How to create an energy efficient Home – Learn how to save money and cut your utility bills with these simple and cost effective household energy saving tips. Call Ted with Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415 for more information on a Energy Efficient Home or visit our website to see our full capabilities. Create an Energy-Efficient Home.
There are many ways for homes to be more energy-efficient, homeowners need to just choose the methods that benefit them most. A lot of homes seem to be reducing their environmental footprint by installing solar panels on the roof of their home. This is believed to reduce energy bills, whilst also making a house far more energy-efficient. To learn more about solar panel installation, it might be a good idea to find one of your local solar energy companies to ensure you understand how solar energy works and how it will reduce your environmental footprint. However, other home energy savings are indeed possible, particularly if you pay attention to your household appliances. So roll up your sleeves, and take a look at these energy-saving steps recommended by the Department of Energy.
Who knows? This may be the year you finally log some dollars in the plus column, instead of making alarmingly high “contributions” to the utility company. Create an Energy Efficient Home
Water heater savings
Take a bite out of the 18 percent the average homeowner pays for water heating. Here’s how to save on water-heating costs:
When replacing your water heater, invest in a high-efficiency system and get the best ranked water heater installation service to fit it for you. Set the water heater to 120 degrees. (Most systems are pre-set to 140 degrees.) Wrap insulation around the first few feet of pipes that come in and out of the water heater. The insulation will reduce energy loss as hot water flows through the pipes. Energy Efficient Home Designs. If
you’re needing more reasons to insulate your heater and pipes, check out more of the benefits over at https://waterheaterreviewssite.com/water-heater-blanket-benefits/.
Energy Efficient Lighting
First lets look at the benefits of installing energy efficient lighting
and later we will examine the up-front cost to upgrade and then the
annual energy savings. Call Ted at Plano Texas Handyman 214-507-3415 to
discuss the installation of your Drip Irrigation System. Visit our
website at www.planotexashandyman.com for more information.
It’s no secret the cost of electrical energy continues to rise and
will inevitably continue to do so in the future. At the same time, the
demand for electricity continues to increase, taxing our existing
electrical infrastructure to the margins of their design limits. We need
more power, but in order to get it, we need new transmission and
distribution infrastructure – but that’s just the beginning.
Efficiencies need to improve. Smart grid and microgrid strategies need to be deployed, and energy storage needs to be maximized. The list goes on and on. The problem is all of these propositions require a large amount of capital, which seems to be in short supply these days. Therefore, the quickest and least expensive way to generate more electricity is to not consume it in the first place. One way to use less energy is to install newer and more energy-efficient lamps, luminaires, and controls. Even lighting systems that were deployed just five years ago could benefit from newer lighting technologies and/or better control strategies. Create an Energy Efficient Home
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that about
461 billion kWh of electricity were used for lighting by the
residential and commercial sectors in 2011. This was equal to about 17%
of the total electricity consumed by both of these sectors and about 12%
of total U.S. electricity consumption. Residential lighting consumption
was about 186 billion kWh – or 13% of all residential electricity
consumption. The commercial sector, which includes commercial and
institutional buildings and public street/highway lighting, consumed
about 275 billion kWh for lighting – or 21% of commercial sector
electricity consumption in 2011. Installing Energy- 5 Reasons to use
Energy Efficient Lighting.
The good news is lighting has become more efficient over the last decade and continues to evolve. Not only have lamps and luminaires become more efficient, but so have lighting control systems. Installing new luminaires and lamps – or retrofitting existing luminaires and lamps – is standard practice for the electrical industry. However, installing lighting controls to save energy has sent many electrical contractors and technicians back into training mode. Call Ted with Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415 for more information on a Energy Efficient Home or visit our website to see our full capabilities. Create an Energy Efficient Home
Water conservation You can save on water heating bills and water bills by adopting a less-is-more mindset. You can adjust your patterns of usage around the house, for example, by taking shorter showers, but it also helps to install low-flow showerheads and aerators throughout the home. These devices reduce the flow of water through them. When you turn on the hot water, the demand is less, reducing usage. Create an Energy Efficient Home
Here are a few other water saving tips:
• Run only full loads when using your dishwasher or clothes washer.
• Avoid using longer-running cycles on your appliances, which will
use more water. Opt for shorter washing cycles, but be sure to test
these cycles to see if they do as good a job cleaning the dishes as the
appliance’s “normal” cycle. Energy Efficient Home Designs. Energy
Efficient Home Designs
Kitchen money saving tips
Dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves – these are all appliances people use
in the kitchen that can contribute to high energy bills – unless you
know how to switch on the energy savings:
• Consult the dishwasher manual, and make sure it’s set to the lowest
temperature possible (which is generally around 120 degrees).
• Before loading the dishwasher, dry-scrape food off of the dishes,
instead of running them under water. You’ll save on water and you won’t
have to run the system as long to remove food buildup.
• Avoid using the dishwasher’s soak or pre-rinse features.
• When you can, stop the dishwasher before it reaches the drying cycle, and open the door a bit instead to let dishes air dry.
• Use ideal refrigerator settings to lower energy consumption. The
freezer should be kept at 0 degrees, while the ideal temperature for the
fridge is between 37 and 40 degrees. If your fridge doesn’t display the
temperature, place a thermometer in the space to get an accurate
reading.
• Keep an eye on the fridge door’s seal. Leaks increase energy consumption.
• Use a properly sized pan on the stovetop.
• Opt for the toaster when heating food up or even cooking smaller food items. It uses less energy than the oven.
• Regularly clean the stovetop; the burners will work more efficiently when they’re clean. Energy Efficient Home.
Laundry energy saving strategies
Keep energy costs down by following these strategies for laundry:
• Hang-dry clothing when you can.
• If you must wash or dry a small load, make sure the settings match the size of the load.
• Always remove lint from the lint trap after drying a load of
laundry. A clean lint trap promotes optimal air circulation in the
dryer, which will improve drying times.
• If the dryer has a cool-down feature, use it. This feature shuts
off the heating element a few minutes before the cycle is expected to
end, but the heat in the dryer will remain.
• Make sure the dryer vent is clear, and have a professional inspect and maintain it every year or two. Lint buildup in the dryer is a fire hazard, too. Create an Energy Efficient Home
With these tips for saving energy, you’ll be set to keep more of your hard-earned dollars over the year, and every year thereafter. When your entire family adopts energy-savings strategies, you’ll also get peace of mind, knowing you’re contributing to a greener environment and conserving natural resources. Energy Efficient Home. Create an Energy Efficient Home
Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home – Learn how to save money and
cut your utility bills with these simple -household energy saving tips.
Call Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415 for more information on a
Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home or visit our website to see our full capabilities. Energy Efficient Home. Energy Efficient Home Designs
Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment – Light your home using the same amount of light for less money.
There are few home improvement projects that actually pay for
themselves and LED lighting is one of them. An average household
dedicates about 5% of its energy budget to lighting. Switching to
energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy
bills. You could also try switching energy provider at https://www.moneyexpert.com/gas-electricity/
to make sure you’re getting the best deal. By replacing your home’s
five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with models that have
earned the ENERGY STAR, you can save $45 each year. New lighting standards
took effect in 2012, and money-saving options such as halogen
incandescent, CFL, and LED lightbulbs are available today. For
high-quality products with the greatest energy savings, choose bulbs
that have earned the ENERGY STAR. Of course this isn’t the only change
that you can make to increase your home’s energy efficiency. In fact,
you’d be surprised at how many improvements can be made to cut costs,
increase efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. If you’re
interested then you might want to have a look at chipglennon.com for more ideas. Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
Call Monarc Technology or Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415 for more information on adding energy efficient lighting or visit our Smart Home website for all our capabilities. Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
New Lightbulbs: What’s the Difference?
Traditional incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy to produce light and are no longer manufactured.
90% of the energy is given off as heat
That lost energy is money we are throwing away
Newer energy-saving lightbulbs provide the choices in colors and
light levels you’ve come to expect. Many people who are looking to save money on electricity rates Houston way, or wherever they are living, will be impressed with the lighting that can be gained from energy-efficient lighting. Homeowners assume the brightness will be dimmer and the quality of the bulb won’t be as high-end as other light bulbs – but they are incorrect. The new lights are also much more
efficient – so they save you money. Energy Efficient Lighting Saves
Money
What Are My Lighting Choices?
You have many choices in energy-efficient lighting. The most popular
light bulbs available are halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent
lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Although they can
initially cost more than traditional incandescent bulbs, during their
lifetime they save you money, because they use less energy. You can find
these in most hardware and home improvement stores as well as at FSC Lighting.
Controls such as timers and photocells save electricity by turning
lights off when not in use. Dimmers save electricity when used to lower
light levels. Be sure to select products that are compatible with the
energy-efficient bulbs you want to use. Install Energy Efficient
Lighting Investment
If you have outdoor lighting that is left on for a long time, using
CFLs or LEDs in these fixtures will save a lot of energy. Most bare
spiral CFLs can be used in enclosed fixtures that protect them from the
weather. CFLs and LEDs are available as flood lights. These models have
been tested to withstand the rain and snow so they can be used in
exposed fixtures. Also look for ENERGY STAR-qualified fixtures that are
designed for outdoor use and come with features like automatic daylight
shut-off and motion sensors.
Halogen Incandescents
Energy Efficient Lighting Saves Money – Halogen incandescents have
a capsule inside that holds gas around a filament to increase bulb
efficiency. They are available in a wide range of shapes and colors, and
they can be used with dimmers. Halogen incandescent bulbs meet the
federal minimum energy efficiency standard, but there are now many more
efficient options to meet your lighting needs.
CFLs
Compact fluorescent lamps
(CFLs) are simply curly versions of the long tube fluorescent lights
you may already have in a kitchen or garage. Because they use less
electricity than traditional incandescents, typical CFLs can pay for
themselves in less than nine months, and then start saving you money
each month. An ENERGY STAR-qualified CFL uses about one-fourth the
energy and lasts ten times longer than a comparable traditional
incandescent bulb that puts out the same amount of light. A typical CFL
can pay for itself in energy savings in less than 9 months and continue
to save you money each month. A CFL uses about one-third the energy of a
halogen incandescent.
CFL bulbs are available in a range of light colors, including warm
(white to yellow) tones that were not as available when first
introduced. Some are encased in a cover to further diffuse the light and
provide a similar shape to the bulbs you are replacing. If you are
looking for a dimmable bulb, check the package to make sure you purchase
a CFL with that feature.
Fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, and they should
always be recycled at the end of their lifespan. Many retailers recycle
CFLs for free. See EPA’s website for more information. Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
LEDs
Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
are a type of solid-state lighting – semiconductors that convert
electricity into light. Although once known mainly for indicator and
traffic lights, LEDs in white light, general illumination applications
are one of today’s most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing
technologies. ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs use only 20%–25% of the energy
and last 15 to 25 times longer than the traditional incandescent bulbs
they replace. LEDs use 25%–30% of the energy and last 8 to 25 times
longer than halogen incandescents.
LED bulbs are currently available in many products such as
replacements for 40W, 60W, and 75W traditional incandescents, reflector
bulbs often used in recessed fixtures, and small track lights, desk
lamps, kitchen undercabinet lighting, and outdoor area lights. They come
in a variety of colors, and some are dimmable or offer convenient
features such as daylight and motion sensors. LEDs work well indoors and
outdoors because of their durability and performance in cold
environments. Look for LED products such as pathway lights, step lights,
and porch lights for outdoor use. You can also find solar-powered
outdoor lighting. Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
While LEDs are more expensive, they still save money because they
last a long time and have very low energy use. As with other
electronics, prices are expected to come down as more products enter the
market.
Energy Efficient Lighting Saves Money– First lets look at the
benefits of installing energy efficient lighting and later we will
examine the up-front cost to upgrade and then the annual energy savings.
Call Ted at Plano Texas Handyman 214-507-3415 to discuss the
installation of your Drip Irrigation System. Visit our website at www.planotexashandyman.com for more information. Installing Energy- 5 Reasons to use Energy Efficient Lighting.
It’s no secret the cost of electrical energy continues to rise and
will inevitably continue to do so in the future. At the same time, the
demand for electricity continues to increase, taxing our existing
electrical infrastructure to the margins of their design limits. We need
more power, but in order to get it, we need new transmission and
distribution infrastructure – but that’s just the beginning.
Efficiencies need to improve. Smart grid and microgrid strategies
need to be deployed, and energy storage needs to be maximized. The list
goes on and on. The problem is all of these propositions require a large
amount of capital, which seems to be in short supply these days.
Therefore, the quickest and least expensive way to generate more
electricity is to not consume it in the first place. One way to use less
energy is to install newer and more energy-efficient lamps, luminaires,
and controls. Even lighting systems that were deployed just five years
ago could benefit from newer lighting technologies and/or better control
strategies.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that about
461 billion kWh of electricity were used for lighting by the
residential and commercial sectors in 2011. This was equal to about 17%
of the total electricity consumed by both of these sectors and about 12%
of total U.S. electricity consumption. Residential lighting consumption
was about 186 billion kWh – or 13% of all residential electricity
consumption. The commercial sector, which includes commercial and
institutional buildings and public street/highway lighting, consumed
about 275 billion kWh for lighting – or 21% of commercial sector
electricity consumption in 2011. Installing Energy- 5 Reasons to use
Energy Efficient Lighting. Energy Efficient Lighting Saves Money
The good news is lighting has become more efficient over the last
decade and continues to evolve. Not only have lamps and luminaires
become more efficient, but so have lighting control systems. Installing
new luminaires and lamps – or retrofitting existing luminaires and lamps
– is standard practice for the electrical industry. However, installing
lighting controls to save energy has sent many electrical contractors
and technicians back into training mode.
1. Energy Savings – Lamp/luminaire and lighting
control strategies are driven by the need to save energy and by the
adoption of energy codes like the International Energy Conservation Code
(IECC), ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1, or state standards like California’s Title
24. As lamp efficacies improve, energy codes are driving down the number
of watts per square foot used to light any give space within a
building. Add in effective lighting controls, and you can drive down
energy consumption even further. On the voluntary side, the Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program,
developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has had a profound
impact on driving energy-efficient lighting design as well. Install
Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
There are other benefits for installing a well-engineered lighting
system. Although the following benefits may appear to be less
quantifiable, in reality, they are no less important than saving energy.
First is the effect that a lighting system has on improving the
productivity, recruitment, and retention of the customer’s employees.
The second is green and zero net energy branding opportunities. A 2015
research study, found an average 3.2% increase in productivity from
lighting improvements. The same study also revealed that a 1% increase
in productivity equates to 100% reduction in energy costs. Energy
Efficient Lighting Saves Money.
Call Monarc Technology at 214-507-3415 for more information on adding energy efficient lighting or visit our Smart Home website for all our capabilities. Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
2. Large choice of lighting technology – Lamp and
luminaire choice is usually driven by customer request in consultation
with an architect, lighting designer, or both to meet occupancy
requirements. However, in some cases, the electrical contractor may
become the specifier of the lamps and luminaires to reduce costs for the
customer (value-engineering). Electrical contractors involved in
design/build projects have greater influence over lighting selection.
Because most design/build electrical contractors are not lighting
designers, learning something about basic lighting design benefits
everyone involved.
Just like the lighting designer, the electrical contractor needs to
understand the customer’s lighting requirements. In the case of
value-engineering or design/build scenarios, realize that the customer
may be relying on your expertise when it comes to lamp/luminaire
selection, layout, and control. Some basic questions to ask the customer
include: What is the major task(s) that will be performed in the space
(e.g., task lighting)? What surfaces or objects need to be lit (e.g.,
focal lighting)? What types of fenestrations will the space contain
(e.g., daylighting)? Is any lamp/luminaire going to be used as an
architectural or decorative feature (e.g., decorative lighting)? What is
the mood of the space, or what are the navigation requirements within
the space (e.g., ambient lighting)? In some designs, energy savings and
increased productivity may be gained by separating task lighting from
ambient lighting and using innovative control strategies.
3. Lighting has become understandable – The proper
selection of the lamp and luminaire begins with understanding something
about the qualities of a light source, which are determined by the
method used to produce the light. Light sources range from incandescent
and halogen to fluorescent and HID to light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Lamps are rated in lumen output, watts, and lumens per watt or efficacy.
Lumen output is the total light output of the lamp. This does not
include fixture lumens only lamp lumens. (It’s important to understand
the difference when evaluating LED lamps and luminaires.) Efficacy is
the measure of how efficient one light source is when compared to
another. The more lumen output per watt of power consumed, the more
efficacious the lamp is. When purchasing lamps, think lumens, not watts.
Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
4. Quality – The quality of light is also a measure
of its color accuracy and the color of the light itself. Color accuracy
is a measure of how well the light source can render the colors of an
object. This is known as the color rendering index (CRI), which is
measured on a scale of 0 (very poor rendering) to 100 (perfect
rendering). The color of the light the lamp produces (whether the light
appears warm, neutral, or cool) is a function of its color temperature.
The lower the color temperature, the warmer (more red) the lamp appears;
the higher the color temperature, the whiter or cooler the light source
appears (more blue). This is known as the correlated color temperature
(CCT), as shown in the Figure. Install Energy Efficient Lighting
Investment
Other areas of concern when selecting a lamp are its operating
temperature range, lamp life, lumen maintenance (how much light output
diminishes over the life of the lamp), directionality, dimmability,
starting time, and life-cycle costs. All lamp qualities need to be
understood to provide the customer with the desired end result. This
implies that you, as the electrical contractor, understand how all lamps
generate their light and what their operational characteristics are.
Control strategies will be predicated on the operational characteristics
of the lamp and occupancy requirements. Energy Efficient Lighting Saves
Money
The goal is to have a better understanding of the nature of light –
not necessarily to become a lighting designer. However, if you are
providing design/build services or value-engineering a lighting system,
understanding some basics of lighting design will help a great deal.
Many lighting and lighting control manufacturers provide basic online
training with regard to understanding the nature of light, lamp
characteristics, luminaire selection, and the correct switching or
dimming control devices and topologies. Many lighting manufacturers also
offer webinars and training courses, some of which are free. Staying on
top of the latest training resources in the lighting arena will go a
long way toward maximizing your next energy-efficient installation.
Call Monarc Technology at 214-507-3415 for more information on adding energy efficient lighting or visit our Smart Home website for all our capabilities. Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
The annual savings to upgrade to energy efficient lighting
Energy Savings – Assuming you have a 2500 square
foot home, with a total of 25 – 60W incandescent bulbs (lamps, fans and
bath fixtures), 15 – 65W BR40 spot lights (can lights), and 4 – 4? 40W
t40 fluorescent bulbs (closets and laundry).
The total out of pocket cost to replace these bulbs with LED lighting
would be approximately $485.00, including professional installation.
Installing Energy-Efficient Indoor Lighting Systems
The total annual savings realized based on .11c/kwh would come to
$240.00 annually in energy usage, up-front, the payback seems to be 2
years! However, you must consider the longevity and useful life of the
asset, LED bulbs last on average 14.7 years compared to 2.1 years for
standard incandescent. Essentially, you will have to replace
incandescent bulbs 7 times. The bottom line is that over the life of the
LED product (14 to 15 years), you will save over $3200.00 in energy
usage and bulb replacement.
This analysis is done for a 2500 square foot home, do the math, many
homes in Plano Texas are much larger. Your savings could be enormous.
Call Monarc Technology at 214-507-3415 for more information on adding energy efficient lighting or visit our Smart Home website for all our capabilities. Install Energy Efficient Lighting Investment
Making your Home Energy Efficient – Builders often refer to the exterior of a home as the “envelope” or the “shell.” Sealing the envelope or shell against air infiltration (air leaking into the house from outside) and air exfiltration (air leaking from inside the house to the outside) helps reduce your energy expenditure for space heating and cooling. Besides, no one likes to live in a drafty house. One way to reduce heat leaving the home is to look into infrared heaters, where they only heat the person instead of the surrounding area, this might come in handy if you live in a big house and find it hard to warm up until you utilize these ideas. If you want to learn more, then in this post you’ll be able to research and look into what you could be getting.
In this article, we’ll show you a variety of ways you can seal leaks and improve insulation to make your home cozier and more energy efficient. Once you view this company it will help you have insulated the home, the work doesn’t stop there. We’ll show you how routine cleaning and water conservation can increase energy efficiency and save you even more money on your energy bills. Begin the improvement process with the following basic sealing guidelines to help you secure your home’s exterior. Contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415. Please Visit Plano Texas Handyman website to view and read about all of our capabilities. Contact Plano Texas Handyman for more details
Baseboards and Floors – Gaps are often left between baseboards and hard floors, such as tile, hardwood, or laminate flooring. These gaps can be successfully and neatly filled with latex caulk, thus preventing air from entering the home at foot level. Making your Home Energy Efficient
Weatherstripping Doors – While windows attract most of the attention when it comes to energy efficiency, doors can play a major part in what can go wrong — or right. Doors have a particularly difficult role to fill. Not only do they need to open and close smoothly and easily, but they also have to seal tightly to keep out drafts, and must have at least some insulative value to keep cold at bay.
There are many different options on the market that can be used to upgrade a door’s existing weatherstripping. Some of the most effective are types that contain a vinyl bulb or padded strip set into the edge of a conventional wood doorstop. The wood part is nailed to the doorjamb and is flexible enough to conform to even a badly warped wooden door. The vinyl bulb or strip seals out air movement, but is gentle enough that the door’s function is not affected.
Sealing Windows – Owners of older homes that still have their original windows are often dismayed by the amount of cold air leaking through those old windows during the winter. Switching to energy-efficient windows can eliminate this problem, vertical sliding sash windows have two frames which makes it the best option for insulating your home during cold winter months. There are also ways of dealing with this problem that don’t involve a lot of time or money. Speaking of which, those who own conservatories are notorious for being energy inefficient, it would be a good idea to consider something similar to LEKA Roof Systems to improve the energy efficiency of the conservatory and by extension your home overall.
One option involves using a caulk gun and “weatherstripping caulk sealant” or “temporary” caulking to seal up the cracks between the window and window frame. Weatherstripping sealant is caulk that is designed to stick in place nearly as well as regular caulk but can be peeled off when it is no longer needed. It is available inexpensively in regular caulk tubes and comes in a clear color. It is nearly invisible when in place and removes easily without damaging either paint or clear finishes.
Switch from incandescent to fluorescent – Although compact fluorescent bulbs cost more initially, the end result is considerable savings. This is because fluorescent light bulbs last 8-12 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Even using a mix of fluorescent and incandescent lighting throughout your home can have an impact in overall energy usage. Contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415. Please Visit Plano Texas Handyman website to view and read about all of our capabilities. Contact Plano Texas Handyman for more details Energy Efficient Homes
The big difference between CFLs and incandescent bulbs is how much energy it takes to use them over time. CFLs use about 70% less energy than incandescent bulbs. They also last years longer than traditional bulbs, and only cost about a dollar more per bulb. Energy Efficient Homes, Making your Home Energy Efficient
However, one of the biggest drawbacks of CFLs is that it takes a few moments for them to warm up and reach full brightness. That means they’re not ideal in spots where you want lots of light as soon as you flip the switch, such as a dark, steep basement stairway. They also cannot be used with a dimmer switch. Energy Efficient Homes
Now consider that those savings are from just one bulb. Think about the number of lights in your house — some fixtures, like chandeliers or ceiling fans, probably even use three bulbs or more. If you replaced 20 incandescent bulbs with LED light bulbs throughout your home, you could save up to $3,260 over their 23-year lifespan (and that’s assuming utility rates don’t rise).
Eliminating Ice Dams – If you have ice dams forming on your roof during the winter, it means that heat is escaping the house and leaking into your attic. If you’re worried about this happening, then you could consider contacting some roofing companies cedar park to get a quote on a damage assessment. Ice dams are the manifestation of energy inefficiency in a home. They are the result of poor air sealing, a lack of insulation, and inadequate ventilation in an attic.
Warm air travels upward because of its natural buoyancy. As it reaches the ceiling in the top floor, it seeks ways to rise even higher through cracks and gaps in the ceiling and walls. Some of those pathways are obvious; many others are not. Openings around and through recessed canister lights, whole-house fan installations, attic-access hatchways and pull-down stairs, and electrical boxes in the ceiling and walls all provide conduits from the house into the attic. Additionally, heat is conducted upward through the top-floor ceiling through inadequate attic floor insulation. The result of the air leaks and conducted heat is an accumulation of warm air in the attic. That’s why you should check in with your roofing contractors for roof repair since it can help with the insulation.
Attic Sealing and Insulation – Most every attic has at least some insulation in it, and that’s fine. The problem with insulation is that it does not stop airflow. The insulation lying on attic floors often conceals a very large problem — cracks, gaps, and holes through which pressurized air from the house below is driven into the attic.
These fissures take many forms: holes drilled into the wood framing where wiring runs from a room below up into the attic; lighting fixtures and electrical boxes; areas where the tops of partition walls in the room below intersect with the attic-floor framing; bulkheads over kitchen and bathroom cabinets; exhaust vent fans; and fireplace and heating equipment chimneys and flues. It’s a long list, and it’s likely you can find fissures in your own attic that aren’t even mentioned. Energy Efficient Homes, Making your Home Energy Efficient
These days most attics don’t have enough insulation or have insulation that isn’t working as well as it should be. An upgrade — one that will pay off every year and in every season you live in your home — is only one messy afternoon away. Yes, you can and should add more insulation to your attic like a Loose Fill Insulation Installation. It’s one of the best ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency.
R-factor is a numerical indicator of an insulation’s efficiency at retarding the flow of heat. The scale goes from low to high; higher R-numbers mean a given insulation is better able to stop heat from moving from one place to another. Current building codes recommend an insulation R-factor of R-38 for attics in most of the country. That would be about 10 to 12 inches of fiberglass batting or blown cellulose fiber insulation. Bear in mind that R-38 is actually the minimum recommended standard for attic insulation. Proposed energy codes would increase that number to R-50.
Cleaning Refrigerator Coils Regularly – The coils underneath and behind a refrigerator are dust magnets. Refrigerant is pumped and circulated through the coils as a fan blows room air across them. The moving air removes heat from the refrigerant inside the coils. As the fan sucks air from underneath the refrigerator, it brings along with it dust and dirt that stick to the coils. Removing the access panel from the lower front of the refrigerator can reveal a startlingly filthy sight if the coils haven’t been cleaned in a while. Energy Efficient Homes, Making your Home Energy Efficient.
Contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415. Please Visit Plano Texas Handyman website to view and read about all of our capabilities. Contact Plano Texas Handyman for more details
Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home – Learn how to save money and cut your utility bills with these simple -household energy saving tips. Call Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415 for more information on a Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home or visit our website to see our full capabilities.
Home energy savings are indeed possible, particularly if you pay attention to your household appliances. So roll up your sleeves, and take a look at these energy-saving steps recommended by the Department of Energy.
Who knows? This may be the year you finally log some dollars in the plus column, instead of making alarmingly high “contributions” to the utility company. Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home
Water heater savings
Take a bite out of the 18 percent the average homeowner pays for water heating. Here’s how to save on water-heating costs:
When replacing your water heater, invest in a high-efficiency system. Set the water heater to 120 degrees. (Most systems are pre-set to 140 degrees.) Wrap insulation around the first few feet of pipes that come in and out of the water heater. The insulation will reduce energy loss as hot water flows through the pipes. Call TSS Home Comfort for water heater repair in Boise if you find yourself having a water leak or a faulty water heater. If you’d like also to install a new tankless water heater or learn more about if it’s right for you, visit the site today!
Water conservation
You can save on water heating bills and water bills by adopting a less-is-more mindset. You can adjust your patterns of usage around the house, for example, by taking shorter showers, but it also helps to install low-flow showerheads and aerators throughout the home. These devices reduce the flow of water through them. When you turn on the hot water, the demand is less, reducing usage. Talking to specialist water suppliers like switch water supplier can also efficiently reduce your water bills to an extent.
Here are a few other water-saving tips:
• Run only full loads when using your dishwasher or clothes washer.
• Avoid using longer-running cycles on your appliances, which will use more water. Opt for shorter washing cycles, but be sure to test these cycles to see if they do as good a job cleaning the dishes as the appliance’s “normal” cycle. Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home
Kitchen money saving tips
Dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves – these are all appliances people use in the kitchen that can contribute to high energy bills – unless you know how to switch on the energy savings:
• Consult the dishwasher manual, and make sure it’s set to the lowest temperature possible (which is generally around 120 degrees).
• Look for the quietest dishwasher when buying a new one because the less energy that is wasted by noise, the more efficient it is. On top of that, it will be a more pleasant experience for you as you don’t need to hear your dishwasher working each time you turn it on.
• Before loading the dishwasher, dry-scrape food off of the dishes, instead of running them under water. You’ll save on water and you won’t have to run the system as long to remove food buildup.
• Avoid using the dishwasher’s soak or pre-rinse features.
• When you can, stop the dishwasher before it reaches the drying cycle, and open the door a bit instead to let dishes air dry.
• Use ideal refrigerator settings to lower energy consumption. The freezer should be kept at 0 degrees, while the ideal temperature for the fridge is between 37 and 40 degrees. If your fridge doesn’t display the temperature, place a thermometer in the space to get an accurate reading.
• Keep an eye on the fridge door’s seal. Leaks increase energy consumption.
• Use a properly sized pan on the stovetop.
• Opt for the toaster when heating food up or even cooking smaller food items. It uses less energy than the oven.
• Regularly clean the stovetop; the burners will work more efficiently when they’re clean. Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home
Laundry energy saving strategies
Keep energy costs down by following these strategies for laundry:
• If you must wash or dry a small load, make sure the settings match the size of the load.
• Always remove lint from the lint trap after drying a load of laundry. A clean lint trap promotes optimal air circulation in the dryer, which will improve drying times.
• If the dryer has a cool-down feature, use it. This feature shuts off the heating element a few minutes before the cycle is expected to end, but the heat in the dryer will remain.
• Make sure the dryer vent is clear, and have a professional inspect and maintain it every year or two. Lint buildup in the dryer is a fire hazard, too. Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home
With these tips for saving energy, you’ll be set to keep more of your hard-earned dollars over the year, and every year thereafter. When your entire family adopts energy-savings strategies, you’ll also get peace of mind, knowing you’re contributing to a greener environment and conserving natural resources. Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home
Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home – Learn how to save money and cut your utility bills with these simple -household energy saving tips. Call Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415 for more information on a Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home or visit our website to see our full capabilities. Energy Saving Strategy For Your Home
Energy Efficient Homes – Builders often refer to the exterior of a home as the “envelope” or the “shell.” Sealing the envelope or shell against air infiltration (air leaking into the house from outside) and air exfiltration (air leaking from inside the house to the outside) helps reduce your energy expenditure for space heating and cooling. Of course, you can also improve the overall temperature of your home by deciding to look into how a heat pump home heating system can achieve this. Not only will it benefit you greatly in terms of price, but it could also benefit your living situation too. Besides, no one likes to live in a drafty house.
In this article, we’ll show you a variety of ways you can seal leaks and improve insulation to make your home cozier and more energy efficient. Once you’ve sealed and insulated the weak areas, the work doesn’t stop there. We’ll show you how routine cleaning and water conservation can increase energy efficiency and save you even more money on your energy bills. Begin the improvement process with the following basic sealing guidelines to help you secure your home’s exterior. Contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415. Please Visit Plano Texas Handyman website to view and read about all of our capabilities. Contact Plano Texas Handyman for more details
Baseboards and Floors – Gaps are often left between baseboards and hard floors, such as tile, hardwood, or laminate flooring. These gaps can be successfully and neatly filled with latex caulk, thus preventing air from entering the home at foot level.
Weatherstripping Doors – While windows attract most of the attention when it comes to energy efficiency, doors can play a major part in what can go wrong — or right. Doors have a particularly difficult role to fill. Not only do they need to open and close smoothly and easily, but they also have to seal tightly to keep out drafts, and must have at least some insulative value to keep cold at bay.
There are many different options on the market that can be used to upgrade a door’s existing weatherstripping. Some of the most effective are types that contain a vinyl bulb or padded strip set into the edge of a conventional wood doorstop. The wood part is nailed to the doorjamb and is flexible enough to conform to even a badly warped wooden door. The vinyl bulb or strip seals out air movement, but is gentle enough that the door’s function is not affected. Energy Efficient Homes
Sealing Windows – Owners of older homes that still have their original windows are often dismayed by the amount of cold air leaking through those old windows during the winter. When the damages are beyond repair, it is better to hire a window replacement company (like https://denverstuccoandstone.com/window-replacement/) to install a new one. If the leaks or damages are not severe, there are several ways of dealing with this problem.
One option involves using a caulk gun and “weatherstripping caulk sealant” or “temporary” caulking to seal up the cracks between the window and window frame. Weatherstripping sealant is caulk that is designed to stick in place nearly as well as regular caulk but can be peeled off when it is no longer needed. It is available inexpensively in regular caulk tubes and comes in a clear color. It is nearly invisible when in place and removes easily without damaging either paint or clear finishes. The only other obvious solution is to replace the windows entirely. For example tilt and turn windows are known for being really good for not only heat insulation, but sound insulation too so you’re getting two perks in one! Switch from incandescent to fluorescent – Although compact fluorescent bulbs cost more initially, the end result is considerable savings. This is because fluorescent light bulbs last 8-12 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Even using a mix of fluorescent and incandescent lighting throughout your home can have an impact in overall energy usage. Contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415. Please Visit Plano Texas Handyman website to view and read about all of our capabilities. Contact Plano Texas Handyman for more details Energy Efficient Homes
The big difference between CFLs and incandescent bulbs is how much energy it takes to use them over time. CFLs use about 70% less energy than incandescent bulbs. They also last years longer than traditional bulbs, and only cost about a dollar more per bulb. Energy Efficient Homes
However, one of the biggest drawbacks of CFLs is that it takes a few moments for them to warm up and reach full brightness. That means they’re not ideal in spots where you want lots of light as soon as you flip the switch, such as a dark, steep basement stairway. They also cannot be used with a dimmer switch. Energy Efficient Homes
Now consider that those savings are from just one bulb. Think about the number of lights in your house – some fixtures, like chandeliers or ceiling fans, probably even use three bulbs or more. If you replaced 20 incandescent bulbs with LED light bulbs throughout your home, you could save up to $3,260 over their 23-year lifespan (and that’s assuming utility rates don’t rise).
Eliminating Ice Dams – If you have ice dams forming on your roof during the winter, it means that heat is escaping the house and leaking into your attic. Ice dams are the manifestation of energy inefficiency in a home. They are the result of poor air sealing, a lack of insulation, and inadequate ventilation in an attic. Speaking of poor ventilation, it could be as simple as getting in touch with a round rock roofing company, for example, or one closer, to fix the problem with the roof.
Warm air travels upward because of its natural buoyancy. As it reaches the ceiling in the top floor, it seeks ways to rise even higher through cracks and gaps in the ceiling and walls. Some of those pathways are obvious; many others are not. Openings around and through recessed canister lights, whole-house fan installations, attic-access hatchways, and pull-down stairs, and electrical boxes in the ceiling and walls all provide conduits from the house into the attic. Additionally, heat is conducted upward through the top-floor ceiling through inadequate attic floor insulation. The result of the air leaks and conducted heat is an accumulation of warm air in the attic. Energy Efficient Homes
Attic Sealing and Insulation – Most every attic has at least some insulation in it, and that’s fine. Insulation helps prohibit heat loss. It doesn’t stop airflow, however, and that’s a problem. The insulation lying on attic floors often conceals a very large problem — cracks, gaps, and holes through which pressurized air from the house below is driven into the attic.
These fissures take many forms: holes drilled into the wood framing where wiring runs from a room below up into the attic; lighting fixtures and electrical boxes; areas where the tops of partition walls in the room below intersect with the attic-floor framing; bulkheads over kitchen and bathroom cabinets; exhaust vent fans; and fireplace and heating equipment chimneys and flues. It’s a long list, and it’s likely you can find fissures in your own attic that aren’t even mentioned. Energy Efficient Homes
These days most attics don’t have enough insulation or have insulation that isn’t working as well as it should be. An upgrade — one that will pay off every year and in every season you live in your home — is only one messy afternoon away. Yes, you can and should add more insulation to your attic. It’s one of the best ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency. If you live in a rented apartment block or flat, however, having your insulation updated can be a bit trickier. Get your landlord to get in touch with a roofing company like www.lidoran.com.au in Sydney. They specialise in roofing on large buildings such as apartment blocks, meaning you’ll get new roof insulation and a warmer home. If you’re worried your landlord will say no, do a little research on what government grants are available for landlords – often there are schemes available for landlords trying to insulate their buildings which will hopefully persuade your landlord to go ahead with your plans.
R-factor is a numerical indicator of an insulation’s efficiency at retarding the flow of heat. The scale goes from low to high; higher R-numbers mean a given insulation is better able to stop heat from moving from one place to another. Current building codes recommend an insulation R-factor of R-38 for attics in most of the country. That would be about 10 to 12 inches of fiberglass batting or blown cellulose fiber insulation. Bear in mind that R-38 is actually the minimum recommended standard for attic insulation. Proposed energy codes would increase that number to R-50.
Cleaning Refrigerator Coils Regularly – The coils underneath and behind a refrigerator are dust magnets. Refrigerant is pumped and circulated through the coils as a fan blows room air across them. The moving air removes heat from the refrigerant inside the coils. As the fan sucks air from underneath the refrigerator, it brings along with it dust and dirt that stick to the coils. Removing the access panel from the lower front of the refrigerator can reveal a startlingly filthy sight if the coils haven’t been cleaned in a while. Energy Efficient Homes
You’re probably fully aware that the outside of your home is constantly exposed to harsh elements. On a daily basis not just natural elements but also man-made ones attack the surfaces causing them to degrade, discolor, oxidize, or chalk overtime. As a result, your property will lose value and it won’t look as good as it did when you first got it.
Some of the worst natural elements include ultraviolet light rays, wind, rain, dirt, and grime. Nature also takes a toll with insects, birds, spiders, wild winds, mold, mildew, and tree sap also leaving their mark on your house. Power Wash House
But wait, there’s more! There are man-made marks such as pollutions, car exhaust, acid rain, and even smoke from your barbeque can cause the outside of your home to need a little t-l-c.
You will notice over time, if you haven’t had the Columbia Brothers to power wash your house, then these natural and man-made materials will accumulate and make your house look like a down right mess. Worse yet, if you leave it too long, you’ll destroy the long-term beauty of your property dramatically, resulting in the loss of value on your home.
Let’s go into the benefits of power washing your house:
It will help uphold the value of your property.
High pressure cleaning is considered one of the most affordable ways to maintain or increase the value of your property. According to the National Association of Realtors, a pressure washed house will increase your property value by $10,000-$15,000. That’s not bad! Power Wash House
It will maintain the beauty of your home.
If you’re looking at selling your home in the near future then increasing the curb appeal by power washing it will definitely increase interest. You could use a power washer as a driveway cleaner or on the sidewalk to make great first impressions. Your house will look very attractive without any mildew and mold which would possibly increase the number of people putting in offers. If you don’t have access to a pressure washer or industrial pumps for this job, it might be worth trying to find a company local to you who could complete this job for you. For example, those who are looking for a company to clean their concrete sealing melbourne area, it might be worth contacting Diamond Shine Pressure Cleaning for example. That way, you’ll know that your home will maintain its beauty.
Remove spiders and cobwebs around the house.
You might notice cobwebs accumulating around windows, under eaves, and any other corner where it is likely to catch some juicy bugs. A good pressure washing service will remove all spiders and cobwebs from the exterior of your home. Even if your spiders are not a hazard to humans such as the Redback spider in Australia, it is never a nice feeling to walk through a cobweb that sticks to your face and hair. Power Wash House
You will feel good and more proud about your house.
Feeling great about the house you live in will make you overall feel happier about your life and what you’ve achieved. Having a cleaned, well-maintained house dramatically increases your mood and the way you feel about yourself.
Prevent your house from losing value and aging.
If you leave your house go too long without getting power washed, it could require a lot of elbow grease and extra money to bring it back to its glory days. Alternatively, you could regularly power wash and save money long term. It will be easier to maintain the property value plus you get to reap the benefits of having a clean home exterior. Power Wash House
Depending on where you live will determine how often you should power wash your home’s exterior. If you live in a humid environment, you will want to, at minimum, power wash yearly. If you live in a colder environment where you experience little to no snow, then you can afford to have it done biannually. There are many other factors to consider how regularly you should get it done. Power Wash House
Protect your family’s health.
If you let power washing go undone too long, then the exposure to mildew, mold, dirt, and algae can affect your family’s good health. The longer it sits there, the more potential life threatening it is for your family. It’s not a bad idea to regularly pressure wash your driveway, porch, patio, roof, and walkway for these reasons. If your home is in need of a new lease of life then you’ll require something like a jet washing service Birmingham.
Pressure washing your home is only one element to cleaning your house. Arozon cleaning service in Brisbane provides soft pressure washing for areas that require extra loving care, such as painted timber or other fragile parts.
So whether you’re thinking of selling a property or cleaning your house for preventative measures it is worth giving your home a thorough clean externally to maximize the sale price or the longevity and personal enjoyment of your home. Power Wash House
Lighting Trends – Lighting is a key architectural and design element in a home. And much like fashion, lighting trends change regularly. If you’re looking for a fairly simple way to give your space an update, refreshing lighting fixtures can take your space’s style to the next level. Check out these top 2016 lighting trends forecasted from the leading retailers and trendsetters.
1. Upgraded Industrial
One of the lighting trends for 2016 is Lamps Plus’ “upgraded industrial”. According to a company press release, “the warehouse-inspired-movement-cum-mainstream design staple is seeing a bit of refinement.” Look for modern industrial lighting featuring rich tones and alternative metals. Don’t be afraid to invest in the industrial trend either – the look is here to stay for the next few years. Lighting Trends
2. Malleable Metals
Modern home retailer, 2Modern’s, top lighting trend for 2016 is the malleable pendant or chandelier. Because each customer’s lighting needs are different, 2Modern has expanded its malleable lighting collection in order to provide “a lamp that can be tailored to spatial needs.” On-trend examples include Rich Brilliant Willing’s Palindrome Chandelier or Moooi’s Heracleum. Lighting Trends
3. Customizable Color
Ingo Schaer of Interior Deluxe, a high-end modern lighting retailer, forecasts that its customers will be looking more and more to customize the shape of their lighting, and more importantly, the quality of light. Lighting like the crystal table lamp by Qis Design has the ability to change the color of light – from functional white to a warmer color to set the mood. But customizable lighting color doesn’t stop at warm or cool light. A spectrum of additional colors is often part of the package. Lighting Trends
4. Geometric Lighting
Bellacor forecasts geometric lighting fixtures as one of the hottest lighting trends now. Its recommendation is to keep it simple: “Although geometric lighting fixtures invoke a minimalist aesthetic, they’re not just for modern and contemporary interiors. The key to their versatility is utter simplicity.” A geometric trend is a great option if you’re looking to give your space a modern or mid-century vibe. Often it is seen that hospitality chains opt for geometric light fixtures in order to give their space a spruce up. Contacting experts from companies such as Modern Place or similar others could prove fruitful if you are looking to upgrade your lighting fixtures at home for a more contemporary look! Lighting Trends
5. Nature Inspired
The Messe Frankfurt Light+Building show in Germany is the event where retailers, designers and architects go to view what’s next in the lighting design world. The Trend Forum at the show forecast that one of the next trends for the home will be lighting “infused with allusions of nature: in organic forms, in the spectrum of natural colors and the world of bud, leaf and plant motifs.” Lighting inspired by nature softens the feel of cold, contemporary or bare spaces by adding softer lines and an organic feel to the room. Lighting Trends
6. Neon
In recent years neon has started coming back into the public eye, especially among the younger generations. The Trend is still in its infancy, hence its lower placement on the list, however, it is rumoured that it might set off a second wave of neon lighting coming back. From varying designs and eye-catching colours, they can work in many settings from advertising outside buildings, to any relaxed room in the house like a game room or bedroom. The bright, attracting light can add either a more excited tone to the room, or sometimes a more laid back atmosphere depending on how it’s used. For those interested, neon lights can be bought from stores like Neon Mama, who specialise in them. Lighting Trends
The Best Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your Money – Have you thought about making energy retrofits to your home? It’s a great way to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your carbon footprint. Home energy efficiency improvements are good for your bank account, too, because money you invest in energy efficiency or renewable energy systems will pay off over time in reduced energy bills. That’s especially true right now, because the federal government currently offers big financial incentives for purchasing solar panels, wind turbines, efficient windows, added insulation, woodstoves and more. It’s also possible to finance home energy upgrades with a loan specifically designed for energy conservation. These loans are usually called energy improvement mortgages. Metropolitan Mortgage Corporation’s website here can provide you with easy determinants for energy improvements you need. Which projects make the most sense for your home? Which are really worth the money? And if you can’t do all of them, where should you start?
Imagine You Had a Little Extra Dough …
Each home is different, and how much you could benefit from a particular project depends on many variables, including the age and design of your home, your financial situation, and your personal priorities. To help focus on what you really need and want, consider this hypothetical scenario: You have been given $5,000 to spend on home energy improvements. What would you do with the money?
Some of the projects that may come to mind first, such as solar-electric (photovoltaic) panels and w
ind power systems, are outside that budget. For example, if you were to purchase a residential wind turbine, you could expect to spend at least $10,000 and easily as much as $50,000. Solar panels usually fall into a similar price range. Energy-efficient windows come with a big price tag, too. They can cost between $200 to $800 per window. Add the cost of installation, and depending on the size of your home and the number of windows, you could easily spend $10,000 or more. If you have the budget to spend, it is well worth the investment to contact a solar energy equipment supplier to see how you can upgrade your home. In the long run, you are going to save on utility bills.
Can you make significant energy improvements to your home on a more modest budget? Absolutely! You could add insulation, buy a new, high-efficiency furnace, or purchase a new energy-efficient refrigerator. The big question is how to decide which of these energy improvements will provide the biggest benefits for you.
Regardless of your home’s age, most residential efficiency experts recommend a residential energy audit as a first step. An energy audit costs about $300, although low-cost or free audits are sometimes offered by local utilities. George Twigg, the deputy policy director at Efficiency Vermont, a state organization that connects homeowners with qualified auditors and contractors, explains how this process works: “The contractor will help guide the homeowner through the most cost-effective things that can be done to save energy. Often it’s sealing air leaks and other ways to tighten up the house. Those strategies have a reasonably fast payback, as opposed to windows, which have a fairly long payback time.” Best Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your Money
A “payback period” is the time required for the improvement to save enough fuel or energy to pay for itself, and it’s a useful tool in determining which high-dollar home improvements will yield quick results. For example, for home insulation upgrades, a payback of three to five years is not unusual, while for energy-efficient windows, a payback period of more than 10 years is common. One thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t rely too heavily on payback period estimates from product manufacturers. Look for estimates from sources that don’t have a vested interest in the results, such as a state energy agency or an energy auditor (especially an energy auditor who isn’t also proposing to do the repair work he or she recommends.) Best Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your Money
Real People, Real Money
To get a sense of the real costs and savings of home energy improvements, I interviewed three people in different parts of the country whose homes had recently undergone extensive energy retrofits. Here are their real-world experiences, and a breakdown of how much of it they could have done on a modest budget – in this case, our hypothetical $5,000.
#1: Sealing up a leaky house. That includes weather-stripping doors and windows, but the most important step is filling any penetrations in the attic floor, such as around pipes, chimneys, wiring, and recessed light fixtures in the ceiling below. Little gaps and cracks can drastically increase your heating and cooling costs, Golden says, and this job has to come first because you won’t be able get at the openings once you insulate. Best Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your Money
#2: Insulate the envelope: If you insulate only one thing, it should be the attic floor, since heat rises. You want at least 10 inches of insulation up there, says Golden. Blowing insulation into the walls is a far bigger job since there’s a lot more wall area-and because getting the insulation into the walls involves drilling dozens of holes in your siding. Still, in very cold climates, the job can be very cost-effective, especially if you do it when you’re planning to repaint or re-side the house anyway. Best Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your Money
#3: Seal and insulate the ductwork: The ducts in a typical house leak so much of their heated and cooled air into the attic, basement, or crawlspace that sealing the seams and wrapping the ducts with insulation can slash your HVAC costs by 30 percent. It also pays to have a company service your HVAC machine once in a while. Universal HVAC is offering some great deals to get the work completed in time for the winter months. The job is not as simple as applying duct tape to the joints; despite its name, duct tape doesn’t last very long on ducts. You’ll want to hire a pro for this messy and time-consuming job, which requires specialty mastic and tape. You may also need an air duct cleaning company to ensure that when you get the HVAC working in your home it comes out clean and to a high quality.
#4: Step-by-step improvements. Your home offers multiple opportunities for energy improvements and purchase a thorough energy audit performed before beginning any work on the house. He chose an experienced home inspector who was listed with Focus on Energy, an organization that helps eligible Wisconsin residents evaluate energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The inspector produced a report that laid out all of the areas that needed improvement in order of importance. Best Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your Money
Air-seal the envelope:
Replace or repair your old furnace or boiler and air conditioner: Heating systems that are more than about 20 years old and cooling systems that are more than about 10 years old are inefficient by today’s standards. You need a good heating repair and furnace maintenance contractor so that your heating system will remain at its peak performance even if you’ve been using it for years. If you like your old inefficient boiler replaced, apply today for your new boiler grant. You may qualify under the Government’s ECO scheme in 2020. Installing even middle-of-the-road equipment sold today can yield 10 to 20 percent savings-far more if you select high-efficiency units, if you can downsize the equipment thanks to the sealing and insulating you’ve already done, or if you’re switching from oil to natural gas. If your boiler is less than 10-15 years old but you think it’s not working efficiently enough, it might need a boiler repair andboiler repair Birmingham can help you repair it. Boilers can be a little temperamental so getting a professional boiler installation service to come and take a look is probably a wise idea and saves you from fiddling about with it.
Replace the windows: Although houses lose a lot of energy through their windows, high-quality replacement windows are so pricey (think $800 plus per window) that they’re almost never cost-effective purely for energy efficiency purposes, says Golden. “Of course, there are many other reasons to replace your windows, like easy operation, tilt-in cleaning, and improved resale value.” Just don’t expect the energy savings to come close to paying back the cost.
When you’re ready to get started, Golden advises, look for a home-efficiency contractor who offers all of the above solutions; that way he doesn’t have a vested interest in selling you one method or product over another. The contractor will send a crew to do some tests on your house and make recommendations for the most cost-effective steps you can take.
Window Films, Energy Efficiency, Solar Gains – Window films are a great way to save energy, especially in hot climates. They not only save energy but also filter UV rays to protect your furniture and interior items of the home. The more you learn about Window Film, the more inspired you’ll be by the possibilities. It makes truly satisfying projects easy to tackle in just a weekend. And there are so many ways it can improve your home life, from decorative updates to light control to safety enhancements. There are many classes of window films: Privacy and decor films, Heat control window films, Glare control films, and safety and security films. Contact Ted at Plano Texas Handyman for more information and how these films can make you home more efficient. Call us at 214-507-3415
The basic principles presented on our pages titled “About Solar Gain,” “Window Selection Guidelines,” apply aftermarket window films to windows with after-market or retrofit plastic window films as well. The difference is that window films are generally a retrofit option to replace your windows in Houston, intended to fix a problem with excessive solar heat gain and/or solar glare from an existing window while window coatings are generally applied in a glass factory, usually in a large vacuum chamber. Window Films, Energy Efficiency, Solar Gains
In the past, and in many cases still today, after-market films blocked more light than heat which can be installed in your home by contacting the window replacement plano tx. Consequently, if they were dark enough to protect an interior from strong direct solar radiation, they also tended to make the room rather dim in appearance. With such films, the visible transmittance (VT) value was lower than the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), opposite from what is wanted in most U. S. climates. In worst cases, the window was so dark that you had to turn the electric lights on in the daytime to see properly, and you still had to suffer the consequences of excessive heat gain! Such films are still available, but should seldom be used in hot climates. Be careful to avoid them when you can.
The old-technology films are characterized by accomplishing their solar heat gain rejection through absorbing the whole solar spectrum, preventing its direct entry into the home. The problem is that the film heats up a lot and, when applied to a single pane of glass or the inner pane of a double pane window, most of their heat is conducted, radiated, and convected to the interior of the building, making the room hotter than it should be. This defeats the purpose of the film, to reduce solar heat gain, because much of the incident solar heat still enters the room. Less light is admitted as well. Window Films, Energy Efficiency, Solar Gains
Furthermore, many double pane window manufacturers void their warranties if the homeowner puts a window film on their product. One reason for this is that when the film gets hot, it makes the pane it is affixed to get hot as well. The glass expands, and expands more than the outer glass without the film. This difference in expansion can create stresses in the window which in worst cases can cause the window to break, through no fault of the window. If you wish to apply window film to a double pane window, make sure the window manufacturer will continue to back the window warranty.
Modern, High-Performance Window Films
To avoid the unfortunate consequences of excessive solar heat gain, window film manufacturers have been working to develop modern products which block more heat than light, doing it by reflection of the unwanted infrared radiation contained in the solar rays, while still admitting adequate amounts of visible light, necessary to see the outside, and to provide good daylight illumination of the interior. Window Films, Energy Efficiency, Solar Gains
In order to get the right kind of window film for your window, look for the Visible Transmittance (VT) value for the film when applied to a single pane of clear glass. Then find the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) for the combination. If the VT value is greater than the SHGC value, you have the right kind of film for a hot climate window, but be sure to check the window manufacturer’s warranty before applying the film.
The Light-to-Solar-Gain (LSG) ratio is the VT value divided by the SHGC value. The higher this ratio, the more spectrally selective the film and the better it is for hot climates. It is difficult, however, to achieve LSG values greater than about 1.2 with window films. Soft multi layer coatings inside double pane windows, however, can achieve values as great as 1.6, providing good transmission of visible light (no dark appearance) as well as good solar heat gain rejection. In order to achieve good solar heat rejection with either a window coating or an applied window film, the SHGC value needs to be low (below approximately 0.3 to 0.5) to be effective—the lower the better. With an LSG ratio of only 1.1, for example, this means that the visible transmittance (VT) value will be about 0.33 to 0.55. Low values in this range can impart a dark appearance to the glass and may be objectionable. For sunrooms with vast expanses of glass exposed to the direct sun for much of the day, however, values as low as 0.3 to 0.4 for the VT should not be objectionable, especially since these values can produce SHGC values below 0.3 to 0.4 with window films having LSG values greater than 1.0. Window Films, Energy Efficiency, Solar Gains
Shiny Reflecting Appearance
The lightest LSG film is often made of metallic material or is otherwise reflective. The reason is that reflective films reflect the unwanted solar heat gain away from the window before it can be absorbed. Tinted or absorptive films block solar gain by absorbing it in the film, heating the film, and dissipating this heat to the inside and the outside of the room. Unfortunately, when applied to the inner surface of a window, much of this heat conducts, convects, and radiates to the interior, defeating much of the purpose for which the film was intended. Reflective films reduce the absorbed solar heat and reflect more of the blocked solar heat back outside.
Unfortunately, many homeowners associations object to the use of shiny- or mirror-appearing coatings on the windows of homes in their jurisdiction. The reflecting value of a film is quantified by its visible reflectance (VR) value. The higher the reflectance, the shinier the window will appear. This is objectionable on the inside at night because the window looks more like a mirror than a window and during the daytime the same is true when viewed from the outside.
If this is a potential problem for you, find the maximum value of the visible reflectance in your homeowner association’s rules and make sure your window films do not exceed this value when applied to the inside surface of the window glass in your home.
Fortunately, high-LSG window films should be available which achieve their solar heat gain rejecting properties by being highly reflective over the invisible infrared portion of the solar spectrum while being only slightly reflective over the visible portion of that spectrum. The consequence is that such films reject by reflection most of the invisible infrared heat radiation from the sun while passing most of the visible light.
The infrared portion contains nearly half the heat of the solar spectrum, so reflecting all of this radiation would, by itself, reject almost half the solar heat gain while still permitting much of the visible light to pass through the window. This effect is more difficult to achieve with applied plastic window films than with multi layer coatings applied in a vacuum at the glass factory, which is why the latter generally achieve higher LSG values than can be found with plastic window films.
Shopping for Window Films
When shopping for window films intended for residences in hot climates, insist on high LSG products, having values exceeding 1.0. Then look for the lowest SHGC value you can find in a film that is not objectionably dark to the eye.
The human eye is very good at seeing small differences in brightness (illustrated by the differently tinted window panes in the photo to the left), but the eye is not that good at perceiving absolute brightness levels. The eye adapts to changing levels, and you can see just as well in a room illuminated with 1000 lux of light as in one having 1500 lux. The consequence is that a film sample held in the sales room or even placed over a window in the store may appear dark in comparison to the uncovered glass adjacent to it. But when it covers a large expanse of glass in your home, and there is no uncovered glass to compare it to, you might not be able to tell there is even a film on your windows! This makes it somewhat difficult to know from looking at samples in the store what film will be too dark for you when installed in your home. Perhaps the sales person has a room with window film on all the windows. If so, look at that room and decide if it is bright enough for you. Then ask the sales person what the visible transmittance is for that film. The room will appear darker on an overcast day than on a sunny one, and electric lighting can alter your perception of room brightness, so you may wish to make your observations with the electric lighting temporarily turned off.
If you cannot determine an acceptable VT value for your window film from the samples and demonstration windows in the store, you can use this guideline:
For moderately well shaded, vegetative exterior scenes, keep the visible transmittance (VT) value above about 0.45 to 0.55.
For a bright, unshaded exterior scene, especially one with bright, highly reflecting surfaces in view outside the window, choose lower VT values, in the range from 0.25 to 0.4. Be careful with values at the lower end of this range. If the application is for a sunroom, the result might be too dark for you. For a sleeping room, however, the somewhat darker film can help avoid window-produced glare. For more on this subject, see our short glare tutorial.
Color Issues
To obtain the highest LSG window films sometimes the resulting film has a slightly colored appearance. This color should not be evident when looking through the window from the inside, but it might be more obvious when looking at it from the outside. This is most likely a consequence of the manufacturer’s efforts to achieve the high LSG ratio. By narrowing the spectral region through which solar radiation can pass to just the visible portion, sometimes light at the edges of the visible gets clipped, cutting out either some of the blue light or some of the red at the other end of the spectrum (or both). The best way to tell if this is objectionable when applied to the windows in your house is to place a fairly large film sample on your window and look at it from the outside. Try to look only at the patch of film sample in making your judgment. This way you are less likely to be biased by the subtle difference in color between the filmed and nonfilmed areas.
