Energy Efficient Home Tips

Energy Efficient Spray Foam For your home

2012-01-06T15:08:00.002-06:00

Times are hard and seem to only be getting harder. One of the newest products available right now is Spray Foam. Spray foam is highly energy efficient. Although a little costly out of pocket spray foam quickly pays for itself.
The company I have become fond of is Natural Polymers. The main reason I have chosen this company is because they are GREEN. They offer green materials, so while you are making your home more energy efficient you are also using recycled materials, which is very cool. Their product is Low Emitting (1-4 points) and recycled materials (1-2 points)

Getting your home blown with spray foam while under new construction is ideal because the foam covers every nook and cranny, leaving no room for air or bugs to make its way through and significantly lowering your energy bills. Spray foam is not just for new construction only. You can call a local Spray Foam Contractor and have spray foam installed in attics, under pier and beam (which is really helpful with noise, weather, critters making nest and so forth) and even covering the roofs of trailers. Trailer homes are really benefited by spray foam as they tend to use a lot of energy escaping from the roof. There are very few things you can do to help out your trailers energy bills, spray foam is one of them.
When looking at the various ways you can make your home more energy efficient, do not over look spray foam, it is an inexpensive way to cut back on energy bills.

Start the new year off with An Efficient Home

2011-12-26T17:33:00.000-06:00

Clean Mold Without Chemicals

Clean Mold Without Chemicals
There are many alternatives to cleaning mold without burning your lungs with harsh chemicals. Even if you are not allergic, mold can be damaging to your health and needs to be removed immediately, therefore learning how to do so without the use of chemicals such as bleach can save you the long-lasting harm to not only your health but also at times damage to the surface you are cleaning.
Using safer alternatives such as Vinegar and Tea Tree oil will save you much more than imagined. Using Vinegar will clean most surfaces. Where Bleach will leave behind a heavy smell and is dangerous to breathe Vinegar is completely natural and is safe to inhale for all ages. If you have young children around you also do not have to worry about them getting into vinegar and being harmed. Before cleaning up annoying mold you will want to look into fixing the problem at hand.
You will want to make sure any wet or damp surface is dry and aired out. You can do this by using a dehumidifier and stopping any leaks that could be causing moisture. Moisture where it does not belong causes all kinds of problems and headaches. Getting these issues fixed will be the best solution for your mold problems. Once you get to the root of the problem then you can take vinegar or tea tree oil, dilute it with water and spray right on the mold then proceed to wipe clean with a rag or sponge. If you see any residue of the mold just repeat these steps until the mold is gone.
Vinegar is very inexpensive and can be purchased at your local supermarket. If Tea Tree Oil or Vinegar is not up your alley there are other safe alternatives to harsh Chemicals for cleaning and removing mold. You could also use Baking Soda or Hydrogen Peroxide.
Hydrogen Peroxide is also an excellent preventative tool. If you have a problem area that has been prone to being a parent for mold you can use Hydrogen Peroxide to clean these areas and prevent outbreaks. Always make sure you look the natural thus safer means of cleaning and for the removal of mold. Even if it requires a little more effort and work, you will save yourself time and money by taking the steps to prevent these unnecessary and unsanitary outbreaks, keeping your living environment a breath of fresh air.
Gayle firmly believes in using safe alternatives for keeping her house clean. You are welcome to check out her tips and tricks for safe mold removal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gayle_Crossing

Can energy be made from the wind??

2010-08-24T11:39:00.004-05:00

All across the world, what people call windmills are popping up. They are huge and have a very beautiful and gracious look about them.
Although they are nice to look at, what benefit do they have for us, and what can they do for you?
These may seen like the same question but we will look at the individually.
First of all, what are these giant windmills that are seemingly everywhere these days?
What is commonly known to us as windmills are actually Wind Turbines- as pictured above. Wind turbines generate energy from the wind. Wind Turbines are also referred to as wind generator, wind turbine generator, wind power unit, wind energy converter. All these terms point to the same thing, energy efficiency.
According to answers.com, This depends on the size of the turbine and the wind resource. A single 1MW turbine operating at a 45% production rate will generate about 3.9 milion kW of electricity in a year. This would be enough to meet the needs of about 500 households per year. The world's largest turbines at 5 MW have been constructed at the DEWI-OCC test field in Cuxhaven, Germany.
Another interesting point with wind systems is that fossil fuel plants normally run on standby to support the wind fluctuations that occur. So, not only do we see only 8 to 10% of a rated power output, but this is offset by the fossil fuel consumed an not delivered to the grid. The net result is that most wind packages deliver less then zero power, when you consider the wasted fuel at the fossil fuel plant.

You will see these wind turbine in groups and these groups are referred to as, wind farms. Turbines used in wind farms are three bladed and pointed into the wind with computer controlled motors. These are commercial turbines used in the production of energy.
Some fun facts about wind turbines:
The blades tip speed can reach up to 200 miles per hour.
Wind Turbines can reach up to 130 ft.
Wind turbines blades are usually and off grey color and this is to blend in with the clouds.

Wind Turbines are also made to shut down in high wind to avoid damage.
Transportation of wind turbines account for 20% of equipment cost.
Bottom line, these massive Wind Turbines are beneficial for the environment, cutting down the cost of energy for users like you and me and look beautiful in the mean time.

Understanding Energy Efficientcy in your home

2010-08-13T22:27:00.000-05:00

If you would like your home to run more energy efficient you would do well to understand exactly what makes your home run efficiently.
If you open the door to your refrigerator what happens? The food inside gets warm.
If doors are left open in the house, what happens? The warm or cool air inside the home, escapes out.
Those are obvious examples of wasting energy.
Many people are left puzzled each month as their electric and water bills are ridiculous, so getting your home inspected could reveal where your home is lacking in the efficiency department. Not everyone has money for inspections however so gathering enough information for you to do a basic inspection your self will do a lot of good.
There are many video tutorials online that can provide you with a wealth of information on the subject, showing you what to look for and where to find it. Simple things you may not even think about, like grass being over grown by A/C unit causes your unit not to function properly causing you to lose money on energy bills each month.
By taking a look at where air could be leaking out without you even know is a good place to start looking, places such as:

Electrical outlets
Switch plates
Window frames
Baseboards
Weather stripping around doors
Fireplace dampers
Attic hatches
Wall- or window-mounted air conditioner

Take a look at doors and windows, If you can rattle an area chances are it's leaking air.
The point is, you work hard for your money and nobody wants to waste their hard earned money. Take a look around your house and find air leaks, you will be glad you did when you start seeing the savings add up each month, and year.

An Energy Efficient home, is good for the enviroment

2010-08-10T23:13:00.000-05:00

Everyone likes to save money.
Looking into making your home run more energy efficient you save money but that is not all you are doing.
By Making your home more energy efficient you are also protecting the environment by reducing green house gas emissions as well as reducing pollution. Sounds good to me, does it to you? I thought so.
By taking a little bit of time out of your day and grabbing some tools and doing things such as replacing HVAC filters regularly, using low-flow shower heads, unplugging appliances or electronics when not in use, and replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, conserve precious natural resources—not just for you, but also for everyone else.
Everything you need to know about making your home more energy efficient is found here. Energy Efficiency is reachable for any home owner. If you are a renter and do not want to pour money into something that is not your investment that is very understandable, but there are some very simple, low cost solutions to seeing your savings add up with your monthly electric bill.
Everyone should be interested in saving money and everyone should be interested in preserving our environment.
Start today and watch your savings add up, while ensuring cleaner air for our children future.

Make your pool energy efficient, watch it work for you

2010-08-10T17:37:00.000-05:00

Do you have a pool? There are some great ways you can make your pool more energy efficient and actually have your pool work for you.
Pools can be a lot of work and maintenance. Weather you have an in ground pool or the growing in popularity above ground pool there are things you can do to save money time and avoid harsh toxic chemicals.
There is large debate between Saltwater vs Chlorine.
Saltwater pool supplies has no chemical smell and takes less time to maintain than a pump which requires chlorine.
Without proper education on the two products, many people are initially turned off by Saltwater pool maintenance, I mean who wants to be swimming in saltwater in their backyard, yuck right? But the truth is, Saltwater pool maintenance has virtually no smell. Unlike chlorine which has a strong odor, has to be done properly in order to avoid sickness and can stain clothing saltwater has no salty smell taste or effect. More or less, you turn it on at night let the saltwater pump do it's job and your good to go all day.
Algae(seaweed like growth in standing water) tends to build up in pools causing a lot of work for the pool owner leaving less time to enjoy the pool. With saltwater pool maintenance users are very happy with the lack of algae growth, cutting back on pool maintenance making your pool more energy efficient for both electricity and manual labor efficient. Saltwater maintenance like most things tends to be a bit more expensive at time of buying, but will save you $60 every bucket you buy. That is a huge savings. Saltwater systems monitor and clean themselves, saltwater systems provide just as much disinfectant as chlorine. If energy efficiency is what you are looking for, saltwater pool system is the way to go.
If making your pool more energy efficient you would also do well to look into the heating system. Pool heaters can prove to be a source of wasted energy expense. Checking into energy efficient pool heater, could save you 50-80% of your pools heating expenses.
There are more tricks and tips to making your pool more energy efficient most are changing out very simple areas such as lighting for your pool, motors and filters. If your pool is getting older and needing some updating on equipment, look into energy efficient pool equipment saving your household a lot of money.

The pool is one of the most enjoyed features of the house, providing hours of endless fun on a regular basis, switch to energy efficient pool equipment and have your pool start working for you.

Where are you loosing money?

2010-08-04T01:11:00.000-05:00

Raise your hand if you enjoy loosing money? Anyone? I did not see a hand raised. The question is where are you loosing money? Well the first place to start looking is around the house. Many homeowners possibly even your house are experiencing unwanted energy loss from their home.
Gas appliances- are they leaking your hard earned money?
You may do well to hire a professional to analyze your house as there are many special tools they can use to get a clear view of how well your home is doing in using its energy. Some things you can expect a professional to do would be:
*Scan your homes gas appliances, such as gas heater and gas furnace. Checking out your basement to your attic and everything in between. You will be given an assessment kind of like a grade on how your home is doing and help you identify some weak areas where you are loosing money monthly. Once you have fixed the problem the professional will come back and do an audit on your home and make sure the items are fixed making your home more energy efficient. Getting a Home Energy Assessment will save you money.
Blower door test will check the air-tightness in your home.
Infrared camera scan will check for moisture problems, leaks and insufficient insulation.
These are important aspects of your home functioning as energy efficient as possible.
True not everyone has the resources to tackle a host of problems your home may be having making it less energy efficient not to worry take it one step at a time.
Make a list of known issues for your home, prioritize and start one by one fixing the known issues and watch your saving add up. Nothing is worse then wasting your hard earned cash, in this economy can you afford for your home not to be running energy efficient.

Maintain an Efficient lifestyle, In your home

2010-07-25T21:51:00.003-05:00

Efficient: Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
Also defined as:
Working in a well-organized and competent way.
With that in mind, would it not make sense that we would start right in our own home by cutting back on wasted energy and paying for escaping electricity?
The truth is, you can count the cost of wasting energy or electricity in your home by simple overlooked everyday things such as leaving lights on when you leave the room, using what can now be considered old fashion light bulbs, for highly energy efficient Florescent bulbs, installing air vents for proper ventilation, keeping expensive heating and air conditioning in the house rather than seeping out unwanted and sometimes hidden cracks the list goes on.
By taking a simple look around your house and following simple and easy to manage energy saving tips, the savings each year will astound you, now the question is what will you do with all that cash?
Start today by putting these energy saving tips on your Honey Do list, and make your home Energy Efficient.

See clear benefits of Energy Efficient Windows

2010-07-25T18:36:00.002-05:00

Windows tend to set the tone for feeling of the home. When you have large windows in every home, the environment of the house tends to feel bright and cheery. Small windows such as the ones found in basements tend to bring a darker dreary feel with them. So then when choosing new windows you will want to think about light exposure, ventilation, and temperature for each room your new windows will go in.
Choosing the right Window is a clear way to make your home more energy efficient.
If you are an owner of an older home and are wondering why your electric bills are sky high take a good look at your windows. Older windows were not designed with efficiency in mind. Swapping out your windows may seem like an expensive daunting task but well worth it in the long run. Air loves to escape through the cracks of old windows. Swapping out your windows for new windows will benefit your monthly electric bill enormously. Double pain windows are one way to go. New windows will help lock the air tight into the comfort of your home, that is what this is all about. So what kind of window should you look for.
You will want to look for Energy Star products.
There is some great news for home owners looking to make their home more energy efficient.
Federal Tax Credits are available for homes equipped for efficiency. Although not all Energy Star products will qualify it should be of great concern to check if the product you are considering buying will qualify.
ENERGY STAR distinguishes energy efficient products.
Although they may cost more to purchase than standard models, will pay you back in lower energy bills within a reasonable amount of time. (for more information on ENERGY STAR products that are TAX deductible, visit this website: Federal Tax Credit )
On a related note, you will do well to look into Skylight covers if your home has them. Skylight covers are a great way to deflect direct sunlight from heating your home while you are trying to keep it cool.
Making your home energy is worth the effort. A great place to start is by taking a closer look at your household items that can be replaced and your windows make a great place to start.

Enerygy Efficient: Change out your light bulbs

2010-07-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

Now here is a bright idea! Changing out your light bulbs is a quick and easy way to make your home more efficient. Why is this so important? The standard light bulbs waste 90% of its electricity heating the bulbs, not lighting it. When you swap out your home light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs called Compact Florescent bulb(CFB) you are making your home more energy efficient since these bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10x's longer than the average standard light bulb. Those are some impressive number that mean a lot of savings year round. These efficient bulbs can be used all over the house, so cruise around your home, count how many lights need these energy efficient bulbs and head on down to your local home improvement store, the savings will impress you.
This is what to look for when buying and energy efficient bulb:

This is more than likely what you already have in your home.

Make your home Energy Efficientcy with Insulation

2010-07-24T22:47:00.000-05:00

There are so many insulation products to choose from. What kind of insulation is best for your house depends on what you will be using it for. Some insulation is good for soundproofing your rooms, some insulation is best for keeping your house cool in warmer climates and vise versa with cooler climates.
Insulation accounts for roughly 40-65% of the energy used in your home.
What we want to keep in mind with insulation is how it will benefit your house making it more Energy Efficient. Insulation is vital for keeping your bills down. Many older homes are not well insulated if they have any insulation at all. If you own an older house and your electric bills are emptying your hard earned bank account you would be wise to take a closer look at your insulation. There are some new and improved methods of insulation such as

Spray Foam Insulation
Fiberglass
Blown in recycled paper
Cellulose

Just to name a few. Now the subject on the board is Energy Efficiency for your home.
Spray foam is 20% more cost effective over customary fiberglass insulation. Although foam insulation is cost effective it is very messy and when too much is sprayed your walls can buckle. Spray foam is thought to hold in heat better when it is cold outside and the cool when it is cold outside, you get the point. Spray foam is considered the most energy efficient on more than one level. Spray foam gets into every nook and cranny keeping bugs and unwanted insects from the outside from coming in. Saving you on extermination bills. If bugs cannot come in and out, that means air cannot either and that is one of the most important points of keeping your house energy efficient.

The truth is, besides a few dollars a year the insulation you choose is not the utmost importance. The reason insulation is vital for energy efficiency is because it protects your inside air from going outside. Make sure your walls are well insulated as well as your ceiling, this is more commonly overlooked in making your home energy efficient yet one of the most important. Insulating your attic will pay for itself in just a matter of time and the benefits will be more green in your wallet.