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Posts tagged energy-efficiency

Energy Efficient for Summer: Solar Roofing

May21
2009
4 Comments Written by Carrie

Solar Roof

In preparation for the summer, Buy Owner explained several reasons why ceiling fans are more environmentally sound than air conditioners. Continuing this trend, and to offer you further explore ways to lower cooling costs and save energy, Buy Owner has another tip for you: try solar roofing!

While solar roofing systems are costly, if you live in a particularly sunny area, you can look at this as a long-term investment. Say you spend $10,000 installing the system, but your utility bill is lowered by 30% to 50% (according to Roof101.com and EESolar.com). You will actually save money over a period of 30, 20 or even 10 years!

Design

  • Generally, solar roofing comes in panel form.
  • It is also available in shingles, tiles and sheets.
  • Solar panels are offered in all kinds of colors, and the panels may be integrated with your current roof so they are not noticeable.

Installation

  • Solar panels are very lightweight, making them easy to handle.
  • Most roofing systems do not require you to make alterations or additions to your existing roof.
  • Many solar roofing panels are interlocking, requiring zero mechanical fastening.

Efficiency

  • Solar roof panels generate electricity (some from 3 to 120 kilowatts).
  • Some solar roof systems can withstand winds up to 160 miles per hour!
  • South-facing sloping roofs are the most efficient, but solar roofing systems can be placed on any house.

Before you install your solar roof system, you should consult an expert. Roof101.com offers free estimates! Not only will the Roof101 contractors do a full inspection of your roof, but they will also inform you where and how to install the solar roofing system.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged going green, Green Living, solar roofing
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12 Quick Ways to Go Green

Oct31
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

It’s a green world these days. And with an increasing number of home sellers offering green advantages in their homes, you might want to consider the benefits. Though some green features can conveniently allow you to raise the price of your home, they’ll also make your home stand out from other homes that don’t offer green features.

Here are a dozen ways to make your home greener, from cheapest to priciest. Even if it’s a last-minute change, it might be just what you need to make your home its most valuable.

1. Change the light bulbs in your home’s light fixtures to compact fluorescent bulbs. They last longer and they use less energy than regular bulbs. Home buyers will be pleased to know that their new home is filled with new bulbs that will last a long time!

2. Change the water gadgets in your home to devices that are low flowing and save on energy. Toilets, showerheads, faucet heads, laundry appliances and utility sinks can all be equipped with energy-saving gadgets. Lower water bills aren’t just good for you; they’re attractive to buyers!

3. Fill the areas around leaky or drafty windows. You can do this multiple ways: replace the window frames, add a pane of glass to trap temperatures or fill with insulation. Even adding blinds to all of the windows will help keep interior temperatures stable.

4. Check your entire home for possible insulation needs, whether it is your attic, windows, doors or basement. For more information on energy-efficient insulation, click here

5. Add ceiling fans in order to keep air constantly circulated. Both air and heat need a constant flow, especially if your home features high ceilings. The heat tends to rise, leaving the rooms chilly. If you only add one ceiling fan, place it somewhere in the middle of the home.

6. If you own a dial-type thermostat, replace it with a modern electric one. These allow you to program it to lower or higher temperatures when you aren’t home or while you are sleeping. This way, heat or air is not being wasted during times that you don’t need it!

7. If you’ve been contemplating a repaint job, opt to use non-toxic paints that have low or no VOCs (volatile organic chemicals). These used to be vital to the performance of paint, until recently. New types of paint reduce the toxic emissions that normally pollute the air.

8. For outdoor energy efficiency, add a xeriscaping system or an irrigation system to your yard. This allows future owners to enjoy a landscaped yard by knowing that less work is involved and it’s being done in an efficient way. For more information on xeriscaping, click here.

9. Add new doors to your home. Not only can they spruce up a room, but they can also add energy efficiency. Old doors are oftentimes not properly installed or not properly air-sealed. Add new exterior doors, add storm doors to existing doors or replace weather-stripping on exterior doors.

10. As with doors, old appliances use more energy than newer appliances. When choosing a new refrigerator, opt to purchase a top freezer instead of a side-by-side, and choose a standard size. With dishwashers, look for water-efficient models with multiple wash options. A microwave cooks food faster, therefore uses less energy than an oven.

11. Replace your roof, or paint it white. White roofs reflect the sun and allow less drastic temperatures to enter your home or attic.

12. When using Buy Owner to sell your home, make sure to mention these energy-saving/green elements in your home advertising! Potential home buyers may not be aware of how the new elements in your home save them energy. Inform the sales representatives that come to your house in order to make certain that these features are included in your home’s ad!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged advertising a home, earth, Green Living, improvements to home, selling a home
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Energy-Efficient Insulation

Aug23
2008
2 Comments Written by Alicia

Eco-friendly Image

As the autumn weather approaches in some parts of the country, take this opportunity to rest your air-conditioning unit and not yet resort to your heater. Open the windows and let the fresh air fill your home. While you enjoy this energy-saving season, start thinking about your current insulation and how efficiently it will get you through this coming winter.

Whether you’re choosing insulation for a new house or updating your current house, energy-efficient insulation opportunities await you! Heating and cooling our houses accounts for up to 70 percent of the energy we use overall. Smart insulation choices that use recyclable products or are lifetime-guaranteed can help reduce the amount of garbage that goes into landfills, which in turn will reduce air pollutants and will make the environment safer. This goes without mentioning the amount of energy you’ll save, therefore the amount of money that you won’t spend on bills. To get you thinking, here are five smart insulation products.

Reflective Foil
Foil can insulate your house much like it keeps your food heated in the oven or dry and fresh in the fridge. Reflective foil is made from thin sheets of plastic film coated in aluminum. Best used on the inside of your roof or on the walls of your attic, reflective foil reflects sun away from your home. This keeps the sun out in the summer and allows your home to remain cool. It also protects against wind and keeps heat inside your home during the winter. Reflective foil works best in areas that don’t receive direct sunlight. If foil is set up in direct sunlight, the foil can melt or catch on fire. However, as long as the foil is completely flat, it will not gather pools of sunlight that cause melting or fire. A gap should also be left on the top and bottom of the foil to let air circulate in and out and to allow moisture in your house to leave.

Fiberglass
Fiberglass is made from recyclable products and from sand, which is not renewable but is found in abundance all over the world. To install, fiberglass batts are stapled between studs on the walls and then drywalled over. Fiberglass can be used in attics, on walls, on floors, on furnaces and in air ducts. Not only does fiberglass keep your heat inside in the winter and your air-conditioning inside in the summer, but it can also help prevent the spread of noise. Though fiberglass is considered safe to use, your best bet would be to find fiberglass with the least amount of formaldehyde, which has been found to cause irritations and sensitivities.

Cotton
Cotton batts are used much like fiberglass. Cotton scraps are usually collected from blue jean companies. The company recycles the scraps they don’t use, and insulation companies take these scraps and turn them into insulation. Fire retardants are added to the cotton, so they are fire resistant. Installation is much like fiberglass, but perks to using cotton are that it’s more sound resistant, it’s more suitable for windy conditions and there are no health concerns.

Foam spray
Foam sprays fill in the cracks that even fiberglass misses. As a new invention, foam sprays allow you to spray between framing studs in basements, attics, roofs, exterior wall cavities or crawlspaces. A one-time spray should last a lifetime, and the foam expands and contracts with your house over time. The foam is non-toxic, and it reduces air movement, therefore it removes dust from the air and helps prevent allergies. The foam also controls moisture from entering and therefore helps to prevent mold. As with fiberglass, the foam does not allow cold air to enter the home in the winter or warm air to enter in the summer. Because foam sprays go a long way and last a lifetime, they are a smart investment toward long-time insulation.

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Posted in Green Living - Tagged eco-friendly home improvements, efficiency, energy, green insulation, Green Living, insulating your home, insulation, today's market, your home
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Buying a Refrigerator

Mar06
2008
2 Comments Written by Alexis

For many homeowners, the refrigerator is the first big purchase for their kitchens. It’s one of the most important appliances in a kitchen, and today, this basic necessity is loaded with options.

If it’s come time for you to make this big purchase, make sure you have all the information you need so you can make the best choice for you. Did you know, for example, that a refrigerator can last more than 15 years? It’s true. So the fridge you want now needs to be the fridge that can accommodate your needs then.

Here the important factors to consider when you buy:

1. Kitchen Size: Probably the most helpful determining factor is size, and it narrows down the appliances you should consider. How much space do you have in your kitchen—is there a set cut-out for the fridge or do you have a little flexibility? Think not just about height, width and depth of your fridge; measure its size when opened and picture that in your space. Will you be able to get things out easily?

2. Personal Needs: After you know what you can fit in your kitchen, think about how much space you need for storage. Two people will usually need between 8 and 10 cubic feet of space, and you’d want to add an extra cubic foot for each additional person in the household. When in doubt, buy the bigger size: it’s much easier to have too much space than too little, which will force you to waste time squeezing groceries inside. If it will be hard to fit the right size fridge in your kitchen, you could also consider an extra refrigerator or cooler for the garage or basement.

3. Types of Models: Today’s refrigerators are all about options: side-by-side, top-bottom, different colors, ice/water dispensers. Often, the fridge will have adjustable shelves to accommodate a variety of food sizes. Ultimately, which of these things you should choose is completely dependent on you. Take the time to determine what you want and what works best in your space.

4. Accessories: Just for your reference, here are a list of additional options you could choose for your refrigerator:

a. Spill-proof Shelving: Designed to minimize leakage through the fridge.
b. In-door drink sections: Smaller, mid-level compartments that hold beverages or other items. Big plus: this saves energy by not requiring you to open the whole refrigerator.
c. Storage bins and crispers: With compartmentalized temperature controls, these sections allow you to keep produce fresh.
d. Bottom freezers: Putting the freezer sections into pullout drawers and the bottom allows the refrigerator section to be side-by-side at eye level.
e. Deli/meat keepers, butter keepers: Compartments designed to aid organization.

5. Energy Efficiency: If you’re interested in going green with your appliances, look for a refrigerator with the ENERGY STAR® label. Not only is this a more eco-friendly option, but it also can provide great savings to you, by reducing the cost of operating the machine.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged appliances, improving your kitchen, kitchen, owning a home, owning your first home, refrigerator
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