Different Types Of Solar Energy

Passive Solar Energy

Solar panels can be used to create the type of solar energy that does not require mechanical aid called passive solar energy. This type of technology uses sunlight to provide heating and cooling of water and air. This quite interesting in that the very design and location of a home will be based on this technology. The altitude of the sun in winter and summer, the geographical location of your home are all variables in utilizing passive solar energy. One example of use of passive solar energy would be a sunroom, or solarium.

Passive solar energy can be used based on the construction of a house to supply energy for heat, and to cool your home. Heat is ventilated into your home after storage. You can also heat your water using passive solar energy. It has been noted that solar panels used to generate passive solar energy to heat water generate more power than those used for generating electricity. Maybe we should call passive solar energy, straight sun power.

The trick to passive solar energy is that it doesn't have to convert solar energy into electricity, thus losing a certain amount of energy in the process. What you're left with is a more efficient heating and cooling system than you would have if you converted solar energy into electricity and then used that solar energy for your water heater, electric heat registers, and air conditioners.

However, you may want to complement the cooling aspect of this system with a dehumidifier or two to take the humidity out of the air, which can make the cooling feel a lot more efficient, or you may even want to have an air conditioner for back up for particularly hot days that reach degrees in the three digits. People in Texas and Nevada, Arizona, will need this.

Solar panels will cover about 1/3 the total square feet of your home. Whether you are using panels for passive solar energy or solar energy for electricity, or both, the cost savings is worth it. In time it will pay for the initial cost of installation. Installing your home solar energy system right the first time with aid of a professional will position you to enjoy free energy safe for the environment and beneficial to your family. Not to mention, increase the value of your home.

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Bamboo Floor Installation Questions Answered

You’ve decided to replace your floor with bamboo. You buy the materials that you need and bring them home. Now what? How do you install your new floor properly so you can enjoy it for many years? One of the first steps you should take is to inspect your materials. Bamboo is a natural material and will have slight variations in color. Any material that has serious defects should be returned to the supplier if at all possible.

 

What about Floor Preparation?

 

One important step in bamboo flooring installation is being sure that the subfloor is sound. Because of the properties of bamboo, particleboard subfloors are unacceptable. The subfloor should be either ¾” OSB, 5/8” plywood, concrete or an existing solid wood subfloor. This will help keep the moisture content down so the adhesive used to lay the bamboo will not fail. The subfloor must be level to ensure the best possible installation. If the subfloor is subject to moisture, it shouldn’t exceed 2%; otherwise it should remain dry year round.

 

Now Can We Install?

 

Humidity and temperature should be consistent for ten days minimum before installation. If a room exceeds 80° or falls below 50°, or if the humidity is allowed to fluctuate higher than 65% or lower than 35%, most warranties will be voided. A dehumidifier or humidifier may be used to regulate the conditions of the room where the floor is installed. Always sweep the floor before installation begins. Dirt left behind will cause the floor to lie incorrectly.

 

To Nail, Glue, or Float?

 

Bamboo can be installed by nailing, gluing, or by using the floating method. If nailing, the planks should be started square with the room. Be sure that it is parallel to its longest length (achieved by using a chalk line). Make sure to leave a 3/8” expansion from any wall, base plate or other stationary vertical areas. Site made spacers are perfect for ensuring this. Once the starter rows are firmly in place by wedging or face nailing you can begin to add additional rows. Make sure you blind nail them directly above each tongue at a 45-50 degree angle. Also space your fasteners 10-12” apart with a minimum of two per plank.

 

Rather “Stick To It?”

 

Make sure that you use elastomeric moisture barrier wood flooring adhesive such as “Bostik’s Best,” or “Franklin’s 811 Plus.” Follow their directions on how to use, handle, and store the adhesive. Once you are ready to install, spread the adhesive with a notched trowel. Make sure to spread only as much adhesive as you will be covering in one hour so it does not have time to dry before the planks are in place. Once the glue has become tacky you are ready to lay the planks. The planks should be installed in the same manner as the nailing method, being sure to vary the tones in the planks as you go. Continue until the floor is totally covered. It is very important to remove any adhesive that gets on the surface. Once cured it is extremely difficult to remove.

 

How About Floating?

 

Using the floating method requires the installation of a suitable vapor barrier and/or underlayment between your flooring and the subfloor. This also includes taping the seams to ensure full coverage of the subfloor. One recommended adhesive is E-Z Bond (Medium Viscosity formula 1-866-239-2663). Remember! This material “sets” in approximately 15 seconds (it is kin to “super glue”). Before you glue the planks together, make sure they fit properly. Begin the installation using spacers to make sure that the recommended expansion perimeter is maintained (3/8”). Place the groove of the starter row against the wall and apply the adhesive along the bottom of the groove. Quickly tap the planks together using a tapping block. Also apply glue to the bottom side of the groove at the end joints for the first several rows.

 

You have installed your new bamboo flooring. Now you can sit back and enjoy the elegance and refinement that it brings to your room. Remember, keep the humidity and temperature under control and you will be able to enjoy your bamboo floor for years to come.

How the Absolute Humidity Level in Your Home Effects Your Health

The best inside relative humidity level is either 35% to 45% or 40% to 50% depending on who you speak to.  Fortunately, the human body is quite flexible and you do not have to aim at an exact figure.  The important thing is to avoid extremes.  Living indoors is not completely natural.  The artificial environment we create for ourselves can sometimes cause extremes of humidity to occur.  For short periods of time this is nothing to worry about, but the long term effect can be quite unpleasant.

If the humidity level regularly exceeds 50% you are likely to experience a rapidly increasing dust mite population, which will affect allergy sufferers.  Permanently damp rooms tend to have a musty smell.  The damp air is a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew and fungus, which can cause serious health problems.  Where ever possible the cause of such conditions should be removed, but it is not always that simple and a dehumidifier may be required.  A modern dehumidifier with built in humidistat can be programmed to maintain a humidity level below 50%.  There are many available, so it is important to find the correct type for your situation.  A fantastic guide to dehumidifiers can be found at Dehumidifier Tips.com

Consistently low humidity levels are also bad.  This tends to occur when the weather is cold outside and we turn up the heat in our homes.  The most noticeable effects are a sore throat and sinus pain, symptoms that are common in modern society at certain times of year.  You can also get dry skin and itchy eyes.  The solution is to buy a humidifier that will put moisture back into the air.  Like dehumidifiers, these can be programmed to operate automatically, and there is a huge range available that make the most of a variety of different humidification techniques.  This is explained at the humidifier website.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, maybe you should buy a hygrometer (humidity meter) and take some readings to find out if humidity is the cause.  With modern technology at your disposal there is no need for your health to suffer.

You can learn more about optimum inside humidity levels at HumidifierInformation.com

How to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution in Your Home

Believe it or not, the air within modern homes can be upwards of five times more contaminated than outside air. When you also take into account that we can spend up to ninety percent of our lives inside, the term sick building syndrome should need little explanation.

Inside pollutants like dust, pet dander, tobacco smoke, mold spores and pollen tend to be continually recycled which ultimately means that sufferers of allergy induced asthma are making their complaint worse by being indoors.

Other symptoms of sick building syndrome include giddiness, headaches, tickly throats, sinus congestion, itchy or watery eyes, sickness, lethargy and an inability to concentrate.  However, because several of these symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, it is not always easy to to determine if indoor pollution is the cause or if it is because of some form of viral infection.

If you notice that the symptoms fade when you are in the open air, you should try to identify inside air sources that may be possible causes and endeavour to eliminate them. As luck would have it, indoor air pollution is one health hazard that you can do something about.

Make a great difference to indoor air quality in your house with the following 7 tips.

Do Not Smoke Indoors

Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere inside the house but if this is not possible, try to restrict it to one place. In our case, any friends or family that call are restricted to the kitchen area or the back garden if they want to smoke. In the kitchen, an extractor fan drives the smoky air outside as it does with cooking smells.

Let the Bad Air Out

Assuming that it is not freezing cold or blowing a gale outside, let some outdoor air in by opening your windows and doors every now and then. Doing so will also remove some of the pollutants that have built up within your house. If you have bathroom or kitchen extractor fans, make use of them on a regular basis. You should also routinely clean the venthole in the extractors and make sure they function properly.

Use Natural House Cleaning Products

If you have ever taken the time to understand the labels on home cleaning products, most of them will include a warning about how harmful the chemicals are for your health or skin. Each time you use that product, fumes from whatever is in the bottle get released into the air for you to inhale. How is it that some well known anti bacterial cleaners start your eyes watering and bring on a coughing fit. Personally, I have taken the eco-friendly approach to household cleaning. Bicarbonate Of Soda, washing soda crystals, white vinegar and pure lemon juice will work wonders for the majority of cleaning jobs. They are not only cheaper but they also do not release any toxic fumes into your house.

Keep you Home Clean and free of dust

Hoovering your rugs and floors regularly will help to keep dust and airborne allergens at bay. It is claimed (although I have no proof) that some 70% of all house dust consists of dead skin, which we humans shed day in and day out. Dust mites successively feed on this dead skin that falls from our bodies. They then grow and shed their own skin and it is this together with their faeces that causes allergic reactions in folks.

Pet Dander Triggers Allergic Reactions

If you have a family pet, they will shed dander that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Something needs to be done if you suspect that either you or another household member are allergic to pet dander. Ideally, it is better to keep pets out of the home altogether although that is rarely possible. As a viable alternative, try and restrict the rooms that the pet is allowed into. One definite area to keep them out of is the bedroom.

Reduce Inside Air Humidity

Living in a rainy climate or an area of high humidity can both result in moisture levels in the house rising dramatically. This excessive moisture or humidity is the perfect breeding conditions for mold. For anybody with allergies, mold spores can cause as many health problems as airborne dust. Dehumidifiers can be a godsend in a humid environment because they are able to remove excess dampness from the surrounding air, thereby keeping mold and the resulting spores at bay.

Invest in a Home Air Purifier

Home air purifiers are units that clean indoor air of allergens, like mold spores, pollen and pet dander.  Besides being used to reduce the concentration of these airborne contaminants, they are especially useful for individuals who suffer from allergies and asthma attacks.  Indoor air purifiers have become very popular of late because they are able to clean the air in your home while making it a lot healthier to breathe in. Nevertheless, there are various types of air purification technologies, some of which may not be suitable in all situations.