Energy Scams: Some people are probably most surprised by this last tip. In prior years there wasn’t much need for a tip like this on an energy savings report. However, with all this talk on global warming, energy scams are great ways for some people trick the general public and cash in. In the name of energy savings, you can get ripped off in an ever growing number of ways. Be on alert when dealing with door-to-door salespeople or unsolicited letters or phone callers that promise to save energy and big bucks on your bills.
8 Holes in Your Home That Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 8 of 8)
September 3rd, 20098 Holes in Your Home That Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 7 of 8)
September 3rd, 2009Water Heaters: By insulating hot water piping and turning your water heater down 10 degrees you can save up to 5% annually on your hot water heating costs. The average life of a standard hot water heater is 10-15 years depending on many factors such as the water pressure in your house and the quality of the water.
8 Holes in Your Home That Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 6 of 8)
September 3rd, 2009Air conditioners are another energy hog during the hot summer months. An air conditioner that is over 10 years old could be costing you double the energy costs to operate than that of a new system. Air conditioning efficiency is rated by a S.E.E.R. rating (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). The new standard as of 2005 is 13 however most manufacturers make units with a S.E.E.R rating of 21 or higher in some cases. A standard air conditioner that was installed 15 years ago is probably operating at a S.E.E.R of between 6 and 8.
8 Holes in Your Home That Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 5 of 8)
September 3rd, 2009The most common way people heat their homes in Michigan is with a forced air furnace fueled by natural gas. These units typically last between 15 and 20 years and even a bit longer with regular maintenance. The most important issue is safety. With any gas burning appliance you want to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning, explosions, and fire hazards. It is important to have your furnace inspected and maintained by a licensed professional every year. Not only will you be ensuring your family’s safety but you will also restore the furnace to its peak efficiency.
8 Holes in Your Home That Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 4 of 8)
September 3rd, 2009Last week I explained the importance of sealing your home from unwanted air infiltration. I pointed out some areas of great concern such as attics, crawl spaces and attached garages. The best practice for air sealing is to first have a professional energy audit performed with a blower door test and infrared camera scan. This is the best method to not only find air leaks but inadequate insulation as well. In attics, it is sometimes necessary to remove the existing insulation and spray foam the areas that air can leak through before putting the insulation back in place or replacing it entirely.
8 Holes In Your Home That Your Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 3 of 8)
September 3rd, 2009The EPA states that the air in your home is can be 2 – 5 times more polluted than the outdoor air. When the wind blows, your house is subject to the effects of the wind. The wind creates a positive pressure on the side of your home that it’s hitting directly and at the same time, it’s literally sucking air out of the opposite side.
8 Holes In Your Home That Your Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 2 of 8)
September 3rd, 2009Fact or Fiction? “Insulate your home and you’ll cut your energy bills in half.” Fiction. Many people have seen little or no reduction in energy costs after adding insulation alone.
The newly recommended R-values for this region are; R-49 in attics and R-19 in walls. Let’s first explore the three major types of insulating products available on the market today.
8 Holes in Your Home That Energy Dollars Silently Escape Through (part 1 of 8)
September 3rd, 2009As Americans, we have all heard these terms many times over the last few years; Global Warming, Lessening Our Dependence on Foreign Oil, Going Green, Environmentally Friendly, etc. We all know by now that buying fuel efficient or hybrid vehicles can help with foreign oil dependency and that turning off lights and appliances when not in use will help the environment by lessening carbon emissions from electric power plants. What most of us may be missing though, are the benefits that we can create for ourselves just by looking under our own feet right at home.