This page is dedicated to profiles of products and procedures implemented here at TOPH to save energy (and money) and also lessen our environmental impact.
The Old: A "vintage" 1954 soot-addled, oil boiler with a 2-zone afterthought modification.The New: A brand-spankin' new Buderus G215 with an expandable zone pump system (we're starting with 4).
We looked at options for natural gas, but there is none in town. We also looked at propane, but the efficiencies just aren't there if you are not shifting to air handlers.
The idea of adding a geothermal loop was also very attractive, but highly, as it turns out, highly improbable for our location here in the glacial moraine (stone dumping ground) of Great Bay. When the local drill-folk tell you it will cost from $4,000-40,000 (all-in commitment) to dig the pilot holes and potentially blast for the tube, the long-term risk-reward calculation is drastically altered.
The Old: A "vintage" 1981 electric hot water heater with 55-gallon capacity.
The New: An HTP SuperStor ULTRA Indirect Stainless Steel Water Heater with a 80 gallon capacity. It gets its "heat" from our boiler, so it has no direct heat source of its own. The larger capacity, although nice to have around the holidays, is not because we are water-hogs. Larger volumes of liquid cool more slowly. Simple physics, folks. Also, because the hot water loop keeps the boiler engaged year-round, the expected product life of the boiler is higher and the maintenance costs lower. Win-Win!
We purchased four brand new appliances in our first week at TOPH (ouchie in the pocket bookie). But necessities were what they were. We did our best to choose energy efficient models that would serve the needs of our family and our lives here at TOPH. We went in looking to by "basic, no frills" family-function machines. We came out with some truly-surprising bargains on some of the latest models (with very cool whistles and bells!) How are we affording these high-end purchases? Well, actaully, we stayed well within our budget!
You will notice (below) that they are all Samsung. There's a reason for that. Timing is everything, and we are in a rapidly-closing window of opportunity to buy some truly kick-ass appliances with subsidies from the Korean government, of course. I am, in all honesty, feeling a teensy bit of guilt for not buying American, but who am I to turn down a government hand-out, especially if it's not from our government?
NOTE: Whirlpool has filed a pile of legal complaints with the International Trade Commission (ITC) complaining about Korea's "illegal" support of Samsung and LG exports (a.k.a. "dumping" practices.) But, while the lawyers are wrangling, I will be first in line for some of the most energy-efficient and feature-rich appliances on the market today.
TOPH Opinion: Stainless is the new (and getting stale) avocado, folks. Don't be sheep. You have better ways to spend $200-800! That's the difference... each!
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| Samsung 28 cu. ft. 4-Door Refrigerator Estimated Yearly Operating Cost: $60. |
#1: The fridge. LOVE this addition to our home. The middle drawer is perfect for reachable kid-stuff, like cheese, yogurt, snackable fruits and veggies, pre-mixed SIGGs, etc. (And there's still space in back for a case of long-necks.) The main fridge is absolutely the most well-designed food space I have ever used. Amazing visibility and flexibility. Plus, the climate-controlled spaces are helping to extend the life of our produce (and save us money!) My hubby proudly displays the Energy Star rating card to anyone (plumber, UPS guy, etc.) who enters our kitchen. NOTE: The top-of-the-line Whirlpool has the same EYOC rating (actually $59.) However, it is smaller (26.6 cu. ft.), it only has three doors, its ice-maker takes up an enormous block of "usable" space, its "extra-deep" door bins won't hold 2 gallons of milk, AND it's at least $500 more expensive even with sales, incentives and rebates.
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| Samsung Fully Integrated Dishwasher Estimated Yearly Operating Cost: $30 |
The drawers have a very innovative layout and they are uber-adjustable. I love that I can fit my largest cutting boards without impeding the spinny-things. Also, it as a super-storm-turbo-scrubber area in the bottom shelf. I put a completely unrinsed meatlaof pan in there just to see what would happen. Clean. Hunh.
NOTE: There was no place to actually install a dishwasher in the "vintage" 1950s TOPH kitchen, so we have a "peninsula" crafted from an IKEA computer peripherals table (awesome adjustable legs) and some cable-tie-enhanced plumbing and wiring. If this thing can work quietly and efficiently here, it can make it anywhere.
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| Samsung 4.3 Cu. F.t Steam Washer Estimated Yearly Operating Cost: $11 (based on Electric Water Heater, which we don't have -- Indirect ROCKS!) |
#3 + #4: The washer and dryer -- almost has me looking forward to the very long and treacherous walk from the second floor to farthest corner of the basement. (Man, I miss my second-floor laundry room.) Lots of options. Lots of clean and dry laundry (all at once). No, seriously, clean sheets from a king and two twins, all at once. What more can I say?
Alright, there's more. The dryer has a special cycle (and insert) for air drying (without the tumble). NOT-STINKY SAILING SHOES! And it has wool and dry clean and steam cycles. Of course, I always washed my dry-clean-only stuff anyway, but now maybe I won't have to rely on survival-of-the-fittest wardrobe attrition.
I'll add more as decisions and investments are made.
