Recessed can lights are a popular item in newer houses. They offer good light with a sleak look to any decor. The problem with these fixtures is that since they are recessed, a hole has been cut into the ceiling for each fixture. This creates a pathway for air to infiltrate the hole. Even after [...]
Clothes drying is one of the most energy intensive tasks we undertake on a daily basis. Dryers use a tremendous amount of energy, heating not only our clothes but our houses, often during the hottest months of the year.
As a family with two small daughters who love to change clothes numerous times per day, the [...]
Mother Earth News has a great article on 8 Easy Projects for Instant Energy Savings. The author lists 8 projects that cost $400 to implement that generate an estimated annual savings of over $900.
Many of these projects I have already talked about or will in more detail in the future. The article is proof that [...]
Here’s a great spring time project that we should all do once a year - check your windows for gaps in caulking/sealant. Seemingly little gaps, when multiplied across numerous windows can add up to big energy losses. This is a very simple project that can be completed in just an hour or two.
Caulking around [...]
Ok, this is one I had to be talked into. It’s a great tip for springtime because there are days when you don’t need your A/C unit on, but some air movement would help keep the air from getting stagnant and circulating the air will help cool your home.
After implementing it, I can tell you [...]
One area many of us miss in our attack on energy usage are the phantom loads created by electrical devices when they are turned off. It can be an annoyance, however, to unplug everything in our homes. I’ve attacked this problem by determining which appliances are causing the largest power drains and only elminating the [...]
I read an article the other day that said the average home has enough small gaps and cracks leaking air in/out of your house to add up to a 6-10 square foot hole in the side of your home!
Imagine that, a hole big enough to walk through! If that were the case, you would [...]
By properly using ceiling fans, you can boost the efficiency of your HVAC system. The simple tips that follow will not only improve the comfort of your home, but put money back in your pocket.
In winter, set the fan to force air toward the ceiling. This forces warm air from the ceiling to circulate down [...]
This is tip took a while for my wife and I to embrace. With two young children who get into messes on an hourly basis, we struggled with the thought that washing our clothes in cold water would actaully get our clothes as clean as washing in warm or hot water. However, after trying out [...]
Many of you have extra freezers or refrigerators in a utility room or the garage. We used ours to hold bulk purchased food from the warehouse store or food we find on sale at the supermarket. A great way to save money, right? Not so fast! My wife and I had inherited an old chest-type [...]