03171 Energy Projects

This curious faith is predicated on the notion that we will soon develop unlimited new sources of energy: domestic oil fields, shale oil, gasified coal, nuclear power, solar energy, and so on. This is fantastical because the basic cause of the energy crisis is not scarcity: it is moral ignorance and weakness of character. We don’t know how to use energy or what to use it for. And we cannot restrain ourselves. Our time is characterized as much by the abuse and waste of human energy as it is by the abuse and waste of fossil fuel energy. — Wendell Berry

Here is a tip jar/grab bag of miscellaneous energy conservation ideas.

Bubblewrap Insulation for Windows. This is a great value-priced fix that can cut heat loss through windows by up to 50% in the winter. You can often get bubblewrap for free from places that sell bulky items. Cut the bubble wrap to fit the window. Simply spray a fine mist of water over a window and apply the bubblewrap. Usually one application is all you need. If undisturbed, the bubble wrap will stay up all winter. The bubble side goes next to the window. You can apply a second layer of bubblewrap the same way. Put up the first layer, spray it with a mist of water, then put up your second layer. In the spring, take it down, roll it up, and store it until the next fall. There are reports of bubble wrap lasting longer than six years in these window insulation applications. Lots more details plus pictures at http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/bubblewrap.htm .

Cardboard Shutters. Cut several pieces of cardboard to fit a window, and duct-tape the edges so they stay together. Place in a window so there is a gap between the cardboard shutter and the window. (Creating the air gap provides some insulation, and the cardboard provides insulation.) Size the cardboard so it fits snugly, and wrap it in aluminum foil, taping the foil as necessary to hold it all together. The aluminum foil helps a bit with the thermal resistance and with fire resistance. http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/CardboardShutter.htm

Window Quilts. Make a window quilt covering for a window. Besides using the heaviest batting you can find, put a layer of Mylar between the batting and the outer cotton quilt squares. Hang this over the window so it comes into contact with all of the window frame. Some people put little magnets on their window frames and sew them into the edges of the window quilt, so it clips tightly to the window. Whenever the sun shines through the window in the winter, take the quilt down and soak up the heat. You can get the same effect, more casually, by hanging layers of blankets/curtains over your windows. You can place a sheet of Mylar between the layers. One cheap way to do this is to use auto sun shades, which can often be bought for as cheaply as a dollar in the dollar stores. Cut and/or duct tape them together so they fit over the window, layer with blankets and quilts.

Shade cloth. If your windows and doors are not shaded by plants, shade cloth is a way to block the sun from hitting your windows and doors. Shade cloth is a specially woven cloth, designed for outdoor use, that provides shade. You want to hang them on the outside of the windows, to prevent the heat from hitting the windows. You need a little gap between the window and the shade cloth. Many windows are set in a frame so you could simply staple the shade cloth to the wooden frame and it will cover the window with a little gap. Or you could nail some steel washers onto the frame, and sew some small magnets into the edge of the cloth so the magnets will click onto the washers and hold the shade cloth in place. Buy shade cloth at garden supply stores.

Do-it-yourself Solar Air Heating.

A Survey of Air Heater Options — http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/SolAirHtSysBook/Chap02.pdf

How to build a 150 sq ft solar collector http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/solar_barn_project.htm

How to build a high efficiency solar air heater (20 sq ft) http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/Kreamer%20Air%20Collector.pdf