Energy efficiency

[Paul B]

I am extreamly happy this month. 3 months ago I removed my old oil burner and installed a 95% efficient, Energy Star rated gas boiler. I just got my first bill for the three months, it was $400.00.
That is for heat, hot water and cooking for two families in New York.
Last year for heat alone it cost me about $2,500 for the same period.
I used about 1,100 gallons of oil a winter and last year it was close to $4.00 a gallon.
I am so glad I got rid of that piece of junk. It only took me about 4 days to remove the oil burner and install the new gas system with the associated plumbing with three zones.
A year ago I installed Solar electric panels on my roof which saves me about $1,500.00 a year.
Between the heating system and the Solar, I am saving about $4,400.00 a year. And helping the envirnment
Now I can't wait until I can buy a totally electric American car. :usa1:

 

[petraio]

That is great I have to do the same moving in a brown stone that has oil, so by saving on oil I be spending more for my tank !! Great input


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[ctxmonitor]

NICE!!! Yeah, getting rid of the oil tank for heat is a big saving!!

So you save 1500/yr for electricity as well? How much is the solar electric panels and the installation of it? Was thinking about these solar panels but always seems so much to pay up front and not sure if they are efficient enough in the long run..

 

[Paul B]

The entire solar system cost me $23,000.00 to install myself. I got back $20,000.00 in rebates and taxes. So it cost me $3,000.00
I already saved about $2,000.00 in electricity

 

[TimberTDI]

Paul,

No offense but you would have had the same results if it was an antique inefficient gas boiler.

I just replaced my oil burner in November, It is costing me just under $135 a month and that is with six people showering and the laundry running at least three loads a day and I heat my garage (talk about throwing money away every time the garage door opens, but i do keep it only at 58)

I normally average about three tanks (225 gallon fills) a year. One late Nov-Dec, one at the end of Jan and one in April. I'm hoping I may be able to drop it to two tanks a year or at least 2 1/2.

I had the option to convert to natural gas and chose not to. Both fuels have come along way in efficiency ratings, each has its benefits and each has its drawbacks.

Steven

 

[Paul B]

Steven, it is not just converting to gas, that would not save much, it's converting to an Energy Star boiler. This boiler has an outside sensor that controls the temp of the boiler. If it is forty degrees out, the boiler water only gets to about 110 degrees instead of 180 for a conventional boiler. All conventional boilers run about 180 degrees even if it is warm out. Also this boiler only has a volume of about a quart. My old oil burner had about 100 gallons of water in it that had to be heated to 180 degrees continousely and the thing was not insulated.
Most of the heat went up the chimeny out the 10" flue pipe.
This boiler burns outside air and the exhaust pipe is plastic because the thing makes no waste heat. All the heat it makes, goes into the radiators.
On a warm day the radiators just stay warm. It does not cycle the radiators from very hot then they cool down. They stay a constant temperature determined by the outside temperature.

And you are correct, I would also save if I had an old ineficient gas boiler

 

[Imbarrie]

Nice paul. I like the numbers of your solar panels. Where did you shop the parts for them?


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[rickytsui]

paul how much power does the Solar electric panels every month?

 

[Paul B]

I ordered the panels from here http://www.npcpsolar.com/

The panels make about 3,000 watts on a sunny day. Usually a little less. They are rated at 4,000 watts but that may only happen in Arizona where there is less smog.
You figure my tank uses about 600 watts so it makes about 5 times more than my tank uses. If I generate more than I use, my meter goes backwards reducing my bill

 

[ctxmonitor]

Thanks for the info Paul.. But I'm totally in the dark in regard to solor system, so i wont even know where to start. That is a great saving, you will recoup all the money within the first 1 1/2 yr..

 

[Paul B]

I did a test today and turned off my solar panels on my roof. Today is a light electricity day because there is no AC on or heat.
According to my power usage meter (pictured) today I am spending 7 cents an hour for electricity. Not very much.
I turned off the solar array and the price jumped up to 15 cents an hour.
My bill is more than cut in half and I am real happy about that. Of course today is a beautiful sunny day, the savings are not as great on a rainy day.
I installed the system almost two years ago.
There are great rebates for these systems that vary from state to state.

 

[FRY]

Paul which boiler did you buy,any pic of the installation

 

[Paul B]

It is a Crown condensing boiler and it saves me about $2,500.00 a year compared to my oil burner. I also installed it myself along with the plumbing and the rebates and tax savings allowed me to do it almost for free. It paid for itself in a couple of months. (I don't let anyone do anything, I always do it myself because I want it done correctly)
The system uses an outdoor sensor that determines how much heat the boiler needs to put out unlike a "normal" boiler that always strives for 180 degrees. If it is fifty degrees outside, I still need heat but the boiler may only reach 100 degrees. If it is zero degrees out, the boiler goes to 180 degrees. The radiators do not get very hot, then cold, they maintain the temperature they need to be at to keep the house at the temp on the thermostat. The boiler hangs on the wall, weighs about 100 lbs and is 18" wide. The plumbing is different than in a conventional boiler as shown in the picture. I have three zones and it also makes my hot water, very cheaply.

 

[Tim]

Nice Paul I also just went to a high eff. boiler and I love it. My bill went down at least $75 a month. It is much like yours but the make is Buderus. It cost me nothing more then a regular gas boiler to upgrade to this w/ all the rebates. I`ll post some pic`s when I get a chance.....

 

[Paul B]

It's a no brainer

 

[michael Jack]

now you can buy more corals with all that CASH LOL

 

[Paul B]

Yes I can but I would rather buy boat gas.

 

[emmanuel]

how do you go about getting the rebates dont you need receipts for the installation ? I also do everything myself not cause I like to but because if I'm too busy to do it and get someone else it costs me much more and 80% of the time something is wrong.

 

[FRY]

very nice paul what size did you use

 

[Paul B]

if I'm too busy to do it and get someone else it costs me much more and 80% of the time something is wrong.

I would say 90% of the time something is wrong. I have never hired anyone to do anything except dentists, and if I could see in there, I would do that myself also.
No one is going to take the care to do something on your property like you will. For instance when I do work on my boat or car. If I remove a part and I know that I will have to remove it again in the future I replace the bolts with stainless steel or I put anti galling compound on the threads. Stainless steel costs pennies more then steel if you are talking about a few screws and it can eliminate so much stress in the future. I also buy much better parts than I would get if I had the work done. If I put brakes on my car, I buy racing brakes that last forever. They cost a little more but the parts are cheap if you do the work yourself. I don't know what a brake job costs not but I do my own for about $50.00 for 4 wheels and it takes about an hour or less. And that is not with the cheap brakes that you get if you have it done.
While I have the wheels off I spray all of the rubber parts with silicone and replace any hardware that is worn or rusted. This stuff is cheap.
I paid for my house and wedding by doing car repairs and other repair jobs.
You can rebuild your car engine like new for about $200.00. You do need some time, tools and ambition.
Everything on my tank is homemade. I can buy the stuff but I want better stuff custom designed for me.
Everything in my home is also home made because I like un usual as you can tell from my aquascaping. Around my home is all custom made things, I don't want my house to look like Home Depot. I even built a large rock in my front lawn.
I am not cheap, I just like to do things and I want them to look different.

very nice paul what size did you use

The boiler is a 90,000 btu. For the inspection and rebate you will have to PM me for that information.

I built this deck out of pavers and the overhead wooden structure in 4 days for about $900.00 including renting a truck for the sand and pavers.