energy savings: Could You Be Wasting Energy Dollars? - 02/17/11 02:12 AM
With ever-rising energy costs, it makes sound economic sense to determine where you can cut energy consumption for your home.  Many parts of the country are experiencing an especially cold winter, so it pays to evaluate your home for energy leaks.  Review these points to uncover possible areas for energy savings in your home:

Check for your home for air leaks. You may be able to save 10 percent or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. On a windy day, carefully run a lighter or smoke stick around windows and door joints, and … (3 comments)

energy savings: Your Thermostat Can Keep You Healthy - 12/21/10 09:21 AM
Raising the thermosat isn't the most economical or healthy way to keep your home warm this winter.  Electric power plants are the country's largest industrial source of pollutants. By snuggling under a blanket on the couch during these frigid days instead of turning up the heat you can save pounds of pollution, as well as some money off your utility bills.
Set your thermostat in winter to 68° F (20° C) or less during the daytime and 55° F (13° C) before going to sleep or when you are away for the day. If you are a bit chilly, grab a … (0 comments)

energy savings: Investigate Home Energy Upgrades - 11/11/10 06:38 AM
With colder weather approaching, our minds turn to heating bills that will soon appear in our mailboxes (or maybe they already have!)  What steps can we take to keep cost reasonable this winter?  There isn't a shortage of articles and advertisements in newspapers, magazines and on the internet touting the need to replace windows, and heating and air conditioning systems to save energy costs - and get dollars back from rebates or tax credits. Investing in energy saving products for the home is certainly a benefit for the environment, a benefit for the economy, and if done in the right way, … (0 comments)

energy savings: Save Money on Heating Costs this Winter - 10/29/10 09:38 AM
Open windows and fresh air mark the beautiful days of autumn.  It won't be long, however, before we close the windows and turn on the heat as winter winds begin to blow.  In addition to the warmth generated by our furnace, hot water heater and appliances is a higher gas bill during the winter months.  While this is unavoidable, there are ways to save money through a little conservation and mindfulness.
Before you turn on the heat this season, you may want to consider investing in a programmable thermostat.  Think of it - the heat will come on just before you awaken, and … (2 comments)

energy savings: Keep Your Cool with a Ceiling Fan - 07/06/10 10:33 AM
Summer is here and many parts of the country are feeling quite tropical.  Well, you don't have to go to the tropics to realize the benefits - or create the ambiance - of ceiling fans. They can provide an energy-efficient supplement to air conditioning during these hot summer months.
The concept is simple. If you use a ceiling fan, you can raise your thermostat and still get the same cooling effect. That means lower electric bills in the long run.  Ceiling fans work by creating a wind-chill effect. As in winter, when the wind makes it feel colder outside, so the … (4 comments)

energy savings: Be Cool and Economical this Summer - 06/18/10 09:38 AM
In a few days, summer will be officially upon us, but those of us in the South have already experienced a strong taste of it. Keeping our homes at a comfortable temperature while keeping the electric bill at a comfortable level is not always easy at times like this.  With cooling costs accounting for about 20 percent of the utility bill in the average U.S. home, it is a substantial expense for many homeowners. Since sweating it out isn't an option, here are a few money saving tips culled from experts at Georgia Power, the U.S. Department of Energy and the … (0 comments)

energy savings: Water Conservation for New Homes - 06/03/10 02:43 AM
 
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energy savings: Drip Irrigation Systems Save Money - 06/01/10 03:04 AM
Recent technology has not only addressed the need to curb our indoor water consumption, but has given us ways to maintain lush outdoor spaces in an environmentally friendly way.  A new-generation of landscape watering can reduce a home's water consumption. Drip irrigation is the highly efficient delivery of water to plants near their base through flexible polyethylene (poly) tubing fitted with water-dripping devices (emitters) and low-volume micro sprays. By slowly delivering water exactly where water is needed, drip irrigation minimizes over-spray, nearly eliminates water evaporation, and reduces water runoff. All of this adds up to dramatically reduced landscape water use-good for … (4 comments)

energy savings: Let Technology Save You Water and Money - 05/28/10 09:22 AM
One of our most valuable resources is pure, clean water.  We pay a price to bring it into our homes, but don't always conserve it.  Maybe it's time to think outside the box and see how new technology can decrease our water usage and save us money.
According to the EPA, the average family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day. The same family, if they employed simple water-saving practices and lived in a home where the plumbing systems were optimized, could conserve more than 30,000 gallons per year - enough to provide drinking water for 150 thirsty people.
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energy savings: Energy Saving Cooking Ideas - 05/12/10 12:13 AM
Many of us now have home gardens underway and anxiously await this summer's harvest.  Local produce sold at community farmers markets is satisfying our appetites until then.  We all know how important it is to use as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible, but have you thought about using energy-saving cooking techniques? Here are 6 easy ways to use less energy  in the kitchen.
Rethink food storage containers. Instead of plastic baggies, foil and plastic wrap, use reusable containers to store and wrap food.
Cover up those pots! Want an easy way to cut your mealtime energy use in half? Cover pots … (2 comments)

energy savings: Make Your home Choices Green - 04/26/10 09:13 AM
The 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day has recently passed.  The movement to protect our natural resources and make our environment more liveable has made great strides in the previous four decades, and for many of us, its principles have become a way of life.  Consider these options which can make our very own homes more energy efficient and eco-friendly.
Even if you don't buy into the idea that if we're not more careful as a group, the planet could soon look like one of those scenes out of those end-of-the-world movies like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012, it's … (0 comments)

energy savings: More Ways to Save on Energy Costs - 03/07/10 03:00 AM
We have to be so conscious of our dollars and continuously find ways to be more economical.  Not only will cutting down on energy costs save money, but will save limited natural resources as well.
The following energy-saving tips are very simple to follow and will help reduce your heating energy cost no matter what fuel you use in your home:
DIAL DOWN. For every degree you reduce your thermostat setting you may save about 3% on your heating bill. SET THE THERMOSTAT BACK. At night, and when leaving your home unoccupied for a long period of time, set the thermostat … (1 comments)

energy savings: Home Energy Saving Ideas - 03/04/10 05:50 AM
With Spring not so far away, we may be thinking of home maintenance projects.  The ever rising cost of heating and cooling reminds us that it may be time to incorporate energy efficient changes into renovation plans.  Here are a few simple ideas that may just help your Spring projects pay for themselves. 
1. Repaint for energy savings: If your house will need to be repainted this year, consider choosing lighter colors. Lighter colors will absorb less of the sun's radiation and lower summer cooling bills. The same idea works for roofing. According to the publication The Consumer's Guide to Home Energy Savings, published by … (1 comments)

energy savings: Eliminate Phantom Energy Loads and Save $$$ - 02/24/10 02:10 AM
Most common household appliances are equipped with an on/off switch.  Many people don't reralize, however that these appliances may be consuming electricity even when they are switched off.  These so-called "phantom loads" can consume a significant amount of electricity.  If you are interested in reducing your energy costs, it is important to know about these phantom loads.
Devices that create phantom loads can sometimes be recognized because of clocks or lights that continue to operate after the appliance is turned off.  VCR's, stereo systems, microwave ovens and stoves are often equipped with timers that run 24 hours a day.
Any device … (0 comments)

energy savings: Home Insulation Goes Green - 11/05/09 08:28 AM
Finally, after years of illnesses and lawsuits attributed to building insulation, demand has forced the industry to develop natural, renewable and non-toxic products. Wool, denim, hemp and flax might not be the first materials you associate with home insulation, but these products are making their way into the building insulation market.  Ease of insulation, higher insulation values and better indoor air quality are a few of the reasons that builders and consumers are leaning toward these choices.
A spray-in product created from a soybean based polyurethane compound is being tested.  It is a semi-rigid foam that contains no formaldehyde and emits no volatile organic … (1 comments)

energy savings: Seal and Insulate Your Home Like You Never Have! - 10/15/09 08:26 AM
We often think only of aesthetic changes when considering a home renovation project.  However, the upgrades that you don't see on a daily basis may be the ones that improve your home and financial condition in the long run.
Just like cars, certain well-built homes can be labeled "high performance." A high performance car is built with a strong motor, but also a braking, steering and suspension system to handle the horse power. Similarly, a high performance home is designed and built so that the HVAC system is properly sized for the living space, fresh air ventilation is used to counter air tightness … (0 comments)

energy savings: Let Your HVAC Work for Your Wallet - 10/06/09 02:48 AM
 
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energy savings: Is This the Year of the Remodel? - 04/06/09 01:07 PM
The weakness in the real estate market and in home values has led many homeowners to re-evaluate their desire to move upward.  Low mortgage rates and falling construction costs are spurring some home-owners to go ahead with long-delayed improvement projects. As a result, home remodelers are faring better than home builders who have failed in droves amid the housing market's meltdown.
"We've been pretty lucky," said contractor Ed Turner, who is adding a family room and a second floor with two bedrooms and an office to the Lees' home. Turner said he has a handful of other projects going, including two … (0 comments)

energy savings: Be Aware of Winter Fire Hazards - 02/25/09 03:52 AM
Yes, it's cold outside and we want to stay warm inside, but let's take care of how we do it!  The National Fire Protection Agency cites heating equipment as the leading cause of house fires during the winter months. 
Creosote build-up in chimneys cause the highest number of such fires.  If your home has a wood burning fireplace, be sure to use properly seasoned logs to reduce creosote build-up.  Place a screen in front of the fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting.  Be sure the ashes have thoroughly cooled before removing them from the fireplace.  Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, … (0 comments)

energy savings: The Antidote for Cabin Fever - Your Home Will Love You! - 02/24/09 07:36 AM
Feeling house bound as we ride out the last few weeks of Winter?  What better way to spend your time indoors than to take care of those little maintenance items before they become big ones.  Here are a few inexpensive ideas that can save a much greater expense later on:
- Clean and seal grout on all tile surfaces, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.  Regrout if needed.  Use a waterproof caulk, preferably silicone based, to seal gaps where different surfaces meet around tubs, sinks and showers.  Water seepage to the underlying surface can damage the wall, floor and loosen the … (0 comments)