It's been very encouraging to see so many people wanting to do their bit towards going green at home - and one of the ways of doing so is to take advantage of "green" options on offer from electricity providers; particularly if you don't have the cash to install solar power directly on your home. But there are a few pitfalls to watch for.
I've heard it said that energy conservation is the "first fuel." The cheapest and cleanest energy is the energy you don’t consume.
How can you reduce your usage of fuel this winter and still be comfortable? Let's face it. Turning your thermostat down to 52° and wearing long johns until the Spring thaw is one way to achieve that goal, but it's just not practical.
Kelly Quigley, an online editor of REALTOR® magazine recently pulled together a great list of tips.
1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Save 10 percent ($190 per year) or more on energy bills. Focus on windows, doors, outlets or switch plates on exterior walls.
2. Properly maintain the heating system. Heating accounts for half the average family's energy bill (approximately $950 per year). Make sure the furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. The small cost (about $75-100 for most service calls) will pay back in better performance all year long.
3. Install a programmable thermostat. Programming the thermostat from 72ºF to 65ºF for eight hours a day while no one is home, or everyone is tucked in bed, will cut the heating bill up to 10 percent ($90 per year), paying for a basic unit in less than a year.
4. Seal and insulate heating ducts. A system can lose up to 60 percent of its warmed air before it reaches the register (wasting $570 in warmed air per year) if ducts are not properly insulated in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces.
5. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Adequate insulation in the attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces can save up to 30 percent on home energy bills ($630 per year). Focus on the attic. (Heat rises.) Most homes should have between R-30 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Learn more at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.
6. Close fireplace dampers when not in use. When in use, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window about an inch, close doors to the room, and lower thermostat setting to 50-55ºF.
7. Let the sun shine in. Open curtains on south facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
8. Stay out of hot water. Water heating accounts for 15 percent of household energy use. Reduce water heating costs by lowering the water heater’s thermostat setting. Each 10ºF reduction can save between 3-5 percent in energy costs. Also insulate the hot water heater and hot water pipes.
9. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with Energy Star qualified windows. Storm windows reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent, and storm windows with low-e coating that reflect heat back into the room during the winter months save even more energy. Look for the Energy Star label to maximize savings. Energy Star qualified windows reduce heating and cooling bills by an average of $345, but could be higher in cold and hot climates, compared with uncoated, single-pane windows. Can’t afford new windows just now? Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present.
10. Net big savings with a little label. When replacing appliances, light bulbs, electronics, or heating and cooling systems, cut energy bills by up to 30 percent ($600 per year) with Energy Star labeled products. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. Find retailers at www.energystar.gov.
Share on FacebookThere's an interesting confluence of information settling onto my screen this afternoon.
1. The recent report from the Urban Land Institute on Emerging Trends in Real Estate for 2009.
Among other things, it suggests:
* Go green – cutting energy expenses is likely to be a priority.
* Purchase distressed condos in urban areas near transit.
2. A Letter to the Editor in today's (11/19/08) Indianapolis Star.
Entitled, "Mass transit will lead you out of the 20th century," it was submitted by Christopher Leinberger of the Brookings Institute and highlights in some detail (though not well referenced) the reasons why mass transit serves a regional center like Indianapolis.
Mass transit supports sustainable development, reduces greenhouse gasses, promotes walkable neighborhoods, attracts jobs and stabilizes real estate values in far-flung suburbs.
Got a house in Fishers or Noblesville that's near the proposed transit line? Consider yourself lucky. Yes, there are more than a few folks who currently back up to the Nickel Plate line who are used to having a train for about 3 weeks every year during State Fair time. It'll be a tough adjustment to having daily train traffic. Some may even see their property values diminish as the result of being too close to the line.
All things considered, though, I can't wait until we have a viable mass transit system in the region. We're a big city, peeps. It's time we started acting like it.
By bringing customization to the prefab world, the architects behind the Burst house are minimizing waste and winning accolades from the Museum of Modern Art.
This $4 a gallon gas thing is out of control. As much as I miss my oh-so-luxurious and stupidly-fast BMW X5, I'm not at all missing the 14 mpg and the requirement to use Premium fuel.
Last year, I chose to move into a small, simpler little truck. I use the term "truck" loosely, as it's really more of a station wagon. Chevy actually classifies it as a car. It just looks like a 30's delivery truck.
My sparkling white Chevrolet HHR is as cute as a button, and is equipped with more than just the bare necessities. I did opt for the XM radio (can't miss Thom Hartmann you know) and leather interior, as well as the sunroof. Otherwise, it's got a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine with less than half of the horsepower of my über-sexy X5.
There's a nice area behind the back seats for cargo storage, and with the seats folded down, I can fit tons of junk from Costco. I've moved filing cabinets, hauled my dog around in his kennel, put in bikes and bags of groceries galore.
Did I mention the gas mileage? In my own usage, I'm averaging 24 mpg in combined city and highway mileage. I can use regular gas, too, so that's saving me at least 20¢ per gallon.
But here's the kicker: if I'm willing to drive 55 on the highway, I can achieve between 36 and 38 mpg. That's amazing to me, especially since the window sticker rated it at 28 mpg highway.
So if you're struggling trying to find an attractive, fun and fuel efficient car with some room to put a few things, consider the Chevrolet HHR.
"I am sorry, Evian and San Pellegrino and Dasani and all the other bottled waters out there - Aqua Velva, Wells Fargo, Muddy Waters, Joan Rivers, Jerry Springer, whatever
—but the current campaign against paying good money for bottled water when tap water is perfectly good (and very likely purer) is so sensible on the face of it..."
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LOVELY! Can't wait to perch a few of these on my Brownstone. Now if I can just get an exemption from the HOA...
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These seem completely yummy. I'm continually forgetting to take my single solitary canvas bag to the grocery when I go. It seems like it's always in use doing something else. Holding swim gear, dirty clothes or books to return to the library.
I may have to pick up a few of these and just keep them in my car at all times.
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I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself...our project made NUVO in a big way this week.
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