Home Energy Efficiency Tips: The Bathroom

When it comes to saving home energy, energy saving exteriors are the first link in the chain Including energy saving windows, doors and skylights in your plans to save home energy will make a big difference Windows that are double and triple paned provide insulation from the iciness of the wintertime and the heat throughout summer months. Poorly fitted and drafty entry doorways do nothing for your energy saving exteriors

Efficient storm doors that offer a quality barrier to the conditions are essential. Environment agencies now have standards such as the Energy Star Rating for exteriors windows and doors

A relatively new entrant in the struggle to save home energy is the idea of reflective roofing materials which supply another technique of creating a super energy saving exterior

Lowering roof temperatures by up to 100, this material cuts down on the amount of heat that is absorbed by your home Ask your builder to use a reflective roofing calculator and enclose an estimation of the energy saving you will make in his pro-forma

These materials are also given an Energy Star rating. Reflective roofing is most beneficial on houses in warm sunny climates and that are not already well shaded.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVbpuh6K4Bw

A Home Energy Audit Is A Good Thing

The concept of energy efficiency has become a trend in recent times, as it is geared towards saving you money and helping the environment. In order to upgrade to a whole-house energy efficient home, one should first schedule a home energy audit.

The use of the word "audit" is not your typical application of the word. A home energy "audit" is designed to save you money by pinpointing the exact areas in your home that are prone to be energy deficient. This is achieved by a team of professionals evaluating the inside of your home with advanced technologies like infrared cameras.

Benefits

Pinpointing energy deficient areas in your home will help assure that you are not paying for unneeded services. A home energy audit can reveal a variety of things depending the style, make, year, and geographical location of your home. Some of the major sources of energy deficiencies are windows, attic insulation, lighting, HVAC Systems (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning), ductwork, and even your water heater.

* Windows - 20% of your home's total heat loss is attributed to deficient windows. Energy efficient windows help reduce the four types of heat loss (conduction, radiation, convection, and air leakage) because of their advanced technologies like low-E glass, quality frames, multiple paned glass, gas fills, and warm edge spacers. These technologies work together to lower the "U Value" which is the rate at which a home loses heat.

o Low-E coatings are used to reduce overall radiative heat flow.

o Quality Frames help to insulate the window and reduce heat transfer.

o Multiple panes work together to provide greater insulation. There are at least two panes of glass in an energy efficient window.

o Gas fills, which are generally argon or krypton, reduce the conductance between the two or more window panes.

o Warm Edge Spacers insulate the window, prevent condensation, and hold the glass panes the proper distance apart from one another.

* Attic Insulation - The greatest amount of energy loss occurs in the attic. Many attics are already insulated, but they were done so improperly or using improper insulation. Knowing the right type of insulation and how much of it you need is dependent upon your geographical location. Your local energy savings expert can help to give you an idea on what options are best for your home.

* Lighting - In many homes lighting accounts for 15% of the total electric bill. CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights) are 75% more efficient than incandescent lights. In addition, they will give you ten more years of life than a traditional incandescent light.

* HVAC System - Nearly half of your energy bill will be spent on home heating and cooling costs. A home energy audit can help you discover what size HVAC system will be right for your house as a system that is too big/too small will be very inefficient and will ware faster.

* Ductwork - Up to 40% of your furnace/air conditioner's energy use is wasted by a leaky duct system. A leaky duct won't be able to carry all of the air that your furnace/air conditioner is producing to the rest of your home. This will not only reduce comfort, but also take your furnace/air conditioner longer to heat your home which results in higher energy costs. A leaky duct has a tendency to take "dirty air" from your crawlspace, basement, or attic and circulate it throughout your house.

* Water Heater - Installing a tankless water heater can reduce the cost of heating water by 45%. A traditional tank-type water heater will continuously heat the water in your tank regardless if you use it or not, meaning you are paying to heat something that you may or may not use.

Instead of storing water in a tank, a tankless water heater heats water en route to its destination. The heating mechanism will only turn when you turn on your dishwasher, operate a washing machine, or open a hot water tap.

Recap

Home energy audits aren't scary like the tax audits. These are designed to save you money by identifying the precise locations in your home that need to be upgraded with energy efficient appliances.

Many people are satisfied with their energy bills, but their bills could be so much less after conducting a home energy audit. Home energy audits will definitively reveal what areas of your house are costing you the most money on your energy bills.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/863972/a-home-energy-audit-is-a-good-thing.htm

Top 10 Ways To Save Money And Energy

There are many ways to save energy and money at home. These are some of the things that I've done.

• #1 I replaced my SUV with the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt. This saves me several thousand dollars a year in gas since I mostly drive in electric mode. I save even more when gas prices rise.

• #2 I now use a pellet stove as the only means to heat my home. The pellet fuel and the electricity to run the stove cost about $1,000 per year. Pellet stoves aren't a solution but a great way to reduce your dependence on home heating oil sticker shock.

• #3 Insulating your home is one of the best things to do. In the attic, I double insulated my attic floor, put in an attic radiant barrier and an attic solar exhaust fan. I also put an insulating cap on top of the attic stairs. I also installed insulating curtains on all the windows and put window film on the actual glass.

• #4 If you heat your water using electricity, you have a few options. I first started saving by installing a simple gray box hot water heater timer. Setting the timer box to come on for a couple hours in the morning and in the evening was sufficient enough and it saved a lot of electricity.

• #5 I replaced the gray box timer and installed one of the first Energy Star Heat Pump Hot Water Heaters. The average person will save over $300 per year with one. In simple terms, the heat pump takes the heat that's already in the air and puts it in the water tank. This is much more efficient than powering a heating element in the tank all the time.

• #6 I grow my own organic food for part of the year. For part of the year, I don't have to buy basil, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, blueberries or strawberries. Once you establish your initial garden structure you'll save money as the years go by.

• #7 You can save $10-$30 per month on natural gas or electricity just by hanging your laundry. You can go even further by getting a centrifuge laundry spinner that squeezes out an extra quart of water before you actually hang the clothes. This three minute laundry spinner will cut the drying time in half whether you hang the laundry or still use a dryer.

• #8 I killed most of the phantom or vampire electrical loads in the house by using properly sized power strips. You'd be surprised how much it costs to power a cable box, a microwave clock, a TV or even a garage door opener when it's not in use. If a power strip is too much of a hassle, they make remote controlled ones now.

• #9 Using less water saves in a few different ways. I use basic adjustable low flow shower heads, dual flush toilets and sink aerators. Less water used means less waste water and less energy needed to heat it.

• #10 I use fans instead of air conditioning unless there's a heat wave. You'd be surprised how cold you get when sleeping with a fan blowing on you. If you have to use AC, experiment by setting it a few degrees higher and using a fan.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SqPOeaYMUw

Selling Your Home For a Profit? Think Home Energy!

The housing market is packed full with a lot of homes right now. It's still a buyers market. The big, small, ready to move in and fixer uppers, and all within your price range as a home buyer. So how do you decide which one to choose as your next home, as a buyer? And if you are a seller, how should you make your home more attractive to potential buyers that your house is selected as the next home of the buyer, among a multitude of other options?

Of course, there are the traditional methods of leaving all the lights on, and cleaning up the site, remove clutter, reduce the furniture count, etc. But from an energy perspective, how do you really make your home more attractive? One of the bonus guides in the professional version of the Home Energy Audit Kit is the Energy Homebuyer checklist, which outlines several important areas of a house to look at in terms of energy consumption and energy loss. As a seller, your job is to ensure that all elements of this list are available for any potential buyer to see. In other words, you should use the list too!
One of the easy things you can do is to highlight the effectiveness or energy efficiency of your appliances, or equipment left at home after you move. The big ones most look for are the furnace, hot water heater and air conditioning units (central air), in addition to fridges and stoves/ovens. Everyone of these has a number of energy labels on them (at least in North America) that shows how much energy the unit uses, and compares it with the most efficient and least efficient model tested in a government laboratory.
Do not worry if the unit isn't a high efficiency (HE) unit, or if not at the top of the measurement scale. While it is important to note, what most people do not understand about these stickers is that it all depends on the buyer's usage. The new owners of this house will not use the device in the same way the seller does. So their costs are different.
Also, make it a point to respond to any energy information when asked. The most common question is "What is the average electricity bill in January? Or July?". Or perhaps they will ask for the heating bill, or natural gas bill. Here's a nifty trick. When people ask for an average or an example of the bill, tell them the budget payment, if known...and be sure to mention the payment type as being budget. A budget payment is the weighted average cost of energy in a period of usually 6-10 months. Most people understand this. It has the added advantage of the smoothing out the peaks and valleys of your usage and costs, so to speak, so you do not have to reveal your electric payment one month was $300 - because when averaged out, you only really paid $126 per month. And what sounds better than a buyer with a limited budget? An electricity bill of $ 300 or a constant, budget-friendly cost of $ 126?
Do not volunteer this information unless asked directly, or if there are appliances that can be a concern for potential buyers. For example, most people are very wary of old furnaces and air conditioners, but what almost no one notices is the insulation is more important than a new HE (high efficiency) oven, furnace, or unit in most cases. However, buyers can not be sold on this house, because the oven, furnace or other appliance is old. You may be able to ease their minds by telling them that budget heat or natural gas payment is average, and give them the budget amount.
There are, of course, many many many more areas of opportunity to help sell your home for more and actually make a profit for yourself. I recommend you check the Energy homebuyer checklist as part of the Professional Home Energy Audit Kit for more tips and of course, follow them!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3705944

Top 10 Energy Saving Tips

A correctly installed solar home energy system can cost as little as $ 200 for a homeowner to manufacture and install and with the potential savings nearing close to 80% of a normal household electricity bill it is not hard to see why a solar home energy system is fast becoming a popular home addition. In some situations over production can lead the homeowner into a position of being able to sell his surplus solar power back to the electric company thus making a profit on the overall situation. The sun's energy is the most abundant energy available on earth and by employing this free source a homeowner not only reduces his consumption of "manufactured" electricity but also contributes to a greener world.

A solar home energy system has many advantages apart from being cost-effective and environment-friendly. They are low on maintenance thus saving time and effort. Also, solar home energy systems give you a return on investment very soon, thus making the systems free after just a few weeks or as illustrated above a profit could be experienced if over production occurs, indeed it would be best to bear in mind this situation when designing the system to ensure an over production. If space allowed the installation of extra solar panels then this would provide an ideal income source.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-BTKkZxvJ0

home energy savers

They can be accessible even in remote counties. An additional vitality conserving candle bulb is the bulb that you use in your lampshades. It can make your rooms in the house have that spacious feeling. And they look and feel romantic way too specifically if you set in the colors pink and red. Hmm...now that's what you name a red mild special. Of program, some communities the following in the US are subsequent Germany's illustration of a residence photo voltaic vitality procedure. In Denmark, there is a prototype coal-fired strength plant which no for a longer period emits ash to the air but quite underground. Ideally, this can be emanated here in the United States and in China, which has the most amount of coal-pushed electrical power crops in the world.

But that's previously on a maximal scale. Let's have some more examples of electricity-preserving devices in the house. It's mainly because naturally, your electric power charges will reduced if you preserve vitality in your possess home. Really don't you like it?

With winter season coming up, quite a few men and women are acquiring that their property electrical power invoice is skyrocketing as the temperature drops. And in this time of economic crisis, it can be difficult acquiring the income to fork out people heating charges. Happily, there are many strategies to reduced your electric bill. Are you adhering to all these home power saver strategies?

• Install CFL fluorescent bulbs in all your mild fixtures. This is one particular of the easiest and surest tactics to help save income. Despite the fact that the bulbs are extra highly-priced than normal incandescents, they very last a lot lengthier and conserve funds just about every month on your electrical bill. And they are now accessible in warmer colours, so you you should not have to contend with the white. glaring light of times previous.


• Unplug electrical products you aren't making use of. Despite the fact that it can be a ache, you should normally unplug goods you aren't using, mainly because they typically draw ability even although they may perhaps be turned off. For illustration, if you certainly not use the clock on your microwave, that is electrical power currently being invested to continue to keep it on for no excellent reason.


• Clean out or change your AC/heater filter when a month. It's important to preserve individuals filters clean - a dirty filter indicates the unit has to get the job done more difficult - that's significantly less successful.


• Seal leaks exactly where drafts can arrive in. Use caulk to seal leaks about door and window frames. Set a 'draft stopper' at the base of doorways - even a rolled up towel will do. If your windows are outdated and drafty, think about large curtains to insulate them.


• Lower your thermostat at evening. It's been revealed that individuals rest additional easily when they are slightly cooler, so decrease the temperature at night time - decreasing it by ten degrees quickly adds up in savings. As a make a difference of point - think about holding your thermostat set a little reduced in the day time as well - and use a sweater close to the residence.

On-line sources that have been created by the United States Energy Department, dwelling energy savers aim to aid the two shoppers as properly as the industry experts in analyzing different facets of use of residence energies.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/home-energy-savers/4972770/

10 Do it Yourself Steps to Home Energy Savings

With the current slump in the economy, it seems that everyone is looking to save money and cut expenses wherever they can. A potential savings that's overlooked by a lot of people is home energy conservation. While there has been a lot of talk of renewable and alternative energy sources, there are several, easy "do it yourself" projects that can add up to big savings on your energy bills. I've put together a list of 10 that only scratches the surface of ways to cut back on consumption.




1. Add and Improve Insulation- Insulation may be the single most important element of energy efficiency. It is critical that you have sufficient coverage in the key areas, which include: walls, ceilings, floors, and attics. The most obvious place to start is the attic and ceiling, which in many cases are are the same. Unless your home is extremely old (more than 50 years), chances are, there is some amount of insulation in the attic or ceiling. Adding more will only help to block the heat or the cold from spreading to the living spaces inside the home. Adding additional insulation to the attic is a, fairly, easy job if it is accessible. The most common type to add will be fiberglass batts, which come in various lengths, widths, and thicknesses. The width and thickness are made to accommodate various wall and ceiling cavity sizes between studs, rafters, and ceiling joists.
However, when adding insulation in an attic, this, most likely, won't be a factor, since you'll be laying it over the existing. The other option is blown insulation, which is a loose material that is by use of a blower. While this provides good coverage, it is a messier and more complicated process. But if you're up for the challenge, you can buy the insulation and rent the blower in some hardware and home improvement stores. Insulating walls in existing homes is a little more challenging due to the fact that the wall cavity has been covered up with drywall or other wall coverings. The expense and work associated with opening up the wall is probably not worth it unless you have an older home with no wall insulation. There is one option that I used on garage that we were converting into a bedroom. At the top of the wall, near the ceiling, we cut holes roughly 6"x6" between each of the studs in the exterior walls and blew in the insulation. We then repaired the drywall in the small spots rather than replacing it on the entire wall. If your home is built above the ground with a crawl space or if you're in a mobile home, it's important to be sure that the floor is properly insulated. This will not be an easy job because it will involve either removing the flooring to work from above or crawling on your back from below. Both of these options involve a lot of work, but if the floor is not properly insulated, heating and cooling the home will be extremely difficult.

2. Attic Ventilation- Proper attic ventilation is critical to efficiently heating or cooling your home. When hot, cold, or moist air remains trapped above the ceiling it will travel into the home below even if the ceiling has been insulated. Ventilating the attic can be accomplished several ways and the better the ventilation, the better and easier the air comfort below. The most common methods are soffit, ridge and turbine vents. Even if you're not familiar with the terms, chances are, you've seen these before. Soffit vents are found in the eves around the perimeter of the house and may be small louver type or continuous with a screen. Soffit vents usually work in conjunction with roof turbines and gable vents to move a flow of air through the attic space, thus, bringing the temperature up or down with the outside air. Ridge vents are long plastic vents that are put in place of the decking running along the ridge at the peak of the roof. If you want even better ventilation, you can install roof or gable mounted vent fans, which are controlled by a thermostat that automatically turns the fan on or off at set temperature levels in the same manner as a central HVAC system. The cans can be electrically wired or solar powered with the cost of the fan itself running between $70 and $500.

3. Install Radiant Barrier- The installation of radiant barriers has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. The process involves installing a reflective material on the under side of the roof that will then reflect the majority of the sun's radiant heat. There are several different products available. The most common and effective being a foil strips that can be attached to the bottom side of the roof either between of over the rafters. If you are building a new home or replacing an existing roof, there is plywood decking that comes with the foil already attached to one side. There are several types and manufacturers of the foil to fit different applications and budgets. I recommend doing some research before buying. There are also radiant coatings and paints that can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on and, while the consensus is that the paints don't offer as much benefit as the foil, it will help and the installation process may be easier.

4. Manage Power to Electronics- While the modern home electronics available today offer great convenience and entertainment value, they are some of the biggest users of electricity. Managing the power to computers, televisions, and gaming systems can reduce your energy costs more than you might think. Computers are some of the biggest power hogs. Adjusting the settings to send it to sleep mode or turning it off when you're not using it will help, but it will still use a small amount of power. Unplugging the machine altogether or using a timer to completely shut off the power will make a huge difference. Plasma and LCD TV's as well as gaming systems burn lots of electricity, spending a little more for models with the "Energy Star" rating will pay for itself. In addition, have a talk with the family about turning everything off when it's not in use. I know, in my house, it's not uncommon to have 3 or 4 TV's on at once while everyone is outside.

5. Using Energy Efficient Lighting- The use of compact fluorescent light bulbs has become very popular in the last few years and only use 30% to 40% of the power of incandescent bulbs. They are available in a variety of sizes and strengths and are also now available in dimmable bulbs. I replaced 95% of the bulbs in my house with these and saw about a 30% decrease in consumption immediately. While the price is significantly higher than incandescent, they should last 7 to 10 times longer and will quickly pay for themselves in energy bill savings. You can find much better prices by buying in bulk online. If you are replacing light fixtures or ceiling fans, there are a variety of energy efficient products to choose from.

6. Replacement Windows- Your home's windows can make a huge difference in the amount of energy that is needed to heat or cool the home. Replacing existing windows with new energy efficient models may provide a huge savings. However, it can also be extremely expensive. I recommend a good deal of research and shopping because prices vary greatly. It's also important to weigh the cost of the windows against the potential savings to see how long it would take them to pay for themselves. Building codes, for the past few years have mandated the use of double insulated windows. So, if your home was built within the last 10 years, there's a good possibility you have insulated windows. Another more cost effective method of shielding the home from outside temperatures is tinting the glass or using window coverings such as heavier draperies, shades, or shutters.

7. Weather Stripping and Sealants- This is pretty basic, but often neglected. Cracks around windows, doors, and other wall penetrations are a constant source of energy loss. Caulking or sealing cracks around windows and doors will do wonders for keeping outside air from entering the home. It's also important to be sure that all exterior doors are properly weather stripped. If the weather stripping has become loose or defective, there are a variety of replacement products available at hardware and home improvement stores. One of the most crucial places to check are access doors to attics and basements.

8. More Efficient Water Heating- Heating water is one of the biggest energy expenses in any home. For bathing, washing clothes, dishes, and sometimes swimming pools, we are almost constantly heating water. There are several measures that can be taken to reduce this cost. An easy and inexpensive method is to further insulate the tank and pipes where the enter and leave the tank. Lowering the temperature setting on the heaters thermostat, will reduce the workload while still providing comfortable water temperature. If you live in warm climate states, installing a solar powered water heater may be an option and there are installation instructions available on the internet. On demand or tankless water heaters are available in electric or gas models and will provide a saving on energy costs. However, with addition circuits or gas lines needed, the installation cost may out weigh the savings.

9. Proper Maintenance of the Heating and Cooling System- Insuring that your home's heating and cooling system is operating at peak efficiency can make a big difference in how hard and how much your system has to work. Regular cleaning and maintenance will also save you money by extending the life of your system. A couple of things you can do as a homeowner are to regularly change the filters and clean the coils and materials for this can be found in hardware, home improvement, and even grocery stores. I would also recommend having a professional technician clean and inspect the system at least once a year.

10. Government Grants and Tax Credits- With the nationwide emphasis on energy conservation, the federal government, as well as many state and local governments, have established grant programs or tax credits for making energy efficient improvements to homes and businesses. If you qualify, this could amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars in addition the the savings in energy costs. Check with the department of energy or agencies in your state to see what is available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2465040

Top Ten Ways We Save Energy at Home

Hydropower - This type of alternative home energy makes use of water currents in order to turn turbines to run generators. Once again, this is not really a new technology. Like windmills, waterwheels were often used to harness the power of a nearby river in order to grind grain into flour.

Biogas - This is another alternative home energy source. Biogas is produced naturally via the decomposition of different biological material. By using biogas instead of the common LPG, home owners can cut back on their heating bills.

As you can see, there are a lot of different types of alternative home energy. What you need to do is explore these options and discover which type is the best for you to use. You have also been informed as to how we have used these energy sources in the past and how they are being used today.

Unfortunately, some of the methods of harnessing these different alternative home energy types may yet seem impractical to the common homeowner. However, as technology continues to evolve, you can be sure that the use of alternative energy will be more efficient.

By using alternative home energy, you accomplish two things: you save on your expenses and you help create a better world. You see, alternative home energy sources do not produce any harmful effects to the environment. By using these sources, you harness relatively free energy. Some people may say that the devices used to harness these sources may be too expensive, but in the long run, you"ll end up saving so much more than you spend.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pGuO2rSdm0

What Are the Different Home Energy Savings For Seattle Residence?

As the problem on global warming and depletion of energy sources continue to haunt nations, more people are becoming aware of energy saving. Various states have initiated efforts to tap renewable sources of energy and teach the public on how to lessen their energy consumption whether at home or at work. States have come up with laws and incentives to encourage the public to save energy. One state that continuously supports energy saving is Seattle. The different home energy savings for Seattle residence are proven helpful in reducing energy consumption as well as environment pollution.

Many tips on home energy savings for Seattle residence recommend conducting your own home energy assessment or commonly known as home energy audit. This allows you to detect how much energy your home consumes and take the necessary steps to lessen energy consumption in order to make your home energy efficient.

A home energy audit can check the different areas of your home and point out where you are using more energy. Aside from assessing your energy consumption, the home energy assessment can also give you ideas on how to save on electricity and water. Check air leaks or drafts in your window frames, baseboards, electrical outlets, mail slots and attic hatches among others. Air leaks create heat loss. Experts indicate that you can save as much as five percent to thirty percent in your energy consumption every year by simply fixing these air leaks.

Aside from air leaks, proper home insulation also helps in conserving energy. Inadequate insulation also results to heat loss and a primary reason of energy waste. Various cooling and heating equipment account for the majority of any home's energy use. Clean them annually and check it for any damage. It is also advisable to change your furnace filters at least once a month. You can also clean and seal all your home heating ducts. Furthermore, check the wattage size of the light bulbs used in your homes. Energy coming from lighting takes up ten percent of the electric bill. To save money and energy as well, change your light bulbs into compact fluorescent lamps or energy efficient lamps. Nowadays, more homes opt to use solar energy by installing photovoltaic cells on their roofs.

Home energy savings for Seattle residence does not only involve saving on electricity. It also includes water conservation. Over the years, the world has witnessed the scarcity of clean source of water. By saving on water and using water wisely, the next generation is assured of a steady supply of safe and clean water. Simple steps like turning off the faucet while brushing the teeth or fixing water leaks in faucets can make a big difference. Other ways to save water include upgrading toilets into water efficient models, keep the water used for washing fruits and vegetables and used it to water the plants, tightly turn off faucets after every use and shorten the time you spend in the shower to name a few.

These home energy savings for Seattle residence are intended not only to save on energy but also help the public to save more money. It also contributes to a cleaner environment by eliminating pollution.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1406022/what-are-the-different-home-energy-savings-for-seattle-residence.htm

Home Energy Solutions to Cut Home Energy Costs Drastically

Do you want to cut home energy costs by over 80%? Are you looking for real home energy solutions to the rising price of oil and those monthly utility bills that are hurting your pockets? Here is a review of how creating your own home energy can almost eliminate your utility costs and put more money into your pocket.

Solar Energy and Why It's so Effective
Among the best home energy solutions available right now is the use of solar energy. You've probably seen solar panels posted up in nearby neighborhoods or on the corners of streets where government buildings or libraries are located. Solar energy panels are so effective and so clean that the government is now talking about making it standardized within the next decade. A panel of sorts to energy and get from the rays of the sun and stores it into a converter full of photovoltaic cells. This energy is stored there in this converter for later consumption. Even if it's not sunny outside you can potentially have enough solar energy stored in your converter to give you enough energy for your home for over a week. All it takes is for you to expose your energy panel to the sun for at least 12 hours on only one very day or (roughly sun up to sun down) to store enough energy for several days. This can cut home energy costs by a drastic 80% or more each month.

Home Energy Solutions for Combating Rising Costs
You're probably wondering how you can even get a solar panel. Well, there are number of commercially sold panels that are being marketed right now and if you have at least two thousand dollars or more, you can get your hands on one and have them install it at your home. Or, you can go to more effective and cost friendly route such as I. You can build your own solar panel and put it up yourself for under $200 tops! All with equipment for doing so can be found at places like Home Depot and Lowe's. If you're serious about implementing home energy solutions that can help you cut home energy costs substantially each month, then save yourself $200 and build your own solar panel in just hours.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1984737

Home Energy Efficiency Tips: The Kitchen

Alternative home energy has been on the roll ever since people have made designs efficient enough to make them feasible. People may think that alternative energy is just a recent development, but in fact, alternative home energy has been around even before electricity was discovered.

Consider these types of alternative home energy:

1) Wind energy - Nowadays, windmills are used in homes to run small generators. These generators produce and store electricity to be used in running small home appliances. However, windmills have been around for a long time. If you take a look at the word "windmill" you will realize that this type of alternative home energy device was used for a purpose other than producing electricity.

Yes, the windmill was indeed, used to mill grain. As you may well know, grinding grain my hand is very hard work. So in order to make life more convenient and the production of flour more efficient, windmills were used to turn the large grinders.

Seeing as how this was so effective, it was inevitable that the windmill evolve into the 21st century in order to be used as a power source.

2) Solar energy - Many people think of this type of alternative home energy as something that's technologically advanced. In a sense, harnessing the power of the sun to produce electricity is. But this alternative home energy has already been in use for a long, long time. Think about this word for a second: clothesline. Aha, you get it now, don't you? Yes, we have been using solar energy to dry our clothes for God knows how long. Think about that spin dryer or hair dryer you have and think about how much electricity it uses to do a task that the sun has been able to do for years, albeit at a slower pace.

This alternative home energy is harnessed nowadays for a variety of tasks. Some use it to heat their homes, others use solar power to heat water, and other people use solar cells to power small appliances and save a little on that electricity bill. The efficiency by which we are now able to convert solar power into electricity is of such a degree that it is very possible to power a whole house! Now, isn't that amazing?

SOurce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYQbZ_A94vk

Energy-Saving Tips Inside Your Home

Home energy consumption is one of the main problems of people today. The fact is, we all need electricity to power our lives. We need the level of civilization that can be provided by electricity. However, most people think that the price they pay is just too much for the amount of electricity they get to consume. In the true spirit of humanity, people did what they always do whenever there's something that does not completely satisfy them about life: they innovated. 

Think about the paint you are going to use on your exterior walls and consider insulating paint as a radiant barrier coating. It can be purchased ready mixed or as an additive that is compatible with any interior or exterior paint. These paints are an efficient way of forming an effective thermal barrier and therefore doing alot to bring up your home's R-Value and cutting utility bills by as much as 50% Whether living in a new or traditional home, all these products can be included in your plans to save home energy and may make you eligible for tax credits Any family that is serious about saving energy in their home needs to investigate the options of energy saving exteriors.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGAOZllghYo

Soalr for Home Energy Use

What could be better than an opportunity to not only help the environment, but to save money in the process? That is what using solar for home energy use can do. Although you hear about it on the news, most people don't really consider making the move them selves. They picture unsightly solar panels attached to the roof of their houses, and think that it is not something they would be willing to try. You may want to reconsider your stance on this. Today's solar energy panels are smaller and more efficient. Rather than being an eyesore, they are actually very appealing and can be made to blend in with the rest of the houses appearance. Using solar for home does not have to call attention to your house. Another thing to consider is the vlue that it adds to your house. Besides the increase in resale value for potential buyers that want to be more green with their lifestyle, using solar for home energy can increase your houses value because it is set up to have a much lower electric bill. Every bit of electricity you can generate with a solar electric system is money that you will not be paying to the utility companies. That is money back into your pocket, which helps to increase the resale value of your house. Of course, by reducing your electric bills, you may never want to sell your home. That is completely understandable. Unless you find another house that is set up with solar for home energy production, you would be walking away from a lot of money each and every month.

Depending on the amount of direct sunlight your house gets, you may be able to drive your electric bill down to almost nothing. That doesn't mean you need to get off of the energy grid completely, because it does serve a purpose as a back-up energy source, but you will definitely be able to reduce your dependence on it. Even houses without an abundance of direct sunlight can see some savings in their utility bills. If you combine solar energy with wind energy, you will be able to see the same or better savings than those that rely on solar alone. Using solar for home energy needs is a great way to save money, and to help the environment. Getting a system set up can be quick and easy, and you can do most of the work yourself for a very small investment. You really should consider making the change today.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Soalr-for-Home-Energy-Use/1896999/

Important Reasons to Have a Home Energy Check Up

Are you aware of how important and beneficial a home energy check up can be? Let me tell you indeed how significantly it can help you to save on your energy bills.

The home energy check up is an evaluation of your home that you can do either by yourself or by hiring a professional to do it. This evaluation is really important when you are trying to saving energy as it helps you determine the exact areas your home that can be improved and made more energy efficient.

In order to make the check up as effective as possible it is best completed when your whole family is present. They all need to understand and be a part of implementing the changes that need to happen. If you have younger kids it is your responsibility to help them value the energy used around the house and therefore learn to use it wisely and efficiently.

Today more and more people want to save energy around their house but they want to do it their way. Unfortunately only a few of them actually take advantage of the resources and tools available to them. Some of those are the home energy check up, the home energy yardstick and government incentives, as well as many others.

As a family unfortunately your individual efforts may be offset by another member of the family's irresponsible actions. That is why everyone in your household must be a part of the check up and work together to implement the changes. 

Here are 5 basic energy saving techniques:

1. To switch off lights when you're not in the room is an easy energy conserving technique, yet not many people take advantage of it.

2. Turn off your electronics instead of letting them sit on standby. You may assume that standby has the same energy saving potential to switching the item off but that's simply not true. The truth is that a TV on standby still consumes around 60% of the energy it uses while it is on. Off uses no energy.

3. Use the new energy efficient light bulbs. These light bulbs have a number of advantages over the typical incandescent bulbs. They last 10 times longer, consume 25% less energy, and produce a brighter, whiter light. They operate cool which means they don't waste energy in the form of heat.

4. Improve the exterior of your home. Get rid of all sources of drafts of cold air coming into your home by eliminating any cracks and holes, this can save a lot of energy. You can do this with caulking or spray foam and weather stripping.

3. Use the sun's natural heat to help heat your home. You can do this by opening your window curtains during day time and closing them at sunset. This allows your home to gain daytime heat from the sun and keep it in during the night.

Saving energy at home is not that difficult to do, yet many people are still not taking advantage of these common sense ideas that can save them money. There could be many more reasons that you need to know about your home that would make a home energy check up worth your efforts.

By completing a home energy check up you will know what you need to do to improve your home's energy efficiency. That along with the list above will allow you to make the changes necessary around your home. It is important that you realize that it is dependent on you to do the work.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Important-Reasons-to-Have-a-Home-Energy-Check-Up/4314796/