Article Post:
How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Simple Tips For Energy Efficiency in the Home
By Kevin Cox
Making your home more energy efficient can save you a lot of money in the long run. One way to make a home more energy efficient is insulating the water pipes and the water heater. With the water heater it takes a bit of energy to heat up the water in your home. If you insulate the pipes and the water heater you can save on a significant amount on your energy bills. One other thing when it comes to the water heater is when you use less water it tends to save you money on your energy bills. If you take the step to reduce your water bill it will almost always reduce your energy bill also.
Another way to make your home more energy efficient is to replace all the incandescent bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs give you the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs, but use twenty five percent less power. One other benefit of using compact fluorescent bulbs is they last ten times longer.
One last way to make your home more energy efficient is to turn off lights and appliances when not in uses. A lot of money and energy is lost when lights and appliances is left on when no one is using them. One other thing when it comes to appliances is when you’re buying a new appliance, look for one with the energy star on it. Making your home more energy efficient dose take a bit of work, but if done right it can save you a lot of money in the long run.
A good website where you can see more information on topics like this is Real Estate Facts which is highly recommended by the author. Thank you and enjoy.
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Article Post:
The Energy Efficient Home
Elements of Home Energy Efficiency Include Insulation, Lighting, Appliances & Water Consumption
By A Coyle
Whether you are buying a new house or looking to save money on your current energy bills, it makes sense to assess your home’s energy consumption. Energy efficiency not only helps you save money on your utility bills, it also helps the environment.
A well insulated house stays cooler in the summer as well as keeping its heat in winter. Insulation ratings are measured in "R-values", which measures how well it resists the transfer of heat. The higher the R-value the better insulated your house will be. R-40 is recommended for attic insulation. Insulated basements, though often overlooked, can improve the comfort of your home - in these areas R-12 or greater is recommended. Also, seal all cracks and other air leaks. If you add up the total size of the hidden leaks in your home, it can be the equivalent of leaving a window open!
Single paned windows aren’t very efficient at stopping heat transfer, which means that you may be paying for heat that is going right through your windows. Double and single paned windows are more efficient, as are coated windows. Can’t afford new windows? Many home improvement and hardware stores offer do-it-your-self window seal kits that allow you to attach a second seal using a hair dryer. Also, make use of your curtains! Keeping them drawn on summer days while you are at work will keep the heat out.
Lighting accounts for five to ten per cent of your total energy use. This is an easy area to reduce your costs. The most obvious (but often overlooked) way to cut costs is to always turn off the light when you leave a room. Make use of the natural lighting available and choose lighter colors for your interiors. Use task lighting instead of general ceiling lights - by focusing your lights on the task at hand you can cut the energy output. Keep your lights clean - cut through dust and cut your costs. Most indoor light bulbs are incandescent, which are particularly inefficient. More than 90 per cent of the energy used by these bulbs is wasted on heat, not light (ever try to change a light bulb that’s been on for a while?). By choosing compact fluorescent bulbs you can cut your lighting energy by up to two thirds. These bulbs also last up to eight times longer than regular light bulbs.
Appliances and home electronics use a lot of energy. A general rule is to keep them unplugged and turned off when not in use. Choose more energy efficient models when replacing older models.
Turn off your computer when you aren’t using it. Not only do older computers use a lot of energy, the screen saver function can draw more energy than when the computer is in use. If you are planning to come back to the computer shortly, turn off the monitor.
Another area to consider is your water consumption. You can save money on your water heating costs by washing your clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot, using low flow showerheads, and only running the dishwasher or washing machine with a full load. Insulate your electric water heater and wrap the exposed hot water pipes to stop the loss of heat.
By taking a few steps to consider your home’s energy consumption you can save money and become a greener family. by making a few small improvements you are well on your way to improving the comfort and resale value of your property.
Adam Coyle is a representative of Smith Bowden Real Estate, serving the Madison, Wisconsin real estate community. Smith Bowden specializes in helping buyers invest in properties and expand their real estate portfolios. For more info check out http://www.smithbowden.com
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Article Post:
Energy Conservation - Simple Tips that Will Reduce Your Energy Bill
Conserve Electricity with these Quick Tips
By Hans Dekker
There are many good reasons to conserve energy. If we use less gas, oil and electricity we will save money, and the pollution associated with extracting and using fossil fuels will decrease. Reducing greenhouse gas production may help to reverse global warming. In a nutshell - conservation of energy has both personal and societal benefits.
Most people are concerned with making their money last longer and energy conservation can help by reducing our energy costs. Homeowners can do many things to cut down on their energy needs. Perhaps the best thing they can do to is to install better insulation to retain warm and cool air.
Heating and air conditioning are the biggest energy consumers of the average household. Much of the heat and cool air escapes because of poorly insulated roofs, walls, doors, and windows. In fact in a lot of cases heating and cooling is responsible for around 50% of your energy costs. Improving insulation will result in greater conservation of energy and lesser energy costs. Small changes in this area can result in dramatic reduction in your monthly payment to your utility company.
Old cooling and heating appliances should be replaced with newer models which are more energy efficient. Other large appliances like refrigerators can also be replaced with newer models that are designed to conserve energy. Always make sure you read the energy label, if you do, you will often find that a cheap product in fact can be expensive in its every day use because of its energy consumption.
Traditional light bulbs are inefficient because much of the energy they consume is converted to heat. Replacing all your incandescent bulbs with compact florescent bulbs will provide the same level at light with less energy consumption. Even though the cost of these bulbs is greater than traditional bulbs, they last up to 20 times longer, resulting in significant overall savings.
Using alternative energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines can greatly reduce the amount of energy needed from traditional sources. The electricity produced by these devices can be fed back into the local power grid if it is not immediately used by the household. This reduces the power bill even further (the power meter runs backwards) while supplying clean power to your community.
Energy conservation is not just for homes; cars and trucks are available with more energy efficient engines and some can run on alternate power sources such as hydrogen or electricity.
The onservation of energy is something that everyone can contribute to. By being careful in how we use our resources we are building a society for our children and grandchildren.
Hans is author of http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com/ You will find more tips and information at theAlternative Energy Guide
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