"The return on the investment is usually quite attractive," said Richard B. Hayter, director of Engineering Extension programs at Kansas State University.
When determining the opportunities most appropriate to your business, you may find changes that have multiple benefits. For example, improving lighting efficiency reduces lighting energy requirements and lessens the air conditioning load.
"Businesses can effectively reduce summer energy costs in a number of ways," Hayter said. "But, each should be studied before it is implemented."
May 12, 1996
I like to use my whole house fan during the spring to cool my house off at night so I don't need air conditioning during the day. Even though my furnace thermostat is set low, I notice it still kicks on during particularly cool nights. Aside from wasting a little energy, does this cause any other problems?
Yes. The cool spring months present a potentially dangerous situation regarding the simultaneous operation of a whole house fan and the furnace.
Spring weather often is characterized by warm, humid days and cool nights. This is ideal weather for operating a whole house fan during the evening and night to rid the house of its stuffiness and store cool air for the following day.
"But most people still have their furnace activated in case a cool spell should return," said Doug Walter, extension specialist in residential energy at Kansas State University. "Therein lies the danger."
An activated furnace with the thermostat set at even as low as 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit easily can turn on during the night hours while the whole house fan is cooling the house down to the outdoor ambient temperature.
"The suction created by the whole house fan can easily overpower the relatively weak draft of the furnace flue," Walter said. "The result is a backdraft of the furnace combustion by-products into the house.
"These by-products can contain carbon monoxide, which is an odorless, highly toxic gas."
Because a whole house fan pulls so much air into the house, the flue gasses are likely to be diluted to safe levels. However, if bedrooms are located in the basement near the furnace, carbon monoxide levels could reach lethal levels.
When operating a whole house fan before the furnace has been shut down for the summer, turn the thermostat to the "off" position.
Keep plenty of windows open throughout the house.
"This reduces the velocity of air through the bedroom windows and helps cool the entire house," Walter said.
Install a timer switch so the whole house fan can turn off automatically after a few hours of operation rather than running all night long.
"If your home gets too cool during the night, get up and shut off the fan rather than simply closing the bedroom windows," Walter said.
Finally, install carbon monoxide detector/alarms in all bedrooms located in a basement or near combustion appliances. Like a smoke alarm, these devices will sound a loud alarm if carbon monoxide levels are detected above a certain threshold. Carbon monoxide detectors are available in most hardware, building supply and discount stores.
May 19, 1996
What is the best way to shade a window to keep out summer sun?
"An exterior shading device is best because it stops the sun's heat outside the home," said Bruce Snead, extension specialist in residential energy at Kansas State University.
Perhaps the ideal choice is natural vegetation .Properly positioned trees and shrubs can provide the most effective shading to match cooling season demand and will enhance the local climate of the building.
Adjustable horizontal or vertical louvers, installed on the outside of the window, provide the most complete shading but cost more than most other sun control devices. Awnings, generally the most widely used exterior sun control device, provide good shade while permitting full ventilation.
"Awnings should be opaque and vented at the top to prevent heat buildup underneath," Snead said.
Reflective solar screens stop between 30 and 70 percent of the light and heat outside a window without stopping ventilation.
"Solar screens have the advantage of being removable in the winter to allow the sun's heat into the home." Snead said.
Window films and aluminum foil taped to windows are inexpensive interior treatments but less effective than exterior devices. White or light-colored roller shades and drapes help reduce incoming sunlight and heat.
"Dark shades or drapes and venetian blinds are the least effective sun control devices," Snead said.
How do I keep the pipes in my basement from sweating and dripping during the summer?
"Because the sweating and dripping are caused by humidity, a dehumidifier or air conditioner will help reduce the humidity of the air surrounding the pipe and reduce the sweating," said Richard B. Hayter, director of Engineering Extension at Kansas State University.
Unfortunately. it may be difficult to reduce humidity enough in a basement to eliminate all sweating. In addition to dehumidifying, installing insulation and a vapor barrier to the cold water lines will help.
"The insulation should be installed with the vapor barrier on the outside to prevent moisture in the air from condensing on the water line," Hayter said.
Air conditioning ductwork in unconditioned spaces, such as attics and crawl spaces, also should be insulated with an external vapor barrier because the surface temperature of the duct may fall below the dew point on ductwork, causing moisture to form.
May 26, 1996
What are the most effective ways to reduce cooling costs?
"If you have added insulation and weather-stripping to reduce your heating bills, these measures also will significantly reduce your cooling bills," said Richard B. Hayter, director of Engineering Extension at Kansas State University.
Before you turn on your air conditioner, try to cool the home by natural ventilation and fans. Whole-house or window fans can draw cool outdoor air through your home. Portable fans help cool people by moving indoor air around them.
Make sure your attic has enough ventilation to maintain the temperature close to the outside air temperature.
"You should have approximately one square inch of free ventilation area for every square foot of attic area," Hayter said. "Additional ventilation openings are required if you are using a whole-house fan. "Vents should be equally distributed between the eaves of the home and the gables or top of the roof."
Minimize the heat inside your home generated by electrical appliances and lights. Shade all windows that receive direct sunlight, and close all doors and windows whenever it's warmer outside than inside your house.
"Be sure to clean the filters in your air conditioning system as well as cleaning the outdoor condensing coils so that your air conditioner will run at its highest efficiency," Hayter said.
Raise the setting of your thermostat as high as comfort will allow, and do not operate the air conditioner simultaneously with the whole-house exhaust fan.
Is there any problem in locating a food freezer in an unconditioned space, such as a garage or porch?
"A freezer can be located in spaces not heated or cooled if several precautions are taken," said Doug Walter, extension specialist in residential energy at Kansas State University.
First, avoid locations in direct sunlight or where the air temperature is likely to rise well above the outdoor ambient air temperature, such as in a poorly ventilated garage or shed exposed to the sun.
"Prolonged temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit may cause the temperature inside the freezer to rise above safe levels," Walter said.
Second, you should avoid dirty locations because dirt will coat the freezer's condenser coils, resulting in poor performance and higher operating cost.
Third, the freezer should not be located in remote or out-of-the way locations where you are unlikely to check on the freezer regularly. During the heat of summer, a fully loaded freezer will begin to thaw in 48 hours if a malfunction causes it to cease operation.
"A freezer should be checked at least every other day to make sure it is operating properly," Walter said.