Friday, December 29, 2017

Do We Need A Smart Fan?

Dia Dhaoibh~

How is everyone? I am sure all are preparing for the New Year countdown. I had just came back from Guangzhou, China for a seminar on the green technology. I was fascinated by how far they had advanced and committed to have green environment for their cities. If you had gone there, you would see that they are not using any cash (cashless communities) and most of them use the bicycle as transportation. They also have renewable energy installed for their buildings and the streetlights.

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While I was strolling through the park, I went into a recreational cafe for some drinks. When I stepped inside, I was astounded by the way they had make this place such a relaxing view. The best part was the ceiling fan was not turned on when I was about to make my way to the entrance door, but once I'm in, the fan just automatically turned on. Well, I know that these is nothing new but somehow it makes me think: How does an automatic fan work and is it necessary?

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What Is An Automatic Fan?

We've spent time fiddling with the thermostats and with good reason: climate control is one of the most popular points of focus in today's connected living space.
But thermostats aren't the only things in the house working to keep the climate in check. We've got ceiling fans, too. And while they obviously don't offer whole-home cooling like our air-conditioning system does, they do offer room-specific cooling at a fraction of the cost. Adding in smarts to help us use them more effectively would seem to make a lot of sense.
Doing so could be as easy as installing smart switches to turn our fans on and off at specific times, or when the temperature rises to a certain level. But how about the all-in-one approach, with sensors and radios built directly into the fan itself? There aren't many options like that, but there are a few -- and they sure don't come cheap.
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What Is The Market Available?

There are a lot of competing technologies and industry standards in the smart home space currently, including Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Apple HomeKit. Most only work with one protocol, although some of the newer products use multiple standards.

One of the largest manufacturers of ceiling fans is Tennessee-based Hunter Fan Company. They’re also the first company to offer ceiling fans that work directly with Apple HomeKit. The company’s line of Symphony and Signal ceiling fans contain both Wi-Fi and Apple HomeKit technology. In doing so, the fans are controlled inside a home with an included handheld remote or from anywhere in the world through mobile devices.

Haiku, a division of Kentucky-based manufacturer Big Ass Solutions, also offers smart ceiling fans, using an in-house technology called SenseMeFirst introduced in 2014, SenseMe allows you to control or schedule both the fan and its built-in LED light from your mobile devices. Haiku products aren’t compatible with Apple HomeKit. However, they do work with some of the other big names in home automation including the Nest Learning Thermostat, Amazon Alexa, and the ecobee smart thermostat.

If you’re not in the market for a new ceiling fan, but still want to control your existing fans remotely, you’re in luck. You can add smart ceiling fan control to your current set up relatively inexpensively using one of the following solutions.

The Z-Wave Smart Fan Control from GE replaces any standard in-wall switch to control a ceiling fan remotely. It also features a three-speed control system and integrated LED indicator light, which allows you to locate the switch in a dark room.

The Insteon Hub Pro Advanced Central Controller provides another Apple Homekit-compatible solution for ceiling fans, courtesy of the dual-band Insteon Ceiling Fan and Light Controller. The biggest drawback with this solution is that it only works with AC motor-powered ceiling fans. Ceiling fans with DC-motor and built-in remote control motors are not compatible.

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Worth The Purchase?

The obvious problem with these smart ceiling fans is that they're all pretty expensive. You need to install the fan and download the app onto your phone and connect with each one of them. The idea is that you'll use the app to program your fan and teach it how best to keep you comfortable. Do a good enough job, and your fan should be able to anticipate your needs, allowing you to leave your phone in your pocket.


So, back to my original question -- are smart ceiling fans worth it? Well, if you are already planning on buying a thousand-dollar ceiling fan to help tie your living room together, then sure, it's worth it to make that fan a smart fan. When looking for a solution, make sure the product can become a part of a larger home automation system for your home. By doing so, you can improve the likelihood that your product won’t become obsolete in the not so distant future, thereby saving you time and money.

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Saturday, December 9, 2017

Is There Any Smart Air-Conditioning?

Aloha~


How is everyone's weekend? The holiday season is near and I can see many shopping malls are jamming with people. I'd just came back from a shopping spree with my family and I can see many sales are coming up, especially when the Black Friday" had just passed.

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I thought that those bricks & mortar was getting killed by e-commerce but still they are able to attract many tourists and locals. While I was there, I'd observed that the environment was neither cold nor warm. I'm sure that the building's air-conditioning system must be working very well. At that time, I was wondering if the air-conditioning in our house are smart enough to give us comfort.

What is Smart Air-Conditioning?

Smart air conditioners are air conditioners that are connected to the internet and are thereby controllable through your smartphone, both inside your home and outside. It’s just one of the many appliances to join the ‘Internet of things’ – appliances connected to the internet for maximum controllability and convenience. Why ferret around for that air conditioning remote stuck down the back of the couch, when you can just pick up your smartphone and fine-tune any and all settings on your air conditioner? Smart air conditioners afford you that luxury, and it’s an exciting step forward.

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Is There Any Market?

So, what can you actually do with a smart air conditioner? It varies of course model-by-model, but the general key features of smart air con are:
  • Smartphone app to access all settings
  • Controllable temperature and fan speed settings
  • Controllable timer
  • Control settings away from home, so you can come home to a frosty house after a day out
Think of it like a remote thermostat. If it’s a stifling-hot day, the last thing you want to do is come home to a hotbox of a house. With remote controllability through your smartphone, you can press a few buttons while still in the office or your workplace, and come home to an adequately-chilled home fine-tuned to your exact specifications.
Not only this, if you forget to turn the air con off before leaving the house, you can just fire up your smartphone and turn it off to prevent nasty electricity bills. 
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Some brands are ahead of others, and there is a great range of smart air conditioners out there. Look for brands like LG, Mitsubishi Electric and Samsung to offer some innovative smart air conditioners. Generally, companies put most of their time and effort into developing split system air conditioners. Not only does this result in split systems being – most of the time – the best option for the house, but it also makes split systems the best bet for having a smart air conditioner. With the great range out there, chances are there’s one that’s right for you.
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Who Benefit From This?

The short answer is – it varies. One thing’s for sure, though, is that you’ll be paying a premium for a smart air conditioner over a regular one with a standard remote control. Expect to pay about MYR4,000 or more for one. Granted, a lot of smart air conditioners are rather large in capacity and are suitable for a big room or lounge room. If you’re the type who wants maximum control over your air conditioner at all times, it makes sense to go for a smart air conditioner with a smartphone app. However, if you just like to put on the air conditioner while watching TV or chilling out we suspect a standard air conditioner will be sufficient – and you’ll likely save a few bucks.
We also suspect that it’s a ‘you don’t know what you’re missing til it’s gone’ type deal. That is, once you go for a smart air conditioner, you might not want to go back! In that instance, we say it’s definitely worth the money. Smart air conditioners are a great addition to the ‘smart’ landscape, but be prepared to pay extra for it.
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Brands Review

Home air conditioning methods take many forms, from centralized systems that control the entire home to single units mounted on a wall or in a window. Floor units are also becoming popular thanks to their portability. For now, there aren’t a lot of companies offering smart air conditioning systems. Of those who are, the products aren’t yet available everywhere.

Below are reviews for some of the brands available in the market. You may check it out for yourself and see which suits you the most. 


Friday, November 17, 2017

Smart Place To Study

Ni Hao~

How is everyone's doing? Hope you guys had a great holiday plannings as the season is near as always. For me, it had been a tedious months as I was having seminars and business trips. I'd just came back from Copenhagen, Denmark for an energy management seminar and it was a great eye opener.

The country is beautiful and the people there are friendly. The best part was that I'd visited their library, The Royal Library. I understand from the locals that the "black building" is called Black Diamond. Nice name for a great structure. I was wondering if we have any smart library or study area just like smart building? Hmm..

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What Is A Smart Study Room?

When it comes to getting work done, nothing matters more than having the right space to do it. Having a study room that speaks to your thoughts and gets your cogs turning is great for helping you work better, faster, and stronger. So, whether you’re off at college, a corporate raider, or in your first apartment, a smart study room can get you thinking and doing a lot more.

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The concept of the “smart rooms,” which were formerly called equipment group study rooms, were implemented as a place for small groups of people to meet up and work on projects. The rooms are originally each equipped with a PC, a Mac, a television and a lectern (an overhead projector-like device), which are meant to provide the users with various means to finish their work. Additionally, both the Mac mini and PC use a wireless mouse and keyboard for ease of use throughout the entire study room.

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The smart study rooms also use smart technology to ensure that there is no trespassing in the study group rooms, by use of a wireless key card lock. The locks on the smart study rooms are innovative since they require less construction due to the card readers being wireless. 


How To Make One?

There are many ideas to make a smart study room, but the most important is that it suits your environment type. People say that a quiet place filled with serenity is the best for innovation to take place. I couldn't agree more. Here are a few ideas that we can use for a smart study room.

Explorer Of The Mind - Does thinking about all of the possibilities in the world spark your creative mind? Perfect because one of our study room ideas uses a map (or maps, if you prefer more) to get you pondering everywhere that life could take you – if you focus up and complete your current studies. Best if those maps are in digital display.

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The Window To The Mind - Nothing like a nice, big window for natural light to get you stewing on your studies. You could choose to face the window for a relaxing view or put your back to it, like in this study, to enjoy the natural light warming your entire room. 

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The Artful Office - Who doesn’t love a pretty picture every time they look up? Art of a style of your choosing can be placed up on your study room’s walls to keep you inspired every time you glance upwards away from your projects. Creativity is never further away than a tilt of the head – as long as you aren’t the easily distracted sort.

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Is It Worth The Money?

There are a lot of ideas of how to make a smart study rooms, but all these come with a price. There are some low end and high end for this infrastructure. The decision still lies on the consumer's thinking of whether it's worthy or not.

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Saturday, August 12, 2017

Time To Dry Those Clothes!

Kamusta ka~


How was everyone's weekends? I am sure everyone is having a very bad day, especially in Malacca, Malaysia. I know because I was there during the Friday flood. It was terrible and lucky for me, I did not stay in the area that was affected. One of my partners stayed in Renainsance Hotel and she complained about how high the water level. When I saw the picture in the social media, then only I understood her frustration.



















I can't imagine the massive traffic congestion caused by this flash flood. We were supposed to have a technical discussion with one of the local industry at here but were postponed due to the flood. As we were travelling back to Singapore, I saw most of the clothes were hanging outside of the houses. The laundry shops were also packed with people. Maybe there should be a new technology device that can help these locals to dry their clothes from inside the house.

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What Makes It Ticks?

A clothes dryer can be found a lot in the western countries but you don't often see them here in the Asia Pacific. If you understand a little bit of the science behind drying your clothes, you'll find you can do your laundry a whole lot more quickly and economically. So what exactly is involved in turning wet clothes back into dry ones? In a word, evaporation: turning the liquid water in your clothes into a vapor (gas)—and then getting rid of it.
Dryer airflow diagram

The diagram below is what we call a phase diagram: it's a simple way of showing how a particular substance will be either a solid, liquid, or gas depending on the temperature and pressure. At high temperatures, you can see that water is going to be gas (steam) unless the pressure is high too; at low temperatures, water is generally going to be ice, unless the pressure is low. The diagram also shows us that you can heat solid ice or liquid water to make water vapor (gas) and squeeze (increase the pressure on) liquid water or water vapor to make ice.











How To Dry Efficiently?

If you tend to use your clothes dryer more often than not, it’s important to choose the most energy efficient model that’s suitable for your household. If you’re looking to purchase an electric clothes dryer, choose a model with at least a 2 star energy rating. The star rating is shown in the red band at the top of the label and can range from 1 to 6 stars. The more stars, the more energy efficient the clothes dryer will be and the lower its running costs. 
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The following tips can help you to use your dryer more efficiently.
  • Clean the filter before each use.
  • Keep the surrounding area ventilated to minimise humidity.
  • Don't mix heavy and lightweight clothing together.
  • Dry several loads one after the other to make use of the heat in the machine from the previous load.
  • Don’t overload the dryer.
  • Dry all of your washing on an outside line whenever the weather is dry.
  • Consider a heat pump or a gas dryer, especially if you use your clothes dryer frequently.
  • Look for models with auto sensors that can help you to avoid over-drying.
  • Leave a window open when drying, or even install a venting kit, as this will expel moist air directly outside.

Types of Dryers

Combined Washer - Dryers : As their name indicates, these machines are a clothes washer and dryer in one. Be sure to look out for the two energy rating labels on combined washer dryers, as these labels detail the efficiency of the product as both a washing machine and clothes dryer. Note that their load capacity for drying clothes is only about half of the load capacity for washing clothes. These machines are an ideal option for households that are short on space.

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Heat Pump Clothes Dryer : These clothes dryers use a heat pump to produce hot air, and operate similarly to reverse-cycle air conditioners when heating. These machines are highly efficient, as they condense moisture from being expelled and recover heat to dry the load. Heat pump dryers use less than half the energy of conventional electric clothes dryers, and are worth considering if you use an electric dryer frequently.

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Gas Clothes Dryer : These clothes dryers use gas to heat air, and therefore need to be connected to a gas supply. Although they are more expensive to purchase upfront, their running costs are much cheaper as they operate using natural gas. Gas clothes dryers are a good option for households that use their dryer frequently.

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How Much Does It Cost?

Moisture sensors have been used in dryers for years and are more accurate than thermostats in determining when laundry is dry. Advanced moisture sensors are one way a dryer can earn the Energy Star, and heat pump technology is another. Unlike washers, dryer manufacturers have fewer variables to manipulate to improve energy efficiency. So it’s low heat and longer drying times or higher heat and shorter drying times.

Energy efficient dryers have EcoBoost mode that uses about 40 percent less electricity, but take 112 minutes to dry out 12-pound load. That’s 38 minutes longer than the regular mode. Your energy savings will vary by the size of the load and what you’re drying. 

Energy Star says that you can save about S$20 a year in electricity compared to the dryers you’ll see in stores that meet the minimum efficiency standard. But the longer drying times mean that more air is moving from your home through the vent to outside—air that you may be heating or cooling at a cost. So depending on where you live, the location of the dryer in your home, and the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems, your savings could be quite a bit less.

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Upsides & Downsides?

There are a few pros and cons of using an energy efficient dryers. But I'll list down the best and the worst for you to make your judgement when making a purchasing decision.

PROS
  • Convenience Energy Star Labeled appliances are very convenient, because they perform better than other standard models. For instance, a washing machine can wash more clothes while using less water proportionally.
  • Impact on the environmentActually, the energy performances is the main reason why some appliances are awarded with the Energy Star label: their impact on the environment is a lot less than the Energy Star appliances are not as bad for the environment. They have a smaller water consumption and electricity usage.
  • Energy costsStudies demonstrate that Energy Star appliances can reduce energy usage (and thus utility bills) by as much as 50% and as low as 25%. That’s a lot more money in your pocket at the end of the year.
CONS
  • Selection - If you’re opting for eco-friendly, energy-cautious appliances, your selection is bound to be smaller, which can be annoying to some people.
  • Initial price - Energy Star appliances are more expensive to purchase than their non-labelled counterparts, though they will save you money in the long run.
  • Repairing cost - Because they make use of a smarter technology, Energy Star appliances can be trickier to repair than standard appliances, which means that a technician will spend more time repairing them.
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Summary

Energy efficient dryers will generate a good return on investment in the long run, because they will definitely save you money as months go by. The money you will save on utility bills will eventually pay out the initial cost. Energy efficient dryers are easy to find – you probably have one, you just don’t know how to use it.

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Saturday, July 15, 2017

Anyone Going For A Trailer Ride?

Wie Geht Es Dir~


How is everyone doing? Busy with your business schedule or having some fun activities? As for me, it's been a real hectic (but a satisfying) month. My business partner and I had just captured a contract for an energy efficiency project. It'll be a very busy time for months to come, so I've decided to go for a holiday trip. As I was browsing for the holiday packages, I chanced upon "Mobile Home" holiday trip. I have not tried a holiday trip driving a trailer before but I am sure to go for it. And I'll go for the more energy efficient ones.

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Definition Of Mobile Homes

A mobile home (also trailer, trailer home, house trailer, static caravan, residential caravan) is a prefabricated structure, built in a factory on a permanently attached chassis before being transported to site (either by being towed or on a trailer). Used as permanent homes, for holiday or temporary accommodation, they are left often permanently or semi-permanently in one place, but can be moved, and may be required to move from time to time for legal reasons.
Mobile homes share the same historic origins as travel trailers, but today the two are very different in size and furnishings, with travel trailers being used primarily as temporary or vacation homes. Behind the cosmetic work fitted at installation to hide the base, there are strong trailer frames, axles, wheels, and tow-hitches.
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How Energy Efficient Are Mobile Homes?

Like site-built homes, new manufactured homes (formerly known as mobile homes) can be designed for energy efficiency and renewable energy. You can also remodel or retrofit older manufactured homes to improve energy efficiency and/or add renewable energy equipment. Manufactured homes are built in a factory on a permanent chassis, then transported to a building site and installed.

It is estimated that the typical manufactured home will save 27% of energy use compared to a home that meets the current HUD Code. Average lifetime savings for homeowners are estimated at almost RM17,000 net present value. Cumulative national savings include 2.3 quadrillion Btu of energy (equivalent to the energy use in one year of all homes in New York and Florida), RM13-47 billion customer benefits (depending on discount rate), and 160 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

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How To Make A Mobile Homes Energy Efficient?

There are many ways of building an energy efficient mobile homes but I'll just discuss 10 ways and here it goes:
  1. Save Energy By Changing The Roof Covering - Did you know that a cool roof coating can lower mobile home temperature, reflect up to 85% of the sunlight, reduce smog and save your electric bill by cutting down unnecessary Air-Conditioning Costs? Installing a White Roof or Cool Roof Coating on your mobile home reflects the heat from the sun back out helping to cool your home.
  2. Add Roof Installation - It takes a little more work, but you can save up to 15% of heating and insulation costs simply by insulating your mobile home or manufactured home roof cavity. Installing a sloped roof allows extra room for insulation in the ceiling of your home.
  3. Save Energy In The Kitchen - Did you know that you can speed up cooking and save energy by using lids on pots and pans? Pressure cookers can reduce cooking time even further. Other ways to reduce energy in the kitchen include; defrosting in the fridge in advance instead of using a microwave, not using your full oven for small meals, choosing Energy Star appliances and not overfilling your refrigerator.
  4. Using LED Lightbulbs - All homes can benefit from energy efficient lighting. Most homes use 10%-12% of the entire home energy on lighting, making savings that could lower mobile home energy bills.
  5. Service The Furnace - Unlike site built homes, mobile home furnaces draw air directly into the furnace  through removable grilles. Cleaning or replacing the furnace filter inside can drastically reduce energy costs and make the furnace more efficient.
  6. Make The Windows More Energy Efficient - Simple plastic window coverings can help reduce energy costs and cut out drafts. The disposable plastic covering can be removed for the summer.
  7. Cooling From Inside & Outside - Air conditioners not only cool the air, they take out moisture to make the air more comfortable. You can lower AC running costs by lowering the moisture in your mobile home so that your AC unit can run more efficiently.  Moisture comes from two main sources: the ground, and air leakage from Air Conditioning units.
  8. Add Insulation Under The Floor - Mobile homes often already have insulation, but they tend to be partially filled which means there is always room for more. It is a good idea to hire an insulation professional and ask for blown fiberglass to reduce the potential corrosion of any metal parts from cellulose insulation.
  9. Check The Crawlspace & Ducts - The crawl space underneath your manufactured home is often neglected, but there are energy savings to be had beneath the floor. Adding skirting around the mobile home can prevent excess heat from escaping but make sure you can still access the crawl space. Check the area underneath the furnace for loose ducts or joints and use metal duct tape if possible as traditional gray fabric tape can come loose.
  10. Check For Water Leakage & Seepage The life span of your mobile home can be shortened by problems from water damage and cause greater problems with the home’s efficiency.  Water damage can be from rainwater through the roof as well as through the foundation.  It is important to plan the site for the home and it’s position in regard to water drainage, keeping it away from the skirting and crawl space.
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Conclusion

There are different reasons as to why people opt for less traditional forms of home ownership, including prefabricated mobile homes. Prefabricated mobile homes have been a popular alternative to standard builder-created homes for decades. Known more formally as manufactured homes, prefabricated mobile homes bring a high level of comfort and convenience. The downside to a prefabricated mobile home is that it's not considered real property, only personal property.

As for me, I'll surely rent a mobile home for the holiday trip as it's more flexible and convenient. However I would still prefer a permanent property. Nevertheless, I hope this article will shed some light to those who wish to own a mobile homes.

Auf Wiedersehen~

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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Solar Airconditioning

Salam Aidilfitri~


How is everyone's weekend, especially to all the Muslims around the world who is celebrating the Holy Month of Ramadhan? I'm sure everyone must be busy preparing all the new clothes, refurbish the kampung house or even getting all the materials for ketupat, rendang, nasi lemak, etc. I did enjoy the local delicacies in Malaysia. They sure know how to make great hospitality to visitors.

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These few days had been very hot prior to the Muslim celebration. It seems that always the hot weather will happen before any mass celebration such as Chinese New Year and Deepavali. Maybe it's a blessing for those who celebrate so they can go anywhere without rain coats or umbrellas. During my work in my office, as I was looking outside, there are many commercial buildings that are still occupied with white collar people. I was thinking: instead of using energy efficient cooling system, why not use a solar air-conditioning that harnesses the power of the Sun during the office hour? The theory seems practical because the cool temperature is only needed during the day, not at night when people had gone home. That way, we do not need to spent any electricity energy at all. Wow, talk about another fantastic idea.

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What Is Solar Air-Cond?

Solar air conditioning refers to any air conditioning (cooling) system that uses solar powerThis can be done through passive solarsolar thermal energy conversion and photovoltaic conversion (sunlight to electricity). Photovoltaics can provide the power for any type of electrically powered cooling be it conventional compressor-based or adsorption/absorption-based, though the most common implementation is with compressors. For small residential and small commercial cooling (less than 5 MWh/a) PV-powered cooling has been the most frequently implemented solar cooling technology. The reason for this is debated, but commonly suggested reasons include incentive structuring, lack of residential-sized equipment for other solar-cooling technologies, the advent of more efficient electrical coolers, or ease of installation compared to other solar-cooling technologies (like radiant cooling).

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Another Thing Called Passive Solar?

In this type of cooling solar thermal energy is not used directly to create a cold environment or drive any direct cooling processes. Instead, solar building design aims at slowing the rate of heat transfer into a building in the summer, and improving the removal of unwanted heat. It involves a good understanding of the mechanisms of heat transferheat conductionconvective heat transfer, and thermal radiation, the latter primarily from the sun.

For example, a sign of poor thermal design is an attic that gets hotter in summer than the peak outside air temperature. This can be significantly reduced or eliminated with a cool roof or a green roofPassive solar cooling is much easier to achieve in new construction than by adapting existing buildings. There are many design specifics involved in passive solar cooling. It is a primary element of designing a zero energy building in a hot climate.

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What Is the Cost?

Since PV cooling's cost effectiveness depends largely on the cooling equipment and given the poor efficiencies in electrical cooling methods until recently it has not been cost effective without subsidies. Using more efficient electrical cooling methods and allowing longer payback schedules is changing that scenario.
For example, a 100,000 BTU U.S. Energy Star rated air conditioner with a high seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 14 requires around 7 kW of electric power for full cooling output on a hot day. This would require over a 20 kW solar photovoltaic electricity generation system with storage.

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A solar-tracking 7 kW photovoltaic system would probably have an installed price well over RM80,000 (with PV equipment prices currently falling at roughly 17% per year). Infrastructure, wiring, mounting, and NEC code costs may add up to an additional cost; for instance a 3120 watt solar panel grid tie system has a panel cost of RM4.12/watt peak, but still costs ~RM8.85/watt hour peak. Other systems of different capacity cost even more, let alone battery backup systems, which cost even more.
A more efficient air conditioning system would require a smaller, less-expensive photovoltaic system. A high-quality geothermal heat pump installation can have a SEER in the range of ±20. A 100,000 BTU SEER 20 air conditioner would require less than 5 kW while operating.
There are new non-compressor-based electrical air conditioning systems with a SEER above 20 coming on the market. A less-expensive partial-power photovoltaic system can reduce (but not eliminate) the monthly amount of electricity purchased from the power grid for air conditioning (and other uses).
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Ups & Downs

Should you consider going with one of these solar-centric units, instead of some other A/C-only brand of mini split? It depends on the end user's lifestyle and expectations. The DC-only version, in my view, would have a fairly narrow appeal, as it's currently designed. Because it's not grid-tied, it will only run in daylight hours, when cloud cover permits, and it does require batteries, even for daylight-only operation. This type of unit might be suited to a detached home office or studio, but unless you want to invest significantly in battery storage, would not perform during the critical bedtime hours, when a lot of people like to keep their space cool.

The solar hybrid system, however, does not require batteries. Instead it's tied in to 415 volt grid power, but does not require a special contract with the utility because it does not backfeed. It taps into the grid only when the sun stops shining. Like the DC-only unit, it requires about 885 watts of power for peak cooling, so PV arrays can be fairly modest, if you're only running one unit, which is caple of cooling about 750 sq. ft., in a well insulated building. Sizing the PV array to supply "just enough" electricity could be what pushes these units into the mainstream. Someone who wants to dabble in solar can put up three panels and start saving on electricity right away.

PROS

  • Incentive programs - The cost of setting up solar air conditioning can be very high. But a family or business that opts for solar powered ACs can reduce long term electricity costs that make the initial expense worthwhile. Additionally, both the federal government and many state governments offer incentive plans to solar energy users. 
  • Increase home resale value - In addition to stabilizing soaring energy costs, solar energy panels are considered an investment. Many homeowners find that solar features add considerable value to their home, and make their homes more desirable in a competitive real estate market.
CONS
  • Weather-dependant - Solar energy panels for cooling have one obvious requirement - the sun. If you choose solar AC, you could have a significant problem on days where the skies aren't clear enough for the panels to soak up the sun's energy.
  • Tracking the sun - For optimal efficiency, solar energy panels need to constantly be directed towards the sun.
  • Cleaning - In addition to tracking, solar panels need to be oriented and cleaned.
  • Expensive batteries - Aside from the issue of power storage, prospective solar energy consumers need to consider the costly battery reserve. Batteries are expensive, require maintenance, and don't last very long (unless you plan to use in the daytime only)
  • High set-up cost - Aside from battery costs and replacement panel costs, the initial set-up cost for solar energy systems can be considerably high. In the long run the system is worth it, particularly in areas where there is constant sun and a constant need for cooling.
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So What's The Verdict?


I hope I'm not being too hard on this new technology. As an affordable way to bring net-zero HVAC to homes all over the world,it could be a real game changer. The biggest advance, of course, is in the efficiency of mini-splits. A few years ago SEER 35 seemed like an impossible benchmark. But it's the super-efficiency of the equipment that makes the case for solar power so compelling.

What's left for both the DC-only units and the hybrids is to work out the problem of solar panel power variability. Sure, the off-grid units can work around this with batteries. But  for the hybrids, if the power goes out, they stop working completely, even on a sunny day. The ability to deliver at least some cooling directly from the sun would improve their attractiveness to buyers.

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Sunday, May 28, 2017

Energy Efficient Basement

Selamat Awal Ramadan~


How was your weekends? I am sure everyone is doing fine, enjoying their holidays with their kids, especially now is the holiday season in Malaysia & Singapore. It's been days since I'd last written my last blog post. I'd been busy preparing for my energy efficiency project and thankfully I'd managed to complete it.

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For those who wish to know, the project that I was working on, took me about a month plus to complete it because I was not familiar with the climate and geographical properties of United States. I was designing energy efficient basement for the client, who was doing property development. So I am going to share what I'd learnt during this project schedule for the betterment of all.

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What Is Energy Efficient Basement?

With energy prices rising again, many homeowners are planning energy-efficiency improvements to their homes. But most people are unsure of where to begin, and even seasoned builders don’t always know which priorities should rise to the top of the list. If you can only afford one step, replacing an aging heating appliance may be the best investment. If you're planning a major retrofit involving multiple steps, however, it's probably best to start in the basement. Whether your house is already built and you want a more energy efficient basement, or you’re building or planning a new house, surely you want to make sure you’ll spend as little as possible on keeping the basement warm and/or cool. 

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How To Build It?

Warm, dry basements and crawlspaces can extend living and storage space. In an old house, a wet basement is frequently the source of high levels of indoor humidity. They can also harbor mold growth that gets distributed around the house. Closed-cell spray polyurethane foam — installed around the rim joist areas and on the basement walls — is a fast, effective way to bring these areas into the conditioned space while sealing cracks between the foundation and floor framing that let air into the house. Most building inspectors require foam installed on basement walls to be protected with a layer of gypsum drywall as an ignition barrier.
Slow down heat loss through basement walls. A surprising amount of heat can escape through basement walls. Use rigid foam board or spray polyurethane foam; cold climates need at least R-15.

Some might say basements are energy monsters in their own right -- they can potentially gobble up as much as one quarter of your home’s annual energy use. Explore your basement from floor to ceiling to identify any air leaks caused by gaps or holes from wiring, pipes, vents, windows or doors. Small gaps can be filled with caulk, while holes measuring up to three inches in diameter can be repaired with insulating spray foam. Holes larger than three inches should first be closed off with foam board and then sealed with insulating spray foam. Don’t forget to check for gaps in the uppermost section of the basement wall where the house frame meets the cement foundation or cinder block. Any sealing of your home’s perimeter framing, known as the rim joist or band joist, should be addressed by a contractor. Once you have completed any type of major home sealing project, I also suggest hiring a contractor to verify that combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace, boiler, water heater and clothes dryer) are still properly vented.

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Looking for ways to brighten up your basement beyond the traditional incandescent bulbs? Consider installing energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in your basement lighting fixtures. Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, are also a good option. When compared to incandescent bulbs, LEDs are known to deliver a higher quality of light, could last 25 times as long and use even less energy than CFLs.

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If you’re in the market to replace older appliances or equipment, such as heating or cooling units, consider switching to one that has earned an energy efficient label, which requires products to meet specific standards for energy efficiency. While the savings will vary based on where you live, switching out old heating and cooling units can help to reduce your home’s energy bill by more than $200 a year. You’re also best off having any new equipment installed by a qualified technician.

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Much of the heat that is lost in a basement is lost through the windows. The average basement window includes single-paned glass framed by wood or steel, with a steel basement window well on the outside. Even before the steel rusts and the wood rots, these windows have an R-value of 1. This means that 50% of the heat that reaches the windows passes directly through, unhindered. If you are in a country that has winter season, when cold winds are blowing on them, this can mean a lot of heat loss! If the window is designed with special Low-E twin layers of thermopane glass to make the best use of natural sunlight and energy in the home. These basement windows have an R-2.94 insulation rating, which keeps approximately 87% of heat in your home. And with their covered basement window wells, the cold winter winds will never reach the glass.
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Sustainability & Efficiency

Let’s look at specific basement rooms and uses and how they can be fine-tuned to give you an energy-efficient basement.

WASHROOMAlthough this isn’t strictly an energy efficient basement issue, you should install a low-flow toilet in your basement washroom, rather than the wasteful 13+ liter toilets of yesteryear. Particularly if you use this toilet often, go for the ultra-low-flush toilets now available that provide two different flush levels, one for liquids, one for solids. You’ll save on your water and sewer bills – and indirectly you’ll be saving water. It takes a surprising amount of energy to treat and chlorinate and pump your water to you, if you’re on a city water system, and while you don’t pay directly for that energy, the energy costs are built into your water rate.

LAUNDRY ROOM - Obviously you should buy the most energy saving washer and energy efficient dryer available. But for a truly energy efficient basement, include an indoor clothesline or clothes rack in your drying plans for those times when it’s too wet or cold to use the outdoor laundry line.

WORKROOM - The main source of wasted energy in a workroom, other than those such as lights left on and heat loss that are common throughout a basement or house, are battery chargers for tools. If you do recharge a tool battery, it’s better to recharge it at a time when you know you’ll be back in the workroom soon, so you can unplug it, or to recharge it upstairs where you’ll notice it sooner. Some types of AC to DC converters can consume almost as much electricity after the battery for your tool is fully charged as while it’s charging.

HOME OFFICE - If you put a home office in your basement, strive for as much natural light as possible, not only to reduce the cost of lighting the room, but to reduce the strain on your eyes from artificial light. Use energy efficient LED pot lights for the best office lighting. For your home office computer equipment, don’t leave it running when you’re not using it. Even ENERGY STAR equipment consumes some power in its energy saving mode, and many peripherals are big energy hogs when plugged in, even when the equipment is turned off. Use a power bar and turn everything off when you’re not using it. 

HOME ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE - As with your home office, unplug your home entertainment center when not in use. And consider getting rid of your energy hogging plasma television for a more efficient LCD model. ENERGY STAR recently came out with revised, more stringent requirements for television screens so if you’re thinking of buying a new TV, you’ll find much more efficient ones now than just a few months ago.

WINE CELLAR - There are four key factors to conserving and aging wine properly: constant temperature and humidity, and ideal temperature and humidity. If you can get the first two right and do not badly on the other two, you’ll be able to keep fine wine a long time without having to resort to energy-intensive techniques such as a refrigeration system for a custom wine cellar, or to a wine refrigeration unit. The more ups and downs in temperature a wine bottle experiences, the faster it ages. Corked wines can also experience cork dry-out or deterioration from excessive dryness or humidity. And the warmer the average temperature, the faster a wine ages. So strive for constant temperature and humidity.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

  1. More spaces - By adding a basement to a two storey house you can get as much as 50 per cent more floor area without having to increase the size of the footprint or having to sacrifice any more garden.
  2. Better site utilization - If you are having to dig deep foundations for any reason, it might make economic sense to add a basement. Deeper foundations cost more, so turning this expense into useable space makes sense.
  3. Multi-purpose use - One of the joys of a standard basement is that it can be used for a variety of purposes and graduate from being a children’s playroom to a television and games room for them when they grow older. Unusual specialist uses include basements specifically designed to provide swimming pools or wine cellars.

Cons

  1. Not an option when there is high water table - it is not recommended building basements particularly those that rely entirely on tanked protection on sites where the water table is too high. This is defined in the Waterproofing Design Guide (available from the Basement Development Group) as where the water table is above the underside of the lowest basement floor slab. A very useful risk assessment chart is printed in the guide.
  2. Difficulty of getting a competent professionals - One other potential drawback is that if you are contemplating a basement in your new self build you might find your favourite architect may not be willing to take on the brief. The reason is likely to be fear of litigation should the basement fail.
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The obvious motivation for an energy efficient basement is that you want to save money (and save the planet) while keeping your basement comfortably warm or cool, depending on the season.
Another motivation for an energy efficient basement may be that your basement is so poorly insulated or so damp that you can’t get the temperature or humidity level into your comfort zone without spending a fortune heating or running a dehumidifier. Many people in older homes suffer from unpleasantly humid basements, especially in warmer months of the year, and upgrading to an energy efficient basement usually involves tackling this humidity problem head on.
But there are other motivations most of us haven’t thought about, that go beyond our own comfort and pocketbook. An energy efficient basement is a great example of the maxim of “Think Global, Act Local”.
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