Tag Archives: energy

The Ultimate In Building Green A Smaller Home

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The Ultimate in Building Green A Smaller HomeA home’s energy usage can be reduced by simply building a smaller home.  And a smaller energy bill is just the beginning, there’s also the need for fewer building materials and maintenance in a smaller home.  A smaller home doesn’t have to appear or feel small.  In creating a smaller home that really works, avoid downsizing everything in a large home to a smaller space; doing so just makes everything seem smaller.  Downsize by using the space more efficiently while creating an open plan using these easy tips:  Eliminate little used rooms.

 

 

  • Examine how much time will be spent in formal rooms, such as the formal living and dining rooms. If the answer is a few hours a month, consider eliminating these rooms and transferring their uses to other rooms.
  • Create multiuse rooms.  A casual eating space can be used formally if it’s large enough for a dinner party and has a level of detail that enhances a special occasion.  The added bonus is that you get to enjoy this room every day instead of twice a year!  Also think about combining uses, such as laundry and closet space, or guest room and study.
  • Design small niches for designated activities.  With the growth of personal computing devices, it makes more sense to create a small office niche than to dedicate an entire room to a computer.  Additionally, a window seat makes a great place to get away while only added a little space.
  • Use built-ins.  Nothing creates a sense of claustrophobia more than clutter.  Analyze where your clutter collects and provide storage in those places.  The place where you commonly enter the house is one of the most critical.  Providing a place for shoes, coats, and backpacks is obvious, but also think about where you’ll sort the mail, charge the phones, and keep the all-important junk drawer.
  • Minimize dedicated circulation spaces.   One key element to designing an efficient home is a centralized stair location.  Also, informal circulation paths can run through the edges of rooms, making rooms feel larger and the plan more open.
  • Include an outdoor room.  The spaces you create outside can have a huge impact on the way your house feels on the inside.   A well designed outdoor space should have some sense of boundary, either at the edges or above.  A railing or low wall can provide an edge, while a roof or trellis above create a sense of privacy and enclosure.

Five ways to ‘green up’ your workplace

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Making sure that your workplace and its associated operations are environmentally friendly is not only a good way to help you sleep better at night, knowing you’ve done your bit, it’s also an opportunity to save money for the business and of course show to customers and clients that your take corporate responsibility seriously. Most of the ways in which you can do this are relatively easy, and the key lies in making them standard procedure for all staff.

Wrap down
Packaging is often hugely wasteful, so bringing down the amount that you use for own products and day-to-day business can add up to a significant saving. If you’re not the sort of company that has products to package however, there is also the usage of things like postage bags and envelopes that can be used more sparingly.

Cut down
Cutting down on waste in the office is both essential and easy. Offices waste a lot of things like paper and stationary, and in most cases unnecessarily. Moving as many processes as possible to an electronic system should cut down on some paper usage, and fuel consumption can be reduced by opting for calls and video conferencing instead of face-to-face meetings where possible.

Use it again
After cutting down as much as possible, re-using and recycling what you can’t get rid of is the next step. In recent years recycling has become the norm in domestic situations, and it’s now more unusual if people don’t recycle everything they possibly can in terms of their household waste. Some companies are behind the curve in this area however, despite the fact that many office waste mainstays such as old computer equipment and used toner cartridges are accepted by a lot recycling organisations, as well as the usual things like paper, and food/drink waste from cafeterias and lunch-area bins. Different coloured bins for different recyclables is an easy way to prompt this sort of behaviour in staff.

Save your energy
With energy prices spiralling across the board, it’s not just the environment you’ll be saving when you reduce the power and heating that you use in the office. All electrical equipment should be powered off when not in use, ideally at the plug if this won’t erase any settings. Lights are also a big offender, and leaving them on through the night is a big no-no if not absolutely necessary.

Global thinking
Thinking about the impact your corporate purchases make on other countries and the eco-system as a whole is something that Is often overlooked, as it’s not just the immediate surroundings of the workplace that are affected by a company’s activity. Non-dyed toilet paper, lead-free paint and wooden furniture from sustainable forests are examples of changes in buying habits that could be made, and things like fair trade food and drink can go a long way to supporting not only the eco-systems, but also the fragile economies of some foreign exporters.

Daniel is a UK-based blogger who writes on a wide-range of topics including business, finance and green issues. He is currently working on behalf of cardboard box suppliers Rajapack

What is Double (and triple) Glazing?

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Double glazing is common in most modern homes these days.  Most people know that having double or triple glazing is a good idea from an energy efficiency point of view, but have you ever stopped to wonder how your double-glazed UPVC windows work?

Double glazing is a glazing process in which a window is made by two panes of glass with a space left between the panes.  That space is held open by some non-conductive spacers, and air (or inert gas, in the case of higher-end double glazing) is trapped in the gap. This air creates a layer of insulation, making the window more effective at insulating your home.

Double glazing must be airtight.  If you can see condensation between the window panes, this means that the seal is not working, and the entire window pane must be replaced.  It’s not practical to repair double glazing, so if you see condensation, don’t accept a simple seal repair, make sure that the entire window pane is removed and replaced.

Why Is Double Glazing So Useful

In most homes, more than half of the heat loss comes from standard, single pane windows.  Replacing those windows with UPVC windows that feature double or triple glazing can prevent a huge amount of that heat loss.  Many people see heating costs fall by ten or twelve percent as a result of getting double glazing installed.  Depending on your heating bills, you could see double glazing pay for itself over the course of a few years.

For the environmentally conscious, there’s a secondary benefit to reduced heating bills.  The less energy you use, the lower your carbon dioxide emissions.

As well as reducing energy usage, double glazing can also reduce noise pollution, and reduce internal condensation too.

Is Triple Glazing Worthwhile?

Triple glazing isn’t quite as common as double glazing, at least not yet, but it is becoming more popular. Triple glazing costs more than double glazing, but it is generally accepted that it’s more effective.

Triple glazed windows have much better insulating properties.  The rate at which heat escapes is measured using the “U-Value”, with lower values meaning slower heat loss.  Single glazed windows often have a U-Value of 5.  The earliest forms of double glazing had a U-Value of 3.  Today, double glazing tends to have a U-Value of 1.6 or 1.8.   While that might sound impressive, triple glazed windows often have U-Values as low as 0.65 – that’s only slightly higher than the U-Value of a wall!

This means that triple glazing is popular in passive or “zero-carbon” homes.  If you want to have a uniform temperature throughout your home, then installing double glazing will ensure that you don’t feel drafts or cold spots near windows.

Glazing technology is always improving, and it’s likely that in a few year’s time UPVC windows will be even more efficient than they are today.  However, the windows currently available more than meet any current standards for energy efficiency, so there’s no need to wait for them to improve even more.  You will still get great return on your investment if you buy double or triple glazing today.

Things Homeowners Can Do to Save on Energy Costs

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As people stay in their homes longer, many of them are looking for ways to save on rising utility bills. There are a few reasons for this. Some people simply want to save money. Others want to use less power to reduce their carbon footprint and live a greener lifestyle. No matter which category you fall into, making changes to your house can pay off big time and it doesn’t have to cost a lot to get started.

Choices, Choices and More Choices

Rising utility bills seem inevitable but the good news about improving your home’s efficiency is that just about anything you do is going to be an improvement over what you have. The choices range from full-on replacement of HVAC systems to simple acts such as turning off lights when they’re not needed.

Reduce Your Energy Costs Today

Every saved kilowatt makes a difference in your bill. There are several small steps you can take starting today to decrease your expenses. Here are some ideas:

  • Install a programmable thermostat. When used correctly, a programmable thermostat saves you money by keeping the house temperature to your desired level when you’re home. When you’re not home, the thermostat can be programmed to a lower (or higher) temperature. Set it once and never have to worry about waking up to a cold house or heating a house that sits empty while you’re at work. Many thermostats offer daily settings so you can have different weekday and weekend settings.
  • Install compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL). Make sure they carry the Energy Star ® label to gain the greatest cost savings. Remember to turn off lights when rooms are not in use for even more savings.
  • Let your dishes air dry instead of using the heat cycle on your dishwasher. While you’re at it, consider line-drying your clothes, if possible.
  • Use power strips for your electronic devices. Even when turned off or in sleep mode, TVs and computers use power. By turning the power off at the power strip, you can stop wasting energy.
  • Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to the lowest setting you need. Most homes find 120 degrees to be an acceptable level. Remember to lower it to the lowest level when you’re going to be out of town for several days. Also, showers save water and, consequently, energy over baths.
  • Only run the dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load. No matter if the loads are full or not, the same amount of energy will be used by the machine. You may as well get your money’s worth and make sure you’re washing full loads.

Long-Term Investments

For more aggressive savings, you can upgrade appliances, HVAC systems, add insulation, seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors or even replace them. Many factors go into making these decisions such as your budget, your home’s needs and the ages of your appliances and systems. In most cases, the money you save will offset the cost of the upgrade over the course of its useful life.

Sheila Konecke is a real estate investor with We Buy Ugly Houses Washington DC who buys and sells investment properties throughout the Washington DC area.

The Major Benefits of Solar Energy and How to Make Maximum Use Of It

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The world under the grip of advanced technology is always in relentless quest for sources of energy for the functioning of the machineries and for the implementations of the inventions. The general energy sources like oils, gas or coal all can extinguish on any day, and then where will we go for energy? “One Sun, One world, one dream” the motto of UNIDO International Solar Energy Centre is the only solution for the imminent energy scarcity.

Sun as the source of endless and renewable energy is not a new idea; solar energy was in use from time immemorial. Sun’s heat and light were used in olden days to make fires, to heat up rooms, and light lamps. With the present day facilities the extraction and transformation of sun’s heat and light to solar energy is not a hazardous task. Already it is being done in many developed and developing countries in a very useful way.

Solar energy is economical and environment friendly. Sun is an ever renewable free source of energy unlike fuels and gases. The cost of fuels is mounting up to sky high and at any time may get drained due to excess of use. Once the equipments for generating solar energy is fixed and is in operation, it goes on functioning smoothly. The energy we get from sun is of no cost and so practically speaking the electricity produced from solar energy is also completely free. With the exceeding expenses always troubling us, this cheap and best source of energy will give us relief. Who won’t like to have their house lighted and heated but with a very light electricity bill at the month end.

Solar energy is sustainable, natural and it is environment friendly. Global warming still remains a mirage for us. Solar energy is devoid of pollution; it reduces the amount of toxic waste and eliminates contamination to a great extent. Solar energy is with zero emissions and that helps to keep our surroundings smoke and chemicals free.

As long as the universe is there sun also will be there, and as long as sun is there the solar energy also can be produced. There is no tension regarding energy exhaustion, as sun is eternal. Solar energy can pave way to the making and using of solar household applicants more extensively and economically.

A question may rise how to use solar energy at night and while it is cloudy. Solar energy can be stored without any hassle by using the latest effective technologies. At present the solar energy is extracted by solar panels and is stored in solar batteries. But there is a general belief that these methods are very costly and not always beneficial.  Scientists are always in search of more advanced methods to squeeze the maximum benefits.  They are of the opinion that there are many good conductors of heat like molten salt which can save the heat from sun during day time and later can be used as electricity at night. In solar Thermal power plants parabolic reflectors are also being used for saving sun’s heat.

Technology is always fast moving but for its experiments and execution a permanent source of energy is indispensable. Undoubtedly solar energy is the best choice and the only solution.

Bella is a teacher and also blogger, she writes on various topic, she loves to relax in spa bath after a long day working and with the Waterproof Bathroom TV which makes her feel fresh by entertainment.

Environmentally Friendly Heat Pumps

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When you heat your home, your business property, or even your swimming pool it is highly important that you look into making sure this is environmentally friendly. There are many reasons for this, and no least is your own bill. When you look at heat pump prices these are largely insignificant compared to the prices of actually running the heat pumps. Price you pay for installing a heat pump is something you will pay as a one off, and if you spend a little more then this can help you to bring down your monthly costs which over time will stack up to prove a great investment.

Think Global Warming

Furthermore though, it is also important for the sake of the environment that we look for environmentally friendly heat pumps. The main reason for this is ‘global warming’ (you may have heard of it). Global warming in short is caused by us using power plants that rely on fossil fuels – which is the majority of the power plants in the West. Every time you flick on a light switch, or you use your heating, you tax that source and this then releases carbon gasses into the atmosphere (coal, oil and other fossil fuels are made of carbon). This thickens the atmosphere, and that means the sun’s heat is able to heat the planet, but it is not able to escape. In turn this results in the overall temperature of the Earth increasing and leading to catastrophic change such as the death of the coral reefs, more natural disasters and the melting of the ice caps causing rises in sea levels. On top of this, using that energy also means using up a finite source that we currently rely on and that we would be lost without.

Compare Heat Pumps – Choose The Most Efficient Pump

Thus being efficient with our use of heat pumps is highly important. Do remember that cost of heat pump is insignificant as compared to cost of operating it. Compare different companies and models to find out the most efficient heat pumps. This way you can make sure that you don’t use more energy than necessary on heating your home or pool.

Can Your Pump Use Renewable Energy Source?

On top of this you also need to make sure that you look at the various kinds of heat pumps available, and that where possible you use heat pumps that use renewable energy sources. One example of such a heat source is geothermal energy which sources heat from deep below the surface of the Earth. Another is solar thermal energy, which uses solar panels to heat up small tubes of water for your heat pumps. By using these you then are not actually relying on fossil fuels at all and are causing minimal emissions – though it’s still important to compare them to find pumps that use less energy to actually transport that heat.

You Bought The Best Model, What Else?

And finally you need to make sure you are smart in how you use your heat pumps. Little things like designing a pool to get maximum sunlight, and turning your pumps off when it’s not cold, are great ways to ensure you don’t use more heat energy than necessary.

Author was in search of the environment friendly heat pumps prices on web but was not satisfied with the content. So he came up with a blog containing heat pump reviews to help other environment friendly folks.

Improving your Home’s Kerb Appeal

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Many people, when looking for a new home to buy, will immediately make a decision on a house based on its kerb appeal. The kerb appeal of the house is the view that potential buyers will get when they first look at the house from outside or when they first drive by. It is for this reason that it is very important for anyone wanting to sell their house to spend a little time considering the kerb appeal of their property and how to improve it.

It is easy to improve a property’s kerb appeal simply by spending a little time outside the front of the home and making home improvements. Admittedly, this can be very difficult for homeowners that view their home every day. Seeing faults can be difficult but it is vital to ensuring that the home will not be immediately written off by anyone who views the exterior of the home.

View your home as a potential buyer would

Before beginning home improvements to the exterior of a home it is important to try and look at a home as a first time viewer would see the house. Try and see and positive aspects of the front of the house and make a mental note to highlight these areas. Make a note also of any glaring faults with the front of the home and improve or minimise these areas.

Mould and mildew are two of the biggest problems with many home and these can instantly turn a person off buying a home. Mould and mildew do not look attractive. Although a home owner may grow accustomed to seeing such sights every day and may not notice them, be assured that a first time buyer will notice. It is just as important to make sure that any paving slabs are clean and do not have weeds growing in between the cracks.

Green is good

If your home boasts some of the latest green innovations like solar panels and double (or even better triple) glazed windows and properly fitted frames, these benefits will shine out to potential buyers looking to save on energy bills.

Tidiness can make a big difference

Making the front of the home appear neat and tidy is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve the appearance of a home. Toys in the front garden or gardening implements will all make the outside of the home look untidy and disorganised. This may have a negative impact on how the viewers see the inside of the home also.

Another very effective way in which to improve the kerb appeal of a home is by making the most of the windows and the window frames at the front of the house. If these are shabby or look dirty then consider purchasing some new window frames. If this is not possible then ensure that all guttering around the house and all the window frames and windows are thoroughly cleaned and look great.

Overall, it is easy to make a big difference to the kerb appeal of a home simply by making small changes. Ensuring all window frames and guttering are clean, that the garden is neat and tidy, weed-free and all mould and mildew are cleaned away will ensure that any home looks the best from the kerb that it possibly can.

5 ‘Green’ States

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“Don’t blow it, good planets are hard to find.”  Boy isn’t that the truth.  Coming into the 21st century, the whole country seemed to wake up and realize that we need to take care of our planet.  It won’t be here forever.  What does being ‘green’ mean?  It describes a state that has low carbon dioxide emission, low smog/pollution, and strong energy efficiency policies.  So what states lead the pack in being green?  Check out the list.

Vermont

Vermont has the second smallest population in the United States. They also leave the smallest carbon footprint in the country.  They have a very high number of polices to reduce pollution and promote alternative energy. 

Oregon

Aside from pristine beaches, green forests and beautiful mountain ranges, Oregon is known for their bike friendly roads.  In Portland alone, there are over 200 miles of bike lanes.  And in Eugene, there’s over 30 miles of bike paths, and biking is the number one mode of transportation.  Oregon is very low when it comes to contributing a carbon footprint.

Washington

They don’t call it the Emerald City for nothing!  Seattle has more than 20 LEED certified buildings.  And Ballard (suburb of Seattle) has been dubbed ‘Green Ballard’.  They have many farmers markets and offer classes educating people on how to be greener.  Also, the state is leading in building homes with solar panels. 

Maine

Maine ranks 6th in the least amount of toxic waste and 4th in alternative energy.  Just about half of their energy comes from renewable sources.  A large amount of their energy comes from the woods and the wood’s waste. 

Hawaii

Tropical air and lush beaches, Hawaii brings a beautiful image to mind.  And they know it.  They rely heavily on tourism and are very aware of the environment.  They produce the least amount of toxic waste in the country.  And as far as implementing energy saving procedures, they rank 6th.  They are beautiful and green!

All of these states have many things to offer including coffee, pineapple, wine, skiing and beautiful scenery.  The fact that they are working to protect our earth is such a wonderful bonus.  Are you looking for a ‘green’ way to advertise your business?  Consider sending out Recycled Newspaper Pencils.  You can customize them with your business info too.  

 

Lisa Coronado is a web content writer for http://promotionalpencils.biz/index.php/recylced-pencils.html

 

Don’t Recycle? This is Why You Should

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Modern society places a lot of emphasis on recycling. But why is this so and is recycling really as important as everyone makes out? Here are some reasons why recycling is very important and why everybody should be doing their bit to help.

1.    Recycling conserves resources

When we recycle, old products get made into new products. This may sound like a very simple statement but if we do not recycle then every new product that is made has to be made using new and fresh resources from the land. This may involve forestry and cutting down more trees or mining. Thus, recycling materials helps to protect our earth and conserves our natural resources.

2.    Recycling saves energy

It takes far less energy for an old material to be made into a new product than for a new product to be made and for all of the new materials and resources to be extracted from the earth in order for such a new product to be made. Therefore recycling helps to save energy, reduces costs and reduces carbon emissions. This leads us onto our third reason:

3.    Recycling protects our earth and environment

Forestry, mining and extracting other resources from our earth all takes a lot of energy and is done through the use of machines. Such procedures lead to a lot of air pollution and water pollution.

4.    Recycling reduces our landfill sites and reduces greenhouse gases

Landfill sites are growing larger and more numerous and it is up to us to recycle in order to stop the rapid growth of such sites. Not only are landfill sites not good for our earth but they also produce very high levels of greenhouse gases which are harmful to our o-zone layer.

Overall there are many great reasons to recycle. But how can a person recycle within the confines of their own home? There are many incentives and schemes run by the government and local council in order to encourage families and households to recycle, such as garden waste bins and plastic recycling bags and bins that are provided for each household.

However there is a simple way in which many homes can help protect our earth – by repairing broken or damaged items within the home instead of replacing such items. For instance, bathtubs and worktops are two of the most common areas within the home to suffer from damage or discolouration. Worktops within the kitchens are especially prone to dents or cracks and scratches from heavy or sharp items commonly used within the kitchen.

If instead of throwing out an old bathtub you resurface your bath and instead of replacing worktops altogether you resurface your worktop then this can dramatically help the earth and will also help to save a lot of money. It is a lot cheaper to resurface your bath or resurface your worktop within the kitchen than it is to replace an entire bath or worktop, especially if the kitchen worktop is made from an expensive material.

This article was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Hometech, an environmentally aware firm who are able to resurface your bath or resurface your worktop so you don’t need to harm the environment by replacing them.

3 Energy Efficiency Heaters: Save Money & Energy This Winter

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 Keeping the house heated during the winter can be a very hard task. Having a fire would be nice, but not everyone has a fireplace. Electricity bills can skyrocket by using the central heating, and who wants to heat rooms that aren’t being used? Here are a few eco-friendly heaters that can help keep you cozy while keeping costs down.

Lasko 755320

The Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater with Digital Display and Remote Control is a good stand alone heater that is both budget and eco friendly. The digital display makes programming the heater easy. The unit also oscillates to keep the warm air moving. The tower also runs very quietly; imagine curling up next to the heater for a nap and not worrying about a constant buzzing. There is also a built in overheating protector, so you don’t have to worry about burning down the house while saving money. You can switch between two power outputs according to your needs.

 

The Warm Wave HeaterWarmwave 1500

The Warmwave 1500 Watt Ceramic Tower Portable Convector Heater is also a good choice for a personal electric heater. With multiple output settings, you can easily control how much heat the unit puts out. This unit also oscillates to provide even heat coverage with good ventilation for the unit. The base is non-slip, and has automatic shut off if it’s tipped over, so you don’t have to worry about any possible fire hazard. This heater is ideal for smaller rooms, providing brilliant heat for up to 150 square feet.

 

 

ECO-Heater

If you’re looking for an in-the-wall heater, the ECO-Heater is a hard personalized heater to beat. It’s easy to install, and can be painted the same color as the wall, blending in very well. The heater only runs at 165 degrees fahrenheit, which means that even though it warms the room, it isn’t hot enough to burn you. The burning element isn’t even exposed, which also cuts down on the fire hazard. Running at only 400 watts, it costs about four cents an hour to operate this heater. Talk about eco friendly!

 

So there we go lots of Eco Friendly ways to stay warm and cosy this winter. Gone are the days of money burning and high energy consuming bar fires keeping us warm go out and get a great low energy usage fire and save the coins.

Writtem by FirespinJay an Eco Enthusiast from London UK come and say hi always willing to share.