The most cost effective alternative energy and how I slashed my power bill over 35% over the past 12 months

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Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on September 22, 2009 at 3:41pm

What I see as the real merit of this post is how you are getting people's curiosity up and many are looking at energy, hopefully with new eyes.

All too often people buy into the latest greatest and do not stop to look at what they are really doing. Many people equate higher cost with good and most often in my experience it is just the opposite when it comes to things like this.

How many can answer this: what is the cheapest refridgerator to operate?

Won't make you impatient types wait, ammonia. This was the original refridgerant used and in large commercial units it still also in RV's because of such a low energy demand and no moving parts, yes it does not need a compressor. The end product is much more friendly also, take out the ammonia, fertilize the garden with it and no freon to screw up the atmosphere.

Just a little something to think about. Why is it that all of our refridgerators are so environmentally unfriendly?

Permalink Reply by Nick on September 22, 2009 at 3:57pm

Ummm...Did you plant some trees?

Permalink Reply by Jeff on September 22, 2009 at 4:19pm

That's an excellent point Chris! We can borrow so many ideas for mobile living applications such as sailboats, RVs, and overland expeditions. They depend on efficiency. I'm sure many here have seen or heard about "the tiny house" book right. That guy uses micro appliances from the yatch industry and lives in 100 s.f. An extreme example for sure, but a good one for what we are talking about.

One minor clarification thought...an absorption type fridge like the ammonia one you mention, does require an energy input...usually a propane burner. Still, very efficient and quiet.

Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on September 22, 2009 at 5:20pm

My point is that the ammonia refridgerator uses less energy than a 'conventional" one because it has no compressor or fan to cool the compressor. Yes it does use energy just less and the real point is the lack of non-degradable components like freon.
If you have a spill of ammonia, it causes no long term harm, it is extremely easy to recylce and if you use the right components to build it can be almost 100% recycled without any advanced/special methods. Unlike solar panels or several other items said to currently be green.
The last one I gave away was over 30 years old and worked just as well as when new. Not too many conventionals will work that long, let alone be effecient.

One more really important point about the energy for them is any source of heat works equally well. Most are two way if RV style, meaning they use 110 volt or propane a three way also uses 12 volt to heat a coil. They also can be configured to run on direct solar during daylight hours and with a heat sink backup can be configured to be effect 24 hours a day.

Permalink Reply by Michele on November 17, 2009 at 2:57pm

Do you mind telling us if you still use ammonia refrigerator?

Permalink Reply by Julie Hall Allison on September 23, 2009 at 7:08am

I've been following this thread, although I stopped posting some time ago. Due to it's cumbersome length, I am hoping to continue a similar discussion on a new thread which I will post in the next few days. The discussion title will be Hot, Flat and Crowded - which is the title of a book by Thomas Freedman. I recently completed the read, and am encouraged by the fact that Obama did also.

I hope a new post will encourage a greater number of premies to voice their opinions with regard to production of clean electrons, energy usage and conservation.

Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on November 17, 2009 at 3:24pm

I do not have an ammonia refrig at this time. When we moved from Oregon, I sold both of them I had and did not realize I would have trouble finding one I liked. Most produced at this time are very solid state and expensive because of this.

I feel the reason more ammonia frigs are not used today is because of the scare tactics put out in the 20's-30's and to some extent even today about how dangerous ammonia is. Yes, it can cause you problems if you are too stupid to not get away from an ammonia leak but frigs are not much more of a problem than a bottle of spilled ammonia cleaner if they spring a leak from someone poking a hole in the coil. You leave the room, open the doors on the way out and wait a little while until it clears.

When was the last time you heard about a large cold storage faculity being a problem from an ammonia leak? It has happened but it is like the gas in your pipes and the gasoline in most cars, you seldom see a car blow up except in a movie. Once in awhile a house blows up from a gas leak but it is so uncommon it makes national news and most of the time it is traced back to someone doing something really stupid.

So I love ammonia frigs and when I have some time and extra money I may even build one of my own. They are very simple and actually can be built by an individual. So hope that answers you question and I am happy to answer any others.

Permalink Reply by Dianne Felder on December 2, 2009 at 1:39pm

OK, I'll bite! Our house is 2160 sq. ft., all electric except the water heater, and there are only two adults living here. We are fairly frugal about the AC setting it at 81 most of the summer not even using it until the nights stay too warm to cool the house at night, and don't run the heater until sometime in later Dec. when the inside temp is in the mid 60's before we go to bed. I am also frugal about using the dryer, hanging the clothes that aren't perma pressed or need the help of the dryer to look their best. So, that being said, our August electric bill was $227. Since everyone's lifestyle is different and their temperature requrements different it is hard to calculate a guess but I'll say you average $125 a month. Whatever the usage breakdown is I don't know. Now, if you are doing something wonderful to cut your usage, that, of course, is way off.

Permalink Reply by Randy on January 22, 2010 at 1:37pm

wouldn't it be 'cradle to grave' ?

Permalink Reply by Jeff on January 23, 2010 at 11:46am

cradle to grave, that's old school... Check out 'Cradle to Cradle' by William McDonough

http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_to_Cradle

Permalink Reply by Pam N on January 29, 2010 at 10:45pm

When do you plan to tell us what you do or did differently? Well, my place is approx 1750 sq ft and we're always looking for ways to be more energy efficient and smart. SRP 2 rate plan doesn't always save us $ but they have a nice graph and numbers to compare monthly / yearly useage and rates. If we had basements in Arizona I would have been smarter (warmer in winter and cooler in summer) so I'm thinking you have something special on the exterior of your home or perhaps in the walls to help insulate it. Growing up in the mid-west and playing in the snow all winter long we got really good at building our version of an igloo, it would be so warm inside and freezing outside. Well, that's my guess. And I'm thinking your electric bill could average between $60-85.

Do you have timers for pool equipment & hot water heater? I think they save $ in the long run especially if on a time of use plan where rates vary.

Permalink Reply by Earl Falwell on February 7, 2010 at 9:20pm

Pam,

I am getting a good laugh over all the hype here.

As a retired builder with a special interest in energy I will tell you their is no "hidden secret". You could dig a big hole and use passive energy in the summer but can you afford it (it doesn't get any greener)? Energy savings is a combination of many factors. The better the r-value the more potential expense. The ABC's of energy savings has been well documented on the internet. Houses need to be totally redesigned if they bare to fit a greener future. I think the home depot and KBH lobby interests might have a problem with that.

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