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Cover Your Windows

December 5, 2012 @ 20:55 By Gavin Webber 4 Comments

Did you know that glass can be the cause of around 10-20% heat loss in winter and around 25-35% heat gain in summer. 

Windows are not a very good insulator at all and are a bit of a mixed blessing. You can let a cool breeze flow through at the end of a hot day and it can let out VOC pollutants and cleanse the internal air. 

Double Glazing

So what can you do about this potentially unwanted heat loss and gain. Well, one solution can be double or triple glazing but it is an expensive fix to this problem.  Its benefits are that the pocket of air trapped between the two/three panes of glass prevent most of the heat loss/gain.  In colder climates it is well worth the capital expense over the longer term, and can save you a small fortune on your energy bills.. 

DIY Double Glazing

A much cheaper alternative is fixing a layer of bubble wrap, bubble side to the glass over the window frame.  It acts like a simple double glazing without the cost associated with it.  This works well, as my mate Mick demonstrated on his blog post titled “Cold Feet“.  He reports that it works very well.
As we have sliding windows in an aluminium frame (more heat loss through the frame) I could not place bubble wrap up against the windows as we still wanted to open them. 

Awnings

We did not choose to replace our windows with double glazing because there is a cheaper alternative which we already had installed, which is to cover the windows inside and out.
In summer we pull down heavy canvas awnings to the ground to prevent direct sunlight from entering the house from the north, and the east and westerly windows are underneath verandas. 
This stops most of the heat gain due to the pocket of air trapped on the outside of the windows between the glass and the awning.
In winter we roll the awnings all the way up to let in maximum light and heat causing a mini greenhouse effect in the living areas at the front of the house.

Natural Coverings

Since the photo of the awnings was taken, we now have two pear trees in pots that are growing well in front of the windows.  As these are deciduous  the leaves will block the heat in summer and let light through in winter.  A larger tree planted in the ground will have the same effect.  Do not plant an evergreen in front of you sun-ward facing windows.  This natural cooling/heating effect is lost.  

Curtains

Also with the aid of curtains, we also cover the insides of our windows on hot days and cold nights to stop heat transfer either way.  However, curtains must have a very important feature in which to work more effectively and that is to install a box pelmet.  

Closed Pelmets

Closed pelmets fitted to the top of blinds or curtains stop the air from flowing over the window pain and reduces heat loss in winter, and heat gain in summer.  Heavy curtains were the norm a while back, and are still a great option, but you can modernise with these options.

This example is a Holland blind with a closed pelmet in Kim’s office, which was installed during the last retrofit.  This room is on the south side of the house, but stays quite warm in winter.

The rest of the house has Vertical blinds, which are not as efficient as the Holland blind due to the many gaps.  All of these were installed before our greening, and had open pelmets.  We closed them off with some long pieces of cardboard and some duct tape.  This stopped the airflow behind the curtain and I am happy to say that it works well.

Shutters

Internal plantation shutters are another option which trap a pocket of air in the window frame acting like double glazing.  A little bit more expensive than fabric blinds, but work in the same manner.  

Summary

If you want to keep the heat in winter, and cool in summer, then you could do not better by covering your windows.  
Hopefully you now have some ideas to work on to save on those energy bills!  It certainly has helped us to reduce ours.
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Filed Under: cooling, energy efficency, Heating

5 Free Things You Can Do Right Now To Save Money

July 2, 2012 @ 22:02 By Gavin Webber 10 Comments

Now that there is a price on carbon emissions enforced by law upon the 294 biggest polluters in Australia, many of them being energy companies, I thought that it would be beneficial to post five easy ways to lower your energy costs, as they will be passing it on to customers.  However, that said, most householders should have been compensated with the new income tax cuts and increase in social benefits that also came into law today.

Here is my five point list for saving money on your energy bills.

1.  Shop Around.  If an energy retailer really wants your business, then try this tip.  Give them a call and ask for a better rate.  If they don’t come to the party, tell them that you are going to change retailers.  They will try soon change their mind and sweeten your current deal with them, which would probably be a better deal than swapping retailers.  I find that by doing this step first, you save the hassle of stuff ups with billing swap overs between retailers, and you usually get a few cents off of your kWh tariff.

2.  Turn Off Standby Equipment.  Entertainment and computer equipment left in standby mode equates to about 10% of your electricity bill.  Yes it is that high.  So, last thing at night before you go to bed, or after you have finished using the equipment, turn it off at the wall socket.  You don’t have to pull out the plug, just turn off the switch.  You will be amazed when you look at your next bill, even if you only implement this small behaviour change.

3.  Turn Off The Second Fridge.  Do you really need that spare fridge turned on all the time? If you only use it on weekends, take out the beer or soft drinks, turn it off, and reap the rewards.  You could save at least another 10% off your bill if the fridge is an old model.  When you need to use it again, just turn it on a few hours before your party to cool down, or alternatively sell the fridge, and buy a bag of ice for your esky (icebox).  It will actually cost less  in ice than the electricity to run the fridge all week!

4.  String Up An Outside Clothesline.  Ditch the clothes dryer and realise the financial savings instantly.  Our dryer broke a few years ago, and we never replaced it.  I strung a line up under the carport and bought a few clothes horses, and we haven’t looked back.  Expect to save a small fortune in the winter months if you are usually a heavy user of this appliance.

5.  Cover Windows At Night.  Did you know that 35% of a homes total energy bill is spent on heating and cooling.  With winter upon us here in the Southern Hemisphere, the nights seem to be getting colder.  Here is a money saving tip.  Cover your windows with blinds or curtains as the sun sets, to keep the hot air locked in the house from escaping through the glass.  You can lose 40% of your heat through a single pane of glass.  Additionally, by installing a closed pelmet above the curtain or blind you stop air flowing behind the covering, which traps a pocket of still air between the curtain and the window.  This provides an additional layer of insulation.  Just because pelmet as deemed to be unfashionable and not look pretty, it should not be a reason to install this energy saving device.

These are all things that you can do right now to save money on your energy bills.  All of these tips are free or very low cost, and are mainly behavioural changes.

Also there are lots of energy saving tips in my eBook that may help you to reduce your energy costs.  Purchase details can be found in the right sidebar.

You may have even implemented them already.  Those who have, kudos to you.  You may even be better off with the implementation of the carbon price when you take the income tax cut and extra family payments into account!

Does anyone else have any low or no cost methods of saving energy off their bills?

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Filed Under: Carbon Price, Electricity efficiency, energy efficency

Greening The Office

May 27, 2012 @ 21:11 By Gavin Webber 3 Comments

Photo: Loungepark/Getty Images

I write a lot about greening my own home, but what about the workplace?  I do have a few tips that will save money in energy and help to green up the office by reducing the environmental footprint.

• Reduce paper. When printing, use both sides of a piece of paper in order to conserve. Keep a scrap paper pile for misprinted or unnecessary documents to either print on or write on.   Also, think before printing, you may not need a hard copy.

• Reduce your waste. Bring your own coffee cup or water bottle to work to avoid buying Styrofoam or paper cups and throwing them away every day. Also, bring your lunch in a reusable container rather than a disposable paper bag. Lastly, make sure your company has an easy-to-use recycling program and that everyone is educated on how it works.

• Be conscious of your supplies. Some office supplies are better for the environment than others;  Consider refillable pens and mechanical pencils rather than disposable ones.  There are even corn starch based pens that break down in landfill.  Most office supplies can be made from recycled materials and a cheap to buy.

• Office Equipment – Computers, printers, fax machines and photocopiers all contribute to an office’s electricity consumption. New office equipment has become more energy efficient and includes facilities to automatically reduce power when not in use. This is known as ‘stand-by’ or ‘sleep’ mode. For most office equipment the power consumption in sleep mode is between 5% and 50% of its operating power.

• Turn off equipment if it isn’t needed – This is the easiest way to reduce energy costs. A check at the end of the day (especially on Fridays) should be done to ensure all equipment is off.

• Install plug-in timers – Use plug-in timers to automatically switch off some equipment after hours. These are especially useful for photocopiers, printers and appliances which do not have automatic switch-off functions.  The continuous boil hot water in the kitchenette is a great appliance to target for a time!  TIP – It’s a good idea to post clear instructions on how to override timers for people who may require equipment out of hours. Otherwise you may find them disconnected by a frustrated staff member!

• Computers – Make sure all computers are turned off when not in use, especially overnight, weekends, and at lunchtime. A notice reminding people to switch off computers when not in use will keep staff aware of energy saving initiatives. Each desktop computer left on a lunchtime costs about $5/year if not set to low power or sleep mode.  Increasing numbers of computers can be responsible for the increase in office energy consumption.

• Switch off monitors – The monitor of a computer uses more than half of the energy consumed by the machine. Newer computers have functions that automatically switch off the monitor after a set period of inactivity. For older computers turn off the monitor, even if the computer itself is left running.

• Turn off the Screen Saver – most computers allow a screen saver to appear when they become idle for a certain period of time. Screen savers do not save energy, they are merely a protection device to maximise your screen’s useful life. They do not replace the sleep mode or switching the monitor off.

• Use laptop computers – Laptop computers use about one tenth the energy of a desktop computer. Connected to a monitor a laptop still uses about half the energy of a desktop machine.

So, if you follow some or all of this tips, you will save money for your business and lower your environmental footprint, and you will find that staff will feel more engaged because the company shows that they care about the environment.  Give yourself a pat on the back if you have already implemented some of these tips!

Are there any others that I have missed?

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Filed Under: energy efficency, Green Office, recycle, reduce, reuse

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About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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Podcast Reviews

  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

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    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
    October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

  • Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm
    August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

  • Green Podcasts
    July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Practical ideas and inspiration
    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
    April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

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