Purdue college experts present us 1 great method to reduce 50% of winter heating costs

Researchers at Purdue University will work on a new research project that promises the possibility to reduce heating bill in half for folks who live in very cold climates. The research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, builds on previous work that began about five years ago at Purdue's Ray W. Herrick Laboratories.

Heat pumps provide heating in winter and cooling in summer but are not efficient in extreme cold climates. The analysis involves changes to the way heat pumps operate to make them more effective in extreme cold temperatures.

The new technology works by modifying the conventional vapor-compression cycle behind standard air-con and refrigeration.

The usual vapor-compression cycle has four stages:

1° Refrigerant is compressed as a vapor

2° Condenses into a liquid

3° Expands to a mixture of liquid and vapor

4° Then evaporates

The project will investigate two cooling approaches during the compression process.

In one approach, relatively considerable amounts of oil are injected into the compressor to absorb heat generated through the compression stage.

In the second approach, a mixture of liquid and vapor refrigerant from the expansion stage is injected at various points during compression to provide cooling.

The newest heat pumps may be half as expensive to perform as heating technologies now utilised in cold regions where gas is unavailable and residents rely on electric heaters and liquid propane.

In the meanwhile here some ways to improve you home air quality and save energy:

- Be sure your thermostat is located in a spot that isn't too cold or hot.

- Install an automatic timer to maintain the thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees during the night time.

- Use storm or thermal windows in colder areas. The layer of air between the windows acts as insulation and helps maintain the heat inside where you want it.

- If you haven't already, insulate your attic and all outside walls.

- Insulate floors over unheated spaces like your basement, any crawl spaces and your garage.

- Close off the attic, garage, basement, spare bedrooms and storage areas. Heat just those rooms that you use

- Seal gaps around any pipes, wires, vents or other openings that could transfer your heat to areas that are not heated.

- Dust is a wonderful insulator and tends to build up on radiators and baseboard heat vents.

Most people do not know that common indoor air quality practices reduce home air heating costs too:

- Rain and high humidity may bring moisture indoors, creating dampness, mold and mildew -- big problems for healthy indoor air. Check your roof, foundation and basement or crawlspace one per year to catch leaks or moisture problems and route water away from your home's foundation.

- Help keep asthma triggers away from your house by fixing leaks and drips once they start. Standing water and moist encourage the growth of dust mites, fungus -- some of the most common triggers that can worsen asthma. Use a dehumidifier or ac unit when needed, and clean both regularly.

- High amounts of moisture in your home increase dampness and the growth of mold, which not only damage your house but threaten health. Install and run exhaust fans in bathrooms to get rid of unhealthy moisture and odors out of your home.

- Ventilate your kitchen stove directly outside or open a kitchen window when you cook. Keeping exhaust -- including cooking odors and particles -- outside of your home prevents dangerous fumes and particles from harming you or your family.

About the Author - Rosalind Dall writes for the ductless air conditioners blog, her personal hobby blog dedicated to suggestions to help people consume less energy and purify indoor air.