Energy efficient products are designed to utilize minimum energy to complete the required task. Others use renewable sources of energy such as solar energy and water. These appliances are capable of maximizing a small amount of energy into the required one to complete a task. These products are the need of time both economically and sustainably. These products spend the minimum amount of energy to complete their tasks. Thus, they enhance energy conservation. The conserved energy can be used for a different purpose at home, workplace, or even in industries.
Given below are few of the products available for you for your energy conservation.
HVAC
An HVAC system is designed to control the environment in which it works.It achieves this by controlling the temperature of a room through heating and cooling. It also controls the humidity level in that environment by controlling the movement and distribution of air inside the room.The system also ensures cleanliness of air inside the said environment.HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) equipment needs a control system to regulate the operation of a heating and/or air conditioning system. Usually a sensing device is used to compare the actual state with a target state. Then the control system draws a conclusion on what action has to be taken .
Central controllers and most terminal unit controllers are programmable, meaning the direct digital control program code may be customized for the intended use. The program features include time schedules, setpoints, controllers, logic, timers, trend logs, and alarms. The unit controllers typically have analog and digital inputs that allow measurement of the variable (temperature, humidity, or pressure) and analog and digital outputs for control of the transport medium (hot/cold water and/or steam). Digital inputs are typically (dry) contacts from a control device, and analog inputs are typically a voltage or current measurement from a variable (temperature, humidity, velocity, or pressure) sensing device. Digital outputs are typically relay contacts used to start and stop equipment, and analog outputs are typically voltage or current signals to control the movement of the medium (air/water/steam) control devices such as valves, dampers, and motors.
Solar panels
The term solar panel is used colloquially for a photo-voltaic (PV) module. A PV module is an assembly of photo-voltaic cells mounted in a framework for installation. Photo-voltaic cells use sunlight as a source of energy and generate direct current electricity. A collection of PV modules is called a PV Panel, and a system of Panels is an Array. Arrays of a photovoltaic system supply solar electricity to electrical equipment. The most common application of solar energy collection outside agriculture is solar water heating systems.
Photovoltaic modules use light energy (photons) from the Sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Most modules use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or thin-film cells. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can be either the top layer or the back layer. Cells must be protected from mechanical damage and moisture. Most modules are rigid, but semi-flexible ones based on thin-film cells are also available. The cells are connected electrically in series, one to another to a desired voltage, and then in parallel to increase amperage. The wattage of the module is the mathematical product of the voltage and the amperage of the module.
A PV junction box is attached to the back of the solar panel and functions as its output interface. External connections for most photovoltaic modules use MC4 connectors to facilitate easy weatherproof connections to the rest of the system. A USB power interface can also be used. Module electrical connections are made in series to achieve a desired output voltage or in parallel to provide a desired current capability (amperes) of the solar panel or the PV system. The conducting wires that take the current off the modules are sized according to the ampacity and may contain silver, copper or other non-magnetic conductive transition metals. Bypass diodes may be incorporated or used externally, in case of partial module shading, to maximize the output of module sections still illuminated. Some special solar PV modules include concentrators in which light is focused by lenses or mirrors onto smaller cells. This enables the use of cells with a high cost per unit area (such as gallium arsenide) in a cost-effective way.
Radiator reflector
A radiator reflector is a thin sheet or foil applied to the wall behind, and closely spaced from, a domestic heating radiator. The intention is to reduce heat losses into the wall by reflecting radiant heat away from the wall. It is a form of radiant barrier[citation needed] and is intended to reduce energy losses and hence decrease fuel expenditure.Studies based both on modelling and experiments have demonstrated modest improvements in energy losses through the walls of houses through this method.Radiator reflectors work on a very simple principle. Your radiator radiates heat both into the room, and into the wall behind it. That heat can simply be lost to the outside, especially if you have thin single skin walls. Reflectors are installed behind the radiator and help prevent that heat from being lost by reflecting the heat back into the room.
Geothermal heat pump
A geothermal heat pump (GHP) or ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a central heating and/or cooling system that transfers heat to or from the ground. It uses the earth all the time, without any intermittency, as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer). This design takes advantage of the moderate temperatures in the ground to boost efficiency and reduce the operational costs of heating and cooling systems, and may be combined with solar heating to form a geosolar system with even greater efficiency. They are also known by other names, including geoexchange, earth-coupled, earth energy systems. The engineering and scientific communities prefer the terms “geoexchange” or “ground source heat pumps” to avoid confusion with traditional geothermal power, which uses a high temperature heat source to generate electricity. Ground source heat pumps harvest heat absorbed at the Earth’s surface from solar energy. The temperature in the ground below 6 metres (20 ft) is roughly equal to the mean annual air temperature at that latitude at the surface.
Geothermal heat pumps are technologies that leverage the nearly constant temperature below the earth (regardless of the season) to heat and cool buildings. Just a few feet under the ground, the earth has a constant temperature of between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature below the earth is warmer than the air circulating above it during winter and cooler during summer. Geothermal heat pumps are sometimes combined with solar heating to develop geosolar, a system with much greater efficiency. Geothermal heat pumps are known by different names such as earth energy systems, ground source heat pumps, geoexchange and earth-coupled. These names depend on the region you stay and field of study. Scientific and engineering communities prefer to call them ground source heat pumps and geoexchange to alleviate confusion with conventional geothermal power, which extracts hot water several feet deep into the earth for the purpose of electricity production.
Polycarbonate skylight
Polycarbonate has been replacing glass considerably because of its variety of benefits as compared to glass. These include durability, strength, impact resistance, light weight, fire resistance, ease of installation, ease of handling, etc. You too can have your skylights built with Tuflite polycarbonate sheet to achieve awesome lighting effects within your rooms. They can be used in combination with steel roofing or with other polycarbonate sheets of higher density or darker colours. Polycarbonates will not only bring maximum light inside, but will also protect the harmful UV radiations. They will also act as light diffusers to soften the incoming sunlight and create interesting light effects.
Vinyl window
Vinyl is a good alternative to other types of window materials because of its price and energy efficiency. It’s made from a plastic material called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC has a high R-value, which means it provides a significant amount of insulation. Price and energy efficiency are just a few advantages of vinyl windows. When it comes to vinyl windows, your options are not limited. They are available in many different colors, styles and sizes. You don’t have to worry about whether or not they will match your home. With customization options, they can be made to fit your home perfectly. If you choose vinyl windows you are well on the way toward the home you have always dreamt of. Vinyl windows offer many advantages, but the most attractive one might be the fact that they are so inexpensive compared to other options. In most cases, they are more affordable than wood and aluminum windows, and they outperform those materials in key areas. Vinyl windows offer more insulation than aluminum and are more durable than wood.
Cross-linked polyethylene
Cross-linked polyethylene, is a form of polyethylene with cross-links. It is used predominantly in building services pipework systems, hydronic radiant heating and cooling systems, domestic water piping, and insulation for high tension (high voltage) electrical cables. It is also used for natural gas and offshore oil applications, chemical transportation, and transportation of sewage and slurries. PEX is an alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) or copper tubing for use as residential water pipes.
Low-temperature impact strength, abrasion resistance and environmental stress cracking resistance can be increased significantly by crosslinking, whereas hardness and rigidity are somewhat reduced. PEX does not melt any more (analogous to elastomers) and is thermally resistant (over longer periods of up to 120 °C, for short periods without electrical or mechanical load up to 250 °C). With increasing crosslinking density also the maximum shear modulus increases (even at higher temperatures).PEX has significantly enhanced properties compared with ordinary PE.Crosslinking enhances the temperature properties of the base polymer. Adequate strength to 120–150 °C is maintained and chemical stability enhanced by resisting dissolution. Low temperature properties are improved. Impact and tensile strength, scratch resistance, and resistance to brittle fracture are enhanced.
Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is an insulation that also functions as an air barrier and depending on type, as a bulk water barrier and moisture vapor retarder. SPF is made by reacting MDI (A-side or iso) with a polyol blend (B-side or resin). The two liquid components are joined under pressure in a spray nozzle where they are applied directly onto wall, roof or building assembly. Once the reacting liquid hits a surface, it expands 30 to 120X and solidifies into a foam matrix. SPF is typically applied by certified professionals.
SPF seals and protects the building from infiltration of hot air, cold air, moisture and sound. Its R-value reduces conductive heat transfer and its air barrier properties help reduce convective heat transfer. SPF is an ideal insulation product for residential, commercial, institutional, military and industrial buildings. Utility cost savings of 30 to 50 percent can be realized with SPF insulation.
Polyisocyanurate foam board insulation
Polyisocyanurate, also referred to as PIR, polyiso, or ISO, is a thermoset plastic typically produced as a foam and used as rigid thermal insulation. The starting materials are similar to those used in polyurethane (PUR) except that the proportion of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) is higher and a polyester-derived polyol is used in the reaction instead of a polyether polyol. The resulting chemical structure is significantly different, with the isocyanate groups on the MDI trimmerising to form isocyanurate groups which the polyols link together, giving a complex polymeric structure.
Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) is a closed-cell, rigid foam board insulation that is bonded to facers on both sides, which are composed of various organic and inorganic materials. Polyiso is used in roof, wall, ceiling and specialty applications within commercial and residential buildings of all types. Because of its high thermal performance, it is the product of choice for energy-aware architects, specifiers, builders, building owners, contractors and consumers.
House Wrap
Housewrap (or house wrap), also known by the genericized trademark homewrap (or home wrap), generally denotes a synthetic material used to protect buildings. Housewrap functions as a weather-resistant barrier, preventing rain from getting into the wall assembly while allowing water vapor to pass to the exterior. If moisture from either direction is allowed to build up within stud or cavity walls, mold and rot can set in and fiberglass or cellulose insulation will lose its R-value due to heat-conducting moisture. House wrap may also serve as an air barrier if it is sealed carefully at seams. Housewrap is a replacement for the older asphalt-treated paper, or asphalt saturated felt.
These materials are all lighter in weight and usually wider than asphalt designs, so contractors can apply the material much faster to a house shell.
Cool roofs
A cool roof is one that has been designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any type of building can benefit from a cool roof, but consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install one.
Just as wearing light-colored clothing can help keep you cool on a sunny day, cool roofs material that is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles.
Infrared heating
Infrared heating is a heating system that works by infrared waves (radiant heat). These heat people and / or objects directly without heating the air. This thermal emission technology is one of the least known and popular. Its operation is very curious. The main difference of infrared heating with respect to conventional heating systems is that it heats the air from the bottom up. Most heaters heat the space using air as a heat transition. This causes the heat to rise to the ceiling and away from the area where we are, losing part of its effectiveness. As a consequence, we have to reheat the air and consume more energy. You only need an electrical connection socket and place the equipment if it is fixed installation. In the case of operating with infrared panels, these are placed on the walls or ceiling to act as conductors of heat. Whether outdoors or indoors, infrared heating should always be installed in this way for optimal operation. As for the connection to the mains, the only thing we have to take into account when installing it is that there is a power outlet nearby.
Betting on an infrared heating system will allow us to save energy and, therefore, money. Other factors, such as the facade′s own insulation, influence this saving, but in general they are equipment that considerably reduces consumption. Many argue that infrared heating is slower and less powerful than traditional, hence its lower consumption. However, it is an ideal option to heat small spaces and maintain the temperature, since it directly heats the materials (and not the air).
In places where temperature conditions are not especially cold, you can take advantage of this type of facility. This type of heating does not need any type of fuel to work, so there are no risks of explosions. Not using combustion does not generate any type of gas or smell. In addition, infrared heating gradually heats and does not reach exaggerated temperatures. This makes it impossible for any fire or burn to occur. Infrared waves only transmit heat; It is a totally healthy system and suitable for people with breathing problems. There are cases in which conventional heating can aggravate these problems. This does not happen with infrared heating.
Smart thermostat
Smart thermostats are thermostats that can be used with home automation and are responsible for controlling a home’s heating and/or air conditioning. They perform similar functions as a Programmable thermostat as they allow the user to control the temperature of their home throughout the day using a schedule, but also contain additional features, such as sensors and WiFi connectivity, that improve upon the issues with programmable thermostats. Like a connected thermostat, they are connected to the Internet. They allow users to adjust heating settings from other internet-connected devices, such as a laptop or smartphones.
This allows users to control the thermostat remotely. This ease of use is essential for ensuring energy savings: studies have shown that households with programmable thermostats actually have higher energy consumption than those with simple thermostats because residents program them incorrectly or disable them completely. Smart thermostats also record internal/external temperatures, time the HVAC system has been running and can even notify you if your air filter needs to be replaced. This information is typically displayed later on an internet-connected device.
Smart thermostats are similar to programmable thermostats in the sense that they have a scheduling feature that allows users to set different temperatures for different times of the day. In addition to this feature, smart thermostats implement other technologies to reduce the amount of human error involved with using programmable thermostats. Smart thermostats incorporate the use of sensors that determine whether or not the home is occupied and can suspend heating or cooling until the occupant returns. Additionally, smart thermostats utilize Wi-Fi connectivity to give the user access to the thermostat at all times. These additional technologies have proven to make smart thermostats successful in saving users energy and money.
Conclusion
Energy efficiency is a practice that is undertaken with the purpose of reducing the consumption of energy, looking for a way that won’t lose energy quality in the process. Trying to use alternative energy measures which don’t harm the environment and allowing us to save resources without spending more on our electricity bill in the day to day running of the household. The search for efficiency is not just limited to housing, but also to other types of constructions, items used daily and household appliances. It’s role is essential in houses to ensure the correct operation of heating systems and the insulation of the building. In addition, this energy efficiency has to ensure that all the intended objectives are being fulfilled, maintaining the quality, productivity and security of the people that use this method. It has to be safe for the property and have correct functioning to reduce the ecological impact.
Image Source:
- energysavingtrust.org.uk
- internationalfinance.com
- suihvac.com
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- wired.com
- hannainc.com
- tuflite.com
- milgard.com
- atyapi.com
- roofcoatingoftexas.com
- nuclear-power.net
- gulnarplastics.com
- earth.com