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Comparison of electric and other heating sources
In Ohio research to reduce home energy and water use was done at a 4,000 ft² modern Toledo Ohio home. Research was also carried
out at a similarly sized home near Edinburgh, Scotland which was built by the previous owner who was not 'energy aware'.
The Ohio home was designed and built to reduce home energy and water use and cost from the outset and to minimize maintenance.
The following items were 'designed in':
- a) Low maintenance 'face brick' exterior provides extra 'draught proof' insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs
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- b) Deep loft insulation is installed to reduce heating and cooling costs
- c) A zoned heating system is installed that provides 3 + 1 heating and cooling zones with
independent programmable thermostats permitting
separate areas of the home to be heated or cooled saving energy and increasing comfort levels.
- d) Kitchen/Dining/Den and Great Room/Circular staircase/Loft Library can be open plan or non-open plan by opening or closing 3 glazed pocket
doors that reduce home energy use and cost increase comfort levels by reducing draughts
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- e) Low E heat reflecting double glazed windows reduce heating and cooling costs
- f) Home is designed to increase passive solar gain during sunny spring and fall weather reducing heating costs
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- g) Sunny windows have light colored heat reflecting blinds that are closed during hot sunny weather to reduce
cooling energy use and costs
- h) Deciduous trees planted in the lot will reduce summer cooling costs
- i) A 36 inch electric Whole House Fan with an automatic control system reduces home cooling costs - the system can be more than 15 times
less expensive to run than the AC
Whole house fan location, click for a larger image
- j) Ceiling fans in five main rooms permit room temperatures to be higher in summer without increasing discomfort reduce cooling energy use
- k) Remote controlled roof windows in four 2nd floor rooms aid natural cooling and air flow
- l) Low energy lamps are fitted to reduce lighting energy
- m) Low energy floor lamps used in the main rooms provide light only where it is needed
- n) 'Zero Energy' clothes drying rack in utility room almost makes the
clothes dryer redundant and can increase the home humidity levels
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- o) 30 year shingles reduce maintenance costs
Since moving into the home the occupants have adopted an 'energy frugal lifestyle' and made additional 'energy saving'
improvements, listed below, which reduce home energy use further:
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