Energy Services And Technology on Buildings
Use the following resources to help you make environmentally sound building choices:
Building envelope/construction/renovation |
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| Consumer Guide to Home Evergy Savings
Good general overview of energy efficiency in building envelope and daily activities: cooking, washing, heating, lighting, etc. |
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| Building Envelope From the Rocky Mountain Institute. This is a good place to gain solid, basic inforamtion about how buildings gain and lose heat; how to insulate and seal a building. |
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| Blower Doors Professional energy auditors use blower door tests to help determine a home's air tightness |
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| Windows Efficient Windows Collaborative - Very helpful guide for people considering replacing windows or purchasing new windows. Has a zip code-based calculator showing the relative energy costs of different glazing options. |
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| Home Energy Checklist Reduce Your Energy Costs - Practical, seasoned advice on reducing the fuel costs, with helpful myths-versus-facts |
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Energy Star Home Sealing |
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| Energy Star This site provides information about the federal government's Energy Star program, including an extensive section on saving energy through home improvement. |
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| NHSaves The joint program by New Hampshire's electric utilities to manage energy efficiency programs funded through the System Benefits Charge (found on every electric bill). Numerous efficiency programs, from Energy Star Homes to the commercial lighting replacement program are available. |
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| Efficiency Vermont Go-to resource for all things efficiency related with homes in VT. This is the counterpart to NHSaves in VT |
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Residential energy efficiency incentive programs in New Hampshire |
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ENERGY COSTS and CALCULATORS |
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| Home Energy Yardstick A quick and reasonably accurate way to determine the energy intensiveness of a home. Only need to input zip code, square feet of occupied space and fuel bills. (Unfortunately it does not allow for wood heat.) |
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| Energy Cost Calculator An Excel spreadsheet that provides a simple comparison of the relative costs of different heating fuels. (Requires Microsoft Excel to open.) |
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INDOORS |
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| KITCHEN APPLIANCES | |
| Time to Invest in a New Refrigerator?
Helpful calculator and associated database of refrigerator electricity use shows which refrigerators and freezers are cost-effective to replace. |
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| Laundry Save energy and money washing and drying your clothes |
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| Project Laundry List Forget the electric clothes dryer. Let it all hang out! Products, laundry tips, fun! This is a home-grown New Hampshire organization. |
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LIGHTING |
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| Energy Star Lighting | |
| When you replace light bulbs or entire light fixtures in your home with ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR, you help preserve energy resources and contribute to a cleaner environment while saving money and time buying and changing lights in your home. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting provides bright, warm light while it requires 2/3 less energy than standard lighting, generates 70% less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer. | |
| Natural lighting Use windows and skylights to maximize daylight in your home. |
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HEATING and COOLING |
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Heating and cooling account for almost half a home’s energy use. Use these resources to learn more about how to minimize both costs and energy use for these important functions. |
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Heating with wood |
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| Wood stove and wood pellet stoves (general information) | |
Choosing and sizing a woodstove |
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| Wood Burning Efficiency and Safety | |
| Wood Burning Safety in New Hampshire | |
| Proper installation and maintenance of a wood stove | |
| Safe Timber Harvesting A must-read if you plan to cut your own trees. Buying firewood |
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| Health Effects of Wood Smoke | |
| Indoor air quality Good basic information, not only for wood-burning households. |
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IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT |
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| US Dept. of Energy Simple energy conservation measures to help lower utility bills |
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ONLINE STORE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT SUPPLIES |
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| Energy Federation.org | |
| Learn about resources in other areas: | |
| Buildings | Food |
| Landscaping | Transportation |
| Financial Incentives | Renewables |
