Talking About Green

Home Energy Ratings – Evaluating Your Home’s Energy Performance

Tushar Mathur — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:13:03 +0000

An extremely hot or cold house and high energy bills are ordinary problems for homeowners. To over come these problems a quality installation for heating or air conditioning system or replacement of windows is required.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR gives a whole-house move towards improving the energy efficiency, reduce the bills and comfort at home.
During crisis times, you want the ways to cut costs wherever you can. One way is by reducing the total energy you are using. It is not a time to focus on a particular factor, such as drafty windows, an old air conditioning system, or leaky ductwork but you have to evaluate how improvements to other factor can work together to give:
• Fewer drafts.
• Consistent temperature distribution across rooms.
• Better humidity control.
• Proper ventilation.
• Lower utility bills.
Most of the energy losses are due to air leaks in homes. Blocking and sealing air leaks will increase the overall efficiency of your home. With air sealing, you have to installed insulation in your home. Properly installed insulation in walls, floors, and attics gives more even temperatures throughout the house and results in a more comfortable living environment.
If your furnace or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, then replace it with ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. A properly-sized unit will make your home more comfortable by providing more constant temperatures and better moisture control.
Most homes have leaky ductwork and insufficient air flow. You are suggested to seal your house ducts with mastic, metal tape and balance the duct system to allow the flow of air flow to all rooms.
Energy used for lighting and appliances can hold half of your home’s utility bill. For energy efficient home use ENERGY STAR home appliances.
Some energy consuming things like leaving a cell phone charger plugged in, even when we are not using go ignored, it still uses energy. Another hidden energy drain is lighting, which holds about 10% of an electric bill. To overcome this problem switch to CFL light bulbs, which consume less energy than standard bulbs.

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Sealing an Existing Home

Tushar Mathur — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:11:40 +0000

The most important energy efficiency improvement you can make to your home is air sealing. Air sealing will reduce energy costs as well as improve your home’s comfort and permanence.
Home Sealing is the quick and cheap way for the better performance of home. There are many different types of products particularly designed to make your house more energy efficient. The basic principle behind these products is to decrease the amount of airflow in and out of your house.
For air sealing, you have to first identify air leaks and then evaluate how much ventilation you need. After that you can apply air sealing techniques and materials desired, containing caulk and weatherstripping.
If you are looking to save some money on your utilities, there are several simple things that you can do yourself to achieve one or many of these goals.
Use ENERGY STAR products as they uses less energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality.
Make your windows double-glazed and airtight. Weatherstripping and caulking are the ways to get free of drafts and heat loss through existing windows. New windows can conserve efficient energy that they pay for themselves in few years.
Insulation, a protecting material that is generally installed between walls and ceilings, maintain the house temperature. Proper insulation will save you money and make your home more comfortable.
In an existing home, it is essential to know the location and amount of insulation you have already, and then add insulation from there.
Before sealing your loft and basement go for complete survey to find out where the air leaks loose a large amount of heat. Seal the cracks and holes with caulking foam. Interlocking Thresholds for window frames turn out to an extremely good weather seal.
Seal air leaks in furnace ductwork using mastic provides Safety, comfort, energy savings
An air sealed house:
1. Is more comfortable during the heat of summer and during freezing temperatures in winter.
2. Save money on energy bills.
3. Reduce the amount of noise that comes in from outdoors.
4. Has enhanced inside air quality.
5. Decreases the moist air and also reduce mold and mildew growth.

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Energy-Efficient Mortgages

Tushar Mathur — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:50:07 +0000

Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) mortgages the home’s energy efficiency in the mortgage. It facilitates the borrowers to finance cost effective, energy-saving mortgage and allows the borrowers to take larger loan amount.

A borrower qualifies to get an Energy Efficient Mortgages if he has a home energy rater and conducts a home energy rating before financing is finally approved.

Energy Efficient Mortgages are taken to buy a new home that is energy efficient. The term EEM is used for all types of energy mortgages. They are used to purchase energy efficient homes, and also to make energy efficient improvements in these houses.

This is one of the most under utilized and beneficial program. The borrower can capitalize in today’s real estate market. It can add 15% of a homes appraisal value to the principal of a new loan at no extra cost to the borrower. One only needs to pay more interest and principal during the tenure of the loan. No additional costs are associated with EEM. And hence, there is a lot of saving.

Energy Efficient Mortgages are useful and cost efficient to the borrowers and also to the lender. Once a borrower takes an EEM, he becomes more stable by the savings created. This makes him a reliable customer and prospects of default are less. So it is beneficiary also to the lender.

The ratings for the energy rating homes of the borrowers are done by an inspector who is certified under a national accredited home energy rating system.

The borrower first needs to find a lender and then prepare for a certified energy rater to analysis your property. Some lenders also have energy raters who work on Energy Efficient Mortgages.

Energy Efficient Mortgages are available internationally. It is easily available all across the globe and facilitates both the lender and borrower.

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Organic Products

Tushar Mathur — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:49:45 +0000

These days Organic Products is the new buzzword going around amongst the more health cautious and environment friendly people. Families are including organic products in their life style as part of their living green regime.

Technically speaking Organic products should adhere to essential standards set by the individual countries where they are sold. Ideally, these products are not exposed to chemicals, pesticides etc of any type during all the complete process of growing, processing, or even packaging.

All Organic Products are made without using any kind of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Instead organic farming uses natural methods such as insect predators and barriers.
While they are produced certain production standards are maintained, which includes:
• They should be totally free from human and industrial waste.
• While processing no ionizing radiations are used.
• No artificial food additives are to be used.

Even the animals on organic farms eat organically grown feed. An extra care is taken so that they are raised and treated without antibiotics and synthetic growth hormones. The animals are given only organic feed. This in turn gives organic produce.

You must agree that these simple explanations put these foods to the category of healthy foods which helps keeping the surroundings eco-friendly. There are so many benefits that it gives you all the more reasons to emphasize on green living ideas.

According to many researches, Organic Products have higher nutritional value than conventional food. They have higher levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many important enzymes. The biggest reason being the absence of pesticides and fertilizers. Organically grown plants improve their production of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and in return it strengthens their resistance to all kinds of bugs and weeds.

We can increase our antioxidant intake by 30 percent by choosing organically grown foods. They can even maximize your health problems and free you from number of diseases. Your body is able to digest natural organically created food quickly and efficiently. It increases metabolism and help you get rid of that extra weight.

Organic Foods have much less metal contents like aluminum, lead and mercury as compared to regular food. Foods that are organic are richer in Calcium, Magnesium, Selenium, Boron, Lithium and Chromium.

Growing children are more prone to damage due to pesticides because they have smaller and growing organs, faster metabolisms and speedy growths. So they should be encouraged to eat healthy organic food right from their childhood from the time they can chew. That way as a perfect parent you are setting the base for a much fit and better life ahead for them.

So, Organic Products are best options to go GREEN!

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Radon

Tushar Mathur — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:49:29 +0000

Radon is a natural radioactive gas which cannot be seen or smelled. This gas causes cancer. Its presence in homes is a danger for the life’s of our near and dear ones. Radon causes lung cancer among non-smokers and it is found out to be the second leading cause for lung cancer in America.

Thousands of Americans are killed every year because of lung cancer which is resulted by radon. The leading cause of lung cancer is radon, smoking and second hand smoke. Recent study has shown that about 21000 lung cancer deaths are because of radon.

Radon is a colorless, invisible and tasteless gas which is produced by decay of uranium in soil and water. It is the densest gas which is chemically non-reactive and highly radioactive. It has yellow phosphorescence below its freezing point.
Long ago, Radon was produced as required in hospitals to treat cancer.

Radon is always present in the atmosphere in a detectable amount. People are exposed to this harmful gas through breathing air. This is very harmful for humans.

Levels of Radon found in indoor air are more than outdoor air. Level of radon gets high because it enters buildings through cracks in the foundations.

Radon is present everywhere. It is found in indoor and outdoor air. It enters the environment through soil, coal combustion, uranium and phosphate. It also enters through vaporization. It can also move into the groundwater by moving downward and entering the soil. But most of it will remain in the soil. Its life is about four days.

Removing Radon from your house leads to living green by breathing cleaner and healthier indoor air in your home. These days the green building constructed are made in such a way that it prevents Radon from entering the house and buildings.

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Easy tips for green living

Tushar Mathur — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:49:12 +0000

Going green is not just good for the earth but it’s equally good for you also. All populations around the world can benefit from decreased toxic emissions in the environment and less pollutants in water.

It’s simple to define green living and it is equally simple to implement it in your lifestyle. There are so many simple green living tips that you can employ to see a difference in your family’s well being. To live a complete green lifestyle, you have to make certain at least some small changes. By following some easy tips, you can make a smoother switch to a greener living. Once you get these into your life, you will see a reduction in the carbon footprint you are leaving behind.

Here are some easy tips for living green, for a better tomorrow:
1. Recycle and reuse more often. Don’t throw away your empty glass bottles of drinks, sauces, or salsas, instead recycle them. Also, recycle those soda and cola cans. Wherever possible reuse items instead of disposing them.
2. Use less fuel, energy and gas. Choose options of carpooling, cycling or walking instead of taking your car out every time you want to go out. Turn down the furnace a few degrees and reduce your air conditioners temperature a few degrees. Unplug televisions, computers and appliances not in use and save a considerable amount of energy.
3. Whatever purchases you make, make it like a consumer who is green living considerate. If you are buying a new car, choose the one that uses bio fuels or is a hybrid. Buy organic products; always carry empty cloth or jute bags from home instead of getting your stuff in plastic bags and buy stuff which have little or no packaging.
4. Make a pledge to half as much trash on trash days. Inculcate the habits of recycling anything you can. Do not make unnecessary purchases of products that will end up in the trash without much use.
5. Do things that are Earth friendly. Make a group of green living enthusiasts and plan to clean up a park or pick up litter on the streets.
6. Replace products like all purpose cleaner, chlorine bleach, and laundry detergent with eco friendly ones.
7. Replace all your light bulbs with CFL (compact fluorescent light) ones. This will save money, energy and less pollution. The CFLs lasts almost forever, so you and your earth will reap the rewards for years.
These are all easy tips for green living, which if employed into your life today can have a long-term affect on you, your family and the earth. And these are some of the easiest things you can do to implement green living in your life.

Start your go green mission by examining the cleaning products you use most.

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Solar power

Tushar Mathur — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:38:44 +0000

You got that hefty electricity bill again and really hate to see your pocket burn with those huge payments to the electrical company. You always wish to invent or at least find something which can help you save money and subsequently help in saving the earth, environment and somehow make more use of sustainable energy resources.

Did you know that 85% of the energy we use everyday comes from fossil fuels? With the way things are moving the levels of these fuels is continuously decreasing. We all need to act now to become less dependent on fossil fuels and instead choose to generate renewable energy sources.

You just have to do your bit, find a way to use natural sources to generate power and save money and help earth in any possible way you can. Making use of solar power for your daily energy usage in the house can be a real good investment you can do for yourself and for the environment. Solar power’s eco-footprint is miniscule in comparison to fossil fuels.

Solar power is the conversion of natural sunlight into electricity. Solar power is the basis for the existence of all life on earth. Solar heating has been used for years to warm dwellings, which we call, solar thermal. But using solar electricity (photovoltaics) is also gaining lots of popularity and importance for all the benefits it brings with only one time investment.

Solar Electricity using Photovoltaic (PV) can be assumed to be a kind of electric generator which works with zero maintenance and zero fuel cost. Solar panels used for setting up this system use no moving parts. You just have to mount them out in the sun, fix those using wires, and just start collecting power without using any fuel.

You just need to find out how many solar panels you need to power your house, install the photovoltaic panels and keep them going for years and years without worrying about any extra expense on maintenance. If you are seriously considering the idea of setting up a solar power system at your home or office then many solar dealers and installers can provide you with details how to go about it.

Solar power is getting people’s attention and gaining popularity because of numerous reasons and the most obvious and important reason is that it is eco-friendly green energy. The fact that the sun is going to be around for billions of years, so we can really bank on its energy source for a longer period without doing any harm to it. This is truly a renewable energy resource which benefits us all.

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Ways to Go Green and Save Green

Tushar Mathur — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:38:29 +0000

Greener homes, buildings and offices are in the spotlight these days. Everybody is concerned about how can they live lightly on the Earth and save some money also. It seems everybody knows that they can help the planet–and save some cash as well, still not much people actually try to do some simple things to achieve that. Some simple change of habits can save energy and resources at home and work. If everybody adapts these small steps at home and workplace then it can help to reduce their carbon footprint, create a healthier environment, and can even lower their monthly bills to boot.

Here are few very simple ways to go for green living:
Saving Energy-
1. Set your thermostat according to the seasons. It should be a few degrees lower in winters and a few degrees higher in summers. This will save you on heating and cooling costs.
2. Install CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs and always but Energy Star-rated bulbs and fixtures.
3. Unplug all your appliances when not in use.
4. Whenever possible wash all your clothes in cold water.
5. Inculcate a habit of turning off the lights, fans, and air conditioner when you’re leaving any room for more than 15-20 minutes.
6. As far as possible utilize natural light and air.
7. Make it a habit to turn off your computer and the computer plug while leaving your work place for the day.

Saving Water-
1. Take shorter showers to cut water wastage. Also, install a low-flow showerhead. This will help you in lowering your water and heating bills.
2. Install a faucet aerator on each faucet. This will conserve heat and water and will also keep water pressure high.
3. Plant slow-growing drought-tolerant plants in your garden.
4. Do xeriscape landscaping on your property as it requires less fertilization and minimum use of pesticides.
5. Install a water filter and avoid buying bottled water.

Saving Gas-
1. Whenever possible walk or bike to move around for shorter distances. This will save you on gas and parking charges and improve your cardiovascular health and keep your weight under control.
2. Consider the option of working from home if you live far from your office. If possible move closer to your work place.
3. Travel by train, bus, or subway when feasible instead of using a car.
4. Car pool is also one of the best options to save on gas and keep the environment greener.

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Mold Mitigation in Homes and Buildings

Tushar Mathur — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:38:14 +0000

Molds occur naturally and they reproduce in the form of tiny spores which can be controlled by moisture control. If any person touches or inhales molds, he may have an allergy. The solution to this is moisture control, because molds cannot reproduce without moisture.
Molds grow on everything, wood, carpet, paper, food, everything where moisture is available. Whenever there is excessive moisture, mold starts growing. Practically there is no way to stop it. The only solution is moisture control, so that it cannot grow further.
Mold problem needs proper cleaning, done by qualified contractors. It also helps in preventing health hazards. Especially people suffering from asthma should avoid mold exposure. It causes nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation.
Water damaged areas must be dried within 24-48 hours to prevent mold from growing. If you see a mold in our home, clean it up as soon as possible. Fix any water leak. Wash the mold area with detergent and water and dry the area completely. Absorbent materials must be replaced. This is an eco-friendly method of avoiding mold growth.
Eliminating molds makes us save money as they destroy things they grow on.
Though molds cannot be eliminated completely as they are a part of our environment, we can only prevent it from developing.
The following things are important to know about Mold:
• Allergic reactions are the result of molds
• The only way to prevent it from growing is moisture control
• Mold problem needs clean up
• Water leak must be fixed
• Reduce indoor humidity level
• Wet areas must be dried within 24-48 hours to prevent mold from developing
• Areas must be cleaned and dried using detergent
• Reduce condensation
Mold is a common problem occurring in our homes and building which should be taken care of at the earliest. Else this may lead to severe health problems for the people living in these homes.

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A Pool of Possibilities with WWOOF

Tushar Mathur — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:46:03 +0000

WWOOF or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farming has opened up a pool of opportunities for people like globe trotters, environmentalists and others who are looking for immigration too. Thousands of organic farms have opened their doors to the volunteers’ world wide. They are free to come over stay and volunteer in the day to day work of the farm and in return they get free food and shelter with the farm owners.

Eco tourism is certainly a benefit that is there in such an opportunity apart from that there are other things like you get to meet people of a different country and see the culture there so on and so forth. For people like globe trotters it’s very important that they should have an arrangement for food and shelter in the country that they visit. Thus this is a good option for them as well. For people looking for immigration to the United States have to arrange for their own visa etc the WWOOF organization is not about paid working and thus they are not going to help you in any thing like a work permit or any thing. But through their net work you can certainly arrange for a host who would be providing you food and shelter in the United States once you have reached there.

It’s a strict no for you to show up in the farm without having made prior arrangements with the farm owner. For all the immigration related questions through the WWOOF program the best people to get in touch with are first the United States Embassy, or your immigration Lawyer. These are the people who would be able to answer all your questions related to migration through the WWOOF program. For immigrants this opportunity may be looked at just as an initial shelter post which new arrangements have to be made. But the benefits that come along with are that you do get some amount of experience in the organic farming and how to create a market for the products which are raised from the organic farms. And other related things.

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