energy efficiency Archives - Energy Vanguard https://www.energyvanguard.com/tag/energy-efficiency/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Wed, 16 Oct 2024 09:56:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 An Improved System for Even Faster Hot Water https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/an-improved-system-for-even-faster-hot-water/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/an-improved-system-for-even-faster-hot-water/#view_comments Thu, 10 Oct 2024 22:04:56 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=9235 I missed an opportunity.  You may recall the retrofit I did in 2022 to get faster hot water at three of my fixtures.  It made a huge improvement, but it could have been even better.  But before I go there,…

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]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/an-improved-system-for-even-faster-hot-water/feed/ 22 My Undersized Heat Pump in an Arctic Blast https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/my-undersized-heat-pump-in-an-arctic-blast/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/my-undersized-heat-pump-in-an-arctic-blast/#view_comments Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:20:37 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=8011 Are you afraid of heat pumps?  Some people are, and it’s usually related to experiences or stories of uncomfortably cold homes.  I won’t deny that there have been some horror stories about people suffering in brutally low indoor temperatures during…

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]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/my-undersized-heat-pump-in-an-arctic-blast/feed/ 93 4 Ways to Fix Your Duct System https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/4-ways-to-fix-your-duct-system/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/4-ways-to-fix-your-duct-system/#view_comments Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:33:22 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=7679 I’ve written a lot of articles about ducts here, but I haven’t yet addressed today’s topic:  common problems with ducts and how to fix them.  This one is for homeowners or renters who want to save money and be more…

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]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/4-ways-to-fix-your-duct-system/feed/ 13 Is a Heat Pump More Efficient Than a Furnace? https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/is-a-heat-pump-more-efficient-than-a-furnace/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/is-a-heat-pump-more-efficient-than-a-furnace/#view_comments Fri, 12 Nov 2021 15:12:06 +0000 https://www.energyvanguard.com/?p=6735 The two primary ways you can heat your house are by burning a fuel (e.g., fossil gas, fuel oil, wood) or using electricity.  Furnaces and boilers distribute the heat from combustion to heat a house.  Electric resistance heat makes sense…

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]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/is-a-heat-pump-more-efficient-than-a-furnace/feed/ 113 How to Spot Deceptive Heating Efficiency Claims https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/how-spot-deceptive-heating-efficiency-claims/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/how-spot-deceptive-heating-efficiency-claims/#view_comments Wed, 10 Feb 2021 07:00:56 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?p=5110 Sometimes companies that make products stretch the truth, embellish features, or rely on their potential customers’ ignorance of how things work.  Shocking, I know.  The world of electric heating has such companies.  But if you’re looking for a device that…

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]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/how-spot-deceptive-heating-efficiency-claims/feed/ 23 A Little Home Energy Quiz from the DOE https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/little-home-energy-quiz-doe/ https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/little-home-energy-quiz-doe/#view_comments Thu, 04 May 2017 01:03:49 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-little-home-energy-quiz-from-the-doe I found this little quiz on Twitter the other day. I got 9 correct out of 12, but I’d like to dispute one of my wrong answers. One of the answers surprised me. And I was glad to see one…

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