House Building Blog » ECO-FRIENDLY HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Tint Your Windows

Ke — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:14:25 +0000

If you’re tired of the conventional blinds and curtains used on windows to protect the inside of your home from the glare of the sun, then why not consider tinting your windows? Although this is mostly done on vehicles, window tints can also be done for houses and a lot of homes in the US have begun making use of this cheap alternative.
Tinted windows have a number of benefits. Two of which are its ability to reduce heat loss during winter and heat gain during the summer season. However, tinted windows are also effective in eliminating up to 99 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays and its negative effects on both you and your furnishings. Go ahead, shed some light into your home.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: The Insulation Solution

Ke — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:12:46 +0000

Ever wonder why it seems as though your thermostat isn’t working as well as it should be? Either your room isn’t getting cold enough during the peak of the summer heat or it isn’t getting warm enough just when you need it during those cold winter nights.
I will not attempt to explain why this is the case as there is a multitude of possible scenarios. It’s even possible that your thermostat is in fact broken. Instead, let me propose a quick and easy solution: insulation. By installing insulation materials on your doors or windows, you are able to preserve the heat or the coolness of your room by preventing it from leaking out. By doing so you are able to conserve energy and in turn, reduce your electricity bill.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: “Green Par”

Ke — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:11:18 +0000

Ever heard of the term “green par”? If you have, then good. Just be sure that your home is indeed up to “green par.” If not, let me explain it to you a bit.
I apologize to the sports fans out there but “green par” isn’t a golfing term. In fact, environmentalists coined this term to represent a gauge that measures a home’s eco-friendliness. What you need to do is to perform an energy audit in your house to make sure that your electronic appliances remain energy efficient. Make a list of which appliances may be problematic and bring them to your local hardware store to ask their help in acquiring the needed supplies. In fact, you can even consult professionals to make sure that your appliances are still in good working conditions.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Fan Up!

Ke — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:09:28 +0000

Because of the emergence of a multitude of high-tech appliances such as automatic thermostats or HVAC systems, some folks think that fans are a thing of the past. In fact, count the fans in your house. Is your home one of the many that have more rooms than they have fans?
If you answered yes then it’s probably time to start buying more fans for your house. Fans are not only electricity efficient, but they are also quite effective for a variety of purposes. For instance, ceiling fans are useful in the summer as they eliminate the need for air conditioning while pushing heat downwards from the ceiling during winter. On the other hand exhaust fans have the ability to dissipate unwanted heat from kitchens or bathrooms when needed.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Power Strips

Ke — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:01:32 +0000

I bet you didn’t know that even when you switch off some of your electronics, they still consume energy. This is usually the case for televisions, computers, and their peripherals. Even when they’re off they’re still adding to your electricity bill. A quick fix to this problem is by adding power strips.
You can buy a power strip in your nearest hardware store for a very reasonable price. You can set-up your computer in such a way that all its peripherals (printer, scanner, speakers, etc) are plugged into the power strip. By switching off the power strip itself, it ensures that these peripherals do not consume any energy when they’re not turned on. Therefore, your electric meter stops running.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Glass Doors for Fireplaces

Ke — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:06:09 +0000

Most homes have fireplaces that are covered by screen dividers. In fact, chances are your fireplace may even have the same type of protection. An eco-friendly alternative for screen covers are glass doors. Not only are they safer, but they also prevent more heat from escaping through the chimney.
Obviously, the purpose of a fireplace is to emit heat. With screen covers, more heat is released through the chimney which means there is less heat left for the house. On the other hand, glass doors are more effective in the sense that they will keep you warmer. However, it’s not really advisable to use the fireplace and you should only use it for special occasions because of the health risks it brings with it.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Automatic Thermostats

Ke — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:04:05 +0000

Tired of needing to adjust the temperature of your thermostat every few hours? Then the answer for you may be to invest in an automated thermostat. Although installing one may require more than a few bucks, I’m sure that once it’s in place your automated thermostat should pay for itself sooner rather than later.
Studies show that you’d be able to save up to 3 percent of heating costs for every degree your thermostat is lowered in winter and around 6 percent for every degree it is raised during summer. If you add that all up you’d be able to see that your electric bill has also gone down dramatically.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Check on Your Air Conditioners Regularly

Ke — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:02:46 +0000

Converting your home into an eco-friendly hub doesn’t necessarily require such drastic measures like switching entirely to solar power. Little steps count. And sometimes, it’s as simple as making sure that your air conditioning systems are in good working conditions.
Air conditioners that are old are inefficient as they are more prone to emitting greenhouse gases. It’s also important to make sure that the filters of air-cons are checked and cleaned regularly and replaced when necessary. Also, dirty filters obstruct the airflow which means that the air-con will need to consume more energy to run. For you, this means a higher electrical bill. And of course you wouldn’t want this, right?

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: HVAC Systems

Ke — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:00:16 +0000

Have you ever considered investing in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system (HVAC)? Although these machines may be quite pricey and are usually seen in industrial areas and office spaces, HVAC systems are definitely a worthwhile investment.
All the advantages an HVAC system will bring are too many to mention. However in terms of making your home more eco-friendly, HVAC systems have two main benefits. Not only do they greatly reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses, but they should also shave a considerable amount of dollars on your electric bill. Be sure to look for HVAC systems that have a high SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) to be certain that the product meets government criteria.

Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Make a Compost Pile

Ke — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:58:45 +0000

There are a lot of ways to make your home more eco-friendly. One of the cheapest and easiest ways of doing so is by coming up with your own compost pile. Not only does this task require minimal cost (if any), but it is also able to bring numerous benefits for you and the environment.
The best area to place your compost pile is the backyard, for obvious reasons. You can mix soil with food wastes and other biodegradable throwaways like spoiled vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells. After a few weeks you can use this pile as fertilizer for your garden. Not only are you able to dispose of your garbage in an effective way but you’re also able to help reduce the production of waste.