| As promised, here is the 3rd article on: "Save Up to | | | | 1 STAGE HEATING AND 1 STAGE COOLING, 24 |
| 50% or More on Your Home Energy Bill Almost For | | | | VAC SYSTEM, HEATING OR COOLING SYSTEM |
| Free". | | | | POWERED. WEEKDAY SATURDAY/ SUNDAY |
| At this point, I'm afraid I have to say we are at the end | | | | PROGRAMMING, HEAT-OFF-COOL SYSTEM |
| of the "FREE RIDE", from this point on it begins to dig | | | | SWITCH, ON-AUTO FAN SWITCH, SWITCH FOR |
| into your pocket book. As the saying goes; "There is | | | | INDEPENDENT OR DIRECT THERMOSTAT |
| no such thing as a free lunch". So, if you're still with me, | | | | CONTROL OF FAN IN HEATING, RECOVERY |
| read on! | | | | OVERRIDE OPTION, WITH SUBBASE, |
| However, if we look beyond instant gratification we will | | | | DIMENSIONS:H 4" X W 7" X D 2", WEIGHT:14 OZ. |
| realize that we are all in it for the long run, that saving | | | | COST: As of May 2010, $70.00 plus $8.95 S&H on |
| energy isn't just for today, the next energy bill or even | | | | eBay and with just basic hand tools, a little time and |
| tomorrow, next month or even next year. This is a | | | | COMMON SENSE, you can do it your self! (You did |
| long term battle we are in. The earth only has so much | | | | turn off the power to the furnace, didn't you?) |
| in the way of finite resources and if we want a better | | | | FACT: The average household spends more than |
| life for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren we | | | | $2,200 a year on energy bills - nearly half of which |
| must act now! | | | | goes to heating and cooling. Homeowners can save |
| Ok, I'll get off my soap box and back to the purpose | | | | about $180 a year by properly setting their |
| of these articles, cutting your energy bills. | | | | programmable thermostats and maintaining those |
| I probably should have said something earlier but all of | | | | settings. |
| what we have done to this point is predicated on and | | | | The above tells me that my ROI (Return On |
| assuming that your "home" is up to snuff to begin with. | | | | Investment ) for this guy is a no-brainer or about 9 |
| By that I mean; | | | | months! |
| Are your exiting windows in good shape? | | | | Next on my list, Dehumidifier for your basement, from |
| Are your weather seals around all exterior doors in | | | | $200 to $400 for portable unit: |
| good shape? | | | | Did you know; The average ENERGY STAR qualified |
| How about insulation in both the walls and attic | | | | dehumidifier can save consumers more than $20 per |
| space? | | | | year. Over the life of the unit, that's more than $230 in |
| Have you had your furnace tuned up in the last | | | | savings! |
| couple of years? | | | | Under the umbrella of dehumidifiers, consumers have a |
| Have you had your air conditioning checked for | | | | few choices. The first thing to consider is a unit's |
| maximum efficiency? | | | | capacity -- the maximum amount of condensation a |
| I could go on and on but I think you get the idea and I'll | | | | dehumidifier is capable of removing from the air in a |
| bet dollars to doughnuts that if you have stayed with | | | | 24-hour period. But almost as important is the size of |
| me this long, you probably have already thought about | | | | the unit's collection container. Unless you are |
| this stuff on your own! | | | | connecting a hose to your dehumidifier (so the |
| At this point I cannot stress enough that if you are | | | | condensed water can continually flow into a floor |
| committed to see this through it would be well worth | | | | drain), a collection container's size is a crucial factor. |
| your time and money to invest in "The Energy Savings | | | | Larger containers won't need to be emptied as |
| Manual" (see bottom of article ). | | | | frequently as smaller containers. |
| Just to clear the air, I am not an employee nor do I | | | | Although all dehumidifiers automatically shut off when |
| have any investment in the above product, I just | | | | their targeted humidity level is reached, many models' |
| happen to believe that it is one of the better resources | | | | internal fans now continue to run to keep air circulating. |
| out there. | | | | Unfortunately, this can increase energy consumption |
| Below are two items I want to touch on in this article. I | | | | and create a continuous background noise that some |
| want to spend some time here so I am only going to | | | | owners find bothersome, particularly in quiet spaces |
| cover two at this time. | | | | like bedrooms. |
| So, here is the beginning of "The List"!!!! | | | | Many dehumidifiers are also now Energy Star-certified, |
| 1. Programmable thermostat | | | | a label that signifies the model has met the U.S. |
| 2. Dehumidifier for your basement | | | | Environmental Protection Agency's standard for |
| Programmable Thermostat; | | | | energy efficiency. Energy Star products consume 10 |
| Programmable thermostats have been around for a | | | | to 20 percent less energy than standard dehumidifiers. |
| very long time and are a very sound investment. They | | | | Humidifiers do more than just dehumidify, they help |
| can control both heating and cooling and be set up to | | | | address possible health issues such as mold and |
| have multiple set points over as many as a seven day | | | | mildew and also protect items stored in your |
| period with multiple "events" for each day of the week! | | | | basement from moisture damage. |
| Here I am going to make a personal recommendation | | | | Now this strategy is not for everyone and some |
| based on past experience. Go with Honeywell! You will | | | | people disagree with what I do in my home but, I have |
| not be sorry, PERIOD! | | | | a closed loop forced hot air system with central air |
| The "Top-Of-The-Line today, seems to be the | | | | conditioning; in other words, I continually re-cycle the |
| "Prestige HD 7-Day Programmable Home Comfort | | | | already conditioned air in the house (to save money!). |
| System". Looks like $279 to $299 plus installation; this is | | | | So, if I dehumidify my basement, why not take |
| NOT a DIY item! | | | | advantage of the constant 55 Deg. F., dehumidified air |
| More in my line of thinking (CHEAP!), is the old standby, | | | | in the basement and use it for "free cooling" at night? |
| the tried and true, Chronotherm III, been around forever, | | | | Yes, I do reach a point of diminishing returns but |
| not the "latest and greatest, wiz-bang-wireless-control | | | | typically I am able to turn off the air at night and just |
| from anywhere "would you like me to pour your | | | | run the furnace fan. |
| coffee?" technology but for simple old me, it does the | | | | OK, we are done for now so go grab your tools and |
| job: | | | | get busy! |