Extremidades caseras diarias de la renovación

We have written previously about the Canadian Conservative Federal Government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit program, an initiative more than a year old now to encourage Canadian home owners to make their homes more energy efficient by undertaking energy conservation measures.

We have been critical for the lack of financial incentives to motivate home owners to participate (for example see our ecoENERGY - 1st Anniversary article).

Heck, we have even written a series of articles in our own personal participation in the program meant to motivate Canadian home owners to undertake their own energy conservation measures (see our ECOENERGY page  for the series of article on our experiences).

Well, in attempting to learn even more about the program I came across a page within the program’s web site concerning Solar Water Heaters.

Specifically, there was a request by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) for companies to express interest in participating in a pilot large-scale deployment of solar water heaters withing Canadian homes.

According to Natural Resources Canada, 38 responses were received.

Of the 38 respondents, 13 firms were selected to participate in the “… $9 million pilot project that will test various large-scale strategies for deploying solar water heating systems in the Canadian residentical sector. The goal of the pilot is to determine the most efficient and effective ways to market solar water heaters to homeowners.”

The result is that these 13 firms “…will deliver projects in 7 provinces resulting in the deployment of over 8,000 solar domestic water heating systems to Canadians.”

Why is this good news and why am I commending those responsible for administering and funding the ecoENERGY Residential program?

It’s about the funding.

I contacted one of the 13 selected firms to express my interest in (A) finding out more details and (B) possibly being amongst those residences participating in the pilot for the area of Canada in which we reside.

I was given some interesting information from this company that gave me the encouragement.

The current ecoENERGY Residential Retrofit program does not in my opinion (and yes, opinions are subjective) provide sufficient funding as previously mentioned. The cost of a new solar water heating installation is between $5,000 and $7,000. The Federal Government’s ecoENERGY program will provide $500 grant back to the residence from it’s participation in the ecoENERGY Residential Retrofit program. Certain provinces, like the one in which we reside, will also provide another $500 grant to the same home owner.

So, the net cost to the home owner would be between $4,000 and $6,000. In order for the home owner to recoup their investment in say 10 years they would need to be spending at a minimum of $400 to $600 per year to currently heat their home’s hot water. For a more reasonable 5 year payback (the typical warranty period under which such products) the same home owner would need to be spending at a minimum between $800 to $1,200.

That, ladies and gentlemen is an aweful lot of hot water. While every residence is different, but from the information I have gathered a typical home using natural gas to heat the home and it’s how water might spend perhaps 20% of it’s total total natural gas bill on hot water. You do the math on how long it would take you to recoup your investment under the current ecoENERGY Residential Retrofit program for your own home.

And, at least in Canada with our climate, solar water heating devices do not necessarily provide 100% of the home’s hot water.

So, why am I encouraged?

Well, again it’s on the financial side. One of the companies I contacted indicated that for residences participating in this particular pilot indicated that will receive additional financial incentives over and above the aforementioned ecoENERGY Federal and Provincial grants. How much more? Well, since this participating company’s official launch of this program has not yet started (scheduled to launch in mid-ish September) I likely can’t say the exact figure. And, since the program has not yet be finalized details might change.

Let me say this. What was told to me was that the additional financial incentive under this pilot program would be 4 figures … low 4 figures …. but 4 figures none the less.

Will this provide financial payback for the home owner’s participation around 5 years? Again, it depends, but likely no …. much closer than current, however.

And, this additional incentive might also encourage more new home developers to include solar water heaters than the one or two such new home builders who presently offer this to their customers.

So, stay tuned. Keep your eye out in September and October those of you who are home owners residing in Canada for announcements regarding this additional financial incentive under the ecoENERGY Residential Retrofit program regarding solar water heaters.

Our Energy Conservation  page lists a wide variety of over 70 (and growing) different energy conservation tips for the home.

As everyone has to clean their clothes all the time, we thought we would write about all of the energy conservation tactics and tips related to home laundry.

• Front Load Washers
  • According to Direct Energy, ENERGY STAR rated front load washing machines use approximately 40% less water per laundry load and 50% less energy than top loading washing machines
  • Front load clothes washers also tend to wring out more water from clothes than top loading washing machines, resulting in less work for the clothes dryer
• Use Cold Water not Hot Water
  • Use cold water with cold water laundry detergent to wash your clothes to save hot water heating bills
• Clean the Dryer Lint Trap
  • Clean the lint trap in the dryer after each load. A clogged lint trap makes the hot air element in the dryer work harder and use more energy.
  • Also consider washing by hand the lint trap weekly in cold water.
• Check Outside Dryer Vent
  • Every once in a while check the outside dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked, causing the heating element in the dryer to work harder (and use more energy) that it should
• Use Full Loads
  • Use only full loads to wash clothes where possible to reduce the number of loads (but not too full to reduce the cleaning ability of the washing machine.
• Dryer’s Delicate Mode
  • Use the Delicate option on dryer loads where practical to reduce the heat required and energy consumed for small / light fabric clothes
• Check Clothes Before Dryer Cycle Finishes
  • Many times the clothes are already dry when the dryer continues to heat the clothes and consume energy. Check the dryer before it says it is finished, even those with ’sensor’ features.
• Use Outside Laundry Line
  • What is old is new again. Dry clothes on an outside clothes line during good weather. This saves energy and gives your clothes that fresh outdoors smell you grew up with.
• Remove Dry Clothes Before Dryer Cycle Complete
  • By interrupting dry clothes before the dryer cycle is complete, you both allow more heat to be focused on the remaining wet / damp clothes and prevent fabric damage of clothes already dry
• Dry Laundry Loads Consecutively
  • Rather than doing one load of laundry per day, pick a day and do all of your laundry loads one after the other. This will allow the heat in the dryer from one load to be used to dry the very next load before it escapes.
• Automatic Shutoff Dryers
  • Use clothes dryers that have automatic shut off feature once the internal sensor indicates the clothes are dry
• Avoid Dryer’s Wrinkle Shield Option
  • Some dryers have a wrinkle shield feature which will run the dryer every 10 minutes after the clothes are dry for 2 to three minutes. The concept is that the clothes will stay wrinkle free. However, just remove the clothes once the main cycle is finished. This feature can use a lot of electricity if you forget to remove the clothes once you have gone to bed at night
• Wrap Hot Water Pipes
  • Wrap the hot water pipes leading to the clothes washer to insulate the hot water from the hot water heater, retaining it’s heat.
• Tankless Water Heater
  • Tankless water heaters are more efficient and consume less energy to generate hot water than electric or natural gas hot water tanks. Use a tankless water heater for hot water needed to wash clothes
• Solar Water Heater
  • While more expensive, consider a solar water heater for your home’s hot water needs, including for washing your family’s clothes

If you have additional home laundry tips to reduce the energy consumed and thus the cost of doing laundry at home, please write us or add a comment to this article.