This summer has been predicted to be cooler than usual. This is a great development, if you decide to install a whole house fan. A whole house fan takes the air from the house and puts it into the attic. This hot air is cooler than what is in the attic.
The result of using a whole house fan is a savings of up to 5% on your energy bill. The fan can cost anywhere from $150 to $350. The cost of the total installation is closer to $1000 to $1600 and should be installed by a reputable electrician.
A whole house fan is best used for days under 70 degrees. For hotter days, you will still need to use an air conditioner. There is the potential of a back draft problem, so make sure that it is installed by a reputable individual. If you have the money to invest in this item, it would be a good money saver.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Seersucker
Are you sick of sweating behind your desk as the thick cotton shirt slowly creates an oven like effect around you? If this sounds like you it is time to switch to a truly eco friendly material.
Seersucker is a thin cotton woven material. These days you can even have a suit made from this very breathable material. If you are forced to wear long sleeves in the summer consider a seersucker shirt.
What makes seersucker so eco-friendly? The less you sweat the less air conditioning you have to use. The end result is less electricity and energy being used. Seersucker can also be made from organic cotton. If you want to be doubly eco conscious then consider buying organic seersucker clothing.
Seersucker is a thin cotton woven material. These days you can even have a suit made from this very breathable material. If you are forced to wear long sleeves in the summer consider a seersucker shirt.
What makes seersucker so eco-friendly? The less you sweat the less air conditioning you have to use. The end result is less electricity and energy being used. Seersucker can also be made from organic cotton. If you want to be doubly eco conscious then consider buying organic seersucker clothing.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Line Dry Clothing
Spring is finally here. The weather has starting to become warm and pleasant. The birds sing there happy tunes. With the warmer climate, the challenge of saving some money on your electricity bill becomes a little harder. Air conditioning tends to be a little expensive.
Here is a suggestion for those who live in their own house. If done on a regular basis, could save around 5% on your bills according to the California Energy Commission.
Line Dry Your Clothing.
Take a second to re-read that sentence. Most of us have probably never even considered this as an option for real energy and money saving. It is a great way to save money during the summer and spring months. If you have never let your clothes out to dry you will need to invest in a wire and clothes pins. Both of these items are prices very affordably.
Once you have set these items up, start clipping your clothes. If anything this energy tip will give you an excuse to get outside and enjoy some sunshine (even if just for a few minutes.
Here is a suggestion for those who live in their own house. If done on a regular basis, could save around 5% on your bills according to the California Energy Commission.
Line Dry Your Clothing.
Take a second to re-read that sentence. Most of us have probably never even considered this as an option for real energy and money saving. It is a great way to save money during the summer and spring months. If you have never let your clothes out to dry you will need to invest in a wire and clothes pins. Both of these items are prices very affordably.
Once you have set these items up, start clipping your clothes. If anything this energy tip will give you an excuse to get outside and enjoy some sunshine (even if just for a few minutes.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Energy Efficient Homes Save Energy and Money
With summer just around the corner home improvement projects are beginning to take off. As more and more people become conscious of the environment and work to reduce their carbon footprint, energy efficient, green upgrades are gaining in popularity. By making a few changes around your home you will not only save money but also do your part to reduce negative effects on the environment. The following tips will help you save green while going green.
Energy Efficient Landscaping- It is not uncommon for people to overlook the importance of the placement of trees and shrubbery outside the home. Properly placed plants on the south and west side of your home can provide shade during the peak daytime heat. Increase the effectiveness of natural shade by keeping shades and blinds closed during the day to prevent heat buildup.
Replace AC Filters- As the days become longer and hotter it is important to make sure your air conditioners are running efficiently. Remember to change your air conditioner filter at the beginning of the summer and once a month throughout the warmer season to prevent restricted airflow which will make your unit work harder and run longer. Other ways to reduce energy consumption and save on your cooling costs would include raising the thermostat setting and/or using a programmable thermostat.
Sealing and Insulating- Two great ways to lower energy use while shaving dollars off your energy bill include sealing leaks and adding insulation. When correctly installed insulation combined with sealed doors and windows will increase comfort during both the hottest and coldest days without wasting energy.
Upgrade Appliances- If you budget includes upgrading major appliances be sure to look for Energy Star approved appliances to save money and energy.
Use Nature To Your Advantage- When the weather permits open your windows to give your air conditioner a break while allowing fresh air into your home. Hang your clothes outside to dry and open the window blinds after the hottest part of the day has passed to take advantage of natural light. Another great way to take advantage of the warmer weather would include getting the family outside to enjoy activities. The benefits are two-fold; first you have more time to spend with your kids enjoying nature or activities such as swimming or hiking. Second, by spending time together outside the home, the TV's, computers, video games and other energy consuming appliances can take a break.
Making your home more energy efficient will save you more money in heating and cooling costs in the long run while making a positive impact on the environment. If everyone makes small changes in their daily lives the results will be significant.
Trisha Wagner is a freelance writer for Deposit Accounts where you can compare rates of deposit accounts from dozens of banks in one place. Trisha writes regularly on the topics of personal finance and savings accounts
Energy Efficient Landscaping- It is not uncommon for people to overlook the importance of the placement of trees and shrubbery outside the home. Properly placed plants on the south and west side of your home can provide shade during the peak daytime heat. Increase the effectiveness of natural shade by keeping shades and blinds closed during the day to prevent heat buildup.
Replace AC Filters- As the days become longer and hotter it is important to make sure your air conditioners are running efficiently. Remember to change your air conditioner filter at the beginning of the summer and once a month throughout the warmer season to prevent restricted airflow which will make your unit work harder and run longer. Other ways to reduce energy consumption and save on your cooling costs would include raising the thermostat setting and/or using a programmable thermostat.
Sealing and Insulating- Two great ways to lower energy use while shaving dollars off your energy bill include sealing leaks and adding insulation. When correctly installed insulation combined with sealed doors and windows will increase comfort during both the hottest and coldest days without wasting energy.
Upgrade Appliances- If you budget includes upgrading major appliances be sure to look for Energy Star approved appliances to save money and energy.
Use Nature To Your Advantage- When the weather permits open your windows to give your air conditioner a break while allowing fresh air into your home. Hang your clothes outside to dry and open the window blinds after the hottest part of the day has passed to take advantage of natural light. Another great way to take advantage of the warmer weather would include getting the family outside to enjoy activities. The benefits are two-fold; first you have more time to spend with your kids enjoying nature or activities such as swimming or hiking. Second, by spending time together outside the home, the TV's, computers, video games and other energy consuming appliances can take a break.
Making your home more energy efficient will save you more money in heating and cooling costs in the long run while making a positive impact on the environment. If everyone makes small changes in their daily lives the results will be significant.
Trisha Wagner is a freelance writer for Deposit Accounts where you can compare rates of deposit accounts from dozens of banks in one place. Trisha writes regularly on the topics of personal finance and savings accounts
Friday, April 3, 2009
Save Money on Your Trip to Work
As the weather slowly gets warmer and more spring like, people are looking to start living on the outside again. Warm weather gives us the ability to us our legs as a mode of transportation. If we want to get serious about saving some real energy and money, it is time to start with warm weather.
If you live n a city with public transportation please take advantage of it. If you live within a mile of work consider walking. Driving to and from work one mile is a huge gas waster.
If you are not a fan of walking there are other options. Bike riding is one of the healthiest and energy saving activities that you can do. If you live under 10 miles away from work this is a perfect solution for you. Imagine how much money you can save. Assume that a new bike will cost you around $200. You will save at least $20 to $30 a week on gasoline.
If you don’t feel like walking, or riding a bike than purchase an electric bike. An electric vehicle will get you to your destination quicker than a bike with minimal effort. It will also waste a lot less energy than a regular vehicle. Whatever you choose, spring brings an opportunity to save lots of money and energy.
If you live n a city with public transportation please take advantage of it. If you live within a mile of work consider walking. Driving to and from work one mile is a huge gas waster.
If you are not a fan of walking there are other options. Bike riding is one of the healthiest and energy saving activities that you can do. If you live under 10 miles away from work this is a perfect solution for you. Imagine how much money you can save. Assume that a new bike will cost you around $200. You will save at least $20 to $30 a week on gasoline.
If you don’t feel like walking, or riding a bike than purchase an electric bike. An electric vehicle will get you to your destination quicker than a bike with minimal effort. It will also waste a lot less energy than a regular vehicle. Whatever you choose, spring brings an opportunity to save lots of money and energy.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Saving Electricity with a Current Cost Meter
The Current Cost meter is a simple device that measures how much electricity you are using at any given time. The current cost meter gets its data from a special clamp that transmits data from your electricity meter to the current cost meter. The special clamp is really easy to install, as it just fits around your incoming power cable. No electrician is needed.
Regardless of the size of your home, an energy consumption meter is really useful. With the Current Cost meter, you'll notice any sudden increases in power consumption (and cost!) when a device is switched on. You'll soon realize that kettles, heaters, washing machines, electric cookers and microwave ovens consume a great deal of energy!
When you've had the meter running for a couple of weeks, you'll soon work out roughly how much energy you use in the daytime or evenings. Just by checking the meter, you can quickly identify if you've left something on by accident. I have one of these meters myself, and I discovered that just having a USB dongle plugged into my PC used an extra 15W of energy!
If you're very computer literate (and geeky like me), then you can buy a USB adaptor lead that allows you to get data from the meter on your PC. A large number of IBM employees are running these at home due to a craze started by a chap called Andy Standford-Clark (just google his name to see why!). Roo Reynolds is one such chap, and Andy Piper has been dabbling with an application for the iPhone to view energy consumption.
There are a few energy consumption meters hitting the market now, and it depends on what features you want. However, I strongly recommend getting one. Particularly if you have kids, it's a great way to help them keep the electricity bills down!
This article was written by Dan Harrison who is a big fan of low power PCs and green gadgets. And in his spare time, he plays with his current cost meter!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Cooking Faster Saves Energy
It seems fairly straight forward, the less time you spend cooking, the more energy and electricity you will use. The less electricity used the more energy and electricity you will save. How can we reduce the amount of time spent slaving and cooking in the kitchen?
Lets learn some simple and easy methods of doing things a little more efficiently in the kitchen department. First off, before we start cooking lets look over the recipe first and see if we can make sure that as soon as the oven is preheated, the food can go right in.
Smaller and planned meals will also help in our endeavor to save energy. Leftovers can be very easy heat up in a microwave or toaster oven. The easiest way to save energy is by using not only the right utensils but right heating element. Not only should you use the correct burner, you should use the right oven.
If you can afford a convection over, these are the best. But for those of us who are stuck with what we have, there are some simple rules. If you can heat up the food without using your large over, DO IT! Ovens waste a lot of energy. Unless you are cooking a huge full meal in their try and avoid it.
Lets learn some simple and easy methods of doing things a little more efficiently in the kitchen department. First off, before we start cooking lets look over the recipe first and see if we can make sure that as soon as the oven is preheated, the food can go right in.
Smaller and planned meals will also help in our endeavor to save energy. Leftovers can be very easy heat up in a microwave or toaster oven. The easiest way to save energy is by using not only the right utensils but right heating element. Not only should you use the correct burner, you should use the right oven.
If you can afford a convection over, these are the best. But for those of us who are stuck with what we have, there are some simple rules. If you can heat up the food without using your large over, DO IT! Ovens waste a lot of energy. Unless you are cooking a huge full meal in their try and avoid it.
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