Small- to mid-sized projects
In Part III, I detail a wide range of simple, straightforward solar projects avail-
able to the do-it-yourselfers. From installing landscape lighting to a stand-
alone photovoltaic powered attic vent fan, you can begin investing in solar
today with minimal cost and effort. The small-scale projects feature safe
operating levels (typical voltages in a photovoltaic system are so low that
you won’t be able to get a shock). And if you’re no good with tools, have no
fear. Some of the projects don’t even require a screwdriver — you can buy
off-the-shelf solutions that you can use out of the box.
You can also do a number of things in your yard to improve the solar expo-
sure of your home. Deciduous trees (which shed their leaves in the fall)
planted strategically about your house can ensure summertime cooling while
allowing solar energy to help warm your house in the winter. Planting bushes
in the right spots can reduce the cooling effect of wind, especially around
your pool. And you can also increase the breezes flowing through your house
by strategically arranging trees and bushes. Chapter 8 shows you how.
In Chapter 9, I describe a wide range of small-sized solar investments you
can enjoy right now. Some of these projects, such as the attic vent fan, can
save you money. It can keep your attic cooler in the summer and lower your
air-conditioning bill. And some of the projects — such as the swimming pool
light ball — are just plain fun. You can even build a solar oven that’ll cook
almost everything you cook in your kitchen stove!
Chapters 10, 11, and 12 explain how you can use the sun to heat water and
how you can put it to work in your home. Installing a solar heating system
on your swimming pool is a reasonable do-it-yourself project with very real
results, not just in terms of costs saved but also added enjoyment. Installing
a water heating system for your domestic supply gets a little trickier, and it’s
a project usually contracted out to the pros. But if you’re good with tools,
you can probably install one on your own.Pressure test
You may already know where the drafts are. Find out why. Is the air enter-
ing through an unsealed door? A window? A vent? Is it coming from a heater
vent? A pressure test can help you pinpoint those leaks so you can trace
them down and seal them off. Try to perform this test when it’s cold outside
and warm inside.
1. Seal off your house and turn off heating and cooling sources.
Completely extinguish any fireplace fires. Close the fireplace damper as
much as possible. Turn off your HVAC system. Turn off any furnaces. If
you have a gas water heater, turn that off, too. Close all the windows and
doors in your house. Make sure to close any skylights or vents.
2. Turn on all the exhaust fans in your house (normally located in kitch-
ens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms).
If you don’t have any exhaust fans, aim a portable fan out a single open
window and turn it on.
Quickly make sure that your fireplace is okay. If it’s leaky (for example,
air is coming down the chimney and out into the house), you’ll be draw-
ing in some stink. If so, turn the fans off and inspect your fireplace to
find out why it’s so leaky. If you can, fix it because it’s inefficient (when
you’re not using the fireplace, heat will be escaping up the chimney).
If you can’t fix it, forge ahead if the smell isn’t too bad. If the smell is
really bad, may want to call a fireplace specialist. Old houses often have
very leaky fireplaces because people simply didn’t care about energy
efficiency back in the old days. Maybe it’s time to install a modern, well-
designed gas stove.
3. Search for leaks around the house.
With the fans on, your house is depressurized, so any leaks are readily
apparent. Go around the house with a bowl of water, dip your hand in,
and move your wet hand around windows, electrical outlets, switches,
doors, molding interfaces, attic hatches, basement hatches, and so on.
You should be able to feel a leak, especially if it’s cold outside.
Another way to do this step is with a stick of incense; when the smoke
fluctuates, you’ve found a leak. Or use a candle; when the flame flickers,
you’ve found a leak.
4. Get a ladder or a chair and check for leaks in overhead lights.
Such leaks are very common, but unfortunately they’re a little more dif-
ficult to fix if you don’t have good attic access.
5. Turn off the fans and then fix the leaks as appropriate.