Help! High Gas Bills
Feb 11th
I write to you today because you are an energy wizard, and I have an energy problem. My apartment is around 700 sq ft, but we’re using about 10 ccfs of gas per day, quite an outrageous amount, and about a threefold increase over the previous year. How can I find out what’s going on? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
- Matt, Detroit
Sorry the response took me a while. Probably the biggest thing you can do is to reduce air leakage and drafts. Insulating is also good, though often hard to justify the expense when renting. But air sealing is totally worth the expense. At the risk of being self-absorbed, I’ll recommend a youtube video I’ve got on the topic, just since videos can be handy it’s the one I know best.
Also, you can check out this solid energy saving guide from the feds which we recommend at WARM a lot.
Finally, call WARM 313-894-1030 and get into one of our free classes which are a great way to cover this stuff as well.
Wind Turbine at Home
Jan 20th
Can you tell me the name and or manufacture of the wind turbine you put together on the Renovation Nation Show? I live in Iowa and it Looked pretty east to do.
Thanks,
Micah, Iowa
The turbine is an Air-X turbine from Southwest Windpower.
We have additional wind info that you might find useful on the WARM Training Center website.
Keep us posted if you put one up!
Watt Meters for Libraries
Jan 6th
I attended the Friends of Michigan Libraries fall workshop at which you spoke in October. During your very informative presentation, you suggested that libraries consider purchasing Kill-o-Meters (I think this is what they were called!) for library patrons to borrow. Our Friends group is considering following up on your suggestion and I am hopeful you can provide information as to where these meters can be purchased.
Thank you in advance for your time and advice.
Joanna
Yes, ever sense I first heard that either Plymouth or Canton Library had started doing this, I’ve been telling other libraries all about it. It’s a great idea. South Lyon’s library now carries one as well (as do both Plymouth and Canton).
A variety of power measuring devices are available on the market. The cheapest which does just fine for most people’s needs retails around $25 and is called the Kill-a-Watt.
I haven’t yet found a specific Michigan retailer that carries these (though I’m sure someone does). Right now, I can just point you to some online spots to buy these. Two of my faves: Energy Federation Incorporated (good for a great many energy saving tools) and ThinkGeek. Also, note that the manufacturer’s site has the Kill-a-Watt manual which is a really good idea to include with the check-out.
Residents everywhere — tell your libraries to get and promote these!
Recycling Homes
Jan 5th
Do you know of a firm that recycles homes, saves cabinets and appliances?
- Doug, Brighton
Home Deconstruction
Yep, Detroit has a deconstruction nonprofit. They’re called The Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit. They’re great. They de-construct houses to reuse the materials. You can find them at www.aswdetroit.org
Also, Habitat for Humanity has the ReStore program. While there are many of these around the state, I’m most familiar with the first (and largest?) in the state: Detroit’s. They take donations, but they also do a certain amount of “cherry-picking” – so not full deconstruction, but removing some items before demolition for re-use. You can find them at www.habitatdetroit.org/Restore
These places are great because they save materials from the landfill, they help provide jobs (compared to demolition which provides many fewer jobs) and they then provide construction materials to the community for far more affordable prices than buying new. Everyone wins!
Stay out of the dark with dimmable CFL’s
Dec 21st
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) have been around for some time now, but for years they were not able to dim. This left many people who have dimmable sockets with no choice other than using outdated incandescent bulbs, consuming approximately five times more energy. Fortunately, there do exist new dimmable CFL bulbs, but there is still a lot of controversy over how well they work and what are good applications for them. In order to insure that you are getting the most for your time and money, it is important to understand a few key points about CFL bulbs.
First of all, CFL bulbs work best in the simplest forms of dimmers. It is best if the dimmer has: (i) a positive off, meaning that it clicks when turned all the way down, (ii) that there is no on/off switch in addition to the dimming control, and (iii) that the dimmer control is not electronic.
Dimmers without a positive off can maintain a residual current through the circuit even if the bulb is not ignited, this will keep the ballast activated, and burn it out well before it’s expected lifespan.
If the dimmer has an on/off switch in addition to the dimmer control, then the configuration can also send residual energy through the circuit, burning out the bulb prematurely. Read the rest of this entry »
Low Impact Development
Sep 24th
Interested in raingardens, greenroofs, porous pavement? These are all techniques that are sometimes used in LID or Low Impact Developments, which avoid the costs and infrastructure problems related to storm water overflow. Instead of running into the sewage system, most of the rainwater is absorbed into the ground onsite where it can be handled in the old fashioned way – through the dirt and biological filters underground.
Don’t miss this great interactive map of Metrot Detroit that show’s local projects, which as developed by Lawrence Tech and recently reported on by Metromode.
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