A topic I’ve done a lot of thinking on is the most cost effective and efficient home set up you can do. This isn’t about spray foam insulation versus fiberglass insulation (that is a different topic and I can say if you can afford spray foam that is more efficient). No, instead this is about the appliances and tools your home uses to keep you comfortable.
Solar Panels
First off let’s talk about solar panels. Solar panels done on an individual level for each person is a great idea as long as you are storing the energy correctly. You should be using batteries to store the energy from your solar panels. Selling back to the power companies is a scam in order for them to not lose you as a customer and still be able to charge you for an electric bill. In most cases because of this you have no idea how much energy your solar panel is actually creating and your not directly gaining all the benefits from this. By having batteries you cut out the power company completely and you can store your own energy for those cloudy rainy days. It’s your solar panels don’t allow the power company to steal the power you are creating. Side note for all those with solar panels they need to be maintained and cleaned on a regular basis as well in order for them to function at their highest capacity.
Energy Efficiency
Second lets talk about the big energy user in your home. Your HVAC system is generally the biggest consumer of electric power in your home. The best thing to do is to have a professional install a high efficiency multi stage communicating system in your home. This type of system uses inverters and variable speed motors (fan and compressor) to cool or heat your home at the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness. With this type of system you can keep your home as comfortable as you want it and your energy consumption will remain low. If you are going to have solar panels power your home it’s the most effective type system to have in order to keep your home comfortable and not worry that the solar panels won’t produce enough energy to power your HVAC system.
Third would be a gas stove and gas tankless water heater. A tankless water heater consumes less energy because it doesn’t have to maintain however many gallons of hot water at all times. It is a little slower to get the water hot from when you first turn it on, but after that you have endless hot water because it is heating it as you use it. In terms of energy consumption the moment you stop using it the energy consumption is over where as a tanked water heater is still consuming energy even after you turn the hot water off. A gas stove is also a no brainer it takes less energy to cook food with gas then electric. Electric takes longer to heat up food and is largely inconsistent with the temperature because of this once again gas ends up using less energy because it has a consistent temperature and heats up faster. In both of these scenarios gas is the preferred method because it heats faster and uses less energy to do that.
The reason I did not mention a gas furnace is because your HVAC system is used numerous times all throughout the day at random times to maintain the temperature in your home it consumes vastly more energy than the few times you will use the hot water or prepare food to eat, and because of this a heat pump is more energy efficient than the amount of gas a furnace will use during a full day and nights operation.
LED Lights
The last thing I would say is LED lights in your home.
If you combine all these factors not only could you live the most comfortable life while keeping your power bill as low as possible, but you would have the option to go off grid completely and have a propane gas system with solar panels to completely supply your home and remain comfortable.
