by blogediter | Nov 28, 2018 | Save Energy
Solar space heater
I learned of this Do it yourself method of how to make a solar-powered outbuilding or garage heater through The Energy Blog (by Jim Fraser). With some simple ingenuity and a list of needed materials and tools from the website BuiltItSolar.com even an average weekend handyman can pull off this project.
I am tempted to try it myself on my south facing attached garage since I sure would like to be able to use that for winter time projects.
The inventor is Gary Reysa, a retired airplane product development engineer. He has posted his 6 page PDF plan of how to build a suitable solar heat system through Home Power Magazine. There are plenty of other solar related thought-provoking projects on his website.
Image provided by Gary Reysa. Copyright 2006 owned by www.builditsolar.com
by blogediter | Nov 23, 2018 | Save Energy
Chimney Pillow
Q: Jason, I saw something mentioned about a Chimney Pillow on a newsletter I get from Jim Dulley on home energy savings. I bought one and am very pleased with how it has plugged the flue despite my rusty damper. – TW
A: Jim Dulley of www.dulley.com is a nationally renown expert on home energy usage and an expert on all things “Green”. Jim has written on the Chimney Pillow in a couple of different bulletins. See Below for excerpt from his articles:
“Even though it seems like the damper is closed completely, many dampers do not fit tightly or seal well. You can stuff some old rags up around the damper to help seal it off. The best sealing method is an inflatable chimney pillow. You just place it up into the chimney and blow it up with air. It both seals and insulates. Check at your hardware or home center store.” Link to the article at : http://www.dulley.com/tip/t1119.shtml “The most heated room air is lost up chimneys when there is no fire burning because of a nonexistent or poor sealing chimney damper. To seal the chimney and provide insulation, I use an inflatable chimney pillow in my fireplace. It is clear plastic and you blow it up like a mini-air mattress.” Here is the Link: http://www.dulley.com/docs/f553.htm
Images and article excerpts are copyright property of www.dulley.com, All rights reserved. Copyright 2005
by blogediter | Nov 9, 2018 | Save Energy
Q: – Jason, I live in Texas and it is HOT HOT HOT here over the summer. I bought a Chimney Balloon to fill my damper-less fireplace chimney, but what else can I do. – GW
A: GW – I did some blog searching to find a specialist in the area of saving energy in Texas. I live up north so i thought a southerner would give you better input. Here is a posting to a blog entry that gives some great tips on energy savings in Texas. http://texashomecentral.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/lower-your-summer-utility-bills/ They are short concise tips that are useful anywhere. Follow the link above but here is a snippet from their article:
“How do I lower energy bills in the Summer? a) If you don’t want to block your view, think about applying window film to the glass. Like auto window tint, these applied films will reduce radiant heat while allowing you to see through them b) Replace air conditioner filters regularly to ease the air flow. Dirty filters make the unit work harder to force the air through the filter. On this same note, unless you suffer from severe allergies, use the cheaper 30-day air filters. They do the job while making it easier for the air to flow and cost a heck of a lot less c) Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying cycle (good excuse to put-off putting away the dishes)”
by blogediter | Nov 7, 2018 | Save Energy
Hot map
The UK has a new energy spy technology called hot mapping http://hotmapping.co.uk/. This allows an individual to look at their neighborhood and identify houses an being heat wasters or heat savers. This could spark a new revolution of “Keeping up with the Jones’s”.
Personally, i don’t have a problem with this type of invasion of privacy. I would want to be able to see how my home stacks up compared to my neighbors. And if I am doing a bad job…Shame on me! I should weatherstrip some more!
Here is a blog that has sparked a discussion on this hot mapping matter: http://blogs.business2.com/futureboy/2007/05/for_energy_wast.html
by blogediter | Nov 2, 2018 | Save Energy
Chimney Balloon™ Brand Chimney Pillows Now Available in
the US and Canada
Janesville, WI – September 15, 2005 – Chimney Balloon LLC is proud to announce the
opening of North American distribution of the Chimney Balloon™ chimney pillow.
Homeowners and retailers can now purchase Chimney Balloon LLC products online through the website www.ChimneyBalloon.us
What is a Chimney Balloon™ or a Chimney Pillow?
A Chimney Balloon™ is a reusable inflatable device that is inserted into your chimney to stop the cold draft that is the result of having a missing, damaged, or warped damper. Installing a Chimney Balloon above your fireplace damper can save the average homeowner $200 per heating season. If a fireplace has a severely damaged, warped, or missing damper the savings can be well over $500 per heating season.
Due to global demand, natural gas and heating fuel prices are on the rise each year. It is
essential to efficiently generate and retain heat in your living space. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent by North American homeowners each year by adding insulation, replacing doors and windows, and adding weather stripping. Yet one of the major locations of heat loss in a home can be found in the dormant fireplace. “Many people don’t think about their fireplace damper until they feel the cold draft in their dormant fireplace. The Chimney Balloon provides an inexpensive and easy do-it-yourself way to stop that cold draft and stop the heat and money from going up the chimney,” comments Jason Raddenbach of www.chimneyballoon.us
What is the History of the Chimney Balloon™?
The Chimney Balloon™ has been manufactured and in fireplaces in England since 1990.
David Woodman of Chimney Balloon Co. in Hants, England originally came up with the idea, patented and manufactured the Chimney Balloon. With England’s abundant historical architecture the Chimney Balloon became a fast hit with British homeowners that owned aged chimneys with very old dampers or no damper at all. When this popular British fireplace accessory began selling on the Internet it gained an international audience. 2005 saw the start of http://www.chimneyballoon.us to serve the United States and Canadian Market and www.chimneyballoons.co.nz to serve the New Zealand and Australian Market.
What is the Cost of the Chimney Balloon™?
Because every flue is different, the Chimney Balloon™ is offered in stock and custom sizes ranging from 9”X9” to 40”X96”. The 10 standard stock Chimney Balloon sizes are between 9”X9” and 15”X36” and range in cost from $40-$50 USD. They are designed to work with any type or size flue or damper.
by blogediter | Oct 31, 2018 | Save Energy
Chimney Balloon saves homeowners more than 30 percent on home heating
JANESVILLE, Wis. (December 28, 2006) – Chimney Balloon, USA today is issuing a notice to homeowners across the United States that warped, inefficient, and improperly sealed chimney flues can add hundreds of unnecessary dollars to home heating bills. And it’s not too late to fix the problem.
Plastic wrap around windows, checking for gaps, cracks, and holes, extra insulation and storm windows are all great methods to keep heat in the home during winter months. But millions of homes fail to stop the often noisy, cold draft from chimneys. A draft that can be easily fixed with an inexpensive, easily-installed product like the Chimney Balloon.
“It’s as simple as blowing up a Chimney Balloon, and you never have to climb up on the roof,” notes Jason Raddenbach of Chimney Balloon. “Homeowners can order the product online, install it within minutes, and with a simple yearly check for any damage and extra inflation, the product can last more than five years. For an investment of $40, the solution is simple.”
Millions of households across the nation have seldom-used or dormant fireplaces. The Chimney Balloon is a solution to stop drafts from entering the home and heat from escaping. More than half of the homes built in 2005 had fireplaces, and many homeowners are installing fireplaces to add value.
For more information, a product sample, or to schedule an interview with Jason Raddenbach, contact Mark Mahoney with the above information.
Chimney Balloon is a specially engineered polyethylene bag-like product, introduced to the United States in 2005. The product was designed in the United Kingdom, where millions of homeowners have experienced the ease, and return on investment the draft-stopping device offers.
About Chimney Balloon
Chimney Balloon™ is a reusable inflatable device that is inserted into your chimney to stop the cold draft that is the result of having a missing, damaged, or warped damper. Installing a Chimney Balloon above your fireplace damper can save the average homeowner $300 per heating season. If a fireplace has a severely damaged, warped, or missing damper the savings can be well over $500 per heating season.
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