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Kyoto Facts & Stats Feature: Bringing it Home!
December 2002
By Esme Friesen
The discussions on greenhouse gas emissions can seem pretty abstract.
After all, most of us are not scientists or government officials. Our
sense of actual influence in the decision making process that guides the
future of our society and our economy is often obscured by the fact that
we really only get to participate during election time. So, how can we
create change?
Most of us, while often supporting the basic beliefs of an activist group,
have no desire to join one. Few of us envision a future with less technology,
less disposable income, or less mod cons and consumer goods. So how do
we, as individuals, support efforts like the Kyoto Protocol without having
a masters degree in meteorology, a half a million dollars to build our
own "green home", or without having to give up any of the basic
conveniences of contemporary life?
By bringing it home!
Whether you own or rent your home, here are some basic modifications
you can do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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1) Attic
Insulation - using thick (250 mm) or high-density insulation
in your attic and exterior walls reduces the amount of heat loss
- cutting heating costs by up to 25 per cent.
Ventilation - all airtight homes require ventilation. Use
heat exchange ventilators to recycle heat that would otherwise be
vented out with the stale air. Provide adequate attic ventilation
to maintain even temperatures: do not seal off the eaves when insulating,
this will decrease ventilation and cause a build-up of heat and
moisture.
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2) Bathroom
Bathing - take short showers with water-saving showerheads
instead of baths.
Fans - don't leave fans on too long as they draw out heated
or cooled air from other areas of the house - in just one hour,
these fans can pull out a house full of warm or cooled air.
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3) Bedroom
Windows - can account for 10 to 25 per cent of a heating
bill. Install windows appropriate for local climates.
Cold climates - install double-pane windows with low-e coating
on the glass. Close shades at night and open during the day. Keep
the glass on south and west-facing windows clean. Use insulating
window shades.
Warm climates - install windows with spectrally selective
coatings on the glass to deflect some of the sunlight. Install awnings
on south and west-facing windows. Use white window shades, drapes,
or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
Decor - do not hang or put anything in front of thermostats,
as blocking the air flow interrupts their ability to accurately
monitor - and therefore adjust - ambient room temperatures.
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4) Kitchen
Sink - place faucet lever in the cold position when using
small amounts of water. Repair leaky faucets promptly.
Stove - for gas, use ovens and ranges with electric ignition
systems. Keep electric range burners and reflectors clean. Match
the size of the pan to the heating element, leave lids on pots while
cooking, and use electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals.
Refrigerator - make sure refrigerator door seals are tight.
Don't keep them too cold and use models with automatic moisture
control. Keep foods and liquids covered. Vacuum the condenser coils
once per year (unless you have a no-clean model).
Dishwasher - most of the energy used by dishwashers is for
water heating - check manual for recommended water temperature.
Be sure it is full, not overloaded, don't use the "rinse hold"
function and let the dishes air dry.
Appliances - purchase only those appliances that meet your
country's highest energy efficiency standards.
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5) Living Room
Fireplaces - if you never use your fireplace, plug and seal
the chimney flue. Otherwise, add caulking around the fireplace hearth
and use grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool air into
the fireplace and to circulate warm air back into the room. Ensure
the seal on the flue damper is as snug as possible. Keep damper
closed when no fire is going. When in use, open bottom dampers (if
present), or open the nearest window (2-3cm) and close doors leading
into the room. Lower the heat thermostat settings.
Cooling - don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning
thermostat as the thermostat senses heat from these appliances.
Keep your window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar
gain.
Heating - Keep draperies and shades on your south facing
windows open during the day to maximize solar gain. Make sure objects
do not block sunlight from shining on concrete slab floors or heat
absorbing walls.
Lighting - "light zone" rooms by concentrating
lighting in reading areas and working areas. Use "warm white"
compact fluorescent lights (CFL's) and avoid lighting upward towards
the ceiling if the walls are dark. Use light fixtures with reflective
backing - especially wall sconces. Turn off lights when not in room.
Walls - use thick, high-density insulation on exterior walls.
Decorate with lighter colors to reflect natural daylight. Seal or
weather-strip walls to stop drafts, and insulate the gaps between
walls.
Appliances - turn off TV and other appliances when not in
use. Leaving them on "standby" uses up to 85% of normal
power.
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6) Basement
Heating Systems - turn thermostat back by 10% to 15% when
not at home or when sleeping - a programmable thermostat makes this
easy. Clean or replace filters on furnaces regularly and clean warm
air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed: make
sure furniture, carpeting or drapes do not block them.
Air Conditioners - make sure air conditioning unit is the
right size for the area - a unit that is too big, is less efficient.
Do not set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when
you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any
faster and results in excessive cooling and higher electricity consumption.
Ducts - check ducts for air leaks. Insulating ducts will
make the basement colder therefore, if both basement walls and ducts
are uninsulated, consider insulating both. Be sure a vapor barrier
exists on the outside of the insulation on cooling ducts to prevent
moisture buildup.
Hot Water - insulate hot water pipes and storage tanks (get
professional advice prior to insulating gas or oil units). Invest
in a new water heater if yours is more than 7 years old. Set the
thermostat at 82 C. Drain a quart of water from tank every 3 months
to remove sediment. Consider solar water heating systems and drain
water waste heat recovery systems.
Laundry - wash with cold water whenever possible. Dry towels
and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter weight clothes.
Use the cool-down cycle, clean the lint filter and don't over-dry
clothing. Inspect dryer vents periodically.
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7) Garden
Trees & Plants - planting deciduous trees on the south
and west side will help keep your house cool in the summer and allow
passive solar in the winter. Deflect winter winds by planting evergreens
on the north side. Vines grown on trellises will also work as shade
or wind breakers. Shade air-conditioning units but do not block
airflow - a unit operating in the shade uses up to 10% less electricity
than the same one operating in the sun.
Lighting - use outdoor lights with a photocell, motion sensor,
or timer so they will turn off during the day. Use CFL's and be
sure to use cold-weather ballasts in cold climates.
Pavement & Flagstones - will reflect or absorb heat
depending on whether they are light or dark in colour.
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| 8) House Exterior - choose colours
that enhance or reduce the heat absorbency of the house depending
on the climate. Dark-coloured homes attract 70 to 90 per cent of the
radiant energy from the sun, and light-coloured surfaces will reflect
most of the heat away. |
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9) Garage - ensure doors from house
to garage are weather-stripped. Opt to use alternate modes of transportation
and car pool whenever possible. Change oil and tune-up vehicle regularly.
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For more information visit:
Natural Resources Canada - www.nrcan.gc.ca
or http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca
US Department of Energy - www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers/
Australian Greenhouse Office - www.greenhouse.gov.au/renewable/
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - www.doingyourbit.org.uk
© Copyright 2002 Galt Western Personnel Ltd. Unless
otherwise specified, you may reprint this article, quote from it, use
it in research or projects, duplicate it or distribute it. Credit of authorship
and source MUST be given to galtglobalreview.com. Ownership of Copyright
remains with Galt Western Personnel Ltd.
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