Environment
2008-12-31 09:59:00
Doing our part for the environment
QUESTION: I don’t think I’m actually an “environmental weenie”…but the environment does concern me. What can I personally do to help out, if anything? Anything?
ANSWER: How about finally making and keeping a new year’s resolution? One that you can look back on with pride and satisfaction! Here’s an idea for you that could save your money, and could even save your life!
There have been many, many studies and reports pertaining to the environment and the problems, health and otherwise that are possibly being caused by things like “global warming”, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, etc., and what we might be able to do about them.
First of all, if you accept the premise that there is actually “global warming”, and further, if you accept the premise that man, and the activities of man, is a big contributory cause of it, then you must, due to those beliefs, accept some level of personal responsibility for doing some activities that are considered by some to be corrective in nature for the overall problem.
The first thing that you can do that would make a considerable difference overall would be to make sure that you check out your heating and air conditioning units in your home, and make certain that you’ve replaced original equipment with the high-efficiency units that minimize the polluting effects of the older low efficiency units that are still running, albeit usually running poorly, in a lot of homes and businesses in this country and other places around the world. If your furnace is more than 20 years old, you will definitely benefit by upgrading to a high efficiency model. You’re already paying for it in the extra costs of the high priced fuel you’re using, so you may just as well have it! Also, if your gas model furnace was installed before 1992, then it has a pilot light instead of an electronic ignition. Pilot lights waste a lot of energy, more than you might think, due to the fact that they are burning all the time. The electronic ignitions only activate when the furnace engages prior to running through a heating cycle.
Forced air furnaces bring in the air from inside the house through return air ducts, and after the air is warmed by the furnace, it is delivered back into the living space through the warm air registers. During the process of the cool air coming through the ducts back to the furnace, it is drawn through a filter, where dust and other particles in the air are removed, some filters being much more effective than others. Gas furnaces manufactured before 1992 use a pilot light that lights the burners, which then warms a heat exchange chamber, and then the furnace fan cycles and pushes the heated air throughout the home via the ductwork. There is a flue pipe that exhausts the gases you don’t want to breathe to the outside. Those gases are known as carbon monoxide, and if not properly exhausted, can kill you and your family. A carbon monoxide detector or two in every single home is a lifesaving must! Do not doubt that!
The high efficiency furnaces have an additional heat exchanger that takes the hot exhaust gases and extracts all available heat before sending it outside. A high efficiency condensing furnace takes this extracted heat and condenses it into water and drains it. The remaining cooled gases are then exhausted to the outside. By this process, there is no hot air that is allowed to escape from your home. Also, the venting can be accomplished using a PVC pipe, rather than a heat resistant flue in the roof, which also reduces the amount of pollutants released into the air.
Mid-efficiency furnaces are only slightly better than low-efficiency furnaces. These furnaces condense no extracted heat, and therefore do not require provisions for drainage. They have a power exhaust, but no draft hood, resulting in more heat being exchanged. A heat-resistant vent or an existing flue must be used. A house where new venting and/or drains can’t be installed can make good use of this kind of furnace.
All furnaces are rated for efficiency and the measurement is called the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. This measurement is based on how much energy is converted to heat, and how much is exhausted with the gasses that go outdoors. An AFUE of 80 means that 80% of the fuel is used to warm your home and 20% is exhausted. High efficiency furnaces register an AFUE of 90% or better.
Gas furnaces can achieve an efficiency rating of 95% plus whereas oil furnaces with ratings over 80% are considered good. Older furnaces have about a 60% efficiency rating.
Although not calculated into the AFUE rating, furnaces equipped with variable speed fans are more efficient. Traditional furnace fans will turn on and blow the hot air at full speed and then shut off when the desired air temperature is reached. A variable speed fan runs for longer periods at a low speed and will only go to high speed if more heat is required. The variable speed fan will maintain an even delivery of heat and is very quiet. There is less consumption of electricity because the fan usually runs at less than full speed.
Outside of knowing your fuel source, you must determine if you are able to provide correct venting for a high efficiency furnace. You need a floor drain and PVC piping to the outdoors. If this is not feasible, choose an 80% efficiency furnace.
In some cases it has been found that the original furnace installed in the home has a larger heating capacity than required causing the furnace to cycle on and off more frequently. It is advisable to have a HVAC contractor do a load calculation of your home. This will take into consideration the size of your house, the insulation value of your walls, roof and windows plus other criteria.
Another option for heating your home, this system typically called a “Hybrid”, is a heat pump that can be added to your existing or new furnace. A heat pump unit does both heating and cooling and would take the place of your cooling unit that sets outside of your home. The heat pump would do most of the heating at a more efficient rate than your furnace. The furnace would only be used for supplemental heat. This type of system is more efficient than the highest efficiency furnace. In addition, some utilities will offer special electric rates or rebates.
You may want to install add-ons like a humidifier or an electronic air purifier which are over and above the basic furnace equipment. These will cost more and prices vary according to manufacturer. Find a reputable dealer who will give you an in-home consultation to determine your needs and who will provide expert installation and service.
Even though you have to invest some money in buying a new furnace, the reduction of your fuel bills will certainly make up for it!
A short list of things you can do personally that will help diminish your carbon footprint and reduce emissions into the atmosphere are as follows:
• Turn them off if you’re not using them…lights/tv/dvd/computer/etc.
• Turn the furnace or ac down or up slightly…just a couple degrees.
• Turn down the water heater setting by 2 or 3 degrees.
• Check the setback thermostat setting-don’t heat or cool when gone.
• Fill the dishwasher and washing machine full when running them.
• Use only as much water, heated or cold, as you really need.
• Unplug your cell phone charger as soon as it is charged up.
• Defrost the refrigerator or freezer regularly.
• Do weekly shopping in a single trip rather than several trips.
• Run in your neighborhood instead of driving to the gym/treadmill.
Not only will these things allow you to reduce your own carbon footprint, but it will use much less of the fossil fuels that appear to be finite in supply. There are lots of “green living” ideas, things that can keep you from thinking of yourself as an “environmental weenie”, and we’ll talk more about them next month…
