stream. Soap from washing the car, pet waste and fertilizer can all contaminate runoff when it doesn’t go through the ground’s natural filter.

When evaluating driveway material, consider a permeable one, which will have a reduced need for drainage systems to redirect water and fewer contaminants washing into our streams. While permeable driveways may not be ideal for high-traffic areas, they are typically sufficient for residential use. We will discuss three common types of permeable driveways, one of which may suit your needs best.
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Windows are important to the efficiency of our homes and often account for a significant portion of our heating and cooling bills. New technologies are beginning to address common issues, such as solar heat gain and insulation, so that we can expect more from our windows in the future.

What is a SHGC?

Windows allow sunlight into our homes. Sunlight is composed of short and long wavelengths. The short wavelengths represent the visible light that makes our homes bright and sunny. The long wavelengths produce the heat we feel from that sunlight. This heat is also known as solar radiation.

The amount of solar radiation transmitted through a window is represented by the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), a number between 0 and 1. A window with a high SHGC allows a lot of solar radiation into your home. The heat provided can be welcome in colder climates, but provides unnecessary heat in warmer climates. A window with a low SHGC blocks solar radiation, which reduces the need for air-conditioning in summer but is not ideal for cold climates.

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LEED has made quite an impact in the green building world and more buildings are beginning to receive recognition for their designs. But how does LEED determine which buildings get to don the highly recognized plaque? They use a consensus-based point system that determines a building’s level of sustainability and ranks it accordingly.

LEED’s ranking system may not be an exact measure of sustainability, but it provides the structure necessary to evaluate the construction and operation of a building and its environmental impacts. The ranking system is built from six categories that are used to evaluate a design. Each category has a maximum amount of points that can be earned. Below is a description of these categories:
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Part of building a home with renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, is deciding whether or not it should be connected to the electrical grid. There are numerous considerations — namely practical, economic, and environmental –involved in making your decision.

However, this choice can be difficult without a good understanding of what the terms grid-tied and off-grid actually mean. A grid-tied home is connected to power lines which transmit electricity to the home, mainly from power plants, yet can also produce power on-site using renewable energy systems. An off-grid home is not connected to power lines and, therefore, it relies solely on renewable energy systems to produce electricity and storage systems such as batteries to mediate the supply.

As we examine the practical implementation, cost, and environmental impact of each, we’ll see how being connected to the electrical grid is typically more beneficial than being completely detached from the predictable source of electricity and storage it provides.

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New products such as, bamboo flooring or structural insulated panels are making it possible to build healthier, greener homes.

Impact resistant windows are just one of the advances that can make a significant difference in protecting our homes.

Leaving your home vulnerable to hurricane force winds and other damaging conditions can affect the health and life span of your home.

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Architect, Sarah Susanka, has helped reduced the popularity of McMansions by introducing a quainter lifestyle, beginning with our homes.

Her book, ‘The Not So Big House,’ embraces the idea that less is more and that luxury does not have to mean excess. So what does this have to do with green and energy efficient homes? How can a smaller home work for you?

A small, modest home means less heat, less air-conditioning, and less lighting. A home with fewer square feet is more efficient because a smaller amount of energy is needed to run the A/C, provide hot water, and perform other energy consuming activities.

So what can we do to make the most of the space we have?

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Ditching your commute for a home office may seem like a great way to save money, but working from home isn’t entirely free. Running computers, office equipment, heating/cooling equipment, and lighting all day as opposed to just the few morning and evening hours in a day will increase your utility bills.

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Changing out your old water fixtures for low-flow ones is easy and fairly inexpensive. But if you have been avoiding this task because you are afraid of losing precious water pressure, don’t worry, low-flow fixtures have come a long way.

How Much Can I Possibly Save?

Taking a quick 5 minute shower can use up to 40 gallons of water, according to FlexYourPower.org . Replacing your showerhead with a low-flow fixture can save up to 80% of that water per shower!

So the answer seems easy: replace your water-wasting fixtures with low-flow fixtures. But most of us are still reluctant to do so because a low-flow shower suggests low pressure, which doesn’t sound too attractive in the morning. However, manufacturers have recognized this and have developed low-flow showerheads that feel just like their less-efficient, conventional counterparts.

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