Download Traditional Energy Sources

Housing & Interiors
8.03 Conservation Techniques for
the Home
Energy
 Lower thermometer to 68 in winter
 and raise to 78 in summer
 Energy Star: homes that have been identified as
energy-efficient due to improved insulation and
windows, heating/cooling systems designed to
work with minimal waste. These homes will use up
to 30% less energy than other homes, have a
higher resale value. Energy Star appliances, TVs,
computers, light bulbs use less energy, last longer,
need fewer repairs
Traditional Energy Sources
1. Traditional is coal, oil, natural gas or
Fossil fuels. Formed in the earth from
remains of prehistoric animals or plants.
These are NOT renewable (once used
cannot be replaced), are more expensive,
adds pollution to environment (increases
health hazards and contributing to climate
changes)
Traditional Energy Sources
 Natural gas is clean burning. Must be brought to
home/building by pipe lines
 Oil is stored in tanks in or near the house. Does
not burn cleanly and adds to pollution
 Coal is mostly used by large utility companies to
generate electricity.
 Pollutes the air & Contributes to illness such as
asthma, lung diseases,
 Major cause of acid rain and smog,
 Releases carbon dioxide into air therefore
contributing to global climate changes
Nuclear Power
 Nuclear power: reactors fueled by uranium
produce heat, which is used to make steam that
drives the turbines which powers the generators to
make electricity (McGuire Nuclear Plant in
Charlotte). Very expensive to build, radioactive
materials can leak and pollute surrounding land;
contaminated materials can be vented to the air
and can spread throughout the atmosphere.
Nuclear waste is hard to dispose of because it
remains hazardous for centuries
Additional Power Sources
 Solar power: sun is most powerful energy
source available, clean, and plentiful
 Geothermal energy: heat from the earth’s
interior
 Wind power: clean and renewable, utility
companies are creating power by using wind
“farms”
WATER Conservation
 Less than 1% of world’s water is
suitable for people to drink. 97% is salt
water and 2% is in form of
glaciers/polar ice
Orientation
 Positioning a house on a site considering
the sun, water sources, prevailing winds, &
scenic views
Orientation
– Homes should have windows facing south and west as
much as possible in order to allow for sun absorption
– Use trees and shrubs as natural windbreak around the
house. These also help to cool in summer and warm in
winter, can lower utility bills by 10-15%
– Coniferous trees/shrubs: do not lose leaves, usually
have needles and remain green all year
– Deciduous trees/shrubs: lose their leaves in fall and
have new growth in spring
Topography
 The way that the land lays
 Level land is easiest to build on and least
expensive to landscape
 Placing a home at the bottom of a hill so that
it is protected from a cold North Wind is an
example of
considering the
land’s topography
Xeriscaping
Choosing plants to conserve water
Xericaping: landscaping with plants in order to
conserve water
Use native plants as much as possible for the area
Less water will help plants to develop deep roots
and make the plants more drought resistant
….over watering will make roots rot & die