Energy

By Bob Alf Construction

Windows are a hot topic, especially now that the US government is offering a sizable tax credit for home energy improvements.1 Yet the countless types of windows that are now available, plus the complexity of installation can leave you a bit vulnerable.

Would you fix a leaky faucet? Did you know that you have electronics in your home leaking electricity—electricity that you pay for—24 hours a day, 7 days a week? The power drain is called "phantom load," and it is a big problem with a simple solution.

By Bob Alf Construction

The cooling technology that has brought us air conditioning (AC) has arguably brought much needed comfort to the sick and elderly of our society. But has the nearly universal use of AC left us with a void in knowledge of how to cool our homes with low-cost fans even when nighttime temperatures drop low enough?

When cooling a house, it is helpful to first understand the science of heating and cooling. Here are some variables that affect the heating and cooling of our homes during the summer months:

A home is like a tent, where the parts of the exterior shell—walls, windows, doors, siding, foundation, and roofing—are designed to protect against the elements. By and large these construction features are very effective against cold, heat, wind, and moisture. There's a big difference, though, between a tent and a house. Whining mosquitoes and rain-soaked sleeping bags, for example, alert a tent's inhabitants of a hole in its fabric. In a house, however, signs of air leaks are more subtle. They are usually so small that they cannot be seen with an untrained eye.

Improving your home's building envelope is a worthwhile investment as it will save time, money, and energy. Four components of a building envelope ensure maximum control of heat and moisture.

The Four Components:

Weather Barrier: a building's outer skin that keeps it dry

Air Barrier: limits air leakage or infiltration

Thermal Barrier: prevents movement of heat in or out

Vapor Barrier: controls movement of water vapor

How does an urban community connect to renewable energy? This article explores options for urban dwellers who want to support and create renewable energy that they can use at home, for their cars, and in their neighborhoods.

With so many options to reduce your energy use, which actions are best for you and your family? Go to the Minnesota Energy Challenge, mnenergychallenge.org, to see how much money and how many pounds of carbon dioxide emissions you save with simple, hassle-free actions. The average Minnesota family spends over $4,000 on energy (includes natural gas, electricity and gasoline) and produces over 50,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. The actions listed below provide impressive savings in dollars and energy.

"We travel through time on a cyclical path often returning to where we came." Black Elk (1863–1950), a Lakota holy man, explained the symbolic power of the circle for his people in the book Tipi: Home of the Nomadic Buffalo Hunters (2007): "You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round.