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Here we discuss the basics of renewable energy systems including solar heating & hot water heating systems, along with building insulation & ventilation design & retrofit tips to save energy. Sketch at page top courtesy of Lennox Industries. Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles including material reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Energy Efficiency Designs & Retrofit Improvements in Buildings

• AIR BYPASS LEAKS - how thermal tracking and indoor black stains indicate areas of air leaks, heat loss, convection loops
• AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES - tuning up your A/C, fixing duct leaks, optimizing air filters all save on cooling costs
  • AIR FILTER EFFECTIVENESS
  • CONTINUOUS BLOWER FAN OPERATION
  • COOLING CAPACITY, RATED
  • LOST COOLING CAPACITY
  • OPERATING TEMPERATURES
  • OPTIMUM INDOOR AIR FILTERS
• AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS and OPTIMUM INDOOR AIR FILTERS
• AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS - air leaks in older homes overwhelm even high-R insulated walls and ceilings, increasing energy costs
• AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR - what indoor air contaminants are more likely in tight homes? what to do about them?
• AIR SEALING STRATEGIES and AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION
• ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD
• BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS
• BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION - how we test the air leakiness of a building
• COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT BUILDINGS - assuring safe combustion appliances to prevent carbon monoxide hazards
• DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE - technical explanation of indoor condensation problems
• ELECTRIC HEAT
• ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS - home page for building energy cost savings designs and systems
• ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY - details of insulating and stopping air leaks in an older home, significant heat cost reduction
• ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE - stopping unwanted heat losses, air leaks, or heat gains on older buildings
• ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS - ultralightweight concrete and other energy saving retrofit options
• EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS - using a swamp cooler to reduce energy costs in a building
• FIBERGLASS INSULATION
• FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING - protect from frozen burst pipes, subsequent leaks, mold, water damage in colder buildings
• HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
• HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
• HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
• HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in BUILDINGS
    How to measure heat movement through a wall
    How to measure building insulation
    How leaky is the building
    BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
    ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One
    ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
    ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One
• HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) INDICATORS
• HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table
• HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS - tuning up the heating system can make a big difference in building heating costs
• HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-BOILERS
• HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-FURNACES
• HEATING SMALL LOADS - design guide for selecting & installing heating systems in energy-efficient homes - old rules of thumb don't work
• HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS - Guide to Selecting & Using Sheathing Wrap - House Wrap - Building Exterior Moisture Barriers
• HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
• ICE DAM PREVENTION
• INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
  • Common Indoor Air Pollutants
  • INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
• INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT - Guide to building insulation alternatives, R-values, costs, properties;
  • AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS
  • BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
  • BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION?
  • ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
  • FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
  • INSULATION CHOICES
  • INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE
  • INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES
  • INSULATION R-Values & Properties and Insulation Values of Log Home Walls
  • RADIANT BARRIERS- save on cooling cost
  • ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS
  • ROOF VENTING NEEDED?
  • SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR
  • THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
    THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS
    
  • VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
  • VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
  • VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
  • VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
• MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
• RADIANT BARRIERS - do they work, where to put them, how much energy do they save for cooling vs. heating needs?
• RADIANT HEAT - strategy for using radiant heat in buildings
• RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid - avoid these horrible mistakes that led to abandonment of a radiant heated floor slab
• RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES - types of plastic tubing for radiant heated slabs; types of heat conducting fluids
• ROOFING - articles related to solar & energy conservation (also see Ventilation in Buildings)
  •   FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION
• SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS - do we need to vent walls insulated with foil faced sheathing?
• SIDING WOOD - proper installation, maintenance, and moisture control avoid damage
• SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  • PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE - how to more accurately calculate the passive solar contribution to energy savings
  • SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR - what insulation thickness is needed under a passive-solar heated slab floor?
  • SOLAR COLLECTOR AIR or GAS COLLECTION - does air collecting in solar panels mean corrosion? how to purge solar collector air.
  • SOLAR COLLECTOR FILMS - do light-transmitting, heat reflecting films offer efficiency gains for solar collectors?
  • SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
• SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS
• SOLAR HOUSE EVALUATION - how "solar" is your house - measures of percent solar
• Solar Design Books and Guides
  • Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume I, the Passive Solar Handbook Introduction to Passive Solar Concepts, in a version used by the U.S. Air force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v1.pdf
  • Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume II, the Passive Solar Handbook Comprehensive Planning Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v2.pdf [This is a large PDF file that can take a while to load]
  • Passive Solar Handbook Volume III, the Passive Solar Handbook Programming Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v3.pdf
  • The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the InspectAPedia Bookstore
  • "Passive Solar Home Design", U.S. Department of Energy, describes using a home's windows, walls, and floors to collect and store solar energy for winter heating and also rejecting solar heat in warm weather.
• THERMAL TRACKING - shows where heat losses and air leaks are occurring in buildings
• THERMOSTATS
• VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
• WET BASEMENT PREVENTION
• WINDOWS & DOORS
    SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
    SITE BUILT DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS
    SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS
    VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS
• WINTERIZE A BUILDING
• WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves
  

Solar Water Heating Systems

Solar Heating Systems

(in process)

Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

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• Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
  
• Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
  Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS, and other topics.
• Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education, publications, report writing materials, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
• Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume I, the Passive Solar Handbook Introduction to Passive Solar Concepts, in a version used by the U.S. Air force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v1.pdf
• Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume II, the Passive Solar Handbook Comprehensive Planning Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v2.pdf [This is a large PDF file that can take a while to load]
• Passive Solar Handbook Volume III, the Passive Solar Handbook Programming Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v3.pdf
• The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the InspectAPedia Bookstore
• "Passive Solar Home Design", U.S. Department of Energy, describes using a home's windows, walls, and floors to collect and store solar energy for winter heating and also rejecting solar heat in warm weather.
• "Solar Water Heaters", U.S. Department of Energy article on solar domestic water heaters to generate domestic hot water in buildings, explains how solar water heaters work. Solar heat for swimming pools is also discussed.
• "Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE describes the types of solar water heater heat exchange methods between the sun and the building's hot water supply
• "Heat-Transfer Fluids for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE, describes the types of fluids selected to transfer heat between the solar collector and the hot water in storage tanks in a building. These include air, water, water with glycol antifreeze mixtures (needed when using solar hot water systems in freezing climates), hydrocarbon oils, and refrigerants or silicones for heat transfer.
• "Solar Water Heating System Maintenance and Repair", U.S. DOE
• "Solar Water Heating System Freeze Protection", U.S. DOE,using antifreeze mixture in solar water heaters (or other freeze-resistant heat transfer fluids), as well as piping to permit draining the solar collector and piping system.
• "Scaling and Corrosion in Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE
• www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850 is the base U.S. DOE website for these articles
• "Active Solar Heating Systems", U.S. Department of Energy, including
• "Radiant Heating Systems" U.S. DOE
• "Absorption Heat Pumps & Coolers", U.S. DOE
• "Solar Air Heating" U.S. DOE also referred to as "Ventilation Preheating" in which solar systems use air for absorbing and transferring solar energy or heat to a building
• "Solar Liquid Heating" U.S. DOE, systems using liquid (typically water) in flat plate solar collectors to collect solar energy in the form of heat for transfer into a building for space heating or hot water heating. The term "solar liquid" is used for accuracy, rather than "solar water" because the water may contain an antifreeze or other chemicals.

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