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Lower 50% of winter heating bills
Purdue college analysts demonstrate us one great method to lower 50% of winter heating bills
Researchers at Purdue University will work on a new research project that promises the possibility to cut heating bill by 50 % for folks who live in very cold climates. The analysis, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, builds on previous work that began about five years ago at Purdue's Ray W. Herrick Laboratories.
Heat pumps provide heating in winter and cooling in summer but aren't efficient in extreme cold climates. The analysis involves changes to the way heat pumps operate to ensure they are more effective in extreme cold temperatures.
The new technology works by modifying the conventional vapor-compression cycle behind standard air-con and refrigeration.
The standard vapor-compression cycle has four stages:
1° Refrigerant is compressed as a vapor
2° Condenses into a liquid
3° Expands to a combination of liquid and vapor
4° Then evaporates
The project will investigate two cooling approaches throughout the compression process.
In one approach, relatively considerable amounts of oil are injected into the compressor to absorb heat generated throughout the compression stage.
In the second approach, a combination of liquid and vapor refrigerant from the expansion stage is injected at various points during compression to supply cooling.
The new heat pumps might be half as expensive to operate as heating technologies now used in cold regions where natural gas is unavailable and residents count on electric heaters and liquid propane.
In the meanwhile here some tips to improve you home air quality and save energy:
- Be sure your thermostat is located in an area that isn't too cold or hot.
- Install an automatic timer to maintain the thermostat at 68 degrees in daytime and 55 degrees during the night.
- Use storm or thermal windows in colder areas. The layer of air between the windows acts as insulation helping to maintain the heat inside where you are interested.
- If you haven't already, insulate your attic and all outside walls.
- Insulate floors over unheated spaces for example your basement, any crawl spaces plus your garage.
- Close off the attic, garage, basement, spare bedrooms and storage areas. Heat only those rooms that you use.
- Seal gaps around any pipes, wires, vents or other openings that could transfer your heat to areas that are not heated.
- Dust is a wonderful insulator and tends to build up on radiators and baseboard heat vents.
Many people have no idea that common indoor air quality practices lower home air heating costs too:
- Rain and moist can bring moisture indoors, creating dampness, mold and mildew -- big problems for healthy indoor air. Look at your roof, foundation and basement or crawlspace one per year to catch leaks or moisture problems and route water away from your home's foundation.
- Help to keep asthma triggers away from your home by fixing leaks and drips when they start. Standing water and moist encourage the development of dust mites, fungus -- probably the most common triggers that can worsen asthma. Make use of a dehumidifier or ac unit when needed, and clean both regularly.
- High levels of moisture in your home increase dampness and the growth of mold, which not only damage your home but threaten health. Install and run exhaust fans in bathrooms to remove unhealthy moisture and odors out of your home.
- Ventilate your kitchen stove directly outside or open a kitchen window when you cook. Keeping exhaust -- including cooking odors and particles -- outside of your home prevents dangerous fumes and particles from harming you or your family.
About the writer - Rosalind Dall writes for the ductless split system air conditioner blog, her personal hobby blog focused entirely on guidelines to help people consume less energy and purify indoor air.
