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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1976-10-28, Page 61Page 19 finds of lighting make difference "There's lots of electricity around. Surely this is one kind of energy that I don't have to worry about saving." This is an all too common view. Turning out lights that aren't in use isdefinitely an important energy saving. You . save electricity and in many cases you also save the coal, oil or natural gas used at the generating station. Even hydro sites are now limited. Developing future nuclear and hydro. facilities will be very expensive. So, yes, turn out those lights. Incandescent: This is the familiar lightbulb found in . most homes.. Light is produced by heating . a tiny filament . until, it glows. • Unfortunately it produces much more heat than light —.. about 95 percent heat and 5 percent light. This heat .is usually wasted becauseit's generated at the wrong place. - -It's easy to be confused by• all the different incandescent lamps on the market general service, eye saver, shadow ban, .extended ser - 'vice. The most energy-efficient is the general . service' which gives the most light (measured in "lumens") .for the watts consumed. ., Strange . as .it may seem, one •lamp ` of higher wattage will give more light than the same wattage from twcl smaller lamps. Example: one 100 -watt lamp will gime more light than two 60 -watt lamps F1740 vs. 1720 lumens). Most fluorescent lights' are found in offices and schools, however they can bring important energy -savings to the home as well: Fluorescent lighting is over 5 times as efficient as. .in- candescent lighting. It produces about 30 percent light and 70 percent heat.. Fluorescent lighting can also be confusing. There are two main types on the market: "cool white" and ".daylight" (or "warm white"). Cool white produces the most lumens, while. daylight is a softer light. Cool white also produces more glare unless shaded. Fluorescent lights are best used in work areas and in bathrooms, kitchens and recreation rooms. Whenever you leave a room be sure to turn off the lights behind you, even if it's only. for a short time. There's a general misconception that leaving: lights ,on. saves ..more elec- tricity than turning them off and then on again. Not true! There's a • momentary surge of power when a 'light is turned on, butit's equal to only a second of -two .of lighting time. How much light do you b really need? Try putting Lower . wattage bulbsin hallways, basements, beiirooms..and wherever close work is not done. For reading, sewing, cooking, ' games or hobbies, use. , good localized lighting from lamps or specially in- stalled fixtures. When: you're renovating or installing new lighting, try 'fluorescent fixtures. They're. much more efficient: A barely visible' ac- cumulation of dust will lower the lighting level. And may cause you • to turn on more lights. Dust lamps regularly: Think about a 'dimmer for the dining room. You'll be able to turn the lights down low . for a romantic touch,, especially if you have candles on`the table. The ideal shade is white or near white and conceals the lamp bulb, both whenyou are standing and sitting. The shade should be dense enough to keep the bulb from glaring through (but not opaque) and should reflect the dight. The light should be sent upwards" as well as downwards, with the, shade wide enough at the bottom to spread tight over a fairly wide area: Light paintfinishes onboth ceilings and walls will reflect the light and perhags reduce the number of lamps you need. Use a long -life or extended service lamp in those awk- ward hallways and cupboards where it's tough to replace 'a bulb. This type will .cost a little more. Keep in mind that a -long-life lamp ' produces M�ve heat around efficiently ..... (continued from page 14 and. • check • to be sure you • didn't disturb the alignment of the two pulleys. To increase the flow. of warm .air through the house, increase the fan speed by adjusting the variable diameter pulley on the motor. Change the filters. Usually they're at the back- of the furnace, behind a • panel, Inspect them at least once a month.` If they are -dirty, replace the disposable fiberglas type or wash out the semi-permanent type. (You might try vacuuming the disposable type and • using them again.) Dirty filters block the circulation of. air, reduce the furnace's ef- ficiency andcost you money. • You'll find disposable filters in your hardware or department store. The sizes are marked, such as 16 x 20 x 1". The filters fit on ledges behind the back' door of your furnace and- installing, the right size is important. Some of the semi-permanent ones can be cut to size and washed out once a month. (l3ut do it in cold water, please!) If you don't need extra heating in your basement, all the exposed ducting should be taped at• ' each joint and in- " sulate.d with fiberglas . or mineral -wool insulation. (Warning: Never use foamed plastic insulation because°it's' a fire hazard.) A warm -air register can be. accidentally blocked . by. simply dropping a newspaper on .it, 'The warm air that, should be coming into the room will go elsewhere, and your furnace . will have to -work. overtime. If the registers are under a.window and you happen ,to close the curtains or drapes in front of them, -the warm air merely heats the window. What a waste! So be sure to keep registers clear of such heat - robbers as curtains, drapes, furniture and carpeting. Almost any hardware store will 'have plastic deflectors for hot-air registers They shoot the heat.away from the cooler ouiside walls and into the main living area. • Hot-water heating is the'. most common alternative to warm air. Water is pumped through tubes in the furnace :and heated 'to a maximum of 180 degrees: F7($2 degrees C), then circulated through the house in"pipes. After giving up heat to the radiators, the -cooled water returns to the Pump .arid starts the cycle all over again. The system always has an expansion' tank and pressure relief . valve to prevent • ex- 'cessive pressure build-up. A flow -control valve stops the water when the- circulating pump is not working. . • The+expansion tank -has an automatic water feed. Relief valves should be checked and the .water drained off to provide an air space for expansion of the heated water. Different systems use. slightly. different. methods to restore the air cushion in the tank, so look in your owner's manual for these instructions and the Location of drain taps. Hot-water pipes going to and from radiators should be well insulated, especially in. areas that don't need heat. To run efficiently, the system needs water in all _radiators and in the boiler. 'Each fall, before start-up, check your water -level gauge on the boiler. •'In the fall, when your system goes on for the first time, bleed the air from each - radiator. If you don't, air will stop the water flow and thee. radiators will stay cold. Open" the vent -screw at one end of the radiator and keep it open until hot waterspurts out -- into a handy cup or glass. You'll need a screwdriver or small wrench to . open the vent, • and when you're finished, be sure the water' isn't dripping. Wipe away dust and dirt to let more heat out. Doj't set, bookshelves, chairs or drapes "directly in front or on top because they also slow up the heat flow. Let the heat.out at both top and bottom. Stay away from metallic paints and glossy light colors_. Use a matte or satinfinish. A sheet of aluminum doll against the wall, behind the radiator,,.will direct the heat into the room. Steam - heating is found mainly in older homes and is similar to the hot-water system, but usesteam at 212 degrees F (100 degrees •C)•. Water is heated to boiling in a boiler, and the steam rises through pipes to radiators in each ;roomofthe house. Here the steam is condensed to water, releases heat to the room, and returns t� the boiler by gravity. Water in the boiler should be kept at the level recom- mended by your ,manufac- turer. Check the glass -gauge usually found on the boiler. If lower lumens than . an equivalent. wattage general service type. Be` sure that lighting equipmentdoes not reflect on shiny surfaces the television. screen or a pile of glossy magazines. The glare.' will tire your eyes. Do you really need a 100 - watt lamp in the light •stan- dard at the end of the driveway? Wouldn't a 60 -watt or maybe a ,ill -watt do just as well? Are floodlights necessary in front or back? Can you reduce the quantity oe size? Think about an automatic timer to 'control. • the time when they .are•actually in use. Christmas lighting has become a tradition in Canada, but that doesn't mean we can run wild. Keep your lights to a modest display, unless of.course your electrical utility recommends' a total ban. !Don't put them up too far ahead of Christmas and take them down as soon (continu 'd on page 23 there isn't enough water in the system, the heating unit will shut off;- too much water will reduce the boiler's ef- ficiency. Once a month through the heating season, flush out and clean theboiler. Open , the "flushing" valve (find it with the help of your instruction manual) and drain the water until it runs clear. Then refill the boiler to its proper level..' - I'f you have leaky joints,' both . steam and heat will escape. Repair them yourself or call a plumber. MOTHER TNIMKS ITIS Trak. Posmrs. Cout.D you. SHARPEN THEM ? );\ rw SKILLED OR WHAT?! `WE'RE NEW AND EAGER TO PLEASE; GODERICH FINA 268 BAYFIELD RD, GODERICH ANDS SERVICE 524-7975 Come in and check our selectioh of IN"SUPER SHAPE USED CARS ALL WITH SUPER SHARP PRICES Owned and Operated by Jim- ))McDougall and Don Armstrong.