Thank you for your interest in Renewable Energy. It is very important that we all participate in becoming environmentally conscientious. Of course, it is nice to save money while you are doing what is good for us all. Even though this website is designed to assist you in your decision to utilize Solar Power, we are concerned in helping you become energy efficient in general. Here are some ways that may help you meet that goal.
Build An Energy Efficient House
Whether you are building a new house or adding on to an existing house, you are going to want to make sure that they new house is as energy efficient as possible. With the cost of natural gas and electric skyrocketing in recent years, now more than ever is a time to be conscious of saving money on your energy bills.
Making your new home more energy efficient is not difficult and just takes some knowledge regarding what will do the job. Here are some new tips on making any new construction, regardless of whether it is a new house or an addition, more energy efficient:
Choose Energy Efficient Windows
Old fashioned windows lose heat and cool air because they are not insulated. Old fashioned windows are difficult to clean and consist of double hung windows, storm windows and screens. They have to be taken apart to clean and often have to be cleaned from the outside. You can save on your energy bill by getting new thermal glass energy saving windows. These do not have storms as the glass is insulated and will protect against the cold as well as the heat. They pop in and out to make cleaning easier. You can use from double hung windows or casements. Not only are they energy efficient, but they are maintenance free as well as the window jambs are vinyl clad.
Choose The Highest Grade Insulation
When you are building a new house, chances are that your builder will put in the lowest grade insulation that conforms with code. You should ask for the highest grade, which is R-4, that can be added to the walls and blown into the attic. This may end up costing you a few hundred dollars extra in upgrades, but will make a big difference in energy efficiency as well as your energy bill. Get the best insulation in the house that you can get.
One Air Conditioner Or Two?
If you have a large home, you may do better with two air conditioning units, one for each floor. This will help you save money as you do not have to put the burden of cooling the entire house on one big unit. You can turn the one unit on when you are upstairs and the other during the day. Both can also run simultaneously and if they are on a temperature controlled thermostat, which they most likely will be, they will not overrun. If you have a large home, consider more than one air conditioning unit to save money on your energy costs.
Choose appliances that are energy efficient and also consider a maintenance free exterior that will better insulate the house. This will end up saving on your heating and cooling bills.
These are just a few ways to help you save on electricity. We hope we have gotten you thinking in that direction.
Patricia Thomasson, EdD
YLC Associates
