Solar Thermal

Summer Energy Efficient Windows

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Image by zz9 via Flickr Summer Energy Efficient Windows Summer in South Texas has arrived. The solar thermal energy heats up our gardens, our cars and our house. Solar thermal on a cold winter day is a welcome treat. Solar thermal energy during summer makes my air conditioner run. Most people frame their energy efficient [...]

Home Energy Reduction Diet Update

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Image via Wikipedia Home Energy Reduction Diet Update My home energy reduction diet has been going well since August. It’s December now. On this cloudy, cold day in South Texas, I’m cold. Setting my digital thermostat to 85 degrees in summer was easily tolerated by this southern acclimatized body. However, the thermostat setting of 68 [...]

Home Energy Audit Continues…

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Energy Audit on My Heating and Air Conditioning Unit As you know, going solar remains our goal. Solar energy is good for the earth, that is, clean, abundant, and efficient. But if I need any other incentive for going solar, it would be the energy audit on my heating and air conditioning system. According to [...]

Solar Energy Use on the Rise

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Solar Energy Use is on the Rise The Renewable Energy Roundup in Fredericksburg, Texas, was great! As energy prices increase, interests in alternative energy increase. Nothing like $4.00/gal gasoline to make us question our energy usage! People from all walks of life attended to investigate and educate themselves about renewable energy resources. Representatives of solar, [...]

How to Measure Your Home Appliance Energy Consumption

Friday, September 12th, 2008

A Kill-A-Watt Meter Measures Your Home Appliance Energy Consumption Have you ever wondered if you should replace that old refrigerator for a more energy efficient model? Now you can find out which of your home appliances are worth keeping and which should be replaced. We bought this handy gadget, an electricity usage monitor, which monitors [...]

How to Have Hot Water and a Lower Energy Bill

Thursday, September 11th, 2008

Time to Get Your Energy Bill Out of Hot Water! Heating water for your home accounts for roughly 25 percent of your home energy consumption. Since we are trying to reduce our home energy usage by 25 percent, we clearly need to do something about our hot water. I will make a small confession here. [...]