With spring here, summer is not that far off. It is time to start thinking about air conditioning. Here are seven things you should know about air conditioning. Read the rest of this entry »
No need to go into a complete tailspin just because you think your electricity bill is extraordinarily high. Take a step back and try and figure out whether it is indeed too high or whether it is actually normal. Times change, utilities get more expensive. Take another look at your bill and compare it with your old bills. Is there much of a difference? Read the rest of this entry »
Just like wearing a coat in the winter helps conserve our own bodily heat, many other items also require a covering or coat to help in conservation efforts. You may not always think about these items and they may not always be easy to replace, but covering up can go a long way towards reducing overall total utility cost.
If you have a chimney, make sure there is a damper in the flue. The dampers, which are not all that expensive, will allow you to manage air drafts. These dampers can be kept closed to ensure that air conditioned air won’t be lost up the chimney and cold frigid air won’t be coming into your house when you’re nice and snuggly warm. There are multiple types and manufacturers of dampers, so search around to find that one that meets your specific needs.
People spend months planning a vacation, weeks planning holiday decorations and hours planning an outfit to wear. Why shouldn’t we put as much thought and planning in our energy usage as we do other daily activities? Here are a few items to think about: Read the rest of this entry »
It’s very important to keep appliances and electronics in the best working order possible. This is where maintenance instructions come into play.
Make sure you don’t forget by creating a maintenance calendar. Create a yearly calendar complete with filter changes, oil changes for the car and past maintenance needs. Most filters need changed on a relatively short periodic basis. Some filters need cleaned on a monthly basis and others may last 3-4 months, but in every case, a dirty filter will use more energy and cost you more money in the long run. Read the rest of this entry »
When it comes to washing clothes, the goal is to get your clothes clean. Well – everyone knows that, but if you can also take some detailed steps to reduce your energy usage while still getting your clothes clean. Read the rest of this entry »
One *hot* topic, if you’ll pardon the expression, is how to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Everyone wants to be comfortable in their own home without the need to add or shed layers of clothing. But – there are additional options other than just adjusting the thermostat. Read the rest of this entry »
It seems everyone understands how limited natural resources could get and how our wastefulness can put future generations at risk. This is great news for the cost-conscious energy consumer because this means that resources are available. Read the rest of this entry »
For any home owner, there eventually comes a time when some structural work has to be done. During this re-modeling, no matter how small it could be, take the chance to evaluate ways to reduce energy usage and make some changes to help make your house more efficient in the future. Read the rest of this entry »
If you plan to replace windows in the near future, or add new ones to a future home addition, then use Energy Star qualified, Low Emissive (Low-E) windows. They could reduce your energy bill as much as 15%. Read the rest of this entry »