Infographic by Sarah Gerrity, Energy Department.
Source: http://energy.gov/articles/energy-saver-101-infographic-home-heating
Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing Blog: Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
Everything You Need To Know About Home Heating
Tuesday, February 25th, 2014Making the Invisible Visible
Friday, February 21st, 2014Melissa Ulbricht Aug 19, 2013
Often, when homeowners make improvements to an existing house, the most important aspects of home performance – including safety, comfort, energy efficiency, durability, and environmental impact – are literally invisible during key steps of any home sale or refinance transaction.
One result is that energy efficiency investments are overlooked or inaccurately valued at the time of a home sale. The key to making these investments visible to everyone involved in a home sale – including appraisers, Realtors®, buyers, and sellers – is standardized documentation and consistent communication across the energy efficiency and real estate industries.
A new paper from CNT Energy and National Home Performance Council shows how proper documentation, verification, and standardization of energy efficiency improvements can add value to a home that owners can recoup at sale.
The paper provides a blueprint and outlines seven steps the energy efficiency industry must take to unlock the value of efficiency in the real estate market:
Unlocking the Value of an Energy Efficient Home
- Consistently document energy efficiency improvements
- Ensure data is incorporated into the appraisal process
- Work with the real estate community to reflect these improvements in local for-sale listings
- Capitalize on existing education and training opportunities
- Report on the growing inventories of energy efficient homes
- Develop standardized IT solutions
- Work with partner financial institutions
The outcome is that energy efficient features become visible and can be accurately valued when a home is sold. This lays the groundwork for a virtuous cycle in which homeowners are eager to invest in energy efficiency improvements because they know that they can recover some or all of their investments at the time of the home sale.
The full paper is available online at www.cntenergy.org/media/Unlocking_Value_2013.pdf
Top New Years Resolutions
Tuesday, December 31st, 2013Thomas Swan December 10, 2013
In 2014 we will once again pledge our unwavering commitment to acts of personal and mutual endeavor. New Years resolutions are an annual opportunity to reflect on the past and dedicate oneself to a brighter future. In this article, we present some of the most common New Years resolutions made each year.
Perhaps the most important New Years resolution is to not make promises you can’t keep. Without such a promise, the task really would be a futile one! Broken resolutions are taken far too lightly, and it can be detrimental to habitually break our promises to ourselves. With that in mind, lets take a look at the most popular New Years resolutions for 2014!
- Live within your means
The most important New Years resolution for 2014 is to live within your means. The current economic conditions are a woeful reminder that the recession is still going strong. However, there are many things one can do to save money and avoid debt.Look for bargain brands when it comes to buying food, bathroom, and cleaning products. One of the biggest rip offs is the toothbrush and toothpaste business. Buy the cheapest of both and you won’t notice the difference. Next look at your utilities bill. Are you paying the cheapest rates for gas, electric, water, phone and internet? Switching companies, or combining two utilities with the same company can save money. To save even more, turn off the heating and wear an extra layer of clothing. Look at your travel costs; would catching a bus or train be cheaper than using the car? Research railcards and bus passes to find the best bargains.
Most important of all is to look at what you need and what is merely a luxury. Do you really need cable or satellite television? Do you need a monthly phone contract when a prepaid phone might be cheaper? Do you need the latest gadgets and accessories? Do you need to go abroad to have a holiday? Add up how much you’d save in the course of a year, and start saving!
- Smile more and be kinder to people
The benefits of smiling are drastically understated. When I forget to smile, I get an equally stony response from others. When people smile at me, I find myself smiling back. We are reciprocal creatures; we pick up on signals from other people and respond in kind. The benefits of smiling are scientifically proven and include reduced stress levels and increased feelings of well-being. Smiling also demonstrates a basic level of kindness and respect for others because it helps to establish trust and friendship. To go beyond a mere smile, one can try volunteering for a charity, or counselling a friend or colleague through hard times. - Do more exercise
The benefits of exercise cannot be stressed enough. Regular exercise can help you look younger, sleep better, and feel happier. It can also help you avoid a plethora of illnesses and disabilities. The human race evolved to run away from predators and run after prey; it is our natural state to be active. Go for a run in the morning or evening, or sign up with your local gym. For something less strenuous, try yoga or Pilate’s. - Spend more time with family and friends
The Christmas period can make one yearn to escape the family environment, but this can be a poignant reminder that the atmosphere would be far more hospitable if we kept in touch a little more. Many people have lost their family, so we should be grateful for the company of our own relatives. Time with family can cause us to miss our friends, which helps us to appreciate the amity they bring. - Eat healthier food
We are bombarded with advice about healthy eating, but too often we are told what we can’t eat, not what we can! It’s difficult to reduce the pleasure we get from food when it isn’t replaced with anything. However, there are plenty of tasty, low-fat alternatives. If you want something sweet, avoid chocolate and have some strawberries or blueberries instead. One way to get started is to look at the fat content of everything you eat, and avoid anything with more than 5g of fat per 100g of food
Find #6 – #10 here
Source: http://thomasswan.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-New-Years-Resolutions-2013
Don’t Be So Negative?
Friday, October 11th, 2013Negative air pressure is formed when more air is exhausted from your home than is brought in to it. Typically, this is due to a home’s envelope being too airtight….it’s like the house is “gasping” for air. It seems somewhat ironic that a house that has been made airtight to save energy should now be loosened up to become healthy, but that is, in fact, what is needed.
Houses Need to Breathe!
There are appliances such as bathroom fans, range hoods and clothes dryers pushing air out of your house. The result of this creates negative air pressure in the house which means the house becomes more interested in trying to suck air in than pushing air out. Your house will try to draw air in from the easiest place which will be the existing flues of the furnace, wood stove, fireplace and gas water heater. When this happens, carbon monoxide is being forced in to your home and indoor air quality is compromised.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that is toxic. It is a by-product of the incomplete combustion of fuels such as propane, wood, oil, gasoline and natural gas. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms (headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, disorientation) and even death. Every home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector as well. If you don’t have one, make the small investment.
Signs Your Home May Have Negative Air Pressure
- A rush of air or draft when opening an exterior door
- A lack of fresh air, a musty smell or lingering odors around the house
- Mold, mildew, moisture or condensation around windows or on walls
- Back drafting of combustion appliances such as the fireplace, wood stove, gas water heater or furnace
Eliminating Negative Air Pressure
Removing negative air pressure requires that you bring in “make-up” air from the outside in a controlled manner. A licensed HVAC contractor can help you determine if you need additional make-up air and how to best introduce it into your home. One method is through the use of mechanical ventilation. With this method, ducts and fans are used to bring new air into the home. Mechanical ventilation systems also allow for a constant flow of outside air into the house which is preferable to relying on outside air entering the house through foundation cracks, doors, windows, the garage, etc.
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Sunday, July 14th, 2013Home improvements don’t have to be expensive and drastic to make a difference in your home. Make a happier home with small changes that make a big impact.
Adding in new pieces of furniture, tweaking the lighting and tossing a blanket on the couch are all simple ideas that can make your home a more comfortable place to be. These changes create an opportunity to bring more beauty into your home.
To make the change most relevant to you, decide which room or area of your house is your favorite place to be. Is it your bed? Your kitchen? Patio?
If its your bed, pick out pillows and blankets that have it feeling like heaven. Home Beautiful offers 5 Tips for Choosing Bed Linens . Even if you make these changes one-by-one you will notice the difference, whether it be through comfort or aesthetics.
If you’re a wiz in the kitchen, put up your favorite art or bring in comfy furniture. In another Home Beautiful article you will find 10 Interior Designers Share Their Kitchen Style. Each designer’s advice is to accommodate your personal style and needs depending on the function of the space.
It doesn’t stop with the inside of your house; Add a fire pit and twinkling lights to your backyard, take the time to do some landscaping, put up colorful shades in the guest bedroom. Whatever your project may be remember the home is where the heart is, so bring the things you love the most into your home.