Comments on: Easy Energy Visualization at Home http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/ Light for the path to sustainability. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Daniel http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-2355 Daniel Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:32:13 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=147#comment-2355 My thermostat technically records how long each component runs (fan, compressor, auxiliary) but not in a very smart way. You have to remember to reset the totals each month which I never do. I'll look into adding a couple of extra CT's to my TED. It might be fun to get a couple and move them around to various circuits if there's space in the box. Thanks for the idea! My thermostat technically records how long each component runs (fan, compressor, auxiliary) but not in a very smart way. You have to remember to reset the totals each month which I never do.

I’ll look into adding a couple of extra CT’s to my TED. It might be fun to get a couple and move them around to various circuits if there’s space in the box. Thanks for the idea!

]]> By: David Butler http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-2353 David Butler Tue, 01 Feb 2011 02:17:14 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=147#comment-2353 Daniel, why not just submeter your heat pump? You can pick up a utility grade meter on ebay for under $30 or add another CT/MTU to the TED. Normalization methods don't account for higher use of lights in the winter, and higher hot water energy if you have electric DHW. I've submetered for the past 11 years (I even had separate meter on the strips in my last house). It's amazing how much I've learned from actual energy data. Daniel, why not just submeter your heat pump? You can pick up a utility grade meter on ebay for under $30 or add another CT/MTU to the TED. Normalization methods don’t account for higher use of lights in the winter, and higher hot water energy if you have electric DHW. I’ve submetered for the past 11 years (I even had separate meter on the strips in my last house). It’s amazing how much I’ve learned from actual energy data.

]]> By: Daniel http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-2299 Daniel Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:06:09 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=147#comment-2299 Sure did. The CFM50 was 4708 CFM and I did quite a bit of air-sealing in the attic (top plates and penetrations) before I blew in the insulation. I should really have another blower door test done to see if I've improved it at all. I've actually gone around the house with a thermal camera since doing the air sealing and insulation and it looks MUCH better than it did before I started. Sure did. The CFM50 was 4708 CFM and I did quite a bit of air-sealing in the attic (top plates and penetrations) before I blew in the insulation. I should really have another blower door test done to see if I’ve improved it at all.

I’ve actually gone around the house with a thermal camera since doing the air sealing and insulation and it looks MUCH better than it did before I started.

]]> By: Kevin http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-2295 Kevin Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:22:48 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=147#comment-2295 Daniel, Did you have a blower door test performed before and after adding the insulation? This is a good indication of air leakage and an ACH50 number can calculated by multiplying the CFM50 number by 60 and dividing by the indoor air volume (air within the pressure boundary established by the blower door). Once you have this number you can easily compute the number of natural air changes of your house. Air sealing before adding insulation is critical and should always be coupled with a ventilation strategy to be certain human health and performance is not compromised for energy efficiency. Hope things are well, Kevin Daniel,
Did you have a blower door test performed before and after adding the insulation? This is a good indication of air leakage and an ACH50 number can calculated by multiplying the CFM50 number by 60 and dividing by the indoor air volume (air within the pressure boundary established by the blower door). Once you have this number you can easily compute the number of natural air changes of your house.
Air sealing before adding insulation is critical and should always be coupled with a ventilation strategy to be certain human health and performance is not compromised for energy efficiency.
Hope things are well,
Kevin

]]> By: Aux Heat Kills http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Aux Heat Kills Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:15:08 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=147#comment-113 [...] you’ve been following this blog awhile, you’ll know that I always track my electricity consumption versus the average monthly temperature.  That helps me sort out the effects of weather on my bill, and see how much I’ve saved by [...] [...] you’ve been following this blog awhile, you’ll know that I always track my electricity consumption versus the average monthly temperature.  That helps me sort out the effects of weather on my bill, and see how much I’ve saved by [...]

]]> By: How to Calculate Energy Savings in a Building http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-38 How to Calculate Energy Savings in a Building Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:05:11 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=147#comment-38 [...] This method assumes you’re familiar with a bit of weather normalization.  If not, check out my previous article on how your energy use changes through the seasons. [...] [...] This method assumes you’re familiar with a bit of weather normalization.  If not, check out my previous article on how your energy use changes through the seasons. [...]

]]> By: The Oracle at TED: HVAC http://fireflyeco.com/2009/10/easy-energy-visualization-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-7 The Oracle at TED: HVAC Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:36:16 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=147#comment-7 [...] up is a look at my HVAC system.  I already talked about how heating and cooling affect my monthly energy bill, but now TED allows me to delve even deeper, understanding at the second time scale how my heat [...] [...] up is a look at my HVAC system.  I already talked about how heating and cooling affect my monthly energy bill, but now TED allows me to delve even deeper, understanding at the second time scale how my heat [...]

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