DEFINE: The challenge that I was given is to research and come up with ideas to make my house more energy efficient. This project includes the solution fluency (the 3 d’s) and with those fluencies, I was able to find renovations to contribute to a greener home. The home I have chosen to improve is my mom’s house, it is 2,075.98 square feet, with 15 windows and 12 doors.

DISCOVER: after searching on the internet for ways to conserve energy in my home I found 3 things other homeowners have done to make their houses more energy efficient.

OPTION 1: 

install low-flow shower heads, this act will cause a major improvement in the ecosystem and your hydro bill by reducing the flow to 2.5 gpm when your conventional showerhead will use 5 gallons per minute

the approximate cost for these low-flow shower heads are anywhere from 20$ – 50$ which isn’t that much considering how much it will save in the long

DRAWBACKS: 

some drawbacks for this product are

• since the low flow showerheads don’t use the same force as a normal showerhead it might take longer to rinse out your products, meaning it may not save you that much if you have to take a 30-minute shower with the low-flow but 5 minutes with the normal showerhead.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

website link: 

• https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/16-ways-to-make-your-home-more-energy-efficient

photo: 

• https://www.aerialelectric.com/blog/power-water-low-flow-shower-heads-save-energy-mdu/

 

OPTION 2: 

another option is to insulate your walls and ceilings this will make it so your heater and air conditioner do not need to work as hard, which will save you money

the approximate cost to get insulation put in your home is around 1,000$ but the more you get insulated the more the cost will be (AND VICE-VERSA)

DRAWBACKS

• it is quite an expensive process because the company would need to remove the drywall, then place the insulation and then cover it back up with drywall, it can be especially expensive if you are planning to insulate a large area of your home

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

website link:

• https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/11-ways-to-make-your-home-more-energy-efficient.php

photo link: 

• https://www.fidelitybuildersanddesign.com/services/insulations/

 

OPTION 3: 

 

cover any small cracks in your windows and or doors to reduce the amount of heat leakage. You can buy this product called draft blockers, it comes in a roll almost like tape and you just stick it on the places that need to be sealed

the approximate price for this product is 15.99 for a 33-foot long role of draft blocker

DRAWBACKS 

• this isn’t a permanent solution
• can come unstuck

BIBLIOGRAPHY

website link:

• http://www.readersdigest.ca/home-garden/home-improvement/how-make-your-home-more-energy-efficient/view-all/

photo link:

• http://guppystory.org/draft-door-blocker/dachshund-door-draft-stopper-carter-dachshund-door-draft-stopper-door-draft-blocker-lowes/

link to the product:

• https://www.amazon.ca/Soundproofing-Collision-Avoidance-Self-Adhesive-Weatherstrip/dp/B079FP9QWX/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1528668219&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=draft+blocker&psc=1

 

DREAM AND DELIVER 

OPTION 1:

 

I had a crazy thought, what if the power from our phones could create electricity for our houses, and whenever we are using our phon electricity is being made, which could be used to heat or cool our houses since the average person uses there phone for more than 4 hours a day, that could save you a lot of money on electricity.

COST: this would cost you anything if anything it would save you money on your monthly electricity bill

DRAWBACKS: 

• if you don’t have a phone this option would not work

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

website link: 

• https://www.livescience.com/53565-touch-screen-coating-generates-electricity.html

photo link: 

• http://www.three.co.uk/iPhone/iPhone_X?featuretab=Snapchat%20%26%20%3C%2Fbr%3E%20Go%20Binge&memory=64&colour=Space%20Grey

OPTION 2:

another idea that I had was that if the windowpanes in your house could be switched out so in the summer the windowpanes would repel heat, and in the winter it would absorb it. This could be very eco-friendly because you won’t need to use as much energy to heat or cool your house i know this

COST: the closest thing I could find to my idea, was a heat absorbing stick-on film that you would stick on your windows, the cost of that is 36.39 per sheet

DRAWBACKS: 

• quite expensive
• may not work
• only temporary

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

link to the article: 

• http://www.zissil.com/topics/Heat-Absorbing-Glass-Windows

link to the product: 

• https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.3-ft-x-15-ft-titanium-heat-control-window-film.1000686183.html?eid=PS_GOOGLE_HD+%7C+E-Comm_E-Comm+%7C+Shopping+%7C+Windows+%26+Doors_Windows+%26+Doors_aud-388417099642:pla-436863665644&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmPPYBRCgARIsALOziANXIXlcNTlxmzA73otvwyJA091n_EY05bPSY6zLAW8l0tByGReiuLAaAp5HEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CPPjg-SLytsCFdWUfgodWFcECg

Photo: 

• https://www.simonton.com/windows-and-doors/windows/

OPTION 3:

 I am a dancer, meaning that move a lot and I had an idea “what if I could wear a bracelet that could use my energy to fuel my house?” even if you don’t play any sports, I guarantee you walk almost 10,000 steps a day, and if this bracelet you take those steps and turn it into energy that could fuel your home, it would save you so much money.

DRAWBACKS: 

• if you are in a wheelchair the bracelet won’t track your motion
• if you work somewhere where you are sitting all day, you won’t get as much usable energy

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

website link: 

• https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/feb/04/harvesting-energy-humans-walking-charge-wearables-bending-mit

photo link:

• https://www.amazon.com/Bracelet-ANCwear-Bluetooth-Self-Timer-Pedometer/dp/B01N1X1CP8