As you and your family snooze soundly at night, your appliances, electronics and home systems still silently draw energy. This idle load can be responsible for as much as a third of your electric bill. Read on for steps you can take to reduce idle load and save money. What is idle load and what… Read more »
Energy efficient landscaping can play a vital role in both saving energy and slashing the price you pay for it. Planting the right plants in the right places can save up to 25 percent of the energy a home would typically use. Read on to learn how to save big. Know your zone The climate… Read more »
Nothing beats a warm evening at home when the winter wind is howling. You might not give your heater a second thought…until it stops working. Here’s a quick tutorial on how they operate so you can stay warm this winter. Types of heaters. The main difference among most heaters is the fuel source. Oil, gas,… Read more »
In today’s world, we take air conditioning for granted. We’ve come to expect cool indoor temperatures regardless of how high the outdoor temperature soars. Let’s take a look under the hood, so to speak, at the equipment that keeps us all comfortable. How it works. Air conditioning units are comprised of three parts: a compressor… Read more »
It seems like it always happens at the worst possible time. For example, the air conditioner breaks in the middle of July, or the furnace quits as a major snowstorm blows in. So what can you do to ensure your systems will be there when you need them most? Here are a few tried-and-true tips… Read more »
Keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer depends on a whole system of comfort engineering. Chief among the components is insulation, the blanket of material in the walls and attic that resists the flow of heat transference from outside to inside and vice versa. Technology and the move toward greater environmental awareness… Read more »
Homeowners in tune with today’s demands to save energy and water will be rewarded for their conservation efforts with cold hard cash in the form of lower utility bills. Take a look what you can do to green up your home and fatten up your wallet. Energy Star. The U. S. Department of Energy has… Read more »
If you’re talking about a potential home renovation project, it’s important to know if the money you put into the project will translate into more money down the road when, or if, you sell your house. Some projects will pay off handsomely while others will not. And, sometimes, it’s how you do the project that… Read more »
There’s little doubt why fireplaces are such a popular feature in homes. They conjure up thoughts of a warm and cozy home on a chilly night. But what is the best choice of a fireplace? Should you go with a classic wood-burning hearth? Or do you prefer the cleaner, more modern gas logs? What about… Read more »
As a homeowner, you may be interested in learning more about solar power — the pros and cons. It could save you money and help conserve precious resources at the same time, but what about those up-front costs? Here’s a basic tutorial. A short solar power primer. While there are two primary types of solar… Read more »
