"Hi Don,
Thanks for discussing these above tips, and i do agree with all your suggestions.Let me tell you one fact, that in a recent survey on fireplaces it has been found that the efficiency of your fireplace is 70% depends on the quality of inserts…"
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Don Ames
- Grand Ronde, OR
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Don Ames's Page
Latest Activity
Bob Blanchette commented on Don Ames's blog post 10 Ways to Cool a House Without Air Conditioning"I like the ideas except for the solar attic fan. Sorry, they simply don't work as well as advertised. When I hear claims of 800CFM out of a 20Watt motor my BS detector goes off. Most of the airflow out of a solar fan is simply from hot air…"
Don Ames commented on Lester Shen's blog post $250 for a Thermostat?!"Nice article with additional info about the Nest. I would love to try one, but not ready to fork over the $250. I think the direction we should go to establish energy efficiency in homes is to require Nest technology in new homes and then tie the…"
Don Ames's blog post was featured10 Ways to Cool a House Without Air Conditioning
Sleeping on the front porch after a hot summer day was a straight out necessity. The upstairs of the 1940’s farm house had turned into a sauna and sleeping in the upstairs bedrooms was not possible. Even after the sun went down, the upstairs seemed to get hotter. Let's look at some ways to cool a house without air conditioning?Now that I spend time trying to figure out how a home can be more energy efficient, I think back to those hot summer days and wonder two things:1. Where was the air…See More
Don Ames commented on Don Ames's blog post 10 Ways to Cool a House Without Air Conditioning"Mary, thank you for the kind words and support of my article. I keep trying to find new ways to share with the "non-choir", but it's hard to get their attention and their email address. Got any ideas how this might be…"
Mary Beth Thakar commented on Don Ames's blog post 10 Ways to Cool a House Without Air Conditioning"Great ideas, Don. I think you should share your ideas with the non-choir! Thanks for your effort: good summation!"
Don Ames posted a blog post10 Ways to Cool a House Without Air Conditioning
Sleeping on the front porch after a hot summer day was a straight out necessity. The upstairs of the 1940’s farm house had turned into a sauna and sleeping in the upstairs bedrooms was not possible. Even after the sun went down, the upstairs seemed to get hotter. Let's look at some ways to cool a house without air conditioning?Now that I spend time trying to figure out how a home can be more energy efficient, I think back to those hot summer days and wonder two things:1. Where was the air…See More
Kevin Strong commented on Don Ames's blog post Will the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?"Don, thanks for picking up on my comments on your previous post. As a follow up, I've included a couple of screenshots of my own utility data. To access this I need to login to my Southern California Edison account. These…"
Don Ames's blog post was featuredWill the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?
When I think about real time power usage data, I am thinking about data that is being made available that very second. Data that is being reported in real time is like watching a football game live. You know that the running back just added 10 yards on to his total because you just saw the run on the T.V. That's real time.It is being reported that the Green Button program being offered by many power companies allows customers with a Smart Meter to see their power usage in real time, like a live…See More
Dennis Cheslik commented on Don Ames's blog post Will the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?"Don, great post and dead on the issue. Can we trust smart meter monitoring? Here in Texas, Austin Energy has a project in the works studying smart grid meters and smart thermostats. They should be letting the cat out of the bag soon on how to track…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Don Ames's blog post Will the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?"In home displays that can talk to the meter directly are the most feasible way to get real time data on energy use. Zigbee to to Ethernet adapters could be used to convert the data to be used by a home PC. On our grid we're behind about 1hr and…"
tedkidd commented on Don Ames's blog post Will the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?"Can you imagine the amount of data required? The server space? The savings could never justify cost of electricity and infrastructure to run that. Eventually technology will provide an answer, but in the meantime isn't this…"
tedkidd commented on Don Ames's blog post Will the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?"Can you imagine the amount of data required? The server space? The savings could never justify cost of electricity and infrastructure to run that. Eventually technology will provide an answer, but in the meantime isn't this…"
Jason Green commented on Don Ames's blog post Will the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?"I think it would be ok to have day-old data, as long as it provided stats for specific dates/times. I'd be fine with average usage by minute or even 5-minute intervals. You know when the football game was on yesterday, so you could match the…"
Tom Delconte commented on Don Ames's blog post Pushing This Green Button Will Lower Your Power Bill"I still use my 1975 HP Engineering Calculator. I still use my 2009 iphone. I still use my purchased new 1969 harman kardon amplifier. I still use my waterbed. I still use my purchased new 1974 Fiat X1/9. i still run 5 miles per day. I also still use…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Don Ames's blog post Pushing This Green Button Will Lower Your Power Bill"IHD is In Home Display. It connects to the smartmeter through zigbee and gives live info on power use. Some even record the data on the device itself."
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Don Ames's Blog
10 Ways to Cool a House Without Air Conditioning
Sleeping on the front porch after a hot summer day was a straight out necessity. The upstairs of the 1940’s farm house had turned into a sauna and sleeping in the upstairs bedrooms was not possible. Even after the sun went down, the upstairs seemed to get hotter. Let's look at some ways to cool a house without air conditioning?
Now that I spend time trying to figure out how a home can be more energy efficient, I think back to those hot summer days and wonder two…
ContinuePosted on August 22, 2012 at 8:30pm — 3 Comments
Will the Green Button Report Real Time Power Usage?
When I think about real time power usage data, I am thinking about data that is being made available that very second. Data that is being reported in real time is like watching a football game live. You know that the running back just added 10 yards on to his total because you just saw the run on the T.V. That's real time.
It is being reported that the Green Button program being offered by many power companies allows customers with a Smart Meter to see their power usage in real time,…
ContinuePosted on August 9, 2012 at 8:00pm — 6 Comments
Pushing This Green Button Will Lower Your Power Bill
Let's take a closer look at the Green Button and see if it is more than just an adult toy. According to Obama and other government supporters, the Green button is going viral. Ya, right, I don't believe it.
There has been several efforts in previous years to get power companies to "sign on" to programs that allow electric and gas customers to see how much energy they are using right there and then. The theory is that households that have energy usage data readily available will use…
ContinuePosted on August 2, 2012 at 8:06pm — 12 Comments
4 Mini-Splits and Heat Pump Efficiency, Will It Work?
Yes, I drive tractors too. Along with the home energy audit work, I’m a farmer at heart. I received a call from a gentlemen that needs some help backfilling and leveling out the dirt around the foundation of his homes new addition.
Now that the ground is dry enough, I load up my 24 horsepower Kabota tractor with bucket, attach the tiller and head over to his place. I find an old original house that was constructed shortly after the wagon trains arrived. Attached to the side is the new…
ContinuePosted on July 22, 2012 at 12:32pm — 1 Comment
Comment Wall (1 comment)
- At 2:11pm on February 28, 2011,
Diane Chojnowski said… Hi Don,
Welcome to Home Energy Pros! Feel free to join the conversation in the Forum and Groups. And share your energy efficiency photos, videos and upcoming events. If you're blogging about home performance, this is the place for you!
Don't forget to upload your profile photo. And add your location on our Member Map!
Thanks!
Diane, HEP Moderator
Home Energy Pros
Home Energy Pros was founded by the developers of Home Energy Saver Pro (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and brought to you in partnership with Home Energy magazine.
Latest Activity
tedkidd replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"Pat, I think you and I agree on a LOT of things.
One thing I don't want to see is more…"
tedkidd commented on Tom Delconte's blog post Robert Shiller Says Retrofits Are Never Worth It!"Bob B.
Buying a home is a good investment because it is forced savings more than a good…"
Joe Huang posted a discussionWhite Box Technologies launches Web-based weather data for building energy simulations
White Box Technologies is pleased to announce under agreement with ASHRAE the launch of WBT Weather…See More
Tom Delconte commented on Tom Delconte's blog post Lykans $29, Vampires $0 !"Bill: these are available for free at www.freeenergy.com . Just ask for Jen Guarater! I…"
Joseph Lamy commented on Jim Gunshinan's blog post The Universe Is Made of Stories"My life changed when I got 'ductalatored' - became familiar with proper sizing guides for…"
Judi Lyall joined allen p tanner's group
Energy Auditing Equipment for Sale, Trade or to Purchase
Discuss the pros and cons of the equipment you are interested in prior to purchase. Post equipment…See More
Judi Lyall replied to David Starrett's discussion I am looking for a good IR camera in the group Energy Auditing Equipment for Sale, Trade or to Purchase"Hi there
I am selling my equipment and have a great Fluke TIR for sale for 3600.00
If…"
William H Nickerson commented on Tom Delconte's blog post Lykans $29, Vampires $0 !"66 watts a/sec -3960 w/min 237600 w/hr 5702400 w/day …"
tedkidd commented on Jim Gunshinan's blog post The Universe Is Made of Stories"I think Tom is busting your chops Jim. The "drivel" part may not have been well…"
Tom Maides commented on Jim Gunshinan's blog post The Universe Is Made of Stories"Some of the best scientists of the previous 1000 years were also leaders in the Church. Aside…"
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