Seeing green through new energy efficient windows

(ARA) - Now that spring is here, many homeowners are thinking about remodeling projects that will improve the home this season and year-round. Whether you're planning a few do-it-yourself improvements or a major renovation, it's important to think "green." One way to enhance the beauty and comfort of your home while saving on energy is by installing highly energy efficient windows.

Energy efficient windows with high insulating values, such as R-5, can result in significant savings on energy needed to heat and cool a home. Up until now, such windows have been cost prohibitive to most consumers. But thanks to programs like the Department of Energy (DOE)'s High Performance Windows Volume Program, homeowners can now purchase energy efficient R-5 windows at a more affordable price.

"The ultimate goal of such initiatives is to increase the awareness of R-5 windows and make purchasing more attainable for home and commercial building owners," says Terry Mapes, energy efficiency engineer and principal investigator, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). "R-5 windows are some of the most insulating available on today's market, and with so many manufacturers now producing such windows, it's getting easier to find prices that suit every need and budget."

So, what exactly does R-5 mean and why is it beneficial? An "R" value of a window means greater resistance to weather - making it ideal in winter to keep warm air in the home and cold air out and vice versa in the summer. This compares to common ENERGY STAR windows with an R-value of 3. Increasing the R-value from 3 to 5 reduces average heat loss through the windows by more than 30 percent, according to the DOE.

"We want consumers to know that although window technology has become more advanced through the years, it doesn't mean they have to sacrifice beauty with ordinary-looking windows," says Chris Pickering, vice president, marketing, Ply Gem Windows. "In combination with other energy efficiency upgrades such as insulated siding, these windows can dramatically improve curb appeal and home comfort in both the warm and cold months."

Qualifying windows within the DOE program are available in different colors and styles to match a variety of home decor. Ply Gem Windows, for example, offers R-5 windows and patio doors for both new construction and retrofit projects that come in a choice of two solid interior colors, three wood grain interior options and four exterior colors. Multiple grille, screen and frame styles can be selected for a more personalized look.

If you're looking to make a change this spring that will beautify your home while protecting the environment, consider installing energy efficient windows. For more detailed information, visit websites such as www.plygemwindows.com/R5 and www.windowsvolumepurchase.org, which are geared to help consumers better understand the benefits of R-5 windows and select styles that suit their needs.

Tips to save money and reduce your environmental footprint

(ARA) - Are you afraid to adjust the temperature in your house because you consider your electric bill - and your carbon footprint - to be big enough? Saving money and reducing your carbon and water footprints are worthy goals you can spend many years striving to achieve. But here are a few ideas to help you get started reducing your energy bill and being eco-friendly.

* In the laundry room, consider using a dryer that steam cleans your laundry, so you don't have to take it to the dry cleaners. The benefits can add up quickly each week. You can save time doing your laundry when you want, and money by not paying for dry cleaning or for the gas used for a trip to the dry cleaners. You'll also benefit the environment by using water to steam clean your clothes, and avoiding some of the chemicals dry cleaning companies often use.

* Start making your own electricity in your utility room. Replace your furnace or boiler with ECR International's freewatt heating system, which uses micro-CHP technology to generate heat and electricity for your home. This system works for natural gas fuel sources, and can generate up to half of your typical home's annual electric needs through the engine generator, according to ECR. It basically burns the same amount of fuel as your current furnace, but generates additional electricity through the process to power other areas of your home.

Power Down, Save Money and Go Green

Looking to save money and go green? Here are 10 quick and easy tips to accomplish both:

• Unplug appliances and electronics. TVs, computers and kitchen appliances, as well as cell phone and laptop chargers, all use energy when they are plugged in—even if they are turned off.
• Use power strips. “Smart” power strips automatically turn off when electronics are off or when one main unit (like your personal computer) is powered down.
• Turn off lights. When you’re not in the room or not in the house, there’s no need for all the lights to be on.
• Clean and replace furnace or air conditioner filters. Dirty filters block air flow, increase energy bills and shorten equipment life.
• In the warmer months, keep the shades and blinds down on south-, east- and west-facing windows. In the colder months, open them up and let the sun in.
• Activate “sleep” features on your computer and office equipment. When they go unused for a long period of time, they power down.
• Lower the thermostat. Wear a sweater around the house and put an extra blanket on the bed at night.
• Use fans instead of air conditioning when possible or combine their use to turn down the air temperature a bit.
• Close vents and doors to unused rooms.
• Wash your laundry with cold water. It’s just as effective.

Follow @JZGOGREEN on Twitter for more energy and money saving tips.

Tips to Save Energy Today

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Easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy.

• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Visit http://www.energysavers.gov/ for more energy-saving ideas.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Heating Tips To Save Money

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 43% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling. What's more, heating and cooling systems in the United States together emit 150 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, adding to global climate change. They also generate about 12% of the nation's sulfur dioxide and 4% of the nitrogen oxides, the chief ingredients in acid rain.

No matter what kind of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system you have in your house, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. But remember, an energy-efficient furnace alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using the whole-house approach. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can cut your energy use for heating and cooling, and reduce environmental emissions, from 20% to 50%

• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold window
  Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Save 10 % On Your Heating Bill This Winter

10%

Amount you can save on your heating bill by resetting your programmable

thermostat from 72 ºF to 65ºF for eight hours a day.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

An easy way to save 15 percent on utility bills

(ARA) - Saving money around the house continues to be a major pursuit for homeowners nationwide. And with a focus on going green, savvy homeowners are looking for ways to cut energy use to reduce utility bills and their home's carbon footprint.

There are dozens of ways to curb energy use around the home. Sealing drafts by applying caulk and weather-stripping around windows and doors, and applying foam sealer around drafty outlets and piping leading outside can save up to 5 percent on heating costs alone. Most important, installing the proper amount of attic insulation with the proper airflow is generally the best way to save on home energy use.
If you are among the millions of Americans who enjoy do-it-yourself home improvement projects, installing a radiant barrier in the attic space above your home is one of the most effective energy-saving projects to consider.

How to cut more than $1,500 from your utility bill

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(ARA) - In today's challenging economy, homeowners are looking for a few extra bucks to help pay their monthly utility bills and other household expenses, but there's no need to resort to searching for spare change in the sofa cushions. You can find plenty of extra cash throughout the house by making some simple and smart energy-efficient home improvements.

"The average household spends approximately $2,200 every year on energy bills, but there are definite ways to save," says Bill Cunningham, an energy efficiency expert with home heating and cooling equipment manufacturer Lennox Industries. "In fact, homeowners who take the proper steps may be able to cut their annual energy bills by as much as half."
Cunningham points to the following areas of the home, and estimates just how much each of these 10 simple steps can add to your bottom line:

Climate control:
* Get with the program. Install an ENERGY STAR-qualified programmable thermostat, and take the time to program it (the majority of consumers don't).  When used properly, these thermostats can cut energy costs.  Average savings:  $180 per year.

* Retire the failing furnace. Replace your furnace if it's more than 15 years old. Today's state-of-the-art furnaces, like the new Lennox SLP98V gas furnace introduced this year, can save hundreds of dollars each year in heating costs compared with older furnaces that are only 65 percent efficient.  Average savings:  $800 per year.

* Insulate the attic. Since only 20 percent of homes built before 1980 are well insulated, it's a good idea to add extra insulation to prevent the home's heating and cooling system from having to work harder. The amount you may need to add will vary with climate, but you can save up to 10 percent on your energy bill by air sealing the home and adding insulation with a higher R-value, which refers to the insulation's resistance to heat flow.  Average savings:  $220 per year.

Water heating:

* Dial it back. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater from 145 degrees to 120 degrees - the only place you'll notice the difference is on your utility bill. Average savings:  $36 to $61 per year.


* Go with the (low) flow. Replace your existing shower head with a new 2.5-gallon-per-minute (low-flow) version. The new water-efficient shower head, coupled with a shower of 10 minutes or less, will save 5 gallons of water over a typical bath as well as the electricity that's used to heat the water. Average savings: Up to $145 per year.

* Let the laundry chill. To save hot water and the fuel that it takes to heat that water each year, wash your clothes in cold water. Be sure to choose a laundry detergent that is formulated for use in cold temperatures. Average savings:  Between $24 and $40 per year.
* Discontinue the drips. To keep your hard-earned money from literally going down the drain, be sure to repair kitchen and bathroom faucet leaks. Hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water annually, as well as the electricity or natural gas that heats the water. Average savings: $35 per year.

Lighting:

* Make a light switch. Replace your five most frequently used incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use less energy and can last up to 10 times longer. Also consider motion sensors for outdoor lighting and occupancy sensors indoors to automatically shut off lights when no one is in the room. Average savings: $65 per year.

Appliances:

* Make a dent in the lint. Clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer before every load of laundry, which will help increase the drying efficiency of the machine. Average savings: $34 per year.


* Stop the standby energy use. Unplug TVs and other digital devices when not in use, as "standby" energy consumption (particularly with plasma TVs) can add up and drive your energy bill higher. Average savings: $165 per year.
Whether you choose to tackle all these energy-efficient home improvements or just a few, Cunningham says there are real benefits to be had.  "Not only can you save more than $1,500 a year with these improvements, you also will be helping protect the environment with each step because you'll be reducing your household energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions."

For more information about how to cut energy bills, visit http://www.lennox.com/ or www.itpaystolivesmart.com.

Warm your home for the holidays with energy-efficient products

(ARA) - Fall colors, cooler weather and crackling fires mean the holidays are right around the corner. As consumers prepare themselves and their homes for colder temperatures, many will seek out energy-efficient products. By making smart decisions, you can be sensible, yet stylish, when the cold weather, family and friends arrive for the holidays.

The first place to start: your windows and doors. Replacing old, drafty windows and doors with fashionable, more energy-efficient ones can help you save energy and lower your utility bills year-round. If you're an American homeowner, it could even help you save at tax time if you purchase and install before Dec. 31.

Looking to make your home more livable and still save money? Rely on natural light

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(ARA) - Wild seasonal temperature changes and the high utility bills extreme temperatures can cause - no wonder a change in season can make many Americans feel down, or even outright depressed. Maybe we all just need to lighten up - literally.

You can use natural light to enhance your home's livability, not to mention your mood, this winter. Bringing ample natural light into your house can also help trim utility bills by reducing your dependence on electricity to power artificial lighting, and gas or oil to heat your home.

Local family is living "off the grid" on Bent Mountain

Five innovations to make your home more energy-efficient this winter

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(ARA) - Old Man Winter brings a variety of gifts for us each year - cold winds, snow and, of course, higher energy bills. You can't control the cold and the snow, but you do have a little control over how much energy you will use this winter.


With today's technological advances, it has never been easier to lessen your impact on the power grid and reduce your heating bills. An energy audit is a good place to start to find out areas where heat is escaping from your home. After you've identified those areas, you may also want to think about outfitting your home with devices or systems that will make it more energy efficient.

Going Green Makes Sense

I recently got my electricity bill and was very happy to find out that all my hard work to make my condo more energy efficient paid off.  This month's electric bill was the lowest that I paid over the last three years by twenty dollars. Going green does make sense and is economical at the same time.  To be more energy efficient to get the energy savings that I got this past month I did a few simple tasks.

Over the summer I used caulk to seal around windows, door frames, and ducts.  Installed weather stripping on all of the doors and used insulating foam sealant to patch up ducts and vents.  I spent about thirty dollars to do this and the pay back is very quick. It also just took a few hours to do.  Doesn't this make sense to do? Going Green is not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet.  So go to local hardware store, Home Depot or Lowe's today to purchase the materials you will need to be more energy efficient to save money, save the environment, and save the United States from being dependent on oil.

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Smart, simple and wallet-friendly weatherization tips

(ARA) - Getting ready for the coldest months of the year means a lot of things. You need to get warm clothes out of storage, decorate for the holidays and, of course, make sure your house keeps out drafts that can make you shiver and drive up utility bills. While it might seem like a lot to take on, prepping your home for winter doesn't need to take a lot of time or cost a small fortune.

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Back-to-basics home improvements can help lower taxes

(ARA) - While small things help, it's the big steps consumers take to improve their home's energy efficiency that truly make a difference, according to researchers at Scientific American magazine.

Of the 505 Americans surveyed by the Earth Institute and Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, more than 40 percent said the most effective way to save energy was to turn off lights, drive less or adjust the thermostat. Less than 10 percent identified what researchers say are more effective measures -- improving your home's overall efficiency, like buying energy-saving appliances or replacing old windows with more energy-efficient ones.

Saving energy in your home may be easier than you think

(ARA) - It's amazing what we can do to our homes today to make them more energy efficient, from green roofs to geothermal heating. While some new homes are built with green in mind, you can also make your existing home more environmentally friendly while also saving some cash.

Whether you are looking to conserve energy or save money, reviewing the EnergyGuide label on appliances and looking for the ENERGY STAR label on appliances, electronics and other energy-using products is a great way to identify the most energy-efficient products on the market. By making a few adjustments in your home energy use, such as choosing ENERGY STAR qualified products, you can save on your utilities bills and make a positive impact on the environment as well.

Keep warm and dry by sealing your home

(ARA) - Winter may cause many homeowners to contemplate a new heating system or other major investments, but some small, smart investments can often go just as far toward protecting your home and saving you cash. Through the proper home maintenance techniques, you can keep typical damage caused by snow, ice and rain at bay and avoid major home repairs.

Green roof improvements that can save money - and the environment

(ARA) - In this economy, you may feel grateful to have a roof over your head. But how much do you really think about your roof? It's one of the most important elements of your home, one that helps protect all the other parts - not to mention the people - under it. And "greening" your roof is a great way to ensure it not only protects your family, but saves you some money and helps the environment at the same time.

Heating, cooling and electricity costs make up the largest chunk of the average household's annual utility bill. Here are some roof upgrades that can help improve a home's energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.

An Energy-Saving Home Rises in Vermont

Boosting home energy efficiency: Improvements that feel good and save money

(ARA) - When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, you may have to spend a little to save a lot. And, like most good investments, energy-efficient home improvements may require you to be in it for the long haul in order to see the maximum return on your investment.

Still, if you're planning to be in your current home for several years (and numerous studies report that more Americans are staying put), a long-term investment in improved energy efficiency can make sound dollar sense for your family. Energy-efficient improvements can help reduce energy use, lower utility bills and cut your home's environmental impact. You may also reap a tax benefit from making certain eco-friendly improvements. And some improvements, like installing skylights or solar water heating systems, can boost the healthfulness - and your enjoyment - of your home.