Sunday
Going Green: Home Window Tinting
Spring is here! As we're slowly crawling out from under the heavy blanket of winter, we'll soon want to prepare our homes for the warmer weather of Spring and Summer.Summer heat usually means cranking up the air conditioner to keep your rooms cool and comfortable. And... that means higher utility bills.
Not only does your HVAC unit put a dent in your wallet, it can also harm the environment. The more energy your home consumes, the more oil or coal has to be burned to provide you with the electricity. Going green is on the tip of everyone's tongue these days and for good reason.
Would you like a tip on how to not only save money on your electric bill but also cut down on the amount of electricity you use?
The California Energy Commission states that 40% of all the heat that comes in to your home is moving through the glass of your windows. My suggestion is not to board up your windows. You want to let in natural light, of course. Natural sunlight keeps you from needing electricity to power your lights and it also can add warmth on cool mornings and evenings.
But, you can make a difference. And it's the same technology you use on your car. Adding window tint can dramatically reduce the amount of heat transfer while still letting in sunlight. There are different window films to choose from.
Some add a darkening tint, similar to your sunglasses to cut down on heat and light. Another type of tint has a reflective surface to push heat and light away from the windows. There are also clear window films that do not prevent as much heat gain as the others but will still allow the same amount of natural light into the room.
You can vary the window tint around your house based on which windows have more or less direct sunlight. Window tinting can be a do-it-yourself process or you can bring in a professional for a quality installation. The California Energy Commission says that the DIY kits may not last as long as the installed window tinting kits, but are more affordable.
Depending on the variety, the window films can cut the amount of heat entering through windows by 15% to nearly 40%! This can lead to lower utility bills because your air conditioner won't have to work as hard to cool your home. If you're building a new home, it could also mean the installation of a smaller or more efficient a/c unit for the house.
Everyone wants to do more for the environment. It's the only one we've got and we need to start doing every thing we can to protect it. Adding fluorescent light bulbs to every light fixture, replacing old appliances with energy-efficient ones, and tinting your home windows are just a few steps you can take to improve your environmental footprint and help your bank account.
RELATED POSTS:
Time to Rethink the Ceiling Fan
Solar Water Heaters
Hot Modular Homes with Green Construction in Mind
If you need to find a local window tinting service for your home, ConstructionDeal.com can help. Simply submit your window tinting project and get 4 quotes - at no cost - from installers in your area. It's that easy.
You're under no obligation to hire any of them, and there is no charge to find any contractors on our site. It's fast, free and easy to use.
Labels: Energy Efficiency, Saving Money
Monday
Stop Drafts & Save Money on Energy Bills
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding pull-down attic stair, a whole house fan, a fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.Drafts from these often overlooked holes waste energy and cost you big in the form of higher energy bills. Drafts are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home.
Drafts occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits that caulk and weatherstripping provide to minimize energy loss and drafts.
But what can you do about drafts from the four largest "holes" in your home - - the folding attic stair, the whole house fan, the fireplace and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.
Attic Stairs
When attic stairs are installed, a large hole (approximately 10 square feet) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only a thin, unsealed, sheet of plywood.
Your attic space is ventilated directly to the outdoors. In the winter, the attic space can be very cold, and in the summer it can be very hot. And what is separating your conditioned house from your unconditioned attic? That thin sheet of plywood.
Often a gap can be observed around the perimeter of the attic door. Try this yourself: at night, turn on the attic light and shut the attic stairway door - - do you see any light coming through?
If you do, heated and air-conditioned air is leaking out of these large gaps in your home 24-hours a day. This is like leaving a window or skylight open all year 'round.
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an insulated attic stair cover. An attic stair cover seals the stairs, stopping drafts and energy loss. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.
Whole House Fans and Air Conditioning Vents
Much like attic stairs above, when whole house fans are installed, a large hole (up to 16 square feet or larger) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only the drafty ceiling shutter between you and the outdoors.
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan shutter seal. Made from white textured flexible insulation, the shutter seal is installed over the ceiling shutter, secured with Velcro, and trimmed to fit. The shutter seal can also be used to seal and insulate air conditioning vents, and is easily removed when desired.
Fireplaces
Over 100 million homes, in North America are constructed with wood or gas burning fireplaces. Unfortunately there are negative side effects that the fireplace brings to a home, especially during the winter heating season. Fireplaces are energy losers.
Researchers have studied this to determine the amount of heat loss through a fireplace, and the results are amazing. One research study showed that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating-energy consumption by 30 percent.
A recent study showed that for many consumers, their heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the drafts and wasted energy caused by fireplaces.
Why does a home with a fireplace have higher energy bills? Your chimney is an opening that leads directly outdoors - - just like an open window. Even if the damper is shut, it is not airtight.
Glass doors don't stop the drafts either. The fireplace is like a giant straw sucking your expensive heated or air-conditioned air right out of your house!
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a Fireplace Plug to your fireplace. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, the Fireplace Plug is an inflatable pillow that seals the fireplace damper, eliminating drafts, odors, and noise. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.
Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts
In many homes, the room with the clothes dryer is the coldest room in the house. Your clothes dryer is connected to an exhaust duct that is open to the outdoors. In the winter, cold drafts in through the duct, through your dryer and into your house.
Dryer vents use a sheet-metal flapper to try to reduce these drafts. This is very primitive technology that does not provide a positive seal to stop the drafts. Compounding the problem is that over time, lint clogs the flapper valve causing it to stay open.
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted drafts, and also keeps out pests, bees and rodents. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.
For more information on Battic Door's energy conservation solutions and products for your home, visit www.batticdoor.com or, to request a free catalog, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to P.O. Box 15, Mansfield, MA 02048.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover and an attic access door. Battic Door is the US distributor of the fireplace plug. To learn more visit www.batticdoor.com
Labels: Energy Efficiency, Saving Money
Thursday
National Vampire Awareness Day!
Guess what today is?!Okay, so you read my title already... But it's not what you think. I swear! Today is Vampire Awareness Day - this is true. What's not true is that it's Vampire Awareness Day because Halloween and Trick or Treating is upon us.
We're talking about a different kind of vampire. The kind that doesn't suck the blood from your neck, but the money from your wallet.
No, it's not a day to call attention to your ex-wife... although, that would be funny.
The folks over at Best Buy have declared an awareness of energy vampires to help save you cash on your utility bills.
What is Vampire Power?
- Vampire Power is the electricity that consumer electronics and appliances use while they are switched off or in a standby mode.
- It is responsible for wasting an estimated $4 billion in the U.S. annually and the Department of Energy notes that this figure could rise by 20 percent by 2010.
- The average American home has approximately 20 to 40 electronics devices plugged in that abuse vampire power.
- These appliances can cost you close to $1,000 in electricity costs per year at current rates (more in the future if energy costs continue to climb). Even when they're not on.
- Use a power strip so multiple devices can be switched off at the same time
- Unplug your chargers from the wall when they are not in use
Just because your stereo is off or your computer is "sleeping", it doesn't mean that it's not draining power. When you see that little red light on, it means it's sucking money from your purse. And that's not cool.Go to the Vampire Awareness Day page (.pdf) to read a Fact Sheet with more details and what you can do to help.
Killing the vampires in your house is a great way to save money, save energy, reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, and help save the planet.
It's the green thing to do. And keeping a little money in your checking account is nice, too.
Also, if you need to do an Energy Audit of your home, ConstructionDeal.com can help. We'll match you with a local Energy Auditor to review your home and determine if your home is wasting even more energy and money.
It's a fast and easy process - simply submit your request and get up to 4 quotes from Home Energy Auditors in a matter of hours. At not cost.
Labels: Energy Efficiency, Saving Money
Renovation and Remodeling Industry Seasons
Everyone loves to save money. Even people with a lot of it. And many homeowners have at least half a dozen home improvement projects lined up. But they're never sure when to pull the trigger and make the commitment.
The construction and remodeling industry, like many business industries, is cyclical. There really can be seasons to many of the types of projects homeowners request. Because this industry has cycles to it, it usually means many renovation companies and contractors are incredibly busy one month and looking for work the next.
For example, many kitchen remodeling companies are told by their clients that their new kitchen must be ready in time for Thanksgiving. Or at the very latest, by the holidays so they can show off their renovated room to family and friends. Guess how many kitchen remodeling companies would love to have your business the last week in December - - or throughout the month of January, for that matter?
And, as the law of supply and demand tells us, whenever a company is looking for your business it's a great time to get really good discounts. Many homeowners can save a lot of money by completing their wish-list projects during the "off season." As the weather warms up in Spring, it can be next to impossible to find a quality contractor. Why? Because everyone else has already booked them for their projects.
You can consider just about any home improvement project during the long winter months. Most are indoors and and can be done year round. Paints, stucco, and concrete cannot always cure below certain temperatures, but many remodelers have the ability to tent the project to add enough heat to make it work. All the new materials in windows allow replacements to be installed year round. Landscapers have an easy time pruning trees and bushes when they aren't covered with foliage. Adding a new roof during winter weather may not be the best idea, but most roofs are installed during the summer. So, talk to your local roofer today so that your new roof can be installed in the Spring instead.
Also, because the housing market has really cooled off, there is a much larger supply of building materials. The larger supply means better prices. Lumber prices are down as well as a host of other raw materials needed to re-do any part of your home.
Finally, because the new home construction has stalled over the past six months, there are many more available contractors who are looking for work. A lot of the ones who were building houses are jumping over to the remodeling side of business. However, I would suggest that you not always go with the contractor who gives the best price on a job. Many of the contractors who were specifically "new builders" may not have remodeling experience. There is a difference. Make sure any contractor you talk to has experience in the remodeling industry. Make sure their references are from remodeling projects and not just building new houses.
Good luck with you projects and have a Happy New Year!
The construction and remodeling industry, like many business industries, is cyclical. There really can be seasons to many of the types of projects homeowners request. Because this industry has cycles to it, it usually means many renovation companies and contractors are incredibly busy one month and looking for work the next.
For example, many kitchen remodeling companies are told by their clients that their new kitchen must be ready in time for Thanksgiving. Or at the very latest, by the holidays so they can show off their renovated room to family and friends. Guess how many kitchen remodeling companies would love to have your business the last week in December - - or throughout the month of January, for that matter?
And, as the law of supply and demand tells us, whenever a company is looking for your business it's a great time to get really good discounts. Many homeowners can save a lot of money by completing their wish-list projects during the "off season." As the weather warms up in Spring, it can be next to impossible to find a quality contractor. Why? Because everyone else has already booked them for their projects.
You can consider just about any home improvement project during the long winter months. Most are indoors and and can be done year round. Paints, stucco, and concrete cannot always cure below certain temperatures, but many remodelers have the ability to tent the project to add enough heat to make it work. All the new materials in windows allow replacements to be installed year round. Landscapers have an easy time pruning trees and bushes when they aren't covered with foliage. Adding a new roof during winter weather may not be the best idea, but most roofs are installed during the summer. So, talk to your local roofer today so that your new roof can be installed in the Spring instead.
Also, because the housing market has really cooled off, there is a much larger supply of building materials. The larger supply means better prices. Lumber prices are down as well as a host of other raw materials needed to re-do any part of your home.
Finally, because the new home construction has stalled over the past six months, there are many more available contractors who are looking for work. A lot of the ones who were building houses are jumping over to the remodeling side of business. However, I would suggest that you not always go with the contractor who gives the best price on a job. Many of the contractors who were specifically "new builders" may not have remodeling experience. There is a difference. Make sure any contractor you talk to has experience in the remodeling industry. Make sure their references are from remodeling projects and not just building new houses.
Good luck with you projects and have a Happy New Year!
p.s. Ready to save even more? Post your project with ConstructionDeal.com - we'll help you get multiple bids from quality contractors at no cost. No more poking around the yellow pages to find just one or two companies.
Simply submit your project and get quotes from four contractors. It's fast, free, and easy to use to find qualified pros in your area.
RELATED POSTS:
Remodeling Trends: Is Now the Time to Remodel?
Construction and Remodeling Tips
Simply submit your project and get quotes from four contractors. It's fast, free, and easy to use to find qualified pros in your area.
RELATED POSTS:
Remodeling Trends: Is Now the Time to Remodel?
Construction and Remodeling Tips
Labels: Home Improvement, Home Repair, Saving Money
Tuesday
Solar Water Heaters = Energy Savings!
If you're looking to reduce your energy bills and reduce your environmental impact on the planet, you might want to consider a solar water heater. Not only can it save you from high utility bills, it can cut down on your personal greenhouse gas emissions and can improve the value of your home.
A solar water heater works just like you'd think it would. It harnesses energy from the sun to heat the water. Throughout the day, the sun warms water stored in a tank with a heating element that is solar powered.
There are two different kinds of solar water heaters: passive and active. The passive system does not require pumps to move water - the only forces needed are provided by the water supply from the city or the simple engineering of water temperature changes! The active system uses a pump to move water to the storage tanks or the collector to be heated. Both systems usually keep the energy source off during the day for better efficiency.
Another advantage to solar water heaters -- there may be a tax rebate available to reduce your costs further. These solar systems usually cost more upfront to purchase and install but, because of reduced energy costs, they usually pay for themselves after only a few years.
Here's a graph from Solar Direct that further illustrates the advantages of investing in a solar water heating system. If you need to find a solar water heater installer, use the service at ConstructionDeal.com for free to receive several quotes from local companies.
A solar water heater works just like you'd think it would. It harnesses energy from the sun to heat the water. Throughout the day, the sun warms water stored in a tank with a heating element that is solar powered.
There are two different kinds of solar water heaters: passive and active. The passive system does not require pumps to move water - the only forces needed are provided by the water supply from the city or the simple engineering of water temperature changes! The active system uses a pump to move water to the storage tanks or the collector to be heated. Both systems usually keep the energy source off during the day for better efficiency.
Another advantage to solar water heaters -- there may be a tax rebate available to reduce your costs further. These solar systems usually cost more upfront to purchase and install but, because of reduced energy costs, they usually pay for themselves after only a few years.
Here's a graph from Solar Direct that further illustrates the advantages of investing in a solar water heating system. If you need to find a solar water heater installer, use the service at ConstructionDeal.com for free to receive several quotes from local companies.
| SOLAR WATER HEATER FREE energy from the Sun | STANDARD WATER HEATER COSTLY gas or electric |
| Annual operating cost: $50 | Annual operating cost: $500+ |
| Storage Capacity: 80-120 gal | Storage Capacity: 40-50 gal |
| Life expectancy: 15-30 years | Life expectancy: 8-12 years |
| Lifetime operating cost: $1,000 | Lifetime operating cost: $10,000 |
| Does NOT pollute environment | Depletes fossil fuels |
| Increases equity in your home | No added value to your home |
| 25% return on your investment | No return on utility payments |
| Protection from future increases | At mercy of utilities/government |
| BONUS: | COLD showers, laundry,dishes? |
RELATED POSTS:
Labels: Home Improvement, Saving Money, Tankless Water Heaters, Water Heaters
Saturday
Remodeling Trends: Is Now the Time to Remodel?
Wall Street Journal: "'The current housing slump is making remodeling a kitchen or bathroom or adding an addition easier and cheaper. Sluggish home-building demand is pushing down the cost of construction materials (prices for lumber are near their lowest level in a decade) and spurring contractors to take on smaller projects, and sometimes cut fees."
"Custom and speculative builders are also starting to take on renovation jobs, picking up work they may have passed over just a year ago."
"In Tucson, Ariz., Richard Fink, a custom home builder, used to do a few remodeling jobs as favors to former clients; now remodeling has grown to half his business. Samm Jernigan, a high-end custom home builder in Wilmington, N.C., said earlier this year he started 'aggressively pursuing' remodeling projects for the first time, and John Diament, a home builder outside of Philadelphia, says two months ago he started asking architects to send big remodeling jobs his way."
"'It's good news for the consumer if you've got a lot more people seeking projects,' says Gopal Ahluwalia, for the National Association of Home Builders."
"Meanwhile, prices of framing lumber have fallen dramatically, says Shawn Church, the editor of an industry newsletter. The composite price per thousand board feet of framing lumber was $274 this week, compared with $375 a year earlier. Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, says he expects to see a roughly 10 percent drop in prices of gypsum and construction plastics when government price data are released later this month."
"The falloff is largely because of slowing new-home construction, which for several years had driven up the cost of materials. Growth in spending on remodeling has also slowed recently, a result of rising interest rates and homeowners who have postponed selling, along with presale renovations."
"The new environment means that homeowners are more likely to find contractors willing to take on projects quickly. 'Rather than saying ‘call me next spring,' they'll be more likely to say 'I'll be over this week to the talk about the project,’ says Kermit Baker, at the Harvard Joint Center."
"Contractor Don Sever in Oakton, Va., says he sees interest in remodeling starting to ease. He has trimmed prices by about 5 percent to attract more business. 'People are much more cautious about spending that home-equity money,' he says."
"When Bruce Ash wanted to do a large-scale renovation at his Tucson home, he found Mr. Fink of Becklin Construction to take on the $700,000 project. 'Normally, the market has been such that we could never get custom builders to remodel homes, but now, they are interested,' says Mr. Ash, a real-estate manager."
Keep ConstructionDeal.com in mind for your next remodeling project! It's a fast, free and easy way to find a renovation contractor. Simply submit your request and get 4 quotes from qualified remodeling companies. Now is the time to save big money on your home improvement project.
Bookmark or subscribe to this blog to keep up to date on the latest remodeling information!
"Custom and speculative builders are also starting to take on renovation jobs, picking up work they may have passed over just a year ago."
"In Tucson, Ariz., Richard Fink, a custom home builder, used to do a few remodeling jobs as favors to former clients; now remodeling has grown to half his business. Samm Jernigan, a high-end custom home builder in Wilmington, N.C., said earlier this year he started 'aggressively pursuing' remodeling projects for the first time, and John Diament, a home builder outside of Philadelphia, says two months ago he started asking architects to send big remodeling jobs his way."
"'It's good news for the consumer if you've got a lot more people seeking projects,' says Gopal Ahluwalia, for the National Association of Home Builders."
"Meanwhile, prices of framing lumber have fallen dramatically, says Shawn Church, the editor of an industry newsletter. The composite price per thousand board feet of framing lumber was $274 this week, compared with $375 a year earlier. Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, says he expects to see a roughly 10 percent drop in prices of gypsum and construction plastics when government price data are released later this month."
"The falloff is largely because of slowing new-home construction, which for several years had driven up the cost of materials. Growth in spending on remodeling has also slowed recently, a result of rising interest rates and homeowners who have postponed selling, along with presale renovations."
"The new environment means that homeowners are more likely to find contractors willing to take on projects quickly. 'Rather than saying ‘call me next spring,' they'll be more likely to say 'I'll be over this week to the talk about the project,’ says Kermit Baker, at the Harvard Joint Center."
"Contractor Don Sever in Oakton, Va., says he sees interest in remodeling starting to ease. He has trimmed prices by about 5 percent to attract more business. 'People are much more cautious about spending that home-equity money,' he says."
"When Bruce Ash wanted to do a large-scale renovation at his Tucson home, he found Mr. Fink of Becklin Construction to take on the $700,000 project. 'Normally, the market has been such that we could never get custom builders to remodel homes, but now, they are interested,' says Mr. Ash, a real-estate manager."
Keep ConstructionDeal.com in mind for your next remodeling project! It's a fast, free and easy way to find a renovation contractor. Simply submit your request and get 4 quotes from qualified remodeling companies. Now is the time to save big money on your home improvement project.
Bookmark or subscribe to this blog to keep up to date on the latest remodeling information!
Labels: Home Improvement, Remodeling Trends, Saving Money
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
