What is the most cost-effective way to increase the energy efficiency of your home? Most homes have insulation in their attic and walls, but forget to insulate underneath the home. Energy efficiency is all about encapsulating the air you’ve paid so much to heat or cool. With all the existing government tax credits, there is no better time than now to improve your home’s insulation. The tax credits are about to get even better with Cash for Caulkers Home Star Energy Efficiency program.

One of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency usage is to insulate and weatherize your home. Crawl Space liners achieve both of these and are easy to install yourself. First, let me explain a little more about weatherization and insulation.

Weatherization vs. Insulation

These terms are often used interchangeably but there is a subtle difference between the two. Weatherization can be thought of as air sealing your home – reducing the convective heat flow. In every home there are little cracks that allow the air in your home to escape. Common places for these cracks are in the air ducts underneath your home, and the cracks in your floorboards. Rather than taking a magnifying glass and a tube a caulk to find every crack, the best way to weatherize underneath your home is to install a crawl space encapsulation system. Look for a system that is Zero permeability with a poly adhesive tape so no air will penetrate the liner.

Just like weatherization reduces convective heat flow, insulation reduces conductive heat flow. To reduce conductive heat flow, homes have the pink insulation in their walls and attics. The same crawl space liners that have weatherization properties can also have insulating properties. Look for a crawl space encapsulation system that has at least an R5 insulation value- this will dramatically reduce the conductive heat loss from underneath your home.

Cash for Caulkers – How to Cash in on Tax Credits for the Do It Yourselfer

There are many myths out there that you need a contractor to receive a tax credit for making your home more energy efficient. On the contrary, it’s actually as easy as rolling out carpet to install a crawl space encapsulation system in your home. Energy star rated crawl space liners can earn you a 30% (up to $1,500) tax refund on your material cost. So for example you have a 2,000 square foot crawl space in your home, the liner system costs you $3,000, you will get back $900, for a total cost of $2,100.

Easy Installation for the Do-It-Yourselfer (DIY) – A lot of people ask me “Who is the best contractor to install my crawl space liner?” Then I’ll mention to them that they could save $3000 to $8000 installing it themselves and it can be done in less than a day. You can visit my site for step-by-step instructions or a free sample kit of a Do-It-Yourself crawl space liner. About the Author – Eugene White has been in the crawl space business for over 20 years. He owns and operates Seal Tight Solutions a company that encourages the Do-It-Yourselfer to improve their home at an affordable cost with long-lasting benefits.

Author: Eugene White
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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When you are saving water to keep your water bill low, you are actually doing more for the environment than you can imagine. Most of the time, Green solutions benefit us more than our original intentions promised. It is an interesting dynamic though. While one positive action might reward us two-fold, a negative action can add damage that is ten times what it was worth.

Since ventless gel fuel is a Green solution to the fireplace dilemma our world faces, Ventless Gel Fireplaces has always been interested in finding more and more Green solutions that help us further benefit our world. Those solutions can often be found in the most logical places. But, some can slip right past us because they seem to go against logic.

For instance, if you keep your refrigerator full of food you will actually save yourself a ton of energy. You might think that the refrigerator would have to work overtime to keep all that food at the right temperature. But, that’s when fact overrides logic. It actually takes less energy to keep the refrigerator at the right temperature to keep the food properly chilled. That’s the reverse of the thought. But, it’s true.

So, do yourself a favor and keep your refrigerator packed. You won’t ever again look in the fridge and sigh when you can’t find something to eat. Plus, you’ll love that dip in the electric bill because your icebox isn’t running circles around your stove. While we are on that topic, separate your refrigerator and your stove. I know that in many kitchens, it’s convenient to have them side by side. But, most modern kitchens have found a way to keep them apart and for good reason. I’m sure you can figure out why.

Here’s another one for you. You may not always have the time or the money to get your car properly tuned. But, you should loosen up your time as well as your pocketbook and maybe cut something else out of your life when that time comes around. First of all, keeping your car properly maintained will keep you from having to fork out big money for huge maintenance problems later.

But the most important point is that you save yourself even more money when you take the time to properly care for your car. There’s a dual factor involved in this one too. You’ll save a bundle in gas. Now, that’s a reward you see immediately. You don’t have to wait years to reap the benefits of your actions today.

Here’s a nice little thing you can try the next time you want to make a nice pot of chili or stew. Start making your pot early in the morning before the sun comes up and then take it outside. Place it on a surface that has the ability to get hot from the rays of the sun and let dinner cook there all day. You’d be surprised how well your food gets cooked when it is allowed to simmer in a pot with a glass lid. Plus, you’ll save yourself some energy because you won’t have to use the stove.

Recycling can be fun when you actually find a creative use for the waste that you are more inclined to throw away. One bank found a good use for the millions of credit cards that get cut and tossed every year. They made the credit cards into counter space around the bank and it makes a statement to everyone who enters. No pun intended.

We can do so much when we put our minds to it. It doesn’t have to be a burden if we take the time to appreciate the rewards. Some people lead the way and some people are getting Green real fast. But if you are still in the process of going Green, just keep heading in that direction and it will grow on you.

Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction all her life, under her father who retired in 2004. Her passion turned to interior design and strangely evolved into becoming a fireplace expert. She has written such great reports as DIY Outdoor Fireplaces, Fireplace Ideas Report, and DIY Fireplace. Read more about Ventless Gel Fireplaces and download Ventless Gel Fireplace Reports while you sign up for the newsletter so you can be updated whenever Jessica Brylan puts out a new one.

Author: Jessica Brylan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Recent developments would lead us to wonder if enough people are committed to going green. Within the past year, graduate students of the University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design & Planning could find no buyers for two green homes. Even more remarkable is that the homes were selling for half their worth.

Every year, Dan Rockhill, a well-respected professor at the university, organizes the non-profit Studio 804 – a design/build program for architects-to-be. The homes sell cheaper than normal due to the donations from businesses as well as the student labor. These bright, new architects have produced award-winning, energy-efficient homes. Their latest project was an ultra-efficient house in Kansas City, Kansas.

Actually, Rockhill expects this green home – the Prescott Passive House – to be the first in Kansas to receive a certification from the Passive Institute (a green building standard demanding 90% less energy than the average home). The Prescott Passive House has been chosen already as ‘This Week’s Green House’ and is expected to earn top marks from the U.S. Green Building Council. Of course, the 2009 Studio 804 home received a first-class rating from the USGBC and that house is still on the market.

Naturally, economic conditions are not the best for home sales. Yet the reluctance of people to invest in ‘green homes’ is rooted in more than the economy. Home buyers say that they are committed to a green home. Builders have even noticed that trend and are incorporating green features into their buildings.

Yet many home buyers are not prepared to pay extra for a green lifestyle. You may think that is understandable with the state of the economy. In most cases, however, the cold shoulder been given to green is not based on available finances. Industry leaders have observed that some home buyers turn a blind eye to ‘green’ and put their money into eye candy like state-of-the-art countertops or Jacuzzis.

So, what about the green? Choosing a granite countertop over high-performance windows is like choosing the frosting without the cake. The stuff is sweet is but the fluff has no foundation.

Would I choose the ‘green’ over the ‘granite?’ Yes! The reality is, however, that some home buyers turn away from green of their own choosing. Other home buyers just want a roof over their children’s heads and they are not able to afford the granite or the green.

If you can afford to choose green, it makes sense to go for it. If you cannot afford “green,” that is society’s shame. Our world needs more affordable housing and it should be affordable ‘green’ housing. Demand and incentives will encourage builders to go ‘green’ and still maintain a reasonable rate for buyers.

Developers have to know that there is something good in it for them. I could appeal to the real estate tycoons and say – come on, build green, even if you make less profit. So, you make $1,000,000 less, but look how you will be helping everyone to live in a healthy and green environment. I could launch that appeal but the real estate market is basically about the bottom line.

Our society has to come to a point where “not being green” is viewed as a “totally unacceptable choice.” Over the years, we have seen awareness and education cause a total shift in certain attitudes in our society. We need to go in that direction with energy-efficient homes because ‘living green’ is worth any price.

Would You Pay Extra For A ‘Green’ Home?

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Author: Ruslan Khor
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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President Obama’s energy plan was a great start to getting the country on the right track with the environment and our energy consumption but unfortunately the plan is being held up in congress. The plan outlined ways to reduce our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and create new jobs in green industries.

One of the main goals of the plan was to get twenty-five percent of our power from renewable, alternative energy by the year 2025 and to reduce carbon emissions by eighty percent by 2050. Another reachable goal is to bring the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. These goals are achieved by installing a cap and trade program for carbon emissions.

The premise of the program would be mandated government caps on emissions; the cap would be based on allowances that would be bought in auctions. The companies who need higher allowances will have to pay for their emissions instead of just being given the right to pollute. Companies that have reduced their emissions can sell their allowance to other companies stimulating the market between businesses. Part of the revenue the government earns in these auctions will be put directly into research and technology for alternative energy strategies.

Along with the emissions cap the plan also outlined several incentive programs to get communities involved in improving the environment. The “cash for clunkers” program gives money to those replacing their old fuel burning vehicles for cars that are more fuel efficient. Tax credits would be given to those who install energy efficient appliances and alternative energy systems in their homes. Overall the plan was looking to invest $100 billion (that’s only one seventh of the financial sector’s bailout) and create 2 million new jobs.

Whether the plan passes through congress or not it’s clear that communities in America are choosing to show initiative and take matters in their own hands. A growing number of developments are appearing that adhere to strict green guidelines. These communities are proving that not only is living green possible but it can happen without a struggle when properly planned.

Green communities establish guidelines and use smart planning to grow. They carefully design and plan the layout of the community, paying close attention to environmental impacts and smart growth. They locate themselves within existing developments to revitalize brown fields and run down areas. This keeps the growth from spreading to undeveloped areas and preserves the existing environment (preventing urban sprawl).

The communities are designed to encourage alternative transportation and are walk-able and bike-friendly. Clean, well-lit paths are abundant throughout the area and encourage citizens to get out and enjoy their surroundings. One green community in Florida is even providing electric cars at various charging stations in place of allowing traditional vehicles on their roads.

Water conservation is also a top priority using smart irrigation and native landscaping. It goes without saying that these communities use only energy efficient appliances. Several developments are even going completely off-grid relying solely on solar and wind power.

In these neighborhoods the structures are built using renewable, recyclable materials with emphasis on compact and efficient designs. The area leaders ensure that criteria are met before building can begin and before the structures pass inspection. All of these ideas integrate into a community that illustrates green living is entirely possible.

Cities across the nation are adopting these guidelines and smart development is taking place of giant conglomerates greedily consuming land in areas that don’t need excessive expansion. Citizens are fighting back. In Lake Billy Chinook, OR the town operates completely of the grid and they like it that way.

Online forums and groups attract more and more members every day. The number of homeowners switching to renewable power grows by a third every year. Currently there are about 180,000 people living totally off the power grid. People are communicating with each other and learning we can make an impact with or without the help of congress.

Citizens are working with each other to spread awareness about the dangers of our inexcusable wastefulness of energy. Whether the government gets behind the people or not changes are being made and while they may seem small at first, overtime the citizens of this country can be heard. It’s time our officials start listening to the people who pay their salaries and realize we cannot continue down the path we are on.

For more information on green communities and to connect with others passionate about change join our solar forum. Here you can discuss ideas and views with other people interested in solar power and green living. Even those just looking to save money on energy during these trying times will find useful information on becoming more energy efficient homeowners.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more information about the solar revolution, please visit Solar Forum, a gathering place for the environmentally conscious.

Author: Anne Clarke
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Heating, cooling and other utility bills are at a high right now. These costs are leaving everyday folks short of cash every month. A homeowner can have an infrared inspection done to check for areas where a house may be leaking water. In houses that have a flat roof system, water tends to pool in certain areas. These areas do not have a chance to dry out. The areas then become prone to softness and leaking. As water begins to come in it will saturate the insulation, which reduces the thermal resistance, thereby allowing hot air to escape into a cold environment and vice versa.

A building manager can successfully lessen maintenance overhead by having radiant heat systems checked. This does not need to be an invasive procedure. Thermal imaging allows hot water systems to be checked without destroying property. Even if the radiant heat is located under concrete or behind plaster, thermal imaging can be used to detect leaks without opening floors or walls. When a problem is identified, repairs can be made at the point of trouble without damaging surrounding materials.

Business owners need to be sure that the electrical wiring within their building is up to par. Old wiring causes numerous problems such as fires, power failures and even explosions. Wiring is not the only culprit when it comes to electricity damages though. There is other equipment that can malfunction and cause harm as well. Having an infrared inspection done of the electrical works within the building eliminates any guesswork involved. Doing this offers reassurance that not only is everything up to code, but it is also in proper working order. This helps to eliminate anxiety regarding injury, loss of production and downtime.

When scheduling an appointment for an infrared inspection, be sure to ask if the company has I.T.C. Nationally Certified Thermographers on staff. You want to be sure that the person doing your assessment is thoroughly trained within the field. Hiring a company just because they are the least expensive could leave you with unidentified leaks or hazardous wiring connections. It is always a good idea to ask questions and be sure that you are satisfied with the answers from a representative before agreeing to have the examination completed. Most companies will set up a free consultation at which time they can give you an estimate of costs.

An infrared inspection Boston can help you reduce your heating and cooling expenses so whether you are into being green, saving money or both you can benefit from reading the following: http://www.infraredhitech.com/

Author: Alfred Ardis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Why not spend a few minutes to give your fridge a tune up? Ensuring that your fridge is running at peak performance will reduce your energy bill and your grocery bill with one clean sweep!

Unlike freezers which operate best when they are as full as possible, fridges require some space to operate properly. When fridges are packed too full the air cannot circulate properly meaning that some foods will end up freezing and others will spoil because they are too warm.

Here are tips to help you keep your fridge running perfectly.

Watch your temperature. A Fridge has to maintain a steady temperature in order to work properly. A few degrees too high and all of your food will spoil very quickly; too cold will cause freezing and waste power. Buy an inexpensive thermometer and check it regularly to see if your fridge is set at the correct level. Ideally you want to maintain a temperature range between 36 and 38 Fahrenheit. You will also want to keep an eye on the thermometer as the weather changes; you may need to adjust your coldness settings throughout the year.

Keep you food in the right spot. Where the warmest and coldest places are will depend on your fridge as they can vary greatly. If you are not already aware of these spots within your fridge, move your thermometer around and see what information it can provide you.

Clean your coils. Fridge coils are notorious for collecting dust and assorted pet hair! Naturally they better they are maintained the more efficient your fridge will be. Use a brush or a vacuum attachment to clean them. Avoid any rough treatment during this process, just give them a throughout dusting to help them run at their peak.

Test your door seal. One of the main causes of energy loss is a loose door seal. Try the old standard test of closing the door onto a dollar bill. If the bill stays in place your fridge is doing fine, if it slips or falls you need to either clean or replace the gasket as soon as possible.

These simple steps will help to save you time and money. For more great ideas on home organization, Click Here

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Author: Amanda Jacobs
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The answer is simple and clear, making your home more energy efficient saves you money yearly. By changing simple everyday items in your home you will see an increase in your monthly and yearly electric bills. Saving more money is on everyone’s mind. The word Efficient is described as- Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. So with that in mind we will look at 5 areas you can make your home more energy efficient without wasting money and with little effort. Almost all these steps will require little to no skill. So let’s get started.

1: Watch your savings add up by turning the lights off when you leave the room or house. Electricity usage is charged by the second. Meaning every second a light or television for that fact is left on it is eating wasted electricity. Take a simple walk through the house before leaving and make sure everything unused is turned is turned off, your monthly electric bill will thank you.

2: Swap out leaky faucets. Water is getting very expensive. If you are tired of hearing that drip drip drip of wasted money, it may be time to make a run to your local home improvement store and swap out your leaky faucet. Not only does a nice new faucet look good but it will save your hundreds of dollars over the year.

3: Caulk up the cracks. If you can see day light through cracks around window frames or doors, that is wasted electricity escaping outside. Caulk will run you just a couple dollars and one bottle will be plenty for your whole house. On a side note, make sure to check your baseboards as well, making sure your baseboards are nice and sealed will keep unwanted insects out of your house.

4: Check your appliances. Is your refrigerator, washer and dryer costing you unnecessary extra cost every month? If you are in the market to buy new appliances you will do well to keep an eye out for the Energy Star label, energy star appliances will guarantee what you are buying is the most efficient and you may also quality for a tax rebate just buy using ENERGY STAR appliances. Not bad for something you already need.

5: Weatherstrip. If your weatherstripping is old and worn out this will be something you want to swap out. New weatherstrip is easy to install with very little no-how involved. Weather stripping is beneficial in door jams and window seals. All you need is a utility knife scissors and a hammer. Weatherstrip your house to keep outside elements outside, as well as keeping your air conditioning or heating inside.

We talked about turning the lights off, stopping leaky faucets, Caulking cracks, checking your appliances and weatherstripping, with following these 5 simple steps you will be well on your way to having an Energy Efficient home. Start today and make the needed changes in your home to save you money.

While being a life saving money enthusiast I truly believe in getting the most out of the your home and what you pay for. Find more tips on Energy Efficient Home Tips. Simple maintenance and observations can and do go a long way in Home Energy and sufficiency.

Author: Gayle Crossing
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The fact is that if we don’t come out of this denial, we won’t be having this earth for long. Our winters have already started becoming warmer and our summers have become unbearably hotter. Rains play truant. The snow cover has decreased. Tropical vacation destinations are no longer the sultry paradises people considered them to be because of the unbearably high temperatures they now have. If these aren’t real indications of what’s happening and what’s going to happen, then what are they?

We need to stop bantering about the global warming hoax without further delay and start implementing steps so that we can save the world. We are going to be our own superheroes in the coming years, and our work should have begun yesterday! We are overdue.

So, what’s there that you and I can do to stop something as humongous as global warming? The fact is that there are several small things we can do on an individual note that can count immensely toward bringing the rate of global warming down. Here is a list of a few things that we can do.

1. Stop overusing cooling appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. The coolants in them contain chlorofluorocarbons. When these are released into the environment, they harm the all-important ozone layer which forms a protective greenhouse layer over the earth. When the ozone layer is depleted, sun’s rays-even the very harmful ultraviolet rays-will gain free access onto the earth’s surface and ravage it.

2. We need to grow as many trees as we can. Trees utilize carbon dioxide for their natural process of photosynthesis, by which they prepare their food. If trees are cut, this carbon dioxide will escape into the environment, and that will increase the greenhouse effect drastically. The sun’s heat which will be trapped on the earth by this thicker layer will bring global warming to dangerous levels.

3. The same is applicable to the emissions from our vehicles and machines in the factories. All emitted gases escape into the atmosphere and add to the greenhouse layer, which then traps more of solar heat on the earth.

4. We need to be as green as possible. The human race is often depicted as fools that cut the tree they lived on. We are actually doing that by going as much away from nature as possible. Implementing green methods in our lifestyle will help maintain the natural balance as nature gave it to us.

We cannot stop all causes of global warming. For instance, we cannot stop the dangerous fluctuations in solar heat that have been happening lately. We cannot help the bubbling of the magma inside the earth’s core. But we can do out bit and avert the threat to our planet in our own small ways. We need to start by seeing through this global warming hoax and implementing the right measures while we still can.

Kelly Hunter owns and operates http://www.wireless-indoor-outdoor-thermometer.com and also writes about Wireless Indoor Outdoor Thermometer

Author: Kelly Hunter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Even beyond this fact, we as people have to get off grid and additionally stop having to be so dependent on government lobbying big utility companies who, while they are not really involved in a single underground scheme, nonetheless control a stranglehold on folks regarding operating their houses.

If you happen to be concerned on the subject of the rising cost of electricity and desire to be energy independent, then you definitely may desire to perform some exploration and learn how the magnet energy generator will be able to assist you with regards to becoming more energy cost-effective.How are details regarding free energy magnet machines being restricted? The free energy magnet apparatus seems a simple phenomenon and if you are pondering why it has not been implemented beforehand the response is simple. The large electricity companies do not want to let go of their control. They require users to depend upon them for electric and thus enhance their business rather than encourage use of free clean energy options.

If everybody began converting to free renewable energy choices, then their business would hit the rocks. Government and the large energy companies that are allies, undeniably do not wish to see this transpire.

Philosophy and process of the magnetic perpetual motion generator. A magnet has two ends. When we put a couple of magnets reverse ends together, the magnetic forces will attract and if we set the matching poles together, they are going to push one another. The magnetic power generator operates on this philosophy.

The magnets are placed in planned positions on the disk and another set on the edge of a disk alternately attracting and resisting one another, thereby producing the disk to spin. This attracting and resisting causes the motor to spin which produces free energy.

The overunity motor generates a greater amount of power output than the instrument needs to function. Because of the perpetual movement produced from magnets and their magnetic forces, a standard magnet is capable of making adequate power to last for an undetermined quantity of time. As a consequence, the free energy magnet device will in fact create free power eternally.

The outlook on the magnetic perpetual motion generator. In especially common terms, this concept of magnets creating continual free utility current with no assistance of a 3rd party machine is nothing different than from the alternator which charges the battery in the automobile.

For this reason indeed, this overunity motor is often a blessing in today’s world when your electricity bill is increasing. The electricity generator is becoming more popular and demonstrating as being a superb alternate green energy source that can help you to definitely decrease your electricity expense and be further energy self-sufficient.

Author: Lori Finney
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Solar energy is one of the cleanest out there. It gives off no harmful gases, nor does it make a lot of noise. It does not require much in the way of machinery or parts that need to be replaced frequently, as there are no moving parts or rapidly deteriorating materials. Panels do not even have to take up a lot of room if you have a roof that you can place solar paneling on. 

Solar paneling has the advantage of not only providing energy for your household, but in some areas, you can connect it with the local electricity grid and get paid for any excess energy you send into the grid. This can provide you with a small, but regular savings on the energy that you do take from the grid in times when solar energy isn’t as abundant, like night, rainy days and in the winter. 

There are many do it yourself instructions on the internet if you want to try making your own solar panels or, if you prefer, you can buy ready made panels and place them where you want them. Solar panels require some outlay of time, effort and money to either do it yourself or buy fully constructed and mount in the desired effort. 

The price of paneling can run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars if you were looking to cover 100% of your electricity needs, so it’s more economical to use solar panels as a way of augmenting your electrical bills instead of completely replacing them. If you really desire to be completely off the grid, wind and water power may supply your needs when solar power is reduced or not available. In damp and/or humid climates, care must be taken to waterproof or buy waterproofed solar panels.

Solar paneling can help you save money on your home and provide you with extra income that will offset the energy you do use from the grid. With the added advantage of being clean energy, solar power is likely to see increased use in the future, making panels more affordable for the homeowner and a great way to make home living a little cheaper and greener.

Carolyn Capalbo is an expert military relocation specialist and real estate agent serving Prince William County real estate. Visit Just4Real.com to find updated market information about areas in Prince William, including Sterling VA real estate.

Author: Carolyn Capalbo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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