Commercial and Residential Heating

.

Commercial and Residential Heating

Canada is a cold climate country. Even the West Coast, which enjoys average monthly temperatures above freezing, requires extra heating because of the dampness. There is no escape; if you live in Canada, expect to use more energy to heat your home or commercial property. All of that heating (and cooling in summer) gives off emissions of greenhouse gases.

The best remedies for controlling the emissions of greenhouse gases is to make sure our homes and commercial buildings are as efficient as technology has given us. Every house and building, including those recently constructed and before accepting final approval on new construction or when buying a home, should have an independent energy efficiency consultant examine every facet of heat loss and heating equipment efficiency for evaluation & performance.

Home Energy Savings

Does your home have comfort problems such as drafts, cold spots and frosted windows?

17 percent of all energy in Canada is used in the home. Energy made from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, produce greenhouse gas emissions. By using less energy in our homes, we help reduce the production of the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and harm our environment. By using less energy in our homes, we save money.

The largest use of energy in homes is for heating, hot water and cooling.

There are several ways of reducing heating bills.

Some are immediate measures, such as weather-stripping, window tinting, sealing and insulation. Some require old for new: energy-efficient windows, energy-efficient doors, increased insulation. Others are more structural in application: passive solar techniques, solar power systems, geothermal heat pumps. While others are considerations at time of construction: orientation and shape of the house, thermal materials, solar power systems, geothermal heat pumps.

There are several ways of reducing hot water bills.

To conserve hot water, fix leaks and tap drips, install low-flow fixtures, and purchase an energy-efficient dishwasher and clothes washer. There are two basic types of low-flow shower heads: aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating shower heads mix air with water, forming a misty spray. Laminar-flow shower heads form individual streams of water.

Heat Recovery Systems
Any hot water that goes down the drain carries away energy with it. That's typically 80–90% of the energy used to heat water in a home. Drain-water (or grey water) heat recovery systems capture this energy to preheat cold water entering the water heater or going to other water fixtures.

• Demand Water Heaters or tankless or instantaneous water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank.
• Heat Pump Water Heaters move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly for providing hot water.
• Solar Water Heaters Use the sun's heat to provide hot water.
• Tankless Coil and indirect water heaters Use a home's space heating system to heat water.

There are several ways to reduce your air conditioning bills.

Some immediate measures, such as applying window films or installing whole house fans. Others involve a combination of energy-efficient windows, doors, skylights, insulation.

Landscape with shading. Shading and landscaping concepts involve elements as gardens, lawns, deciduous trees, vines or shrubs adequately placed. Or elements such as shaded pavings and courtyards… All these elements are excellent ways to a better energy efficient home. Modern heat pumps are a sound environmental choice and a great alternative to air conditioning? If just half of our homes used heat pumps and solar water heaters, CO2 emissions reduction would equal that produced by a quarter of all of the cars driving around Canada. Using compact fluorescent lights reduces electrical consumption for lighting by 80 percent.

For more information see: www.house-energy.com An excellent website with information on virtually every energy strategy for every energy source known.

With a just a little effort and investment in our homes we can obtain substantial energy savings over the years, protecting our environment for future generations and decreasing the energy bills.

Eco-Efficiency

Energy Relief Helping Canadians Deal with High Energy Costs: