eBook - Energy Saving Home Improvements from A to Z

Lowering The Energy Use Of Your Furnace Or Boiler

• Available heating technologies include:

• Boilers

• Electric Resistance Heat

• Forced-Air Gas Furnaces

• Heat Pumps

  Related Article...

  752 - Big Bear City and Big Bear Lake are located in the San Bernardino mountain area, offering year-round fun and relaxation for residents and visitors, say local Realtors. "Big Bear Lake is a place for all seasons," says Realtor Cher Mayer. "Year-round recreation ranges from lake to snow fun." About the market, she suggests, "The demand for a second or retirement home in the mountains remains strong. Big Bear Lake is a beautiful resort town in 7,000+ elevation, above the smog with blue skies and clean air. It's between 1-1/2 and 3 hours away from most Southern California areas. The town offers year-round four season recreation. We have a wonderful climate with sun in the summer, snow in the winter and glorious and colorful springs and falls." About the market Mayer explains, "As of 08/25/04 there are 173 properties for sale in the Big Bear Lake area ranging in price from $97,500 to $3,333,000 - something for everyone's taste and budget. Big Bear City is adjacent to Big Bear lake on the east, says Mayer. "Big Bear City continues to show a strong demand for second and retirement homes in this San Bernardino Mountain Resort Area," says Mayer. Read this Nemmar Real Estate Training article at Real Estate - State and Local

   

• Radiant Floor Heat

Heating is the transfer of energy to a space or to the air in a space by virtue of a difference in temperature between the source and the space or air. This process may take different forms such as direct radiation to the space, direct heating of the circulated air, or through heating of water that is circulated to the vicinity of the space and used to heat the circulated air.

Heating requirements can be reduced through passive solar design and attention to tightening the building envelope. Use the whole-building design approach to integrate the various building systems and components.

• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.

• Keep the temperature fairly constant, as frequent changes will use more energy. Setting back the temperature at night, however, is recommended.

• Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or as needed.

• Oil-fired boilers should be professionally cleaned and tuned once a year. Gas-fired equipment needs to be checked every other year.

• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Make sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

• Keep draperies and shades on south-facing windows open during the heating season to allow sunlight to enter your home; close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

• Close the door to an unoccupied room or area that is isolated from the rest of the house and turn down the thermostat or turn off the heat for that room or area. However, do not turn the heating off if it adversely affects the rest of your system. For example, if you heat your house with a heat pump, do not close the vents-closing the vents could harm the heat pump.

• Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely. Turn these fans off as soon as they are no longer needed. In about 1 hour, these fans can pull out a house-full of warmed or cooled air.

• Check your ducts for air leaks. First look for sections that should be joined but have separated and then look for obvious holes. Consult with a professional about repairing duct leaks. Safe duct repairs require a licensed heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning contractor.

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