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We’ve written many times on solar PV electricity, the most common form of homeowner solar. We’ve also written about solar thermal hot water heating. But another method for utilizing solar to reduce your energy bill is solar powered air conditioning!
Solar powered air conditioning works on the absorption cycle. From wikipedia on absorption refrigerator:
An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar, kerosene-fueled flame) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling system. Absor
With the weather cooling down it is evident that fall, and the first snowfall, are just around the corner. And, many homeowners are starting to have flashbacks to last winter- shoveling their roofs, ice dams, water damage and frozen gutters. Now is the time to start thinking about how to best protect your home this winter. Don’t wait until there is a foot of snow on the ground to take action.
Since last winter was so brutal, Moonworks developed the Ice Defense system to help homeowners protect their homes against the problems associated with ice. The Ice Defense system is comprised of Gutter Helmet, Heated Helmet, Insulation & Venting, which in conjunction with one another protects your home against ice. How? Let’s take a look at how they work individually so you can get an idea of how they help keep your home safe from ice and snow damage.
Gutter Helmet allows you to Never Clean Your Gutters Again because it patented nose forward design lets water in and keeps out leaves, pine needles and other debris. This keeps your gutter running clear because clogged gutters can become frozen gutters.
Heated Helmet aids in melting the ice off your roof and into your gutters. The self-regulating heating cable goes on only when needed so you don’t waste energy. The cable heats up the Gutter Helmet, which causes the ice to melt off of your roof and run into your free flowing gutters.
In order to maximize the effectiveness of the Gutter Helmet and Heated Helmet, proper insulation and attic ventilation are recommended. An ice dam forms when the warmer high point of your roof begins to melt. This warm point is due to inadequate insulation allowing heat to escape from your home and into your attic. If your home is not properly ventilated, the heat will then get stuck in the attic. As the melting occurs in the warmer spot on your roof, it then refreezes once it gets to the cooler, lower area of your roof, causing an ice dam.
So, with Ice Defense, you solve 2 problems- leaves and ice!
We believe in this system so much that our President, Jim Moon, installed it on his own home. Check out the photos below:
Before After
If you are interested in how our Ice Defense system can protect your home, please contact us at 1-800-975-6666 or fill out our online form for a free in-home consultation. You can also enter our sweepstakes to win a free ice defense system for your home.
Sep
As the first wave of baby boomers has reached retirement age, the custom homes industry has seen an increase in requests for single story living, and the log and timber home segment is no exception. If you’re looking for single-level floor plans and have become frustrated by a lack of selection compared to multilevel plans, don’t give up: most standard two- or three-story home designs can be re-imagined for single story living by an accomplished log home company or architect. Onc
Learn what you need before you purchase a new refrigerator.
Out of all the appliances and gadgets in our homes, a refrigerator is the most important and one item we simply cannot live without. It is also a very costly appliance to purchase, so one really has to know what to look for and what each model provides. To begin, you will need to know the size of the fridge you need, not only so that the new one will fit into its designated place in the kitchen, but also because if you buy one that is too large, it will use a lot of unnecessary electricity.
If youre an electrical contractor, any tool that makes your job easier/more efficient is a good tool. Derek Singleton of Software Advice shares this guest post with us reviewing Smartphone apps designed specifically for electrical contractors.
Derek researches the best mobile apps for various industries and is considered an expert in the mobile app world.