Energy Saving Home Improvements

Trimming Energy Costs - More Progress

2009-04-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Today our electric bill came and I am pleased to say that the bill is down. Finally our utility bills are under $500/month. That is almost a 17% savings compared to last March and a 23% savings compared to March 07. We are making progress in spite of increases in the cost of gas and electricity.

It is hard to say exactly what changes are responsible for the savings, but I suspect the insulating of our attic is a major contributor. We are using less gas for sure, but because our burner cycles on less often we must also be saving electricity. Check out the National Grid programs. We received a 75% rebate on the cost of the insulation job so the net cost was less than $700. It looks like the payback will be less than a year. That is a great deal.

We have also installed CFL light bulbs in all our high use fixtures and we seldom use our outside lights since we added our solar lamp post light out front.

Now that we are seeing some progress from our energy efficiency efforts, I am motivated to do more. I know that my old refrigerator downstairs should go, but I am not prepared to replace or do without it, yet.

Using my kill-a-watt monitor I discovered that my TV/Cable/VCR consumes over $20/month in electricity even when it is off. So I think my next step will be to put the whole set up on a power strip and shut it off completely when we are not watching it. And I am thinking I will make more of an effort to turn off my computer equipment each night, but that will be a bit more of a challenge.

Visit www.ComfortAndSavings.com for products that can help you trim your energy bills.

Check out the NSTAR and National Grid rebate programs. They have a free service where they will send an efficiency expert to help you determine energy saving steps that make the most sense for your household. They may provide you with some free CFLs and possibly coupons to help you replace some old appliances with energy star appliances.

The Most Creative Use of LEDs

2009-03-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

This has absolutely nothing to do with home improvement.

I am a big fan and follower of LED technology. This is the most creative use of LEDs I have ever seen.

Sheep herders in Wales are using LEDs attached to sheep to make art, of sorts.

Check out this bright idea . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

Solar Lighting Moves into the Main Stream

2009-03-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Solar lighting has much more to offer than just garden decoration. Solar lights add security and curb appeal to your property, without adding to your electric bill. Since the lights illuminate automatically at dusk you don’t need to remember to turn them on. They will light up your entrance all night long and turn off automatically at dawn.

The new solar lamp post from GamaSonic is a breakthrough in solar lighting. The patented design is as beautiful as it is functional. The solar lamp is available in several styles to accommodate multiple installation requirements. Matching lights can be installed as wall mounted, deck mounted, and single, double or triple globe lamp posts. (Double globe lamp shown) There is even a replacement globe that can be used as a cost saving improvement for an existing electric lamp post light.

Each unit is made of high quality rust proof aluminum. The classic 19th Century Gas light globe is made of beautiful beveled glass. The bright illumination is provided by 8 energy efficient, durable LEDs that never need to be replaced, enhanced by Gamasonic’s patented reflector. For maximum illumination install a triple globe lamp … that’s 24 LEDs.

These solar lights are low maintenance and have minimal operating costs. They are available online at http://www.comfortandsavings.com/.

Trimming Energy Costs – Progress Report

2009-03-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

Last year I wrote my first blog article about our efforts to trim the energy costs in our own home. This is an update discussing our progress.

Steps we took during the last 12 months:

· Installed solar fans in the attic
· Ran our pool pump only a few hours each day
· Insulated duct work running through the garage
· Sealed leaks found in the ducts
· Insulated and sealed the attic through the NSTAR program
· Replaced high use light bulbs with CFLs
· Replaced washer/dryer with energy star units

Some significant steps taken previously:

-Replaced most (but not all) of our windows
-Installed and use programmable thermostats

And the results:

The X axis represents the months from 12/2006 through 2/2009.

The Yellow line represents electricity kilowatts. In the summer the pool and air conditioning drive up our electricity consumption. If we look at the change in usage using August 2007 (2612 KW) and August 2008 (2597 KW) the difference is not significant. We have more work to do here. The solar fans were installed late in the summer, and the insulation was not installed until November. We expect the solar fans will be more effective this summer now that the attic is insulated and sealed. Many energy efficiency efforts are interrelated.

The Pink line represents gas use in Therms. - (multiplied by 10 to make the figures graph in the same relative range as our kilowatt use). 2/2007 - 329 Therms, 2/2008 – 291 Therms, 2/2009 258- Therms . We have made more progress here. Our gas use peaks in the winter, just the opposite of our electricity consumption. Gas consumption has decreased by better than 10% . This is in spite of the fact that February of 2009 was much colder than February 2008. My methods and analysis are not completely scientific, but I attribute most of our savings to the insulation and penetration sealing that was done in our attic in November. We have also noticed that this year our house feels warmer and more comfortable, probably because it is less drafty.

The blue line is the total cost of gas and electricity. Unfortunately we have not saved much in terms of energy costs, mainly due to the increased cost of electricity. We average around $500/month year round. This summer we anticipate further reduction in electricity use attributed to the solar fans ventilating our now insulated attic.

What steps can we take to further improve our energy efficiency? We continue to look for other ways to trim our energy bills. One thought … we have an old refrigerator, not energy star, in our garage that may not survive the summer. Any other ideas?

We are experienced remodelers. Visit us at http://www.FitzCon.com/ and offer energy efficient home improvement products on our website http://www.ComfortAndSavings.com/

Use Solar Lights Instead of Candles

2009-03-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

These are trying times in America. We are all waiting for the stimulus package to take hold to bolster economic activity and get our economy back on its feet.

Many causes are competing for stimulus dollars, health care, infrastructure improvements, and renewable energy are among them. Everyone wants to see the economy improve. Everyone complains --- some about the ‘pork’, others about who gets the tax credits.

Do you want to show support for renewable energy? Think solar lights. Solar lights will not solve the energy crisis, but they can be used to show support for the cause. Solar lights are inexpensive and easy to use. Use solar lights instead of candles. Put one in your window, on your lawn or pass them out for a memorial service or gatherings to show your support for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Best Places to Put Solar Lights

2009-03-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

… Anywhere there is adequate sun. … Put them where the sun shines.

Solar lighting is available in a variety styles and is suited to many applications. There are solar lights for path lighting, solar lamp posts to light your entry ways, solar ornaments to accent your garden and solar lights with remote solar panels to light your shed. Solar lights with remote solar panels can also be used to light a garage or for lighting controlled by motion detection.

Some solar lights are suitable as memorial lights or solar cemetery lights, a big improvement over the memorial candles that need to be re-lit and replaced frequently. Planning an evening vigil? Show your support for renewable energy. Pass out solar lights instead of candles.

Other solar lights are perfect for boating. Light your dock with solar lights. Use some white solar lights then add some colored solar lights for navigation to mark your way. ‘Right Red Return’, those familiar with boating navigation will know just where to place red solar led lights to guide boaters to the dock. Green lights are also available.

Older solar lights can be dissected for parts to create art. Light a decorated jar, or be even more creative. Just be sure your solar creation will have adequate time in the sun.

Low Maintenance Curb Appeal

2009-03-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

Do you hate landscaping and lawn care maintenance? Do you endure it because there is never a second chance to make a first impression? Or is it a labor of love to nurture your trimmed flower beds and blooming plants? The appearance of your front yard is the first thing visitors see.

You invest your time to keep your landscape green, colorful, trimmed and appealing so make the most of it. Adding solar lighting to your landscape can improve the curb appeal of your home and it is extremely low maintenance. So if you spend the time, money and effort to keep up your landscape, flaunt it! Solar lighting will draw attention to your manicured lawn and lovingly tended garden especially right after dusk, when your neighbors are coming home from work.

Solar lighting will not add to your maintenance chores. The installation and upkeep of solar lights is minimal. Choose your lighting locations to maximize sun exposure and press the stake into the ground to install the lights. Then simply keep the solar panel free of dirt build up and debris. Wipe it with a damp cloth occasionally to keep the solar panel operating at peek performance. The LEDs in solar lights have a long life and will last for the life of the light, never needing any maintenance or replacement. The batteries will charge up to 1000 times before you need to change them.

So show off your hard work ... no need to add to it. Install a few solar lights, you will be the envy of the neighborhood. Check out the selection at www.ComfortAndSavings.com.

Gas Light Lamps Go Solar

2009-03-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

Do you love the nostalgic look and classic design of a gas light lamp?

Gas lighting has been used for centuries to illuminate city streets. It is still used in some upscale and historic neighborhoods to provide an ambiance and subtle illumination that electric street lights simply can not.

Solar gas light lamps are a great alternative. The design is classic and reminiscent of 19th century charm, and the illumination is bright but understated.

Do you often find your outside lights on during the day, wasting energy? Or have you come home to a dark entry way, having forgotten to turn on the front light? Is your current electric light post broken or do you need light where there is no electrical power? A solar gas light lamp could be the perfect solution.

Solar lights use the energy of the sun to charge their batteries during the day, then illuminate automatically at dusk. When fully charged these solar gas light lamps will operate for up to 2 nights. A day of rain or clouds should not affect their operation.

GamaSonic has created a similation video that reveals the charm and beauty of solar gas light lamp posts and demonstrates the lighting effect. These elegant lights and the full line of GamaSonic solar lighting products is available at http://www.comfortandsavings.com/

The Colors of Solar LED Lights

2009-02-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

Solar LED lighting is available in several colors. The most common colors are amber, cool white and warm white, although solar lights are also readily available in blue, green and red.

The white LED colors are made by combination of red, green and blue or blue LEDs with a special phosphor coating. The phosphor used to produce white LEDs lowers their efficiency, so white LEDs take more energy to operate. However this process is being improved over time and the amount of energy required to run white LEDs is still very low compared to incandescent and florescent lighting. Colored LED solar lights are less expensive to make, which is why you see a large number of low cost amber LED garden lights that typically operate with a single rechargeable battery.

“Cool white” and “Warm white” refers to the Kelvin temperature of the light. Kelvin is a measurement of the visible light spectrum. The lower the Kelvin temperature the more yellow/red the light. The higher the Kelvin value the more blue the light. Some general ranges might be, warm white 2700- 3800 Kelvin , cool white 4000 – 4500K and 5000K + daylight. A good chart to visualize Kelvin can be found here - International Cinematographers Guild. Another source of information to better visualize Kelvin temperature scales can be found here http://www.schorsch.com/kbase/glossary/cct.html.

White LEDs are typically offered as “Warm” or “Cool” this gives you an idea of the color of the light that you can expect. If you prefer a golden glow, choose a warm light. If you are looking for more of a daylight shade choose a solar light listed as cool or white.

ComfortAndSavings.com offers solar LED lights in variety of colors. Follow this link to see the brightest “warm” and “cool” white solar lights we offer.

4 Reasons LEDs Make it Easy to be Green

2009-02-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

What is an LED? An LED is a Light Emitting Diode, a solid-state semiconductor that converts electrical energy directly into light. LEDs have been used for years on many types of equipment, typically to indicate activity or that something is switched on.

But LEDs have much broader application and are increasing being used for more mainstream lighting applications. LEDs are extremely energy efficient producing more light per watt than incandescent bulbs. NSTAR reports that LEDs use 90% less electricity than incandescent lighting. LEDs produce very little heat using a higher percentage of their energy consumption to produce light. This makes them ideal for battery powered, low voltage applications or energy-saving devices. They are also extremely durable and resistant to shock, unlike fluorescent and incandescent bulbs which are fragile. LEDs contain no mercury like florescent lamps or CFLs which reduces pollution and eliminates the disposal problems associated with CFLs. They have a long life, up to 50,000 hours and they fade rather than fail, which makes them ideal for hard to access lighting applications, helping to reduce maintenance budgets.

LEDs make it easy to be Green because they:

Contain no Mercury and eliminate the disposal issues associated with CFLs

Are energy efficient, using 90% less electricity than incandescent lighting

Have an extremely long useful life which reduces waste

Are suitable for battery powered devices recharged by solar panels

LEDs are widely use in solar lighting because of their low energy consumption. Solar lights have improved greatly as manufacturers have been able to incorporate multiple LEDs, improved batteries and superior reflector technology in their designs.

Solar lighting comes in a wide variety of price points and styles. Find one that suits your budget and decor, save energy and see how easy it can be to be green.

Solar Lights are getting Better and Brighter

2009-02-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Have you thought about buying solar lights for your home but been discouraged by low quality products and amount of light that solar lights emit. Solar lighting continues to improve. Newer solar lights have better batteries and more LEDs than older units. Solar lighting is easy to install, no wiring is required. Just be sure to place them where they will receive the most sun.

What makes a quality solar light. Look for metal construction, multiple LEDs, superior reflectors and batteries that can hold a charge to illuminate the light for a night or more, even when you have a rainy or cloudy day. You can find a variety of bright solar lights here.

A good thing about solar lights is that they are easy to install, the down side is that they are easily stolen. The newest solar lamp post from GamaSonic has solved that problem. The solar lamp post is installed with permanent bolts, provided. This attractive classic gas light design is available in one, two or three lamp styles and can also be bought as a replacement lamp for an existing post. Each lamp has multiple LEDs, will light for 2 nights with a full charge and has a patented reflector which increases the light and creates an attractive glow.

Trimming Energy Bills

2008-10-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

Our household energy use is consistently high. In the summer the electricity bills are up with the increased cost of air conditioning and the gas bills escalate during the heating season.

Over the summer I pulled together a years worth of utility bills and created a spread sheet to track our household energy use. I wanted to understand our usage patterns and find ways to improve our energy efficiency to reduce spending on gas and electricity. I track both the cost and the Kilowatts or Therms used so we can see if we are making progress.

What are the best things we can do to trim energy bills?

These are the most common suggestions I have come across to reduce energy costs, in random order.

Replace single pane, old or drafty windows

Cover windows with plastic or heavy curtains

Replace appliances with Energy Star rated appliances

Add insulation

Seal penetrations with foam insulation to disrupt airflow

Ventilate the attic

Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. Use power strips to shut down associated appliances and computer equipment.

Install programmable thermostats

Raise or lower thermostat temperature according to time of day and the season

Replace light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs

Replace outside lighting with solar lights

Insulate water heater or upgrade water heater with more efficient insulated model

Replace water heater with a tank less water heater

Reduce heat to sections of the house. Use space heating to selectively heat areas.

Upgrade heating system

You can't do everything. Many changes are complicated, costly or inter related. It is also difficult to predict if any measure will really produce the promised savings. You just have to take the steps that seem most logical and affordable for your household.

We have already replaced most of our windows, and several of our older appliances. We are adding insulation and ventilating the attic with solar fans. We've installed programmable thermostats and make adjustments based on our schedule and for each season. We may limit the heating in some rooms that are not frequently used. We have solar lights in the front of the house. We are always looking for products and renovations that improve our environment and make sense to us.

Today I came across a suggestion that seems like a good idea to me. Install pelmets over your windows. What is a Pelmut? Read the article at http://www.yourgreendream.com/articles_pelmets.php

Our tracking will tell us how we are doing as we work on trimming our energy bills.

We are experienced remodelers. Visit us at http://www.FitzCon.com/ and offer energy efficient home improvement products on our website http://www.ComfortAndSavings.com/