Comments for Residential Energy Kit Blog

Comment on Homeowner’s Guide to Energy Audits by Steve

Steve — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:53:13 +0000

The easiest way to make your home more energy efficient is to seal any air leaks, and one that is often overlooked is the bathroom ventilation fan and exhaust vent. The back-draft flap these units come with do a very poor job of stopping leaks. To address this issue, I use a replacement insert fan from the Larson Fan Company (online). Their fans has a true damper built in, that does a great job in keeping warm air in during the winter and hot, humid air out in the summer. This product has reduced my annual energy bills by over ten percent. It saves the most when air conditioning is being used.

Comment on Geothermal heat pump is very efficient by Butler

Butler — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:21:31 +0000

Geothermal is an avenue I have not looked into that much. As with anything, careful analysis is needed before a major decision like this is made. This technology could do very well in a time when energy costs are rising rapidly.

Comment on Green Energy Blueprint Plans for Free Energy by Home wind turbine kits

Home wind turbine kits — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:42:49 +0000

hi Woody…are the wind turbines in the video one size or are they easy to scale larger or smaller?

Comment on How Does A Wind Turbine Work? by Home wind turbine kits

Home wind turbine kits — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:32:39 +0000

hey, with all the negative press out there with people complaining about wind turbines next door to them, this is a refreshing perspective!

Comment on About wind turbines: Where do I mount one? by Home Wind Turbine Kits

Home Wind Turbine Kits — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:31:24 +0000

Great post but I disagree that turbulence is a non-starter for roof wind turbines.
Actually their non-directional nature makes that an advantage for a vertical-axis turbine.

Comment on Building my own Solar Panel (in the Netherlands) by dianne

dianne — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:03:37 +0000

Wow, this is so cool. I wish more people would go green like this, solar panels really are the future. Just wanted to stop in and say hi from America, and keep up the good work!

Comment on DIY Magnetic Generator: Discover How Easy It Is To Build A Small Scale Generator by political signs

political signs — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:58:39 +0000

It has been observed that a current carrying conductor sets up a magnetic field in the plane perpendicular to the direction of the current.But is there any explanation for this behavior? Why does a current carrying conductor sets up a magnetic field?Or is it just a natural experimental result with out any reason.

Comment on Geothermal heat pump is very efficient by Gwinnett HVAC

Gwinnett HVAC — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:48:08 +0000

Energy prices are in a position to absolutely sky rocket out of control. Just watch what our wonder leaders are up to in regards to energy policy. Energy efficiency will be a very big deal for home owners as rates continue to rise.

Comment on What You Need to Know About Home-Improvement Tax Credits by Alfs home improvements

Alfs home improvements — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:53:59 +0000

Thank you for sharing me this information. Because due to lack of knowledge about the taxes for our home, propably some of us doesn’t know about the taxes in our house. It is good idea that there is a site discussing about this matter.

Comment on Thermal Cameras Do Home Energy Audits by Fluke

Fluke — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 06:17:14 +0000

It is important to ensure that we have the most energy efficient buildings and homes possible.Thermal infrared cameras for energy audits offer a perfectly easy way to detect and, with repairs, eliminate energy loss due to inefficient insulation or poor construction.

Comment on HUD Announces Energy Efficient Home Loan Pilot Program by Duane

Duane — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:00:46 +0000

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development should not just concentrate on financing $25M in home efficiency upgrade but getting help for people with sustainable projects.

Comment on Buying cheap Solar Panels by Plumbing pipe

Plumbing pipe — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:23:47 +0000

Solar panels are very useful in saving money. This can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications.

Comment on The Courage to Screw Up: Why DIY Is Good for You by Movie Projectors

Movie Projectors — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 06:58:37 +0000

in indonesian, biodiesel has made by jarak. Jarak is a fruit from liar plants

Comment on SkyStream 600: The World’s First Fully Smart Grid-Enabled Wind Turbine by Daenen

Daenen — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:09:13 +0000

i will built a new houwe in the Belgian Ardennen.
I want to make my own elektricity and waterproviding.
Can you advice me please:
greetings Hubert Daenen Tessenderloseweg 10 3290 Diest Belgium hubert.daenen@telenet.be

Comment on JUST ARRIVED 6X6 SOLAR CELLS imported from Germany NEW by Dave

Dave — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:49:31 +0000

Coming from Germany, I’d guess these are the Rolls Royce of solar cells… namely, Schott.

I was on the verge of purchasing some very inexpensive Evergreen 3×6 .55 Volts 3.6 amps cells, but then came across, “…inconsistent output 1.2-1.7 Watts”. The multiple eBay listings should have made me wary about their quality in the first place!

With Stirling’s recommendation, I’d sooner shop here.

Is there a site where I can find all your PV products?

TIA -and Happy Groundhog Day!
Dave

Comment on Solar water heaters add to home’s energy efficiency by CourtneyAdams

CourtneyAdams — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:52:57 +0000

I am debating whether or not to buy a new hot water heater. The flow switch on mine doesn't seem to be working properly, which I know is decreasing its efficiency. These solar water heaters look pretty cool, I'll have to do some more research.

Comment on Homeowner’s Guide to Energy Audits by Phoenix Energy Auditor

Phoenix Energy Auditor — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:05:25 +0000

What a great and thorough article! Every homeowner should read this, so they can understand what I do and what I’m looking for when I’m inside their home. Many homeowners just don’t understand what an energy audit is because they don’t realize how air / heat can move through their house. They don’t know how it affects their comfort, and they definitely don’t know what causes it. Great article!

Comment on Smart Home | Home Automation Trends by Crestron

Crestron — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:06:27 +0000

That sounds like a great idea! It would be really cool if I could control my home devices through twitter. Thanks for sharing this info!

Comment on Geothermal Heating and Cooling 101 by Jolene Christopherson

Jolene Christopherson — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:48:55 +0000

This is great information. Thank you for posting it. I created a site for consumers like myself to help save money on their hvac repairs and maintenance. The general idea was to offer tips and information related to diy repairs and maintenance. Now it looks like I should look into other cost saving measures such as geothermal heat pumps.

Thank you again for the post.
Jolene Christopherson

Comment on New Wind Turbine Design Could be the Turning Point for Wind Power by a

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:48:25 +0000

my boiler is 36 years old iam 80 yrs old ret eng my thoughts as i live on a hill, thinking of the honeywell turbine on my exixting flagpole underground to outside workshop ,converter panels to underground to house ,to separate 4 outlets to 4 delongho heaters *eliminate boiler,backup woodstove maybe hotwater heater on turbine. existing household cost ok looking for reputable sales contact upstate new york and any program for seniors thank you

Comment on Ann Arbor, Michigan Home Is America’s Oldest Net Zero House by Matthew Grocoff

Matthew Grocoff — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:16:37 +0000

I’m the owner of the house and wanted to make one correction to the article. Please note that we did not replace our windows. We restored the original 110 year old windows and added modern weather proofing. We then added storm windows with low-E glass. These two simple things cost very little and reduced our total house air leakage reduction by 70%.

You can read more and see a video in this case study of our window repair: http://www.Greenovation.TV – look for “Case Study” in the video thumbnails.

Comment on International Battery Introduces New 24-Volt Lithium-ion High Energy Storage System by Raymond Zindrick

Raymond Zindrick — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:18:12 +0000

I was searching for electrical energy storage systems and found your site, very excited to see a Made in USA system available with all the proper credentials as far as efficiency, controls, availability and a manufacturer who touts their environmental impact as minimum.
I also am enthused that a system using co-generation, solar and other efforts to store and then supply efficient energy for off the grid use is under test, this is what the country needs to take a large leap into the future.
I live in North Central Wisconsin, the power is expensive, the natural gas is relatively cheap and there are off peak grids available, but not here at this time. I feel that a storage system that could use off peak power, generate electricity from natural gas and also supply heat would be an incredible system that could be tied together or put in piecemeal, with your storage system as the main building block.
Wonderful to see that the means are there to integrate all of the components, but your storage system is the key. I will stay aware and hope that you can put me on your list of contacts.
Regards,

Ray Zindrick, dba Disco-Tech, Inc.
rayezindrick@aim.com

Comment on After two years of eco-living, what works and what doesn’t by Doug

Doug — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:14:32 +0000

You did not fail at chickens if you are supporting your local egg underground. You are still sharing in succesful local food production. It doesn’t have to be in your back yard to be local.

Comment on Energy adviser: Solar water heaters work in Northwest by Dr. Ben - Solar Inventor

Dr. Ben - Solar Inventor — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:39:27 +0000

Another solid article. To my understanding, Germany has mandated solar hot water systems on all new construction. Europe is now way ahead of the US in the adoption of solar therm systems and is selling their equipment to us.

In the mid ’80s, I worked with a builder who decided to include solar energy as a standard feature in all of his homes. He ended up building seventy homes in Jacksonville, NC, about twelve homes in Rome, GA, and five or six in Chapel Hill. Each house has passive and active solar systems. The passive solar system provides space heating during the day and the active solar system provides space heating and hot water in the evening or whenever the passive was spent. Some of these homes had solar fractions as high as 80%!

During this time, solar thermal systems were becoming accepted in the housing market as standard equipment. The market was maturing with proven technology. Unfortunately, the federal government pulled the rug out from under us by repealing the solar tax credits. Most of the marketplace collapsed as a result.

Let’s get it right this time,
Dr. Ben

Comment on Built Solarpanel Installation Now Operational by Michal

Michal — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:13:49 +0000

Wow what an inspiration

Comment on Geothermal heat pump is very efficient by Ray

Ray — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 03:11:38 +0000

The tax credit and long term savings make it a great idea for most homeowners that are planning on staying in their homes for at least a few years. Also makes for a great selling point!

Comment on New solar energy technology doubles efficiency. Makes electricity from light and heat. by simon

simon — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:43:22 +0000

I see a lot of new solar panel technologies being created and manufactured, some up to 80% … when will these come onto the general market, cheap?? should I buy an ordinary setup now? or will it be superseded by something 5 times cheaper and efficient in 3 years??

Comment on Are Magniwork and Magnets4Energy promoting a scam? by Charles L. Evans

Charles L. Evans — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 03:09:48 +0000

I have been trying for some time to get data from people that have built these projects and had them work or not work. I deal in data not theory. I am a retired physicist with an open mind and some knowledge of sub atomic physics. There is a possibility that this concept is related to Low Energy Nuclear Reaction formerly called cold fusion and to day billions of dollars are being spent on it research. I really would like real data. Email me at freeenergy21@gmail.com.

Thanks,
Bud

Comment on Couple Build Zero-Energy Home by Pool Tables

Pool Tables — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:43:29 +0000

It’s only cheap for them after they’ve forked out tons of money to get the right panels, appliances, extra work on the insulation, etc. Not everyone has the money to make their home that efficient, even if they wanted to.

Comment on Florida Man Installs Wind Turbine on His Property by Kristofer

Kristofer — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:00:28 +0000

I’m glad to see more and more interest about green energy. I think everyone needs to be informed about the actual impact it can have on the “individual” If all the power goes Out, your renewable energy source “can” be your Free backup generator. There are quit a few windy cities just waiting for a wind turbine. You can also easily reduce your electric bill by 10% by applying these (solar panels) techniques. Yes, that might not be much, but technology is on the rise. Stay ahead of the game and remain informed about your future. Thank You.

Comment on Study: Smart meters need better user interface by Willem van Doesburg

Willem van Doesburg — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:14:43 +0000

Thank you for a very interesting blogpost. I totally agree that better user interface are required for smart meters and other smart systems. At TNO we have dwveloped a novel type of interface for these kinds of systems. See the following explanation and related movies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geeH2YLRNN0&feature=related

Best regards,
Willem van Doesburg

Comment on G-3120-35 kW Wind Turbine from Endurance Wind Power by Vikram dev

Vikram dev — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:22:25 +0000

I want to know idea about cost for 35 kw wind turbine.
I want to establis this turbine on my plant so please help me with advice and send yours contect no. Also
thanks..

Comment on Free Electricity is Available to You Today; Never Pay Your Power Company Again by Providence Solar Energy

Providence Solar Energy — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:28:30 +0000

Great post. i totally agree with the “make your own source of energy” but another thing must be consider like, it would be more expensive to make your own solar panel and other energy source equipments. but i really like this post. thank you author.

Comment on Pittsburgh home to harness sunlight by Mike Johnson - Realtor

Mike Johnson - Realtor — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:58:24 +0000

It would be nice to see more and more people, “harnessing the sunlight,” but alas where I’m from this trend hasn’t fully caught on yet. Still, the more public awareness there is the better.

Comment on Green living: Off the grid families pioneer sustainable energy lifestyles by Joe

Joe — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:55:51 +0000

Ya! ride on I loved your post. Here at back to basics I’m not totally off grid yet but working on it. I do heat the house and water plus the hot water for the barn and greenhouse for free,using an outside wood unit. I love it. I love hearing of people that are taking a stand and doing something about the living expenses. If people only new the weekly and monthly expenses they could save. All said and done it adds up to thousands saved every year. Not to mention healthy living.
Thanks again for the post.

Comment on An Excellent Home Energy Efficiency Pyramid by Energy Smart

Energy Smart — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:44:49 +0000

Great chart, I do think though that the pyramid should be as steep, people should know that if they purchase items like new windows they can save a lot of money down the road, as there investment amortizes over time

Comment on Home Energy Management System (hems) by BEMS

BEMS — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:45:23 +0000

Very true that HEMS is becoming a very popular subject. May i add that BEMS is also becoming very popular. Industries & Factories are now turning to ‘building energy management systems’. Insome countries there are even legislations for carbon reduction commitment for factories. So, it’s not surprising that it’s anow becoming a global thing.

Comment on New solar energy technology doubles efficiency. Makes electricity from light and heat. by shankar malaysia

shankar malaysia — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:22:37 +0000

These days we see the roof coated with solar paint to form solar enery panels. They can be painted on roof .Do you guys have the source for these. kindly revert. thanks

Comment on What’s so smart about a smart meter? by Remote Disconnect Markeing-Jeff Weiser

Remote Disconnect Markeing-Jeff Weiser — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:37:47 +0000

The whole smart meter rollout is pretty much inevitable. Whether its full AMI rollouts or partial point to point deployments, they help utilities be a lot more efficient & result in lower rates eventually for consumers.

Comment on Two Energy Credits To Trim 2010 Taxes by San Diego Roofing

San Diego Roofing — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 08:50:47 +0000

Both offer dollar-for-dollar write-offs against taxes, not just a deduction from income. And unlike many tax benefits, there are no income limits on who can use them.

Comment on Cash for Caulkers – The Definitive Guide To The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 by Murray the Estimating Man

Murray the Estimating Man — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:09:12 +0000

I’m concerned the paperwork hassle and lack small profit amount will keep people from going forward. With the car programs the numbers were large enough for dealers to take on the paperwork effort, and know the rules.

Here the owner will be tasked with the red tape, and the risk of messing things up and getting nothing. I would hope the government would relax the paperwork, and be understanding of the general public’s lack of bureaucratic abilities.

Or this may just leave more money available for those who are willing to take on the paperwork.

Comment on Residential vertical wind turbines and solar panels designs for the home – Energy Star tax credit creates purchasing interest home energy generators by 60 Watt Solar

60 Watt Solar — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:51:33 +0000

There is a gradual shift of awareness taking place, with more and more people realizing that it actually makes economic sense to start investing in Solar Power, especially given the Government incentives.
An installation can pay for itself over a period of time and after this, the benfits are effectively free.

Comment on Perendev – Perpetual Energy Device – Free Energy?? by Wg Cdr Prabhakar David

Wg Cdr Prabhakar David — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:53:17 +0000

I am looking for a rooftop vertical Axis Wind cum Magnetic Generator that uses a Gyro-based system (Housed in a hollow sphere) to generate an alnating current source without using any batteries. The rpm should be built up to 3600 for 60 Hz and 3000 for a 50 Hz 3=phase source. The generator would start with wind initially and gradually pick up to a steady rpm of 50 or 60 Hz, using a positive feedback system before being connected to the load.. A 1 meter high syatem should typically generate about 3KW. The system floats on a magnetic cushion and derives its power from the earth’s magnetic field also.

Comment on Timber frame home goes off-grid in Oregon by Phoenix Trinity

Phoenix Trinity — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:58:47 +0000

This house is beautiful. We build eco homes in the UK and are always looking for inspiration from other eco home builders. Great job.

Comment on Magnet Motor company, Perendev, closes its doors by Alfred James

Alfred James — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:52:07 +0000

I also hope that Brady comes back and revives the free energy motor industry that he started, no doubt all will be well, we pray for the advance in this technology.

Comment on Rules for Wind Power by Don

Don — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:37:59 +0000

As the world heads into alternative energy, this sort of land use issue will arise more and more. I would like to place solar electric panels in a subdivision that, by rules & regulations, does not allow them. The subdivision is covered with skylights. What’s the difference? For more on residential energy, try detectenergy.com

Comment on Learn how to build ‘Do It Yourself’ solar panels for green energy by Rick at SolarCompanies.com

Rick at SolarCompanies.com — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:16:59 +0000

Yes, you can save a bunch of money by doing it yourself but there are a couple of caveats. The first is you are often going to have to go with a battery system to store the energy. Local utilities often balk at letting you tie into the grid unless the solar panel system is professionally built and installed. The other problem would be that you miss out on all the tax credits and lease programs available, but this is more or less offset by the savings. Still you will definitely want to check with your local utility about tying into the grid. Batteries are pricey and have to be replaced more than anyone would like to admit.

Comment on Buying cheap Solar Panels by randy velker

randy velker — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:37:36 +0000

Thanks for laying out the options so clearly! One thing that you also need to remember is that to connect any of these solar panels to the grid they will need to be UL listed. That is pretty important as it guarantees that the product will not cause/start a fire.

Thanks again for the insights!

Comment on The shady side of the green building industry by Restoration Engineering

Restoration Engineering — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:28:13 +0000

Restoration has been important for many of the buildings. As some of the buildings which are centuries old, and are not in very good condition. Most of the historical building are in the same condition. And if there is being any construction near these buildings then its necessary to take care of these buildings. I was searching about Restoration Engineering and got some good blogs and websites as check http://www.o-n.com/ it will help you for sure.

Comment on Wind turbines take to the skies by David Burnham

David Burnham — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:49:44 +0000

When do you expect to have operational models for home use. I hope the imbical is conered with flashing LEDs. A low priced home model might take off like a rocket. Everyone in the country with their own wind energy all tied togeather on the grid!

Probably not practical for urban areas.