Save Your Energy Dollars From Going Up the Chimney
If you are like me, you enjoy sitting in front of an open fireplace, it’s a link to countless generations that have come before.
But there’s a BIG problem with using a fireplace…
…improperly sealed dampers.
You wouldn’t have a door without weatherstripping — so why have a damper with a metal to metal seal?
We had one of those dampers in our fireplace.
Sitting and watching TV there was a cold draft on the floor making the room uncomfortable.
Most of the time the fireplace is not being used and the damper is closed.
Studies have shown that a new damper can leak up to $200 of your energy dollars per year. Imagine what a old corroded and warped damper is costing you.
I discovered the Lyemance Top Seal Chimney Cap Damper 13×13
The damper has a gasket that seals it shut just like a well fitting storm door and it is fixed to the top of the chimney with silicone cement.
It is operated by a stainless steel cable that runs down the flue to a latch that is installed on the side of the firebox.
Since the damper is at the top of the chimney it keeps the weather and our furry friends out of the chimney. The hardest part of the installation was getting the ladder out. It took about 45 minutes from start to finish, there was snow on the roof afterall.
The results were immediate, the draft is gone, the room is warm and comfortable and my wallet a bit thicker.
Should I Use a Programmable Thermostat?
The easiest way to save heating dollars is to lower the temperature setting on your house thermostat, when possible.
As a general rule, you will save 2 percent on your heating bill for every 2°F you turn down the thermostat overnight.
Programmable thermostats have electronic timers that allow you to preset household temperatures for specific periods of the day and night. In a typical application, you could program the thermostat to reduce the temperature an hour before you go to bed and to increase it before you get up in the morning. You could also program it to reduce the temperature for any period during the day when the house is unoccupied and to restore the temperature shortly before you return.
For example, you could have the temperature set at 17°C (63°F) when you are sleeping or not at home and at 20°C (68°F) when you are awake and at home. Experiment with the unit until you find the most comfortable and economical routine for you and your family.
Programmable thermostats that are ENERGY STAR qualified are required to offer at least four possible daily temperature settings (e.g., wake, day, evening, sleep) for at least two different program periods (e.g., weekdays and weekends).
A hold feature allows you to temporarily override the program for a period such as a vacation.
The thermostat will include instructions for the installer to adjust the cycle to suit your heating/cooling equipment. It will come pre-programmed with recommended temperature settings, but you may readily change them to suit your comfort and daily schedule.
Check for additional features that allow you to:
- store and repeat additional daily settings that can be run and changed without affecting the regular settings
- store more than four daily temperature settings
- adjust heating and cooling turn-on times in response to o side temperature changes
TED5000: Save Money with the Energy Detective
The TED helps you save your energy dollars by monitoring your energy use and showing where, how and when you are consuming electricity.
The Ted Has several components 2 current transformers that go on your main supply cables; a measuring transmitting unit (MTU) that measures current and voltage then transmits this information to the gateway via your house wiring; the gateway connects the TED to your router ; a display unit with charging stand; all the connectors and cables required.
Hooking up the TED is straightforward but you do have to work in the electric panel. If you are not completely familiar with this equipment do not attempt installation yourself. Installation took about 30 minutes.
Now the fun started.
I could not get the MTU to communicate with the gateway. In the troubleshooting guide it states that some lighting and electronics can interfere with the transmissions. I had to install two noise filters between the TED and the panel. I also installed a separate outlet to plug the gateway into. Still no luck getting the TED to work. However, once I configured the IP address of the gateway to my router the system started working like a charm.
The computer portions of the setup is simple. You just enter the id’s for the components and you are up and running. The Footprints software presents your consumption in various ways.
I noticed that we are more aware of how we are using electricity and TED helps us identify and get rid of those ghost loads that steal our dollars.
Overall impression: Buying the TED was well worth the investment.
Can You Get it Cheaper on eBay?
This is Ros. Ed is one of the sharpest people I know when it comes to getting really good deals online and one of the places from which he buys most frequently is eBay. Here’s an example showing a list of solar panels currently available on eBay. Compare those prices with what you find elsewhere (eg. Amazon) before you order. Looking for another product? Simply type what you want into the form blank on the upper right and hit “Search”.How Much Money Can I Save by Replacing My Furnace?
“How much money can I save if I replace my furnace?” is question people ask me most often.To figure that out, you need to know your annual fuel cost, the type of heating technology you are currently using and the type you plan to use.
AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) ratings for common systems are shown below.
Annual savings = A -B x C
A= Seasonal efficiency of proposed system
B= Seasonal Efficiency of current system
C= annual fuel cost for heating
Example: You have a conventional gas furnace and are converting to a high efficiency gas furnace. The conventional furnace has an AFUE ( annual fuel utilization efficiency) of 60% . The high efficiency furnace has an AFUE of 96%. The annual heating cost id $1200.
Savings = 96 – 60 x 1200 =$450.00
Your annual savings would be $450.00 plus you eliminate the need for a chimney.
Typical Heating System Efficiencies and Energy Savings
| Energy Source | Technology | Seasonal Efficiency (AFUE) % |
Energy Savings (% of Base’) | |
| Natural Gas | • Conventional furnace boiler | 60 | Base | |
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• Standard-efficiency furnace | 78-84 | 23-28 | |
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• Standard-efficiency boiler | 80-88 | 25-32 | |
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• Condensing furnace | 90-97 | 33-38 | |
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• Condensing boiler | 89-99 | 33-39 | |
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• Integrated space/ |
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33-38 space | |
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tap water condensing | 90-96 | 44-48 water | |
| Propane | • Conventional furnace/boiler< | 62 | Base | |
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• Standard-efficiency furnace | 79-85 | 21-27 | |
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• Standard-efficiency boiler | 82-90 | 24-31 | |
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• Condensing furnace | 88-95 | 29-34 | |
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• Condensing boiler | 87-97 | 29-36 | |
| Oil | • Cast-iron head burner(old furnace) | 60 | Base | |
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• Flame-retention headreplacement burner | 70-78 | 14-23 | |
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• High-staticreplacement burner | 74-82 | 19-27 | |
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• New standard model | 78-86 | 23-30 | |
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• Standard-efficiency | 83-89 | 28-33 | |
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• Integrated space/tap water |
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28-33 space | |
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standard-efficiency | 83-89 | 40-44 water | |
| Electricity | • Electric baseboards | 100 | N/A | |
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• Electric furnace or boiler | 100 |
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• Air-source heat pump | 1.7 COP’ |
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• Earth-energy system |
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(ground-source heat pump) | 2.6 COP’ |
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| Wood | • Central furnace | 45-55 | N/A | |
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• Conventional stove(properly located) | 55-70 |
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• “High-tech” stove’ (properly located) | 70-80 |
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• Advanced combustion | fireplace’ | 50-70 |
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• Pellet stove | 55-80 |
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