Archive for September, 2009

Our Net 50 Energy Challenge – Part 3

In step 1 we set our goals: reduce our energy usage by 50% and invest up to $8,200 to accomplish this .  In step 2 we investigated the exterior of our house and property.
Now in step 3 we collected information on the Building Envelope and filled in this chart: 

Building Element

Cavity Insulation 1

Thickness (inches)

Continuous Insulation 1

Thickness [...]

September 29, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Energy Conservation, Home Energy Audit  One Comment

Corn, Pellet & Multi Fuel Stoves

   
     
   
     
   

US Stove Freestanding Multifuel Heater, Model# 6041
Drolet High-Efficiency Pellet Stove, Model# DP00045 
Pelpro Multifuel Stove — 50,000 BTU Output, Model# HCPP2BD
FREE SHIPPING — Exclusive NorthStar Corn-Burning Stove

Pelpro Bay Window Insert for Fireplace, Model# IPPBW2GD

A great way to lower your heating bills is to install a Corn, Pellet [...]

September 28, 2009  Tags:   Posted in: Alternative Energy, Strategy/Product of the Week  No Comments

How to Assess Mechanical Systems for Your Home Energy Audit

This step in developing your own Home Energy Audit will help you examine the major working parts or the mechanical systems of your home.  This may sound complicated, but below is a worksheet that will make it easy as 1, 2, 3 (repeat.)  1: Take a look at a system, 2: take a photo, and [...]

September 23, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Energy Conservation, Home Energy Audit, Water Conservation  One Comment

Our Net 50 Energy Challenge – Part 2

In step 1 we set our goals: reduce our energy usage by 50% and invest up to $8,200 to accomplish this.
Here in step 2 we will investigate the exterior of our house and property.
We don’t have a survey of our property, so we have developed one ourselves.  We went to our county auditor’s website [...]

September 22, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Energy Conservation, Home Energy Audit  No Comments

Greenhouses:

Whether you want to extend your growing season, or grow more exotic plants a greenhouse will fit the bill.  However, a greenhouse that is added to the south side of a house will double as a solar air heater and help to lower your heating bills.

September 20, 2009  Tags:   Posted in: Alternative Energy, Lawn and Garden, Strategy/Product of the Week  No Comments

How to Weatherize Your Home – Window Glazing

If the glass in your windows rattle when you open and close them, it is a sure sign that your windows are leaking.  Take a close look at the outside of your windows, you shouldn’t be surprised to see cracked and even missing glazing putty.  If you have single pane windows this means that it [...]

September 17, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Energy Conservation, Weatherize  One Comment

Electric Lawn Mowers:

   
Electric Lawn Mowers are quite, don’t require tune-ups, oil or gas and the robitic kind can even mow your lawn for you.

September 14, 2009  Tags:   Posted in: Lawn and Garden, Strategy/Product of the Week  2 Comments

How to Use Your Head and Examine the Holes in Your House for Your Home Energy Audit

Personal Goals:                  Check.
Site Plan & Photos:             Check.
Building Envelope:              Check.
Where to Weatherize:         Let’s find out.
If you could move all of the little gaps, cracks and holes in the exterior walls and attic of your house all together you might end up with a hole that you could poke your head thru.  Putting your head there [...]

September 13, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Energy Conservation, Home Energy Audit, Weatherize  No Comments

Building Envelope:

This is the barrier between the inside and the outside of your house. It consists of generic elements such as exterior walls, windows, doors, roofs, ceilings and floors, and specific elements such as vapor barrier, weather stripping, insulation, glazing, and exterior finish materials. It’s purpose is to limit fire, heat and water vapor [...]

September 12, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Eco-Glossary, Energy Conservation, Indoor Air Quality, Weatherize  No Comments

Take Five Minutes and Save Some Electricity

 The biggest electricity user in your house is your heating and cooling system.  The next biggest single energy user is you refrigerator.  However, it may not be performing up to its potential.  It’s now time to fix that.
Pull out your vacuum cleaner, remove the grille at the bottom of the front of your refrigerator.  Plug [...]

September 8, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Energy Conservation  2 Comments


Easy AdSense by Unreal

Installed by SimpleScripts