Housing & InteriorsHousing & Interiors

8.03 Conservation Techniques for 8.03 Conservation Techniques for the Homethe Home

EnergyEnergy

Lower thermometer to 68 in winter Lower thermometer to 68 in winter and raise to 78 in summerand raise to 78 in summer Energy StarEnergy Star: homes that have been identified as : homes that have been identified as

energy-efficient due to improved insulation and energy-efficient due to improved insulation and windows, heating/cooling systems designed to windows, heating/cooling systems designed to work with minimal waste. These homes will use up work with minimal waste. These homes will use up to to 30% less30% less energy than other homes, have a energy than other homes, have a higher resale value. Energy Star appliances, TVs, higher resale value. Energy Star appliances, TVs, computers, light bulbs use less energy, last longer, computers, light bulbs use less energy, last longer, need fewer repairsneed fewer repairs

Traditional Energy SourcesTraditional Energy Sources

1.1. Traditional is coal, oil, natural gas or Traditional is coal, oil, natural gas or Fossil fuelsFossil fuels. Formed in the earth from . Formed in the earth from remains of prehistoric animals or plants. remains of prehistoric animals or plants. These are These are NOTNOT renewable (once used renewable (once used cannot be replaced), are more expensive, cannot be replaced), are more expensive, adds pollution to environment (increases adds pollution to environment (increases health hazards and contributing to climate health hazards and contributing to climate changes)changes)

Traditional Energy SourcesTraditional Energy Sources

Natural gasNatural gas is clean burning. Must be brought to is clean burning. Must be brought to home/building by pipe lines home/building by pipe lines

OilOil is stored in tanks in or near the house. Does is stored in tanks in or near the house. Does not burn cleanly and adds to pollutionnot burn cleanly and adds to pollution

CoalCoal is mostly used by large utility companies to is mostly used by large utility companies to generate electricity. generate electricity.

Pollutes the air & Contributes to illness such as Pollutes the air & Contributes to illness such as asthma, lung diseases, asthma, lung diseases,

Major cause of acid rain and smog, Major cause of acid rain and smog, Releases carbon dioxide into air therefore Releases carbon dioxide into air therefore

contributing to global climate changescontributing to global climate changes

Nuclear PowerNuclear Power

Nuclear powerNuclear power:: reactors fueled by uranium reactors fueled by uranium produce heat, which is used to make steam that produce heat, which is used to make steam that drives the turbines which powers the generators to drives the turbines which powers the generators to make electricity (McGuire Nuclear Plant in make electricity (McGuire Nuclear Plant in Charlotte). Very expensive to build, radioactive Charlotte). Very expensive to build, radioactive materials can leak and pollute surrounding land; materials can leak and pollute surrounding land; contaminated materials can be vented to the air contaminated materials can be vented to the air and can spread throughout the atmosphere. and can spread throughout the atmosphere. Nuclear waste is hard to dispose of because it Nuclear waste is hard to dispose of because it remains remains hazardoushazardous for centuries for centuries

Additional Power SourcesAdditional Power Sources

Solar powerSolar power:: sun is most powerful energy sun is most powerful energy source available, clean, and plentifulsource available, clean, and plentiful

Geothermal energyGeothermal energy: heat from the earth’s : heat from the earth’s interiorinterior

Wind powerWind power: clean and renewable, utility : clean and renewable, utility companies are creating power by using wind companies are creating power by using wind “farms”“farms”

WATERWATER Conservation Conservation

Less than Less than 1%1% of world’s water is of world’s water is suitable for people to drink. suitable for people to drink. 97%97% is salt is salt water and water and 2%2% is in form of is in form of glaciers/polar iceglaciers/polar ice

OrientationOrientation

Positioning a house on a site considering Positioning a house on a site considering the sun, water sources, prevailing winds, & the sun, water sources, prevailing winds, & scenic viewsscenic views

OrientationOrientation

– Homes should have windows Homes should have windows facing south and westfacing south and west as as much as possible in order to allow for sun absorptionmuch as possible in order to allow for sun absorption

– Use trees and shrubs as natural windbreakUse trees and shrubs as natural windbreak around the around the house. These also help to cool in summer and warm in house. These also help to cool in summer and warm in winter, can lower utility bills by 10-15% winter, can lower utility bills by 10-15%

– ConiferousConiferous trees/shrubs: do not lose leaves, usually trees/shrubs: do not lose leaves, usually have needles and remain have needles and remain greengreen all year all year

– DeciduousDeciduous trees/shrubs: lose their leaves in fall and trees/shrubs: lose their leaves in fall and have new growth in spring have new growth in spring

TopographyTopography

The way that the land laysThe way that the land lays Level land is easiest to build on and least Level land is easiest to build on and least

expensive to landscapeexpensive to landscape Placing a home at the bottom of a hill so that Placing a home at the bottom of a hill so that

it is protected from a cold North Wind is an it is protected from a cold North Wind is an example of example of

considering theconsidering the

land’s topographyland’s topography

XeriscapingXeriscapingChoosing plants to conserve waterChoosing plants to conserve water

Xericaping: landscaping with plants in order to conserve water

Use native plants as much as possible for the areaLess water will help plants to develop deep roots and make the plants more drought resistant ….over watering will make roots rot & die