Archive of posts filed under the Energy Efficiency category.
Is This A Good Time To Buy A Rooftop Solar PV System
If you have thought about owning a solar PV system to cut your energy bill, this may be a great time to take action. Just after the real estate bust in 2008, residential rooftop solar PV systems purchases started to lose ground to leasing arrangements. It didn’t take long for solar leasing to account for […]
Air Sealing For Healthy Living
Air sealing is often associated with improving the energy efficiency of heating and cooling system. But there are other even more important benefits. Many of the cracks and gaps that let outside air in a house are located at the joints in the ceiling to the attic or on the floor over the crawlspace. That […]
How Do You Test If Your Firewood Is Ready To Burn
To get the most heat and least amount of pollutants from firewood, it is best to use dry wood. There are four simple steps to drying firewood: split, stack, cover, store. Firewood should be seasoned for at least six months before burning – hard wood for a year. It should be split, stored outdoors off […]
Keep Your Firewood Burning Hot, But Not Smoking
Wood burning fireplaces and stoves are popular. They not only provide heating but they also create a cozy ambience that most people enjoy. However, it is important to use the right firewood and to use them right to maximize the heating benefit and minimize health hazards. When firewood burns, it generates smoke which is a […]
Save Energy While Watching Your Favorite Shows
If you plan to upgrade your entertainment system after remodeling your home, be sure to choose EPA Energy Star cable box, modem, TV monitors and routers. Each of these units saves 30 watts or more than non Energy Star models. Streaming over internet is getting more and more popular. One of the advantages of streaming […]
How Do You Know You Have Enough Insulation In Your Attic
As time goes by, insulation in the attic can settle, resulting in the degradation of insulating property (measured in R-value). To find out if you have enough insulation in your attic, use a yardstick or tape measure to record the depth of the insulation. The Department of Energy recommends insulation for Northern climates to be […]
How To Choose LED Lights
If you are trying to get a replacement light bulb, you will now find a large variety of products available. Buying a light bulb used to be simple. You choose either a 25W, 40W, 60W, 75W, 100W or occasionally 150W bulb depending how much light you want. The incandescent bulbs do not give you other […]
New Eco-Friendly Products For Green Homes
I went to several conferences and seminars in the last couple of months. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are more and more eco-friendly, health and efficiency oriented products on display for green homes. Many of the products are already available on the market, and some are still under development. I like to […]