Savings with the use of a Programmable Thermostat

Another simple we to reduce your home operating costs is to have a programable thermostat installed in your home. If the home is left vacant during the day, the unoccupied temperature setpoint can allow the ambient home temperature to be several degrees away from the desired occupied temperature. Thermostats actualy learn through adaptive technology how long it will take to adjust the ambient temperature from the unoccupied value to the desired value when you arrive home. Programable thermostats also allow you to adjust the ambient temperature while you are sleeping.

These alterations will reduce the time your HVAC system is required to run and save you money on fuel and/or electric expenses.


http://yourhome.honeywell.com/Consumer/Cultures/en-US/Products/Thermostats/Programmable/Do-It-Yourself/Default.htm

Hot Water Heater Insulation and Maintenance

If your hot water heater is located in an area which is not heated in the winter such as basement or garage, you can easily save money by adding an insulated jacket around the tank. This installation is easy to do and will begin to save up to 10% immediately!

Also aproximately once per year, attach a hose to the bottom of your hot water heater and drain water until there is no sign of sediment or debri. This easy maintenance will help to ensure that the heating elements are clear of sediment and potentialy extended the life of the heater. At very least, you will keep the dirt out of your faucet strainers.


http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/hesguide/houseeq/gh4862.htm

Solar Powered Attic Exhaust Fans

During the summer months when attic temperatures can soar, there are several companies which offer a solar powered fan to ventilate the home and reduce the energy costs associated with cooling a home. This is a briliant way to use the sun's energy to remove heat which would inevitably place a higher BTU load on the homes cooling system. These elevated attic temperatures can certainly take years off of roof shingles as well. Take a look at the sites listed below to find out more information regarding solar powered attic fans.


http://www.atticsolarfan.com/

http://www.fan-attic.com/

A Smart Approach to Replacement Siding

One example of improving the exterior of a home while improving the insulation rating would be to use a product such as Craneboard siding. The use of this product improves the insulation value, reduces installation time while providing a n extremely durable finish to the home. There are many styles and colors available to add to the curb appeal of any home. Please check out the following site to see if this approach to improving the homes exterior will work for you.

http://www.cranesiding.com/home.asp

Putting Solar and Wind Energy to use at Home

There is a vast array of products available to reduce your energy demands if installed properly. To go one step further, there are also many products available to help you generate your own electricity by harnessing the sun and/or the wind. This is an area which I would like to learn more from those of you who have had direct experience with installing or using these systems. I ahve included a couple links below to help the blog readers find additional information and would like to know of any helpful sites they may find. All of us are smarter than one of us!





http://www.homepower.com/

http://www.windsun.com/Misc_AE/links.htm

Build an Energy Star New Home for Continued Savings

An ENERGY STAR® Qualified Home…the house that keeps on giving back for years to come.
It's beautiful. It's comfortable, and it helps pay its own mortgage. It's an ENERGY STAR Qualified home; if you're building or buying a new home, it's a dream come true.
An ENERGY STAR Qualified home can be a single-family or multi-family residential home. It achieves the greatest level of energy-efficiency through the use of reliable, advanced building techniques and high-quality materials. These include high performance windows, better insulation, energy-efficient appliances, lights or HVAC systems, and tighter overall sealing and weatherproofing.

An ENERGY STAR Qualified home is more comfortable to live in, and to live with.
Lower Maintenance Cost: Enjoy a more durable, trouble-free home that requires fewer builder callbacks.
Better Indoor Air Quality: Warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and cleaner, quieter and healthier year round.
Higher Resale Value: According to the EPA, national averages indicate resale values are higher than traditional homes.
Better for the Environment: Lowers the demand on our natural resources and produces fewer harmful emissions.

Energy saving tips are available through the Exelon Corp.

The Energy company at Peco (Exelon) offers many ideas on how to reduce our energy requirements. See the sites listed below to find additional information and also for online shopping for energy saving materials and equipment. Items such as light bulbs, air filters, and timers can easily be found at the second web address below. There are many new ideas available to reduce our energy costs. Peco has taken a very interesting approach to energy savings as you will find on the following web sites.


http://www.exeloncorp.com/ourcompanies/peco/pecores/save_energy_money/

http://www.energyfederation.org/peco/default.php/cPath/86

What exactly defines Energy Star Equipment?

What is ENERGY STAR®?
It is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Appliances and products that exceed federal energy efficiency standards are awarded the ENERGY STAR by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ENERGY STAR helps consumers quickly and easily identify those products that will save energy and save money. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, for example, often exceed the efficiency levels of other new products on the shelf by 20%, but in some cases by as much as 75%. This high level of energy efficiency reduces the cost of operating the product or appliance throughout the course of its lifetime.
Manufacturers and retailers place the ENERGY STAR on those models that meet the qualifying criteria. The ENERGY STAR can be found on the product itself, on the packaging, or in advertising. So far, I have replaced the windows at home with Energy Star rated windows and washing machine. To my knowledge, they have not yet offered an Energy Star rated dryer to date.

If you cannot find it, ask a salesperson, check at http://www.energystar.gov/ or call the toll-free ENERGY STAR hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). I have found the salestaff at Lowes to be very helpful when discussing Energy Star equipment and materials.

Also look for the EnergyGuide Major appliances have a big yellow tag called the EnergyGuide. It is provided to help consumers compare the operating cost of similar models when shopping for new appliances. All new refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, dishwashers, clothes washers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and boilers have an EnergyGuide label.
While the EnergyGuide is helpful since it indicates the operating cost and energy consumption of a product, only the ENERGY STAR® tells you which ones are energy efficient.

Good luck shopping for energy saving equipment.

Periodic HVAC Maintenance

It is imortant to have the heating and cooling system serviced prior to the winter and summer seasons. Keeping this equipment in good condition will increase it's reliability to maintain a comfortable living space. Plan to have the cooling system inspected in the spring before the heat waves begin and the heating system inspected in the fall prior to the first cold snap. It is less expensive to schedule planned maintenance than to scheduling a last minute service call when the technicians are scrambling between service calls. HVAC systems will run more efficiently when the filters are clean and the burner assemblies (where applicable) are propoerly adjusted.
As always an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

Attic Insulation

If you can access the attic above your living space, inspect the insulation coverage currently installed. Additional insulation rolled or spred above the existing insulation can dramaticaly increase the R value and the ability to insulate your home to reduce energy costs. Please view the link below to find additional information on insulating your home.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11530

Replacement Windows for Energy Costs

http://www.pella.com/images/Banners/DsnSeries_videobnr.gif

If your home is drafty around the windows in the winter or the windows are built with a single pane glass, it may be time to replace those windows! Replacement windows and window molding is also a tremendous way to beautify your home while elevating your home value.

Sealing potential air leaks

One way to identify common air leaks you may have in your home is to inspect the condition of the seal around each window and door frame. If you have older windows, it would be beneficial to consider replacing with multi pane, insulated windows. There are many products available to seal these potential air leaks off to reduce the exchange of air you have heated or cooled from the uncontrolled outside temperatures and humidity.

Inspect areas such as seems around utilities such as electrical, phone, cable etc. to ensure you have a good seal intact.