Best Building Blog

Best Energy Saving Light Bulbs

2010-10-14T23:01:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I paid the electric power bill for the past 2 months. Our bill was double the last one so I made some immediate changes to our lighting so that the next bill will be far less than the previous averages.

By using a light bulb energy saving calculator I was able to get a better idea of how much I would save per year if I change a few light bulbs. Even if the new CFL energy saving bulbs cost a lot more I will have paid for then within the first year using what I saved from lower power bills.

Not being sure of what the difference in light bulbs I read the US Gov page about how to choose a light bulb and there I learned the differences between bulbs and what styles are best suited for what locations around my home.

For me and my current needs the best light bulbs that will save energy and money were the ones that used the least watts. I purchased a range of brands so I can try and determine if the more you pay does actually mean more savings in the long term.

The best energy saving light bulbs at present are the LED types but they are still very expensive. I did purchase one LED light bulb to test its' durability. By the end of this year I should be able to report back as to how my energy savings have gone by switching to the best energy saving light bulbs currently available in my budget.

Best Ways To Waste Water

2010-09-28T21:28:00.028-05:00

The Mexican state of Oaxaca where I live has been inundated with torrential rain recently. This year has seen more rain fall than in the previous years so it is no wonder that more than normal the water control system didn't cope.

Coming from Australia where the storm water is piped under ground, it was unique for me to see the streets getting flooded. In Mexico this is normal and happens most times it rains. Instead of having the infrastructure to pipe the storm water away safely, in Mexico it all flows onto and then down the streets and often through peoples' private properties.

When a lot of water falls in a short amount of time it can't all be harnessed but catching some and not none should be better for the community at large. I am keen not to buy water during the rainy seasons as I would like to have my house catch the rain that falls and use it as much as possible.

More rain water stored and used by me will keep the price of water from the city to be less and will have atleast one less house roof sending water all its' water into the street.

Best Things Come To Those Who Wait

2010-08-24T11:05:00.028-05:00

A few days after writing my first blog post I had a accident surfing on my bodyboard near my home here in Mexico. A had been keen to get lots of my best building ideas written up but since the accident damaged my right arm I am quite unable to do any typing easily.

All my ideas about best building practices and having a eco-friendly, low impact, modern home will have to wait until my arm is better and my typing becomes less tiresome.

Some of the ideas I will be posting about in my "Best Building Blog" include areas about:

ways to use water better
energy reduction
building materials
design principles
reasons for change

So, for those who want more, you will have to wait.

Best Building Blog

2010-07-26T00:05:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the best building blog. The initial plan for this blog about building is to locate and promote the best ideas and products for the building and construction industry. The author / owner of this blog is a qualified carpenter with more than 15 years experience in constructing houses in Australia. He is in the process of building a family home in Mexico so is looking for the best solutions to build this family house in a hot humid climate. Please join us as we search out and review the best building solutions in this blog or follow us on twitter.