1. Housing & Interiors 8.03 Conservation Techniques for the Home

2. Energy  Lower thermometer to 68 in winter  and raise to 78 in summer  Energy Star: homes that have been identified as energy-efficient due to improved insulation and windows, heating/cooling systems designed to work with minimal waste. These homes will use up to 30% less energy than other homes, have a higher resale value. Energy Star appliances, TVs, computers, light bulbs use less energy, last longer, need fewer repairs

3. Traditional Energy Sources 1.Traditional is coal, oil, natural gas or Fossil fuels. Formed in the earth from remains of prehistoric animals or plants. These are NOT renewable (once used cannot be replaced), are more expensive, adds pollution to environment (increases health hazards and contributing to climate changes)

4. Traditional Energy Sources  Natural gas is clean burning. Must be brought to home/building by pipe lines  Oil is stored in tanks in or near the house. Does not burn cleanly and adds to pollution  Coal is mostly used by large utility companies to generate electricity.  Pollutes the air & Contributes to illness such as asthma, lung diseases,  Major cause of acid rain and smog,  Releases carbon dioxide into air therefore contributing to global climate changes

5. Nuclear Power  Nuclear power: reactors fueled by uranium produce heat, which is used to make steam that drives the turbines which powers the generators to make electricity (McGuire Nuclear Plant in Charlotte). Very expensive to build, radioactive materials can leak and pollute surrounding land; contaminated materials can be vented to the air and can spread throughout the atmosphere. Nuclear waste is hard to dispose of because it remains hazardous for centuries

6. Additional Power Sources  Solar power: sun is most powerful energy source available, clean, and plentiful  Geothermal energy: heat from the earth’s interior  Wind power: clean and renewable, utility companies are creating power by using wind “farms”

7. WATER Conservation  Less than 1% of world’s water is suitable for people to drink. 97% is salt water and 2% is in form of glaciers/polar ice

8. Orientation  Positioning a house on a site considering the sun, water sources, prevailing winds, & scenic views

9. Orientation –Homes should have windows facing south and west as much as possible in order to allow for sun absorption –Use trees and shrubs as natural windbreak around the house. These also help to cool in summer and warm in winter, can lower utility bills by 10-15% –Coniferous trees/shrubs: do not lose leaves, usually have needles and remain green all year –Deciduous trees/shrubs: lose their leaves in fall and have new growth in spring

10. Topography  The way that the land lays  Level land is easiest to build on and least expensive to landscape  Placing a home at the bottom of a hill so that it is protected from a cold North Wind is an example of considering the considering the land’s topography land’s topography

11. Xeriscaping Choosing plants to conserve water Xericaping: landscaping with plants in order to conserve water Use native plants as much as possible for the area Less water will help plants to develop deep roots and make the plants more drought resistant ….over watering will make roots rot & die