Bring Todays Energy Efficiency To Yesteryear's Homes-Series Part 2 of 3, Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to go over some myths, facts and mistaken ideas that can cost you and your family money. Some old myths about energy become increasingly expensive. Others have simply become obsolete with advances in technology. While others are misinterpretations of old practices that have passed into home owner foklore.
Myth: Furnace filters are good for the whole season, you only need to change them once in the winter and once in the summer.
Fact: if the filter is restricting air flow at all, its time to change a filter. Just how often really depends on a number of factors such as, how long your system runs, the quality of the filters you use, and even the home's location. Fiberglas mesh filiters generally will clog faster than a more expensive pleated filter.
Money saven tip: investing in a removable electrostatic will usually be your least costly option over a relatively short time. When you need a clean filter all you do, is take the filter out and clean it off per the instruction of the manufacture and then reinstall it. No more disposable filters to buy and throw away. Many of the programmable digital thermostats on the market now a days. Are smart enough to even remind you its time to change your filter.
Bring Todays Energy Efficiency To Yesteryear's Homes-Series Part 2 of 3
Myth: Turning your thermostat all the way up or down will heat or cool your home alot faster.
Fact: did your mom ever have you turn the thermostat all the way up, because she was wanting your home to warm up faster? Did it work? The truth is that basic physics and your home's heating and cooling system, is the determining factor as to just how fast the temperature is going to change inside your home. Putting the thermostat all the way to Max, only means if you go off and forget to turn it back down, your going to waste energy and your hard earned money. If your home has a manual thermostat, then only move it to the temperature setting you want the temperature in your home to be.
Money saven tip: Investing in and having a programmable thermostat, and letting it adjust the temperature so you and your family will be comfortable with in your home. A programmable thermostat sure will pay for itself in the very first year.
Bring Todays Energy Efficiency To Yesteryear's Homes-Series Part 2 of 3
Myth: You can never add to much insulation.
Fact: there is an optimal amount of insulation that can be added in any given situation. Factors you need to consider include the available space. Do you remember the phrase, To much of a good thing? can hold true, when it comes to insulating. Adding to much insulation, especially when you pack it into to small of a space can be a waste of money, and not improve the energy efficiency of your home.
Money saven tip: Never guess! Be sure of the right insulation levels for your home's location and situation. The US Department of Energy, offers a mighty fine resource. Thats good for existing homes as well as new construction. Take the time to visit the DOE Zip Code Insulation Calculator at www.ornl.gov/~roofs/zip/ziphome.html.
Link to: Bring Todays Energy Efficiensy To Yesteryear's Homes-Series Part 3 of 3
Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections
PO Box 570
Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603
Office: 603-826-4207
Cell: 603-477-8072
Click on the Infrared Camera
to visit my Website:
Post 686 - 8 Feb. 2010
Disclaimer: Any of the information herein may come from various sources, some of which
may not be reliable and may change without any kind of notice. Dale Baker does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and the information provided is without any kind of warranties, either express or implied. The information on
this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments left by others may not express the views of the author. Dale Baker Owner: Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections. Copyright 2010 By Dale Baker-all rights reserved.
All Photos and Graphics used are the property and Copyright 1980 - 2010 by Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections.
Bring Todays Energy Efficiency To Yesteryear's Homes-Series Part 3 of 3, Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to go over some myths, facts and mistaken ideas that can cost you and your family money. Some old myths about energy become increasingly expensive. Others have simply become obsolete with advances in technology. While others are misinterpretations of old practices that have passed into home owner foklore.
Bring Todays Energy Efficiency To Yesteryear's Homes-Series Part 3 of 3
Myth: Brick or stone homes are more energy efficient than typical frame homes.
Fact: The vast majority of brick or stone homes are actually just a veneer over a wood frame. While more durable than other forms of exterior cladding they offer no efficiency advantage in terms of a home's energy use. For practical purposes the walls of a modern home clad in masonry have to be insulated the same as a frame building sided with wood or vinyl.
Myth: Washing clothes in hot water will kill germs.
A typical home's water temperature is 120 degrees or less, so washing in hot water would be like putting the germs in a hot tub. Our modern laundry detergents are formulated to do their best in cold water. Since heating water is a major energy user it sure makes sense to use cold water and save money.
Bring Todays Energy Efficiency To Yesteryear's Homes-Series Part 3 of 3
Myth: By running a air conditioner's fan continuously will keep your home cooler.
Fact: If the AC fan continuously keeps the moisture removed by the cooling unit from being discharged. That moisture is actualy re-circulated through your home. That is one cause of a cold, clammy-feeling home during ones cooling season.
Money saven tip: To circulate air the best, and the most economical choice is a ceiling fan. You'll find on most ceiling fans there is a summer and winter switch that changes the direction of the fan's air flow. You want the air to be pulled upward's in the summer, to cool and downward's in the winter, to heat. Install ceiling fans in the rooms you and your family use the most. And remember to turn the fan off when you or all family members leave the room to save on your electricity bill.
Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections
PO Box 570
Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603
Office: 603-826-4207
Cell: 603-477-8072
Click on the Infrared Camera
to visit my Website:
Post 686 - 7 Feb. 2010
Disclaimer: Any of the information herein may come from various sources, some of which
may not be reliable and may change without any kind of notice. Dale Baker does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and the information provided is without any kind of warranties, either express or implied. The information on
this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments left by others may not express the views of the author. Dale Baker
Owner: Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections. Copyright 2010 By Dale Baker-all rights reserved.
New Construction Energy Efficiency Check List-Series Part 1 of 2, Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to help you and your family with some key questions to ask a builder, if the home is truely energy efficient. Whether it be a new construction home that has already been built in a community, that you are looking
at to buy or a home that you are having built. If you are having a home built you'll want to think about having a Phase Costruction Inspection. And to have a Home Inspection of any home that is already built, be it new or an older home.
Questions to ask:
Has the home been qualified for the Energy Star Label? Just what will a Energy Star Home Label assure you and your family, the new construction home's predicted heating, cooling and hot water energy use should be at least 30% less than a comparable home thats based on the National Model Energy Code. But you should also be aware that just because there are Energy Star Labeled appliances, lighting and windows. Does not necessarily make a home, a Energy Star Labeled home.
New Construction Energy Efficiency Check List-Series Part 1 of 2
Are the windows that were used for the home, appropriate for the climate? With the improvements that have been made with the technologie of todays windows, its now possible and alot more affordable to buy energy efficient windows designed for the specific climate the home is located in. Homes that are in colder climates should have windows with a low U-value, effectively which will hold heat in the home and preventing condensation. In areas the climate is hot, then a low SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) is important, which allows for visible light into the home while at the same blocks out heat. You'll want to have windows which have a NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) rating, or they just simply have the Energy Star Label on them.
Is the insulation in the home optimized? Insulation in the walls and the attic of a home serves as a protective barrier, keeping out excessive heat and cold. The effectiveness of the insulation increases as the R-value increases. In order for insulation to work properly, it must have been installed carefully, without any gaps, crimping, or compression. This is real important in areas where the insulation fits around pipes, electrical outlets and wiring.
I Dale Baker owner of Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to recommend that you have the Home Builder sign off on these questions: _________________________________
Link to New Construction Energy Efficiency Check List-Series Part 2 of 2
Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections
PO Box 570
Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603
Office: 603-826-4207
Cell: 603-477-8072
Click on the Infrared Camera
to visit my Website:
Post 682 - 6 Feb. 2010
Disclaimer: Any of the information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any kind of notice. Dale Baker does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and the information provided is without any kind of warranties, either express or implied. The information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments left by others may not express the views of the author. Dale Baker Owner: Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections. Copyright 2010 By Dale Baker-all rights reserved.
All Photos and Graphics used are the property and Copyright 1980 - 2010 by Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections.
New Construction Energy Efficiency Check List-Series Part 2 of 2, Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to help you and your family with some key questions to ask a builder, if the home is truely energy efficient. Whether it be a new construction home that has already been built in a community, that you are looking at to buy or a home that you are having built. If you are having a home built you'll want to think about having a Phase Costruction Inspection. And to have a Home Inspection of any home that is already built, be it new or an older home.
Questions to ask:
Is the home's building envelope is properly sealed and has it been tested for air leakage? The average home has hundreds of very small holes through out, which heated and cooled air from the inside can escape to the outdoors. Those same holes can also let moisture, insects, dust and pollen enter your home. A tightly sealed and properly ventilated home, that has been verified on-site by a Home Energy Auditer, will not only reduce your energy bills, and will improve the home's indoor air quality.
New Construction Energy Efficiency Check List-Series Part 2 of 2
Is the home's heating and cooling (HVAC) equipment highly efficient and is properly sized for the home? Furnaces rated at 90 AFUE and air conditioners rated 12 SEER or higher qualifys for a Energy Star label. This equipment is going to save you and your family money, and most often they come with a longer warrantie, and usually they require less maintenance. And another thing, when a home is built with energy efficient windows, optimal insulation, and the building envelope is properly sealed construction, smaller HVAC equipment can be used and can in turn effectively maintain comfort and will last longer.
Is the home's ductwork tightly sealed, sufficiently insulated, and has been tested for air leakage? Tightly sealed ductwork is crucial to the energy efficiency of a home. Typical ductwork leak 20 to 30 % of the air that is forced through them, which in turn wast 20 to 30% of your hard earned money that you spend on heating and cooling your home. So with proper sealing and insulation, that has been verified on-site by a Home Energy Auditer, will substantially reduce the home's ductwork leaks.
I Dale Baker owner of Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to recommend that you have the Home Builder sign off on these questions: _____________________________
Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections
PO Box 570
Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603
Office: 603-826-4207
Cell: 603-477-8072
Click on the Infrared Camera
to visit my Website:
Post 681 - 6 Feb. 2010
Disclaimer: Any of the information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any kind of notice. Dale Baker does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and the information provided is without any kind of warranties, either express or implied. The information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments left by others may not express the views of the author. Dale Baker Owner: Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections. Copyright 2010 By Dale Baker-all rights reserved.
All Photos and Graphics used are the property and Copyright 1980 - 2010 by Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections.
What do You mean I'm not Covered on my Policy?, Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections. Would like ask home owners to be sure you have all names are correctly shown on, your home deed and insurance policy.
This could very well happen to you. How could there possibly be no coverage on my policy if I'm a named insured? The named insured on a home/property insurance policy must be the legal owner of the property, the same as the name on the deed of the home.
What do You mean I'm not Covered on my Policy?, if the named insured is not correctly shown on the policy, then your claim will be denied by the insurance company. To avoid such a catastrophic event to you or a member of your family, you should review all of your policies to be sure that the named insured is written correctly on your home policy.
For instance, if you have changed the legal ownership of your property to a Trust or LLC, etc. You need to contact your insurance company immediately to change the named insured on your policies.
Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections
PO Box 570
Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603
Office: 603-826-4207
Cell: 603-477-8072
Disclaimer: Any of the information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any kind of notice. Dale Baker does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and the information provided is without any kind of warranties, either express or implied. The information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments left by others may not express the views of the author. Dale Baker Owner: Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections. Copyright 2010 By Dale Baker-all rights reserved.
All Photos and Graphics used are the property and Copyright 1980 - 2010 by Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections.
Click on the Infrared Camera
to visit my Website:
Post 680 - 28 Jan. 2010
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2010 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved