All RightsReserved@FernandoLachica2014. Powered by Blogger.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

DIY Energy Savings - Quick & Easy Tips #GreenEnvironmentPollution

Share & Comment


DIY Energy Savings - Quick & Easy Tips

Here are 5 things you can do to successfully reduce your home energy consumption and save money in the process.

1.Seal the leaks around windows and exterior doors. This is easy to do, and will help your home keep the heat in. Caulk, spray foam or use weather stripping and it will have an impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills. Don't want to fuss with this, contact a handyman, or a reputable window, insulation or painting company. Many of them provide this service.

2.Fix your insulation situation. Insulation is typically the #1 way to save energy in your home. According to the Department of Energy (www.ornl.gov) heating and cooling account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average American home. Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes. And according to EnergyStar, you could save up to 10% of your total annual energy bill just by sealing and insulating.

3.Clean and seal heating ducts. Almost 20% of the air that moves through your duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. Over time, ducts can sag or collapse. Vermin and other animals can chew holes in crawl space ductwork. Ducts can also come apart at the seams. When this happens, any air that should be going to the rooms in your home is instead being wasted by ending up in your attic, your walls, or under your house. If duct tape was used on your ductwork originally, it's best to have it replaced with aluminum or foil tape. Traditional duct tape deteriorates quickly. Metal seams should be cleaned and then sealed with duct mastic, which doesn't crack. It creates a permanent seal.

4.Let your equipment breathe. Your heating and cooling systems depend on a flow of air to maximize their efficiency. Homeowners can take easy steps to help change the furnace filter, and check for leaves/debris around an outside heat pump or air conditioner. A clogged air intake outside or dirty indoor furnace filter limits air flow to the equipment and causes it to function inefficiently. It can eventually lead to costly breakdowns and repairs. This is similar to changing the air filter in your car. Electronic filters typically need cleaning at least twice per year and paper filters need replacing. Check your product warranty for your manufacturer's specific instructions.

5.Open those registers. Many people close floor registers to push heat into certain parts of their house. Since about the late 60's the products installed in homes have been forced air furnaces. These are designed for a specific amount of air to flow thru the furnace while operating. The ductwork is designed for this amount of air also. When air registers are closed it reduces the airflow and allows heat to buildup in the system. That heat has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is up the flue and out of your house. Closing 1 or 2 registers is fine in rooms that get too hot. Keep as many registers open as possible so your furnace can operate at maximum efficiency. This is the same for heat pumps and central air conditioning. Airflow is key to efficient heating and saving money.

Not sure where to start to make your home energy efficient? Consider a home energy audit. A certified audit uses the latest technology to analyze your house, measuring heat loss, combustion and air leakage. An audit will show you how your home uses and wastes energy. This will help you prioritize what you can do to get the most energy savings.






Source: Gretchen Marks
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Written by

A freelance writer, marketer and a blogger. Graduate of BS Chemistry at Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Written first novel: Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW): The Game of Life. Worked abroad in the Middle East and Gulf Country.

6 comments:

  1. Do we also have home energy audit here in the Philippines? I haven't heard of such. Is the Department of Energy responsible for that?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Do we also have home energy audit here in the Philippines? I haven't heard of such. Is the Department of Energy responsible for that?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your tips sound strange in our country. Anyway in a region where these tips are needed, they're of great help as energy saving. Gil Camporazo

    ReplyDelete
  4. It would be nice to keep everything clear and clutter free. It reduces the usage of electronic appliances.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We need these tips specially because there will be a price hike in electricity soon.

    ReplyDelete
  6. They can be your first set of customers, and they can give referrals to someone they knew. If we plan to have a Virginia Junk Hauling and Junk Removal Company, we can have a lot of potential customers like homeowners, warehouses, construction companies, hospitals, real estate agencies and small enterprises or businesses. Thousand Oaks Junk Removal

    ReplyDelete

 
Copyright ©Fernando Lachica Garbage Pollution and Green Environment | Designed by Templateism.com