New Year’s Net 50 Energy Challenge Update
Our latest investments were:
ï‚·Â Shop light conversion: $36
This results in a grand total investment of $1,262.Â
Our utility bills have been paid through the end of 2009 and our total annual savings has climbed to $912.18
Progress: as of end of 2009 vs 2007
Electricity – 67.7%
Natural Gas – 80.5%
Water – 83.0%
Utility Costs – 75.3%
Savings 2008 – $ 200.15
Savings [...]
January 19, 2010
Tags: Energy Conservation, Insulation, Net 50 Energy Challenge, Rain Barrels, Water Conservation, Weatherize Posted in: Energy Conservation, Net 50 Energy Challenge, Water Conservation, Weatherize 
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How to Save Energy – 101 Ways from the Evident to the Extreme
Here’s a challenge: implement 12 (more) of these energy conservation products and strategies over the next year. Take another step toward energy independence.
1.     Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
2.     Install a motion / occupancy sensor in a room that you go in and out of frequently at night.
3.     [...]
January 10, 2010
Tags: Alternative Energy, CFL's, Energy Conservation, LED's, Weatherize Posted in: Alternative Energy, Energy Conservation, Lighting, Weatherize 2 Comments
December Update – Our Net 50 Energy Challenge
Our latest investments were:
Weatherize windows – clear plastic window insulating film: $22
Weatherize windows – glazing putty: $15
Installed a clothes dryer heat saver: $11
Outlet and switch seals: $2
Weatherize windows – v shape weatherstripping: $24
Weatherize windows – removable sealant for some storm windows: $5
Use LED night lights: $17
Built a solar air heater for the kitchen: $70
This results in a [...]
December 2, 2009
Tags: Weatherize, Weatherstripping Posted in: Alternative Energy, Energy Conservation, Net 50 Energy Challenge, Water Conservation, Weatherize 2 Comments
Help Heat and Humidify Your House for Free with a Clothes Dryer Heat Saver
Today I installed a Clothes Dryer Heat Saver in our dryer vent. This little gadget will divert the moist hot air from your clothes dryer back into your house during the heating season. The air in your house is dryer in the winter and this added humidity will be very beneficial. In the spring time, [...]
November 8, 2009
Tags: Energy Conservation, Weatherize Posted in: Energy Conservation, Indoor Air Quality, Product Review 2 Comments
Window Insulating Film – Kill the Drafts and Save Big.
Unless you have a large hole in one of the walls of your house, your windows are the place where most of the infiltration takes place. Leaky windows can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs, and even the most efficient windows provide only about a third of the insulating value [...]
November 4, 2009
Tags: Insulation, Weatherize, Weatherstripping, Windows Posted in: Energy Conservation, Weatherize No Comments
Our Net 50 Energy Challenge – Part 4 – We Used Our Head
The next step in our Home Energy Audit was to investigate where air could be leaking into/out of our house. On this little adventure we discovered something: let’s just say that if our house was a kitchen gadget it would be a sieve.
Windows: We have several types of windows in our house. The original [...]
November 3, 2009
Tags: Energy Audit, Insulation, Weatherize, Weatherstripping, Windows Posted in: Energy Conservation, Home Energy Audit, Net 50 Energy Challenge, Weatherize No Comments
Weatherize My Storm Windows?! What Are You Talking About?
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The other day, when I was reinstalling the sashes in a couple of my storm windows after repairing the glazing putty, I made an interesting discovery. I just happened to lean up against the middle of one of the sashes that was back in place and a little gap appeared between the frame [...]
October 14, 2009
Tags: Weatherize Posted in: Energy Conservation, Weatherize No Comments
How to Weatherize Your Old Double Hung Windows
If you have leaky old double hung windows in your house like millions of people do and you want to do something about it. Please, do yourself a favor and weatherize them instead of replacing them. New windows are definitely more energy efficient than those in most houses, but replacement windows will take fifteen to [...]
October 6, 2009
Tags: Weatherize, Weatherstripping Posted in: Indoor Air Quality, Weatherize 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: Energy Conservation, Weatherize, Windows Posted in: Energy Conservation, Weatherize One Comment
How to Use Your Head and Examine the Holes in Your House for Your Home Energy Audit
Personal Goals:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Check.
Site Plan & Photos:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Check.
Building Envelope:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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: Energy Audit, Weatherize Posted in: Energy Conservation, Home Energy Audit, Weatherize No Comments
