Window are so much more than just the eyes of your home, they also play a major role in your home’s energy savings. Read on to learn how the type of windows you choose can save you money and energy season after season.
Ready to start saving money and help the environment? Contact us today to have your old windows replaced!
By Ron Marr for The Workbench Life
Mother Nature specializes in home invasions — in the form of cold winter air disrupting your cozy abode. Since climbing up a ladder in the freezing cold air is uncomfortable, use these tips to stop drafts from the inside (and lower your heating bills while you’re at it!) until the weather permits a full inspection.
Become Incensed
Before stopping the nor’easter in your living room, you must first find its point of entry. Identify these spots by turning on all household exhaust fans and lighting an incense stick. Hold the smoldering stick in front of door and window frames located on exterior walls, dryer and air conditioning vents, electric sockets and cable TV outlets. Check the pipe entries under the bathroom and kitchen sink, phone jacks and mail flaps. You’ve found a leak when the smoke is sucked outside or blows into the room.
Almost Free Warmth
A long-term and low-cost solution for drafts is to place peel-off, foam weather stripping (1/8 inch or smaller) around door and window frames. Also attach it under the door and where the window meets the sill. Weather stripping makes an excellent, draft-stopping gasket around the edges of electrical covers.
No-cost fixes are almost as effective. Stuff cracks around pipes with sheets of newspaper. Additionally, placing layers of plastic bags under the leading edge of a window and shutting the window tight stops a persistent breeze.
The Cover-up
Tape sheets of clear, heavy-duty plastic over windows or apply shrink-film to create a nearly impenetrable barrier. Shrink film kits are available in the $10 price range (a set usually covers one to three windows) and are easily removed when winter ends.
A similar cold-stopping effect can be produced via garbage bags and painter’s tape, so long as you don’t mind a dark room.
Ron Marr is a long-time woodworker and luthier whose work can be seen at marrsguitars.com. He is also a frequent contributor to The Workbench Life.
In the coming cooler months, keeping your house warm can be an issue. Some houses are very expensive to heat because they may have flaws in the insulation, windows, or doors. By 
making a few small improvements you can keep your home several degrees warmer. As an added benefit, many of the tips below will also increase your energy efficiency and keep your energy bills low.
Insulate
Insulation is fairly cheap and easy to install. There are many areas in your home that could benefit from proper or added insulation. Some areas that often lack efficient insulation and allow heat to escape are:
Basement and Attics—By adding a layer of insulation to your basement and attic you will help the primary living areas of your home stay warm. Even if don’t you use your attic or basement on a daily basis, adding insulation will help keep heat from escaping the house. This will keep each room warmer longer, preventing you from having to keep the heat on constantly.
Pipes—The more your hot water heater has to work to keep your water warm the more energy you waste in escaped heat. To keep heat where it is needed most, and keep your water hotter for longer periods of time, insulate the pipes in your basement and underneath your home. This will also prevent outdoor pipes from freezing in the winter.
Fill the Gaps
Before winter begins, walk through your home both inside and outside to look for any cracks or gaps that may need to be filled. These areas could be allowing cold air in or letting the heat in your home escape. The location and size of the crack or gap is will determine the type of filler you will need to use to close it. Also take a look at your heating ducts to see if there are any cracks that can be covered with heavy-duty electrical tape.
Seal Drafty Windows and Doors
If you have drafty windows and doors, we recommend replacing them with new energy efficient ones. If you are not able to replace any windows or doors, you can seal them with weather stripping. If you have sealed your windows but your windowpanes are still allowing cold air in, purchase indoor window insulation. These kits allow you to apply a plastic coating to the interior of your windows that will help to keep warm air in and cold air out. All you will need is a kit, a step stool or ladder, scissors, and a hairdryer.
Service Your Heating Units
Another good thing to do before the winter season kicks off is have your heating units inspected and have any annual maintenance completed. This could be a water heater tune-up to make sure it is working at its full capacity. And you may need to change or clean your air filters to ensure that you don’t overwork your furnace and waste energy. If you are not able to service your units yourself you can hire an outside contractor for general maintenance and tune-ups.
Each of these heat saving ideas will help keep your home toasty and warm in the fall and winter months.
This article was written by Brandon Irving, a home contractor and freelance blogger with years of experience in the industry. He suggests contacting a professional, like the AC Man of Houston, for more project needs and questions.
We recommend replacing old drafty windows with new energy efficient windows. Give us a call for a free in home estimate to see how we can help you save money this winter and make your home more energy efficient! – Gary B.
Heating systems come with an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating, which is the ratio of a furnace’s heat output versus the total annual fossil fuel energy that the system consumes. For example, if you see that a furnace has an AFUE of 90 percent, this means that 90 percent of the fuel that the furnace uses becomes heat and 10 percent of the energy is lost.
At the time of publication, the minimum AFUE rating that a residential fossil-fueled furnace can have is 78 percent. High-efficiency home heating systems tend to have AFUE values that range between 90 and 98 percent. It’s important to remember that an AFUE rating takes into consideration heat losses that come from components within a home, like piping or duct systems.
Look for the following when you are in the market for efficient heating equipment:
You can further increase the efficiency of a heating system by using a programmable thermostat, sealing the duct work in your home and maintaining the equipment regularly. To learn more about the type of energy-efficient heating equipment that is best for your home, talk to a local heating and cooling contractor.
Guest post by:
Tony Spezza is the President of AAA Heating and Cooling, Inc. located in Portland, Oregon. Since 1961, they have provided home heating and cooling systems as well as services to ensure the highest degree of indoor air quality. You can follow AAA Heating and Cooling on Facebook and Google+.
Remember when your parents jumped down your throat for leaving the lights on? As a kid, it is hard to understand why adults insist on turning unused electronics off. Now that you are older and pay your own utility bills, it is much easier to appreciate their perspective. Fortunately for you, there are other ways to save money on energy too. The following are five simple ways to save on energy costs:
Unplug devices not in use
If you have power tool equipment or electric devices that you only use on occasion, unplug them while not in use. Another option is to plug all pieces of equipment you seldom use into a single power strip and keep the port powered off until you need one of those appliances. Even smaller devices such as hair dryers, hand vacuums, toasters, blenders, etc. can be unplugged until you want to use them.
Replace inefficient appliances
Two of the most popular green and efficient labels include “Design for the Environment” (DofE) and “ENERGY STAR” appliances. Both are recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and help individuals save money while using energy efficiently. The EPA states that Americans using products with the DofE label on them reduced the amount of harmful chemicals they emitted by 756 million pounds in 2011. ENERGY STAR appliances prevented 1.8 billion tons of GHG emissions in 2012. Not only can you save money in the long run, but using energy efficient appliances may qualify you for certain tax credits.
Turn thermostats down in the winter
Try maintaining a temperature near 70 degrees instead of something near 76 or 77 degrees. You might also consider layering comfortable clothing while inside the house. Limit water consumption from long, hot showers, as these require more energy to keep water warm. When you are gone, turn the thermostat off or install an automatic setback thermostat in your home so the temperature can adjust accordingly while you are away.
Limit air conditioner use
During the hot weather months, avoid using the air conditioner whenever possible. Try keeping your windows and blinds closed during the hottest part of the day to keep the heat out, opening them at night when it’s cooler. On days you must use the AC, keep it at a higher setting such as 71 degrees instead of 67 degrees. An air conditioner devours electricity, so keep it on a higher temperature or turn it off completely.
Maintenance
General home maintenance is crucial to keeping energy costs down all year long. A significant portion of electricity is used to heat and cool a home, so ensuring that your residence is properly insulated can save energy and lower your utility bills. If you have old windows drafty windows, repair or replace them. Lastly, replace incandescent lights with fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs can last up to ten times longer than incandescent, and use 70% less energy.
This article is written by Jared Miret, a father and home handyman. He is excited to share these tips with you, to help save you money and keep your house running smoothly. He writes this article on behalf of electric providers in Houston.
Properties lose a considerable amount of heat through their windows. But energy-efficient glazing will help to keep your home warm, quiet, and reduce your monthly energy bills. This 
could mean installing double glazing, secondary glazing, or just buying heavier curtains. Installing energy efficient windows will provide you with many benefits. The savings that you make will depend on the size, material and the installer you use. You can expect double glazing windows to last for 20 years or more.
Windows and doors have a considerable impact on heat loss, so any measures that you can take to prevent heat loss are worthwhile and will lower your energy bills significantly.
The advantages of energy-efficient windows
How do energy efficient windows work?
Double glazing windows have two sheets of glass and a slam gap between them, usually around 16mm in size; this is needed to form an insulating barrier that stops heat from getting out. This is often filled with gas. Triple glazing windows have three sheets of glass, but they aren’t always a better option than double glazing windows. When looking for the most energy efficient window, look for the EPA logo and the HERS index.
Energy efficient windows are available in a variety of styles, frames and materials. They can vary depending on:
What to keep an eye out for
In between the window: The more efficient windows will use gases such as xenon, krypton and argon in the gap between the glass sheets.
Pane spacers: These are normally used around the inside edges to separate the two panes of glass. For the highest levels of efficiency, look for pane spacers that contain little or no metal, these are often referred to as ‘warm edge’ spacers.
Frame materials
All of the following frame materials have windows available in all energy ratings.
This is a guest post by David at Leekes, an award winning family owned retailer of Conservatories, Windows and Doors
The environment of your office can considerably influence your business’s overall productivity and ultimately its long term success. This will include the competency of your office equipment, which affects overheads and your company’s carbon emissions.
If you wish to improve the efficiency of your office space and streamline business critical workflows then here are some useful tips to get you started.
Strategic office lighting
It is said that lighting accounts for almost 50 per cent of the total electricity used in offices. However, recent developments in lighting technology, combined with a stringent in-house lighting control policy can result in greatly reduced overheads. It may be an idea to install a lighting system that switches off the majority of lights when spaces are likely to be empty i.e. before and after office hours and during lunchtime and break periods.
The provision of energy saving with office lighting should actively involve staff members. Without their co-operation, any new control strategy implemented would be unsuccessful.
A paperless office
Admittedly an ambitious task for most small businesses, but reducing the amount of paper within the workplace is a sure-fire way of reducing a firm’s impact on the wider environment. By implementing an electronic document management solution, it is possible to scan and store files digitally on a server that is regularly backed up – eliminating the need to pay for file storage space and reducing the need for hefty archives and filing cabinets within the office.
Employees will also be encouraged to print less and save files to the server instead of printing them. The production and management of documentation is critical. Procuring equipment and consumables into an all-inclusive offering makes perfect sense. Comprehensive managed print services can provide optimal technology with unrivaled support and service from end-to-end.
Turning to the cloud
Even the biggest corporations and businesses are increasingly turning to cloud-based systems to enhance everyday processes. Working ‘in the cloud’ means that businesses do not have to house servers with dozens of software programmes and sensitive documentation on-site. Off-site technology solutions are available to help small businesses and start-ups to operate more efficiently without hiring additional staff or buying expensive equipment.
Video conferencing
Meetings with existing and potential clients in other parts of the country – and sometimes the world – can take up a considerable amount of time and money. When you consider the expenses in traveling to and from meetings, possible food and drink – not to mention time lost in productivity – it all adds up at the end of the month. That’s why many firms are fast switching over to video conferencing to reduce overheads. All you need is a quiet meeting space, a reliable internet connection and software and you can carry out a round-table meeting using VoIP (Voice over IP) that saves money and is a lot easier to schedule.
Employee awareness
Engaging your employees in energy efficiency and carbon reduction is the only way to evolve attitudes and behavior in the workplace. In order to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and to reduce overall carbon emissions why not create an internal campaign to raise awareness and help your staff play a part in achieving your low-carbon ambitions that will have a positive impact on the bottom line.
Even if you feel your business is already running with good efficiency, there is always room for improvement, take balreed.com for example, they offer fantastic print solutions that will help your business going forward. Never stand still; always be prepared to make tweaks and adjustments to the existing system you already have in place.
Who couldn’t use some help lowering their utility bills? The average household pays $110.14 a month for electricity alone, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That works out to more than $1,321 a year, and when you add in water and trash service, that’s a pretty penny going out of your bank account. Here are six home improvements that are fairly simple to make and will save you big bucks in the long run:
The top energy-sucking appliances in your home are the air conditioner, fans, water heater, dishwasher, furnace and the washer/dryer. You probably use at least three of these appliances every day. It’s true that your outdated appliances may work just fine, but you pay higher energy bills to operate inefficient appliances. Save money when you replace worn out models with Energy Star-rated ones.
Change small accessories around your house to make a big impact. High-efficiency toilets cost the same as traditional toilets, but they save a family of four 8,760 gallons of water every year, according to toolbase.com. Likewise, install a low-flow shower head, and use 15,000 gallons less water per person, advises houselogic.com. Find more savings in the kitchen when you install an efficient faucet aerator. Like the toilet and shower head, it reduces drips and includes a concentrated spray. All three of these home accessories are easy and affordable to replace and provide big savings.
Install programmable thermostats that adjust the temperature for you. Regular models cost from $60 to $120, or buy smart thermostats you can adjust via the Internet for $275 to $400. Energy Star estimates this switch could save you $180 a year.
Light a candle—not to be romantic, but to check for drafts. If the flame flickers when you hold it near baseboards, window frames, electrical outlets, vents or doors, you have drafts. Seal them shut with caulk and weatherstripping. Energy.gov reports that reducing drafts can cut your energy bills by 30 percent.
Your coffeemaker, alarm clocks, cellphone chargers and TV pull electricity even when they’re turned off. Unplug as many appliances and electronics as possible to save money. Huffington Post reports that you could save up to 10 percent in energy costs just by unplugging everything on standby.
Water from rain or snow storms typically flows through the gutters and downspouting and away from your home’s foundation. But if your gutters are clogged, the water could potentially flood the basement or crack your home’s foundation. Pay $180, Home Advisor’s national average for a professional gutter cleaner, and install gutter guards. The alternative is a $4,337 foundation repair, which makes fixing gutters highly economical by comparison.
These six simple home improvements should put big savings in your pocket. Then, use the money you save to pay off your mortgage, save for retirement or continue improving your home. Which project will you tackle first?
Guest Post By:
A lot of us are facing large temperature changes this winter in our homes and work places that make us feel uncomfortable. We find ourselves complaining about “the chill in the air”. As a result, we tend to turn up the thermostat and burn through our heating fuel or gas as well as our bank accounts! Alternatively, we purchase space heaters which increase our electric bills. As a last resort, we bundle ourselves in layers of clothing to the point of looking and feeling like a lumberjack! Surely there must be a better way.
Your home is probably losing heat when it’s cold outdoors. If you detect where the heat in your home is being lost, you will be able to make it more energy and heat efficient as well as more comfortable for you and your family.
Improving your home’s insulation is one of the most worthwhile energy efficiency methods you can try. To give you more ideas, here are several tips on how to resolve your heat loss problem at home.
Tip # 1: Wall insulation
Did you know that heat escapes in many poor insulated homes through the walls? Wall insulation serves as a blanket which prevents heat from escaping. It can also help reduce the hot temperature in your home on summer days. You can actually carry out wall insulation on both solid and cavity walls. You may want to work with a professional to insure that the work is done to code and any necessary permissions are obtained.
Tip # 2: Window insulation
20% of your home’s heat goes out through the windows. That is the reason why insulating your windows is important. Double glazed windows could be the best option to consider due to its impressive insulating properties. It can help you resolve your heat loss problem.
Tip # 3: Loft insulation
25% of heat also escapes through your roof or loft. When insulating your roof and loft, you will be able to save heat loss as well as reduce your monthly heating bills. The effectiveness of loft and roof insulation is at least 40 year.
Tip # 4: Avoiding Window Condensation
Condensation on your windows is not good. Excess moisture develops mold growth and stain on 
your windows. It could eventually destroy your window and the mold may become worse. If the condensation continues, consider a dehumidifier as an option to resolve it. You may also utilize curtains to avoid window condensation on your windows or replace them with a new window.
Tip # 5: Draught proofing
If there are gaps in your window and doors, then you probably have draughts which also cause heat loss. To prevent this, visit your local home improvement store and ask someone for assistance. There are many different products that you can purchase and install to reduce heat loss. If you don’t feel comfortable with DIY projects, you should call a professional to make these repairs for you..
Restore comfort and increase energy efficiency at your home. If you want to solve the heat loss problem in your home, you can use any or all of these tips. Once you succeed in preventing the heat loss through your walls, windows, lofts and floor, you can restore coziness in your home and maintain a consistent home temperature.
Guest Post By:
About the Author:
Louise Sutton is the content manager for Window Info – a Kent, England-based home improvement resource center specializing in double-glazing replacement doors and windows.
One of the most common reasons for heat loss are old drafty windows. Give us a call or contact us for a free estimate to have your windows replaced with updated, insulated, eco-friendly windows!
~Gary Bruzzese
There are many ways in which your home can save you money with the long term effect of allowing you to realize your property’s potential value.
Some important approaches to take to getting your home to save you money range from changing your household routines to selling old items, to investing in parts of your property to add value and save you money over time. In this context, it’s possible to make your home save you money by trying the following strategies:
This means improving your insulation and checking to see whether you’re losing heat from different parts of your home. Investing in draught excluders and turning down your thermostat by a few degrees can add up to savings over time
If you’re having a problem with clutter, you can save money in the long run by sorting out your stuff and finding out what you can sell for a profit. Even old mobile phones and other electronics can be recycled for a fee.
You can gradually build up value in your property by making long term investments and renovations that will make your home more energy efficient; this might include replacing an old drainage or heating system, or getting a new boiler.
Reduce problems with heating by getting new windows and insulation materials for roof, while fitting new air conditioning systems that can better control the flow of air through your home.
It’s possible to save money on your weekly food shopping bill by creating a vegetable garden – this can be used to grow potatoes and other vegetables and can be combined with basil and other herb plants in your kitchen.
This is a particularly good idea for the kitchen where you can swap your old fridges and freezers for Energy Star rated versions; these tend to use less electricity, make less noise, and add more value to your home.
Save money on your water consumption by switching to a more accurate water meter rather than paying ground charges; you can also fit devices to taps and faucets to reduce water usage.
Try to change your habits if you tend to leave your television or computer on standby overnight; just switching things off will save you money over time.
Look around to see if you can get a better financing deal on your mortgage; switching your mortgage to a new provider with lower rates can allow you to take advantage of the equity in your home.
If you have a parking space or a garage that you’re not making use of, consider leasing it to neighbors or friends to make some extra money. Always check, though, to see whether there are any restrictions on your lease or mortgage about sub-letting.
Author Bio: Liam Ohm writes about home improvement, from choosing the best luxury baths to saving money at home. In his spare time he enjoys giving advice to others in need.
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