Green Homes Attractive to Buyers

Home buyers of all income levels are looking for environmentally friendly properties, according to a study taken by the U.S. Green Building Council and McGraw-Hill Construction.

And in the difficult housing market of today, sellers are looking for new ways to attract buyers. Making a home greener with cleaner air quality may just be the answer to getting bids.

Homeowners can use the following tips to make their house more environmentally friendly:

* Buy appliances that use less water and electricity.
Many companies sell appliances like washing machines and dishwashers which use 10 to 15 percent less energy and water than standard models. Not only are the appliances using less, but they save money when it comes to the electric and water bills.

* Use environmentally friendly flooring.
A wood floor produced without VOCs (volatile organic compounds) keeps the air clean in the house. Globus Cork offers cork flooring in 37 different colors which not only helps to maintain a constant air temperature in the room thanks to its natural thermal insulation properties, but also is a renewable resource. This is because only the cork bark is trimmed from the tree and the cork oak trees continue living. In addition, cork has a waxy substance called suberin, which repels bugs, mold, mites and even termites, keeping allergens at bay. Go to www.CorkFloor.com to learn more about the product.

* Change heavily used lights with energy-efficient models.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy ENERGY STAR program, if every American home replaced its five most frequently-used light fixtures – such as the kitchen ceiling lamps, outdoor post lamp or the living room table lamps – with fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR, almost $8 billion would be saved each year in energy costs and greenhouse gasses reduced at the rate of almost 10 million cars.

* Keep inside air from escaping.
Seals around windows and doors can break or be damaged over time and need to be replaced. Homebuyers shopping for a new property tend to check the house’s summer and winter energy bills, and a properly sealed home can change those bill amounts significantly to make a house more attractive.

According to the Green Building Council study, 70 percent of home buyers are more inclined to purchase a green home than a conventional home during a down housing market, and half of the homes renovated between 2005 and 2007 used products chosen for their green qualities.

With just a few changes or upgrades, a house that has been sitting on the market for some time can become a quick sell thanks to its environmentally friendly features. (ARAcontent)

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Home Energy Audit Reduces Energy Drain

How an energy audit will keep heating costs from emptying your pocket
By Kathryn Reilly

Winter is fast approaching and for many homeowners this means a major headache in thinking about heating costs. Some energy tracking agencies predict double-digit leaps. The Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy (DOE) says oil costs may rise 36.3% and gas costs may rise 23.8%, both a staggering increase from last year. Many homeowners are worried about being able to afford these increased costs.

Since these costs are out of homeowner control many don’t realize there are other factors that effect the heating and cooling of your home that can be changed or improved for better energy efficiency. For example, the average American home loses a substantial amount of money to air leakage through inefficient windows and doors or poor insulation – a problem easily fixed. But how would a homeowner even know this? What can a homeowner do to make their home more energy efficient? Where does one even start?

There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your home is being as energy efficient as possible. Become aware of existing problems, such as condensation and uncomfortable or drafty rooms, which are signs of low energy efficiency. Check your attic and garage walls to make sure your home is insulated to DOE recommendations. Take care of your heating systems by wrapping your hot water heater in an insulating jacket and scheduling a tune-up for your heat pump, furnace or boiler. Prune shrubs that block airflow to your heat pump. Make sure any leaky ducts are sealed and insulated. Check caulking and weather stripping and repair if necessary. Monitor the temperature in your home, keeping heat lower at night. Close doors to rooms not in use. Install ceiling fans (yes, even in winter – they will circulate air and promote heating efficiency).

Perhaps the most effective step you can take as a homeowner is to get an energy audit to address problems within your home. This audit is an inspection and analysis of energy flow that evaluates relationships between the various systems in the home – heating, insulation, ventilation and lighting being some examples. Audits are defined by the health of the home, comfort level and energy efficiency. Inspectors will look at your heating systems, windows and doors and other factors for problems and will use their findings to make recommendations for improvements. If properly addressed, the results will lead to improved air quality, more stable temperatures and most importantly, decreased energy bills. As a whole, you will have a greener and more energy-efficient home.

My family business, New York Sash of Whitesboro, is constantly striving to provide energy savings for Central New York homeowners through our Energy Star qualified products. We promise a 35% energy usage reduction for your home with our Premium Windows. For a limited time, we are providing a free energy loss inspections and analysis for any home. To find out how to receive yours, visit the New York Sash Website or call 624-7344. For more information on home energy visit these websites: Energy Star – Energy.gov . . . 

Copyright. Kathryn Reilly is a Production and Marketing Assistant for the television show CNY’s Open House and has been involved with the home improvement industry for seven years. Contact her via email.

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Winterize For Safety And Savings

From insulating your windows and doors, which can help lower your monthly heating bills, to having the right tools on hand to see you through an emergency, a few tips from the experts may help keep you, your family and your home safe this winter.

Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s “Helpful Hardware Man,” recommends several steps to winterize your home. “Any homeowner can undertake these steps,” said Manfredini. “If questions arise, just stop by your local hardware store, where a representative will be happy to help out.”

To start with, stock up on all the tools you might need to clear sidewalks and driveways, uncover a buried car and keep walkways clear. Snow shovels, a snowblower with gas, and salt or sand to pretreat the driveway and sidewalks are good items to have on hand. After that:

• As cold weather approaches, it’s important to appraise your roof. Use binoculars to look at it from all sides. Loose shingles, missing vent covers, even loose trim should be repaired or replaced. Clean gutters of leaves and debris before snow and ice build up.

• To stay informed during extreme weather, have a portable, battery-powered radio and/or TV on hand. You may also want to assemble a disaster kit that includes a first aid kit, battery-powered lamps with backup batteries, drinking water, canned food and a manual can opener. For more information on what to include in your disaster kit, please visit the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared.

• Insulate walls and attics to conserve heat and energy. Wrap pipes also, especially those near exterior walls of your home, which will both keep them from freezing and reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your water.

• Weather-strip your doors and windows to protect against drafting air, and install storm windows or use plastic sheeting to cover windows. Use all-weather caulk to seal around window frames, door frames and other openings in the exterior of your home.

“In some cases, a small investment in winterization can save up to $200 a season in heating costs,” said Manfredini.

For more tips, you can visit Ace Hardware. (Source: NAPSI)

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Seven Green Tips to Slash Soaring Home Heating Bills

Record world oil prices will hit home heating this winter, with consumers likely paying high prices to heat their homes. Natural gas will rise an average of 24 percent and fuel oil a whopping 36 percent says the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association.

Here are seven tips from the Comfort Institute to make your home an energy sipper instead of a gas guzzler. They will help you save money, improve comfort and help the environment too.

1. Ask your heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractor to test your duct system for air leaks. Seal ducts with a brushed on fiber-reinforced elastomeric sealant. Duct tape, which is great for many things, usually dries out and fails.

2. Ask your contractor to perform an Infiltrometer “blower door” test. Many heating contractors offer an Infiltrometer test as part of a home and duct performance test that also checks insulation levels.

3. Have your heating system cleaned and tuned. It reduces the chances of breakdowns on cold winter nights, improves safety and more than pays for itself through more energy efficient operation. Go to www.confortinstitute.org for a free report on how to identify a good heating and cooling contractor.

4. Replace your furnace or heat pump air filter, or clean it if it is an electronic unit. Most systems need this done every month to ensure safe and efficient operation. Or ask your contractor for an extended surface area central air filter that only needs to be replaced once a year.

5. Close your fireplace damper. Shut it now or waste precious warm air all winter long.

6. Install a programmable set-back thermostat. Turning down the thermostat eight degrees for eight hours a day will save 8 percent on home heating costs.

7. Consider replacing your old furnace or heat pump. New units can pay for themselves over time as they are up to twice as energy efficient. But don’t just update the furnace. Today’s new equipment is drastically compromised if it is hooked up to bad ducts.

Do some homework before talking to contractors. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov and www.comfortinstitute.org. Print out the free Comfort Institute report “Tips and Secrets to Buying a New Heating and Cooling System.” (Source)

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Trends in Green Building

By Marc Mathis

Green construction methods are quickly gaining in popularity among homeowners and homebuilders alike. Incorporating even one of these methods or materials can greatly increase the indoor air quality and efficiency of your new home while helping the environment. Due to the green building trend, the availability of renewable building materials and builders who practice eco-friendly construction has been increasing, while the cost associated continues to decrease. Most house plans can easily be adapted for green building, making it easier than ever for homeowners to go green.

Here are several quick and easy ways to implement green building techniques in your new home:

Renewable Building Materials – Ask your builder about using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified lumber, which is grown and harvested in an ecologically-sound manner, and are readily available at stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. Reclaimed materials, such as hardwood flooring, is another way to build a beautiful, yet environmentally friendly home.

Conservation – The easiest way to make sure your new homeplans are being built green is to check for the Energy Star rating on appliances and windows, and doors. Consider the use of tankless water heaters that only heat water on demand. Low-flow shower heads and toilets help with water conservation.

Healthy Home – Floors, shelving, and countertops should be built with Low-VOC materials improve your indoor air quality and reduce pollution. Children and people with pulmonary problems are especially sensitive to off-gassing from new home materials.

Landscaping with native or drought-resistant plants and preserving existing mature trees will help conserve water and minimize hot spots on the patio, house, and driveway. Native plants will require less pesticides and fertilizer as well.

Other ideas include installing green seal certified windows and doors, using foam insulation which can save up to 50% on energy bills, utilizing solar water heaters, compact fluorescent lighting, computer controlled vents that pull in fresh air.

Green home builders can by found by going to energystar.gov or the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green site, nahbgreen.org

Mark Mathis is the president of House Plan Gallery, Inc, a residential home design firm specializing in the design of stock house floor plans and blueprints with flexible floorplan layouts and all the most-popular home design features. Be sure to visit HousePlanGallery.com and join the “House Plan and Home Design eNews” mailing list. You’ll be the first to know about new house plans and special SUBSCRIBER-ONLY offers! (Source)

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Weathering Rising Costs With Free Program

Spiking energy costs are prompting many Americans to find ways to conserve energy.

Escalating energy costs have affected low-income Americans the most, says a recent study by the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, forcing them to cut staples such as food and medicine.

Fortunately, there is a way that the most vulnerable Americans can mitigate soaring energy costs. Free of charge, the U.S. Department of Energy will help low-income families insulate and weatherize their homes and purchase energy-efficient appliances through a federal effort called the Weatherization Assistance Program. Every county and every Indian tribe is eligible to participate.

By installing energy- and money-saving products–many containing innovations made by American chemistry companies–the federal program on average reduces energy bills by $358 or more per household annually.

Approximately 100,000 low-income households participate every year, and more should take advantage of the program’s benefits. The government’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that only 16 percent of eligible households have participated in the weatherization program.

Since 1976, the Department of Energy has provided weatherization services to 5.6 million low-income families. In 2006, 25,574 households in New York participated, 11,964 households in California, 9,855 in Pennsylvania, 5,958 in Missouri and 4,173 households in Texas, to name a few of the states. Many weatherization clients are senior citizens, single parents or disabled.

According to Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, “Insulation and weatherization materials such as vinyl windows help keep homes warm or cool, depending on the season. Refrigerators and other home appliances are also more energy efficient due to materials based on chemistry innovations.”

The extent of the weatherization program varies state to state. But it typically includes a home inspection to assess heat retention, air sealing, insulation to attics and sidewalls, and repair or replacement of heating systems. Some states replace windows and appliances such as refrigerators and stoves if funding permits.

For more information, visit the Energy Website or the American Chemistry Website. (NAPSI)

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Simple Ways to Save Electricity

We all have ideas on what renewable and non-renewable energy sources are. The problem is we do not put much pressure on saving the non-renewable sources that we rapidly use everyday. With price of gasoline gone high and the impending depletion of the non-renewable resources, it is best that we review tips on how to save power in our own home. Let us take tips one appliance at a time.

Computer
Turn the monitor off even if you are just away for one minute. This will have an immense impact on electricity consumption. Keep both the monitor and the CPU switched off when you are not using them at home or even at the office.

Light
We advise you to switch from using incandescent light bulbs to Compact fluorescent light bulbs. CFL bulbs are expensive but they have more usage life plus they use less electricity. It is cost-effective in the long run.

Air Conditioner
Set the air conditioner at the most comfortable temperatures. Avoid setting it too high or too low. Having a comfortable temperature will save electricity.

Washing Machines
One common mistake we commit is to use the washing machine as often as we can. Next time, try to collate all the soiled clothes and have the washing machine work on it full load. This will maximize the energy spent allowing you to save electricity.

Television
Take off the plug of the television when you are not using it. The appliance still uses electricity even if it is switched off as long as the plug is attached.

Refrigerator
Do not put hot food directly to the refrigerator. Allow it to reach room temperature before cooling it inside the refrigerator. Also thaw out the food 30 minutes before you will cook it as this will save you power in heating it.

Author: Harry Baguio. Discover how you can reduce your electric bill up to 80%  (Source)

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Fall Lawn Care Tips

Keeping your lawn alive and as healthy as possible when the cold weather hits requires that you start thinking about lawn care long before winter actually arrives. If you neglect your lawn during the fall and winter, it will become obvious during the spring, when unsightly dry patches or brown spots can appear. Your lawn-and your entire garden-should be prepared for winter with some tender care and winter care strategies developed in early fall.

Fall Lawn Care Strategies

Changing some of your lawn care strategies in the fall will help your lawn survive the winter, and thrive in the spring. Many of these lawn care strategies are designed to help improve your lawn’s resistance to winter diseases.

Fall is a good time to start lowering the height you normally mow at. Keep your lawn short during late fall so that your lawn does not contain too much new, young growth that might help encourage the development of disease. However, it is important to lower the height at which you mow gradually, to prevent damage.

Delay the application of fertilizer until late fall-the best time for the final fertilizer application is just after Thanksgiving. Applying fertilizer in late fall rather than early in the season will encourage deep root growth to support the surge of growth that will occur in the spring. This also means that a spring feeding is not necessary, and may help to improve your lawn’s resistance to disease. Chose a sustained (slow-release) fertilizer to ensure there are plenty of nutrients to support new growth in the spring.

Late November is also a good time for dormant seeding, if you have any bare patches of lawn that need to be seeded. This method is best suited for small patches of bare ground, particularly if your winter climate is unpredictable. For larger patches of ground, wait until the spring to sow.

Once your lawn becomes dormant and stops growing altogether, give it one final mow to leave one to two inches of grass remaining. It’s fine to leave a little mulch over the lawn after the final mow-but only a little. A too-thick covering over your lawn may smother it over the winter. A little mulch will help return nitrogen to the soil, but make sure it’s only a very light sprinkling rather than a heavy layer.

Ensure your lawn is aerated before the first freeze arrives. Along with a good application of fertilizer after Thanksgiving, a well-aerated lawn will help ensure strong spring growth.

Your lawn-and your entire garden-should be cleared of debris before the first snow fall. Any items such as toys, logs or rocks, and garden equipment left lying around may smother your grass after a snow fall, leaving your lawn vulnerable to disease.

What can you do when Winter Arrives?

If you live in a very cold climate where snow and frost are common occurrences in the winter, there is unfortunately not much you can do to help your lawn once winter actually arrives. However, by choosing a hardy type of grass that is tolerant of cold climates, you’ll help ensure your lawn survives and thrives year after year.

When you live in such a climate, there is really only one you can do to help your lawn survive once the snow and frosts hit. This is to simply minimize traffic over the lawn. Walking over a snow or ice-laden lawn puts more pressure on the grass beneath, and continual pressure of this kind may eventually kill the lawn.

Remember to drain and close down your sprinkler system if you live in a climate where freezing is likely to occur, to prevent any breakage caused by water freezing in the pipes. If your lawn needs a light application of water during a dry winter, your hose will suffice for this.

If you live in a warmer climate where snow isn’t a common occurrence, you’ll have a few more options for taking care of your lawn during the winter. However, with one exception, all of your most important winter lawn care strategies should implemented the fall to get the most benefit. There are just two exceptions. First, in warm, dry climates, your lawn may need occasional watering over the winter. Second, even though your grass is dormant, weeds have a habit of appearing, even in the dead of winter, so be on the lookout, and apply a weed control product if necessary.

Author Grant Eckert is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to home maintenance such as Lawn Care (Source)

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Go Green And Save Money

Although you may not think it, but 21% of the green house gas emissions produced in the United States come from everyday household energy usage. By implementing cost efficient energy saving techniques, you can help reduce these emissions while saving money at the same time.

Improving your homes efficiency

Compact fluorescent light bulbs last up to 10 times longer, produce 75 percent less heat, and still produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb with only 25 percent as much energy usage. By simply swapping your old lights out for these new ones, you can see a drastic reduction on your monthly energy bills. If you want to take it to the extreme, you can easily make the switch to solar power. Solar panels are getting cheaper to purchase, easier to install, and will last for around 20 years. In addition to cutting your energy bills, the federal government also offers a tax credit of up to 30 percent of your installation cost.

Reducing Heat Loss

By making your home almost air tight, you can improve your homes energy efficiency by 20%. Add/replace old weather-stripping to your windows and doors as well as plugging any other leaks in your home can stop/reduce heating and air conditioning losses. You may also want to consider adding insulation where it’s missing or has a minimal amount. this will reduce heating/cooling expenses as well as reduce moisture buildup in your ceilings and walls.

Electronics and Appliances

75% of a homes electricity is consumed by electronics and appliances while they are turned off according to the U.S. department of Energy. This can be reduced by unplugging devices when their are not in use. You can also reduce this amount by swapping out your old appliances with new energy-saving models.

Hot Water

For every 10 degrees in temperature you increase your water heater, you use an additional 5 percent of energy. By reducing the temperature you can be saving yourself unnecessary expenses as well as lengthening the lifespan of your water heater. If you wanted to eliminate this problem all together, Tankless water heaters only warm your water when you need it. Instead of constantly heating your water to maintain a set temperature, these devices use up to 60% less energy than your traditional water heater.

Author Joshua Talayka of Chase International can be reached at: (775) 220-1630 or toll free at (877) 922-5900. Article Source

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Tied to Your Electricity Meter?

It’s widely known that missing payments on things like loans, credit cards and your mortgage can have an adverse effect on your credit rating, but did you know that missing a payment to your utility supplier could have an adverse effect on which tariff you’re on?

In these days of rising living costs, all but the most affluent of us are trying to find the elusive cheaper deal. Our utility bill is one area in which there is potentially a lot to be saved, but because of either bad timing, forgetfulness or simply not being able to afford it at the time; many of us are forfeiting our right to cheaper gas and electricity.

Under current legislation, any money which a supplier of utilities is owed becomes an automatic debt after 31 days. This means that if you are late paying your bills and wish to switch suppliers before you’ve paid the money, your current provider can refuse to release your meters.

It’s a vicious circle; you want to switch suppliers because you can’t afford to keep with your current one, but you can’t leave them until you’ve paid the bill which you can’t afford. With unit prices for both gas and electricity rising at an alarming rate, many householders are desperately seeking the cheaper providers, only to be told that they can’t move on until their debts have been settled.

The only way to avoid this problem is to pay your bills on time, and take avoidance action if you’re using more than you can afford. During the summer it’s quite easy to save on gas and electric; use this time to save up some money to clear your bills and switch to a cheaper supplier in time for winter.

With the price of utilities soaring, finding cheap electricity and gas can seem like mission impossible, but it can be done. You can compare both electricity and gas suppliers online to find the best unit prices available in your area. Article Source

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