Is Biomass A Valid Green Energy Source?

According to experts, yes it is. In fact, it is one of the three main sources of bioenergy.

But what is bioenergy? Bioenergy is a process by which organic material such as animal waste, plants and wood, etc. are used to generate electricity, produce heat and also aid in the production of biofuels.

Biomass Fuel Supply (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the case of biomass, hot air or water is generated to produce electricity. This is done through direct combustion and is considered the simplest and most common method of generating energy from biomass.

Aside from generating electricity, biomass can be used for hot air production to warm a home or workspace. For this to work, biomass has to be combusted in a furnace where it heats either water or air. Speaking of water, this enables you to have warm water so you can take a shower. In short, biomass in itself can also be used in a small scale as a heating system.

Since you can generate electricity and heat, some people have been able to combine the two which is known as combined heat and power or CHP - which is a very efficient way to generate energy as you can use one energy source for two purposes.

If you are able to compare the amount of electricity generated between biomass and let’s say solar energy, you will notice that biomass produces more because the energy in plants is already captured and stored, and you don’t have to collect it first which is what happens with solar or even wind energy since this is manufactured technology. Biomass energy is readily available unlike the other two which are dependent on the weather.

Combined heat and power plant fired with biomass (woodchips from local forest and other) in Taufkirchen near Munich, Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can even use organic waste to product electricity. No other green energy source can do that, and by using this fuel source properly, governments and municipalities can save money because you don’t have to spend money to dispose of the waste and you will no longer depend as much on foreign oil to power energy plants.

The downside to biomass is that because you have to burn waste and other organic materials to produce power, you add to the pollution which is already in the atmosphere. But this can be offset by planting more crops which help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

You will also have to shell out a lot of money initially for the costs of labor, and the transport and storage of these fuels.

Biomass uses renewable natural resources which is why it is considered a green energy source. This means that we theoretically can have an endless supply of it, just like the power of the sun or the wind which flows from the ocean. The challenge is to find suitable land that has a sufficient water supply so these biomass fuel sources will be able to grow. This means that in areas where water is not that abundant, you cannot rely on biomass technology to generate power. When that happens, you will need to use other means, such as solar, wind, or geothermal energy.

There are lots of ways to generate power without causing harm to the environment. Biomass is just one of many, and it can be a viable option to supplement our fuel needs in some areas.

Living Green Starts at Home

You may have gotten the impression that living green involves some sort of enormous campaign that will take all of your time and cost you lots of money traveling all over the globe. While that may be a dream of some conservationists, you can live a green lifestyle in your own home. In fact, it begins here - those who find a niche in going green in their own lifestyles may branch out and become eco-consultants or other professionals in the field of environmental conservation.

Here are some tips for implementing a green lifestyle at home.

The Kitchen

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is where you cook, use appliances, and wash hands and dishes. The kitchen may be where you eat, too. So this is a good place to start with your green lifestyle.

* Save water in the kitchen by not pre-rinsing dishes and only running the dishwasher when it's full. If you have to pre-rinse (some dishwashers just can't handle non-rinsed dishes), then do so in a sink half-full of water. Scrub and rinse with the water off, and then load the dishwasher. You've only used half a sinkful of water to pre-rinse. You can also save water in the kitchen by washing produce in a pan of water.

* Appliance use is heavy in the kitchen, from the refrigerator to the stovetop. To save energy, you can combine the cooking of foods by baking more than one thing at the same time. On the stovetop, use residual heat where you can and place pots and pans on appropriately-sized stove eyes.

If possible, use energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen. And your parents were right - don't hold the refrigerator door open!

The Bedroom

In your bedroom, you can go green in some different ways.

* Use natural bedding such as cotton sheets without a lot of heavy dyes and deep colors.

* Place air-cleaning potted plants around your bedroom to purify the air. In kids' bedrooms, potted plants can also be implemented as long as they are out of reach of young children.

The Living Room

In your main living space, you can go green by using fans to cool the room in the summer and a space heater to boost the central heat in the winter. You can also:

* Set potted plants around for cleaner air.

* Cover windows with shades or curtains to keep out hot sunshine in the summer, and open them in the winter to help warm the room.

* Make use of natural light as much as possible. Position reading chairs and couches so that window light comes from behind, over the reader's shoulder. Use small lamps with CFLs and timers.

Peripheral Rooms

In rooms that are not being used, close vents to keep down heating and cooling costs and energy use. Make sure sunshine is not heating these rooms in the summer, and apply the same principle in reverse in the winter.

These are just some simple tips that you can use to live a greener lifestyle without spending any money at all! If you have other ideas, please comment below and share your tips!

Five Cooking Tips to Save Energy in the Kitchen

We’re all looking for ways to save money and consume fewer resources for a greener planet. Some of the ways to save energy, like turning the thermostat up or down, seem fairly obvious and don’t feel as if we’re doing enough.  One great way to amplify your efforts is to look room by room at how you can save energy.

If you've been reading our Cooking From Scratch blog, you know how much I love to cook! So today we're going to talk about what is perhaps the most energy-hungry room in your home - the kitchen.  Here are five cooking tips to save energy in the kitchen:

Large and small skillets on different sized burners. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1.  Use the right size pan for the cooking job and make sure to match it to the right sized burner.  It may sound silly but you can waste a lot of time and energy trying to boil a giant-size pot of potatoes on an itty bitty burner.  And you can waste a tremendous amount of energy warming up a small pan of sauce on a giant burner.  If you can see more than a half inch of overlap, either the pan overlapping the burner or the burner overlapping the pan, see if there’s a better fit. 

Additionally, if you only have to boil three potatoes you don’t need to get out the giant 5-quart pot.  And if you have to boil twenty potatoes, you absolutely do need a large pot with an appropriate amount of water – just enough to cover the tops so you don’t have to spend too much time and energy heating all that water.

#2.  Don’t preheat your oven.  Have you ever been pressed for time and just shoved that tray of chocolate chip cookies in an oven that hasn’t been preheated?  What happened?  Presumably you may have had to add one or two minutes to the cook time but it certainly didn’t add ten minutes or more to the cook time.  With many ovens it takes 10-15 minutes to warm up to 350 degrees, and that’s wasted energy.  Don’t waste your time and energy preheating - get those cookies in the oven and enjoy!

#3.  Use smaller appliances for smaller jobs.  If you’re making an open-faced sandwich, warming up leftovers or eating those frozen and ready-to-cook cookies, then skip the oven and use your toaster oven instead.  It uses less energy to heat up - and it also won't put off as much heat into the house so you won't have to run the a.c. as much.  Additionally, if you use a microwave, it can be used to steam, reheat and even to make eggs, melt chocolate and warm up canned foods in much less time and with much less energy.

A pressure cooker with a simple regulator and an oval lid. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#4.  When you are making soups, stews and even some barbecue recipes or roasts, consider using a slow cooker instead of cooking them for hours on top of the stove.  Slow cookers use less energy and you can cook your meals during low energy times in your home. For example, if you’re using the air conditioner during the day and also cooking, you’re going to make your a/c work harder because your cooking will add heat to the home.  However, if you can cook your roast overnight when your a/c isn’t running as hard then you’re saving energy. It also won't heat up the house as much as using the stove or oven.

#5.  Grab your mother’s pressure cooker and embrace it for its amazing power to cook foods in a tenth of the time!  However, if your mother’s old pressure cooker scares the heck out of you, the newer models are significantly safer, and easier to use. 

You can save a tremendous amount of energy focusing your attentions and habits on one room at a time.  And what better place to start than in the kitchen, the core of your home and probably your biggest user of energy? 

10 Home Energy Saving Tips

Saving energy at home means saving money, which is something everyone can appreciate.  It also means conserving resources so we can ensure a healthier planet for all.  Here are some simple home energy savings tips you can start using today.

#1.  Use smart strips.  Every day appliances consume energy even when they’re turned off.  Microwaves, coffee makers, computers, televisions, the list goes on and on.  Rather than let this valuable energy go to waste, plug your appliances and electronic equipment into a smart strip.  A smart strip is a strip of outlets with an off/on switch. When you’re not using the appliances and equipment, say at night when you’re asleep, simply turn the smart strip off. You’ll save thousands of watts each year. 

English: Compact fluorescent light bulb (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#2.  Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.  Compact fluorescent bulbs use significantly less energy, about 75% less.  The added bonus is that while these bulbs cost a bit more at the store, they last for years.  The average light bulb used in a high traffic area lasts 4-6 months.  A compact fluorescent bulb lasts up to 10 times longer. 

#3.  Adjust your thermostat.  Simply adjusting it a few degrees lower in the winter and higher in the summer will save energy.  A programmable thermostat makes it easy.

#4. Dry dishes naturally. If you use automatic drying with your dishwasher, turn it off, open the door, and let your dishes air dry.

#5.  Lower your water heater temperature. Your water heater uses energy to keep your water hot and ready for those steamy showers.  Turn it down to 120 degrees.  Your water will still be good and hot, certainly hot enough for a steamy shower, and yet not too hot to scald.  And you’ll save energy.

#6.  When replacing appliances, look for energy star appliances.  They conserve energy and many communities offer rebates and credits when you purchase these appliances.

#7.  If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper works well and is closed when not in use.  You can lose a significant amount of heat during the winter and cool air during the summer through an open fireplace damper.

Air conditioner. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#8.  Check doors.  Many doors don’t seal well. Particularly if you live in an older home where the walls and floors may have settled and shifted.  Air can easily escape through cracks around your door causing your furnace or air conditioner to work harder thus wasting energy.

#9.  Embrace passive solar.  The sun is fantastic for heating and lighting our homes.  If your home has a southern exposure you can harness the power of the sun to heat your home in the winter and to provide daylight year round.  Eastern exposures can open the curtains in the morning to heat and light the home and western exposures can open the curtains in the afternoon (or close them in the summer to keep the house cool).

#10. Check your insulation.  Too much insulation causes your energy to be lost through your windows while too little insulation causes energy to be lost through your roof or attic. 

Home energy savings doesn’t have to require a home overhaul.  A few simple steps can save you hundreds of dollars a year and conserve energy, reducing fossil fuel usage and pollution.

Energy-Saving Indoor and Outdoor Lighting Choices

It’s amazing how much it costs to light a home inside and out.  And there is a bigger cost than just the money you’re spending on electricity and bulbs. There is also an environmental cost to producing all of that electricity.  Let’s take a look at seven energy-saving indoor and outdoor lighting tips.

An electric residential lighting dimmer switch. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1.  One of the easiest ways to conserve energy is to invest in a dimmer.  If you don’t need all 100 watts blasting, then a dimmer can reduce the amount of energy pulled from a light fixture.  Great places to put a dimmer are in bathrooms, kitchens and dining rooms and even in your living room if you use overhead lighting.

#2.  100 watts isn’t always best.  Choose your lighting by the room.  Some rooms need lots of bright lighting, say over your vanity for example; you want to be able to see your face clearly before you put on make-up or shave.  However, you probably don’t need high voltage fixtures in your closet.

#3.  Compact fluorescent bulbs.  CFL bulbs cost a bit more per bulb; however, they last ten times longer than the average incandescent and they use less energy.  A single CFL bulb can save over $30 in electricity costs over the life of the bulb and it saves 2,000 times its own weight in carbon emissions.

#4.  Motion sensors.  These are great for outdoor lighting because they turn on only when there is movement.  They’re perfect for porch lights, over the garage and even on your back patio or walkway. 

A CFL light bulb. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#5.  Solar lighting.  Solar lighting is another great option for both indoor and outdoor lighting.  Solar panels can be used to provide energy to internal lighting.  And outdoors, solar lights can be used to light walkways, porches, pools, fountains and other outdoor features.

#6.  Passive solar is a no-cost lighting solution.  Passive solar means letting the sun light your home.  Whether it’s through strategically placed windows, skylights or solar tubes, the sun can do a tremendous job of lighting your home for free.

#7.  Use timers on vacation.  Finally, timers are a great way to have lights turn on and off when you’re away.  Many people, when they go on vacation, leave the lights on.  Instead of wasting all that money and energy, put lights on a timer. 

Just incorporating a few of these energy-saving indoor and outdoor lighting tips can cut your energy bill in half each year.  Enjoy the savings and your contribution to a greener planet.

Seven Easy Everyday Planet Saving Tips

Saving the planet, conserving and using sustainable products, has become more than a passing fad.  It has evolved into a way of life.  Being environmentally conscious often also means being financially conscious – it often saves money.  Let’s look at 7 things you can do every day to save the planet.

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1.  Buy and use reusable shopping bags.  Whenever you go shopping, whether it’s at the grocery store or clothing store, use reusable bags.  You can often purchase these durable cloth bags at your local market or home store but you can also order designer reusable shopping bags online.  You can even make your own.  The cost of a reusable bag bought at the market costs just a few dollars and you’re saving the earth from overfull landfills.  Plastic takes 1,000 years to decompose and paper bags use 14 million trees a year.

#2.  Turn it off.  Whether it’s lights or the water faucet, turn them off when you’re not using them.  Every day we leave the water running while we brush our teeth, wash our face, shave and shampoo our hair.  Turn it off when you’re not using it and save thousands of gallons of water each year.  And if you’re in the habit of leaving the lights on when you leave the room a simple change in habit, turning them off when you leave the room, will save energy and money. 

That goes for your computer too. When you’re not using it, rather than putting it into sleep mode, turn it off.

#3.  Adjust your thermostat.  This is an easy one. Simply lower your thermostat in the winter by 5 degrees and raise your thermostat 5 degrees in the summer and you’ll save both on your electric and gas utility bills, and you’ll save resources.

#4.  Walk when you can.  Walking is great exercise.  It allows you to get valuable fresh air and sunshine and of course walking conserves fuel.  If walking isn’t an option, consider a bicycle.  You can cover the same amount of distance in about half the time and biking is exceptional exercise.  You don’t have to be Lance Armstrong to get on a bike, and your bike doesn’t need to be fancy.  They’re making wonderful cruiser bikes which are comfortable and uncomplicated, no gears or disc brakes to worry about, and they’re good for holding baskets which you can fill with groceries or other items.

#5.  Reduce, reuse, and recycle.  We’re not just talking about the basics here.  Yes, it’s great to reuse that bag your last birthday present came in however what about reusing the same water glass throughout the day to save washing as many dishes.  You can also pour the stale water in your pet’s water dish into your plants.  You can use food containers to pack your lunch instead of plastic baggies and plastic wrap.  The options to reduce, reuse and recycle are endless.  Take a look around your home and see where you can conserve.

Compact fluorescent light bulb (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#6.  When your light bulbs burn out, instead of replacing them with another standard light bulb, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs.  They’re energy smart and while they cost a touch more than a standard bulb, they last 10 times longer. 

#7.  As you run out of cleaning products in your home, replace them with natural or environmentally friendly cleaning products. Look for biodegradable products and if you’re unsure whether a product is environmentally safe, look for the health warnings.  If it’s warning-free, meaning nothing on the label says toxic, dangerous, warning or any other alarming notation, then you’re probably safe. (For some examples of eco-friendly cleaning products and more, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com.)

There are hundreds of small steps you can take every day to make the planet we live on a healthier and safer place to be.  Start with these everyday tips, integrate them into your daily routine.  Once they become a habit you can look for new eco-friendly habits to adopt.

Video - Home Winterizing Tips

In this short video, a home improvement expert demonstrates several tips for winterizing your home and getting your home ready for the energy needs of winter, while keeping your electric bills down through increased efficiency.

How to winterize your home for comfort and energy efficiency
Lou Manfredini discusses ways to winterize your home. Tips include: getting a professional furnace inspection and tune-up; replacing old, drafty windows and doors with quality, energy-efficient products from a manufacturer such as Marvin; weather str...

Save Energy With A Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are quite possibly your single biggest tool to conserve energy and to reduce your utility expense each month.  In addition to those marvelous benefits of saving energy and money, programmable thermostats offer a number of additional perks.

Benefits of Programmable Thermostats

Lux Products' Model TX9000TS Touch Screen Thermostat. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Typically, you will save about $150 each year on your heating and cooling bill, and you can save more depending on how you program your thermostat.

* Programmable thermostats are more earth friendly because they don’t contain any mercury. 

* When you use a programmable thermostat, you will use less energy to heat or cool your home and therefore you’ll reduce your carbon footprint – fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

* For homeowners who work outside the home during the day and have a different schedule on the weekend, a programmable thermostat can offer many benefits.  On the other hand, if you are home throughout the day, seven days a week, then a programmable thermostat will offer more limited benefits.

* Programmable thermostats remove the work from heating and cooling your home.  Once you've programmed your thermostat, you can adopt a hands-off approach and know you’re going to be comfortable while saving money and energy – it’s extremely convenient and efficient.

* Programmable thermostats can be programmed differently for each day of the week.  This is wonderfully convenient if you work from home two days a week and would like it to be warmer or cooler at that time.  On the days when you’re out of the home during the day you can set your thermostat lower during the winter and higher during the summer to save more money. 

You don’t need the temperature to be 70 during the winter if you’re not home; you can let it drop to 65 or even cooler and then set your thermostat to warm up your home when you’re scheduled to arrive. 

* Programmable thermostats have override features, which allow you to modify your program temporarily.  This is convenient if for example, you don’t go into work as you would normally and you wish to warm or cool the house to a more temperate level than if you weren’t at home.  You simply set the temperature you want it to be and it will stay there until your next scheduled temperature change.

A residential electronic thermostat (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If, for example, you have your thermostat scheduled to warm the house from 63 degrees at 9am to 68 at 5pm then your override will hold until 5pm at which point it will switch to the new program.

Many programmable thermostats also offer a hold feature that allows you to simply set the temperature and keep it there until you change it.  This might be used if you’re going on vacation and don’t need your home’s temperature to fluctuate.  If you’re taking a vacation during the winter, for example, you can simply hold your home’s temperature at 55 degrees Fahrenheit and know that your pipes won’t freeze and you won’t be wasting energy and money while you’re gone.

Programmable thermostats are great for saving money on your heating and cooling bills and they’re extremely earth friendly.  In addition to those two primary benefits, programmable thermostats provide a convenience unrivaled by standard thermostats which require you to adjust them each time you wish to change the temperature in your home.

Fall Energy-Saving Tips: Insulating Your Home

Well, we can't deny it any longer - summer is over.... The leaves are falling, the mornings are crisp, and we're back to sleeping with blankets. It's fall!  And fall is always a great time to assess your energy usage and find ways to keep those energy bills as low as possible through the winter. This week we've got several helpful tips for winterizing your home and saving energy. Today we're going to talk about insulating your home.

Rockwool Thermal insulation, scanned @ 1600dpi; Type Roxul RXL 80. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Insulation can be a confusing topic.  How much is enough?  What are the right materials?  What insulation is safe and what insulation material is unsafe and potentially harmful to your health and the environment.  Lets address those questions and clear the air about home insulation.

Insulation Facts

• Insulation is measured by R value.  The greater the R-value, the greater the insulation power of the insulation.

• The US department of energy recommends an R-value of R-49 for the attics of homes in most states.

• If you live in south Florida, Texas, or California then R-38 is typically all you’ll need.

• Most regional building codes for new construction require a minimum of R-19 in walls and floors. 

Three Types of Insulation
Insulation comes in more forms than the pink roll you see on television.  The three main types are:

Blown-In Insulation. This type of insulation is the easiest to install and is usually the ideal choice for upgrading your home.  Essentially, insulation ingredients are fed into a blower and then it’s forced into the necessary spaces.  This type of insulation is usually made of cellulose, rock wool, polyurethane foam, or fiberglass.  Cellulose, made of recycled newspaper treated with a flame retardant, is the most popular choice. 

Blanket Insulation is probably what you’re most familiar with and is typically used in new construction.  It comes in rolls where it can easily be laid onto floors and ceilings and inserted into walls.   It’s made of rock wool or fiberglass.  Easy because it doesn’t require professional installation.

Polyisocyanurate (rigid) insulation boards (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rigid Insulation is tough and offers close to R5 per inch.  The panels are comprised of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) or extruded polystyrene foam (XPS).  This insulation is typically used on basement interior walls. 

The drawback to this type of insulation is that it is flammable and composed of an ingredient that isn’t degradable or recyclable.  Both mineral wool and cellulose are environmentally friendly. Though cellulose is flammable unless treated with a flame retardant. 

Where Do You Insulate?

Attics are the primary place people think to insulate.  The recommended minimum amount of insulation is usually a minimum of R-49.

Crawlspaces are another common place to insulate because they are prime areas to lose heat and energy. 

Walls are the final location to consider insulating.  This includes both exterior and non-insulated above ground basement walls. 

House Insulation R Values

• R value of Blown in Cellulose Insulation is 3.70 per inch
• R value of Fiberglass Insulation is 3.14 per inch 
• R value of Expanded Polystyrene is 4.00 per inch

Remember you’re looking for an R value of 49 for your attic. This means if you have less than 15 inches of fiberglass for example, then you’re home needs another few inches of insulation. 

Insulating your home is a valuable way to save energy.  With a little research into the present state of your insulation, you can quickly ascertain whether your home could benefit with a little extra padding.  Pay attention to condensation on your windows and your roofline during the winter.  Rapid snowmelt on your roof and condensation on the inside of your windows can be signals that you have too little insulation.

Recommended Resource: The Eco Energy Saver 400

The Eco Energy Saver 400 Package is a great purchase that is packed full of energy- saving products. Not only will these products help you to save your hard-earned money, but you will also help the environment by being eco-conscious.

The package includes a lot of different energy-saving small products that will make a big improvement to your energy bill. It includes: Window Energy Film, Hot Water Heater Insulating Jacket, SmartStrip Power Strip, 6 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, Low Flow Showerhead, Foam Outlet Gaskets and other products to turn your home into an energy-saving household.

The purchase price of this bundle of energy-saving products might seem quite high at first, but you will certainly notice the financial savings over a relatively short period of time. I think that this package would make a fantastic gift/purchase for anybody wanting to improve their energy consumption in their home.

Where to buy: www.neutralexistence.com
(in the Search box right at the top, type "Eco Energy Saver 400")

Why Eco-Conscious Home Owners Should Have an Energy Audit

If you are eco-conscious, that means you are concerned about your impact on the earth. And that extends to your personal energy use. Therefore, as an eco-conscious homeowner, it's a good idea to have an energy audit.

What Is an Energy Audit?

Essentially, an energy audit on your home means going over it in detail, noting any areas of energy inefficiency. For example, you would look at your home's insulation, windows, doors, lighting, and appliances. You'd also check your water heater, pipes, and heating and cooling system for signs of inefficiency and energy waste.

Image via WikipediaOption 1: Do It Yourself

You can conduct an energy audit yourself. You will need to take notes, and inform yourself on just what you are looking for. Here are some tips:

* Insulation is not just pink fluff in the attic. When you audit your insulation, you will need to check your home's walls, the basement or second storey ceiling, and the attic. For example, you may have an attached garage at your house. If the ceiling of the garage is not insulated, cold air will penetrate to the room above it. Check existing insulation for leaks.

* Lighting is a big source of waste in some homes. Look for any rooms that have high-wattage, incandescent bulbs in them, and replace these with CFLs or other more efficient lighting options. Also look for ways to let in more natural light - which is free!

* Windows and doors will need to be scrutinized. If you don't have up-to-date windows and doors, seal leaks with caulk or weather stripping.

* Your hot water heater can be a source of energy waste. Insulate it with bubble wrap or special material available from your local utility company. Check your hot water pipes and insulate them with foam if they are not already. Replace worn foam.

Option 2: Hire a Professional

There are certified home energy auditors out there, and you might consider having one come to your home. They will go into detail and will undoubtedly cover things you would miss. He or she will have special equipment for detecting air and heat leaks that you could not detect on your own.

Image via WikipediaFor example, home energy auditors have infrared cameras that can show heat loss too subtle for you to feel, and they have calibrated "blower doors." These are enormous fans that fit into your doorway, and they draw out so much air that the air pressure decreases inside your home. The higher air pressure outside means that air will rush in through even the tiniest cracks in order to equalize the pressure, thus revealing air leaks.

Your auditor will most likely want to go over your utility bills with you, so gather up the past year's records. Let the auditor know of any existing problems, such as a room that never seems to get warm or hot water that runs out after only a few minutes of use.

Whether you do it yourself or hire someone, a home energy audit is essential for eco-conscious homeowners.

For some great options for energy-saving products and resources, visit www.neutralexistence.com.

Fall Home Energy Savings Tips: Preparing for the Winter

Whether we like it or not, winter is coming. So get prepared today, and you can potentially save a lot on your winter energy bills - and help the environment at the same time.

Winter means one thing: cold air. But for many, winter also means larger electric bills. Yes, it is true. In some areas summer causes the highest energy use, but in many locations, winter is the season where your electric bills skyrocket to digits that can cause financial burden. In winter, the heating system consumes the biggest portion of our electricity budget. Fortunately, we have the whole fall to prepare for it. And to prepare for it means that we must have the right tools, and proper information on how to save energy during the coming season.

Here are some areas to examine:

Image via WikipediaThe fireplace – Getting your fireplace ready for winter will certainly yield savings; and fall is the best time to clean and repair the fireplace. Make sure that the damper is tightly sealed when not using it. Even a small gap can let the cold air rush in and send the warm air out. If you are using an electric heating system, an opening in the fireplace means the heater has to work harder to keep the place warm. Let a professional contractor do the proper maintenance in securing your fireplace for the winter.

When you decide to use the fireplace, you can turn down your heater. This can save you as much as 8% on heating costs (or sometimes more, in an efficient home).

The furnace – The furnace will have to work extra hard if the filter is full of dirt. This will equate to energy waste since the furnace will consume more power for the service it brings. To avoid this, make sure that your filter is clean. The owner’s manual will tell you how to clean the filter. A clean filter will let you breathe clean air around your house. A clean filter can save you 5%  or more on heating costs.

The ducts – Small leaks in your ducts will certainly result to lost heat so make sure that this is regularly checked. Usually ducts are located in unheated places, which is another reason why heat is lost. You can help prevent this by insulating the ducts by wrapping them with R-6 or higher fiberglass. (Never use cloth-backed tapes.) You can also wrap them with UL-approved metallic or plastic tapes and mastic sealants.  Leaking ducts can add up to 30% more burden on your heating system so make sure they are sealed and secured.

Solar heat – You need not have solar panels on your roof to use the sun as the source of heat. All you have to do is use open your drapes during the day to warm your room without using electricity. Then close them at night to keep the warm air inside. Reduction of the use of your heating system during the day can let you cut as much as 10% on your electric consumption

Image via WikipediaLeaks in seals – Leaks in the seals of your doors, windows, joints and sills will let the cold air in and the warm air out - not what you want. Make sure that these openings are sealed with either sealant or weatherstripping. It will help reduce the work of the heating system immensely.

The thermostat – A programmable thermostat or a centralized heating system will let you save on heating costs, as it will let you set your desired room temperature during a specific period of the day. This is very useful when you are leaving your home or even going to sleep at night. Just one centigrade lower on your heating system will let your save you as much as 5% on your heating costs.

As you can see, following these simple tips and making sure your home is prepared for the winter weather can help you save quite a bit on your electric bill this winter, and use less fuel in the process. Most of these are easy fixes, so why not take the time right now, and put some of these tips into action? 

Assessing Energy Efficiency In Your Home

Remember that the two great factors which you can change in order to enhance your quality of life are your lifestyle and your home. If you want to modernize your home, you have to make significant decisions regarding your household appliances. In today’s world, we are faced with a wide range of appliance styles, sizes, configurations and technologies.  Evaluating your household appliances can help a lot in your aim to save home energy.  The following are the factors that can help you compare and assess your home appliances:

Image via WikipediaEnergy Efficiency:  It is always good to carefully weigh the energy efficiency of the appliances in your home. With some household devices, you may have a choice between electricity and natural gas as the source of power. The energy efficiency can also be based on the materials the machine or appliance is made of. Various materials can be cooled and heated at different rates. Choose Energy Star appliances where possible, as these are made specifically to be energy-efficient.

Size:  Having an appliance with the right size for your home and the area where it will be used is significant. Speed can also be a factor. Generally, the faster an appliance finishes its task, the less energy it uses, compared to longer usage of a slower appliance.

Features:  Assess first the features of an appliance before purchasing it and think carefully how these features can improve your lifestyle, and whether you truly need the appliance at all. If you really don't need it, don't purchase it.

Another advisable tip is to come up with a home energy conservation plan.  There are various approaches which you can use in developing such plan and these include:

• Identification of the places where home energy is used inefficiently or lost
• Prioritizing said areas and finding out how much energy is being wasted
• Correcting said problems systematically depending on your home energy improvement budget

As you come up with your home energy conservation plan, you should first identify the problem areas. It is good to start in the area where the highest amount of energy is used because that area can also be the best place to gain potential savings. With the above mentioned home energy conservation tips, you can free up more bucks and also benefit the environment by conserving energy (aka fuel) use.

Examples of Energy Star Rated Appliances:
     

Home Energy Conservation Tips

Every year, interest rates are increasing and the cost of electricity is definitely going up. And whether we admit it or not, we sometimes find ourselves running out of money. However, if you compare an average house to an energy-efficient residence, you’ll find out that it is very possible to lessen your annual energy consumption to almost 40 percent. There are lots of ways to conserve home energy which consequently lower your energy bills. And most of the changes that you can do for your home are also helpful to the environment.

Here are some ways to conserve energy in your home:

Image via WikipediaHeating and Air Conditioning

1.  If you’re going to be out of an air conditioned room for a long time, be sure to turn off the A/C unit - similarly if  leaving on vacation, set your A/C to a lower setting, or even turn it off altogether if there aren't plants or pets or other things inside that may suffer due to heat while you're gone.
2.  Rooms that are not used often should have sealed (or at least closed) vents.
3.  You can also install ceiling fans that are remote controlled than have a built-in heater.
4.  When the room is occupied, put the thermostat at a comfortable setting.
5.  When the fireplace isn’t used, close the damper in the fireplace

Laundry Appliances:

1.  Avoid using your washing machine in partial loads. It is better if you meet the capacity of the machine.
2.  Very dirty clothes may be pre-soaked before washing. This will prevent you from running your machine twice.
3.  For the garments that aren’t very dirty, use a smaller quantity of detergent and put your machine to a lighter wash setting.
4.  Electric driers consume the most energy in your laundry tasks, so if you do have a clothesline, use it! The sunlight can also help kill bacteria, and your clothes will smell fresh too.
5.  Ironing clothes should be done all at one time and during off-peak hours. 

Refrigerators and Freezers:

1.  Refrigerators and freezers should be defrosted regularly.  Frost build-up can increase the load of the compressor motor. (Many newer Energy Star appliances have a self-defrosting feature, so you won't have to worry about this. But do keep the vents unblocked to allow proper air circulation to keep your food cold.)
2.  Inspect your refrigerator door and keep an eye out for a leaking gasket. If you can feel cold air leaking around the seal, it's definitely time for a new fridge.
3.  Avoid constant opening and closing of the refrigerator’s door because it can contribute to ice or frost build-up, and also causes the appliance to run more. When taking a number of things from the fridge, take them all out at once.

Kitchen Appliances:

1.  Don’t boil water in an open pan. A pan that’s covered will boil the water faster, and also keep more water in the pan for your use.
2.  Keep stove burners, range top and reflectors clean. It can help generate more heat and consume less energy.
3.  When the food you’re cooking starts to boil, turn the electric stove to low mode.
4.  Put smaller pans or pots on small burners or heating elements. If the burner is larger than the bottom of the pan, you are wasting a lot of energy, and the heating won't be as efficient. Always match burner and pan size whenever possible.

Image via WikipediaLighting:

1.  Switch off unused lights as well as other appliances that use electricity when not in use.
2.  Utilize low wattage yet efficient lamps.
3.  Replace your incandescent bulbs with fluorescent. These are available everywhere nowadays, at much lower prices than they used to be, and they can last 10 times longer (or even more) than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Those are just handful of tips to lower your energy bills.  There are many other factors which can also guide you in conserving your home energy. Check back Friday for some tips on choosing efficient appliances, and assessing your home energy usage.

Save The Environment and Save Money

Image via Wikipedia
As we often point out on this blog, "going green" doesn't have to be expensive - in fact, it can actually save you money. With the cost of gas these days, rapid climate change (noticed the INSANE weather the past month or two??), and increasing pollution problems in most major cities, there's no better time than now to start conserving energy, reducing our carbon footprint, recycling and reusing what we use. But did you consider that what's better for the environment is also better for us? Not only does your health benefit, but so does your wallet.

Here are a few ways you can help the environment while also saving money:

1. Keep your car maintained and follow a tune-up schedule. If your car is leaking fluid it will cost you to continuously replace the fluid. If your car is emitting obnoxious fumes or smoke, something may be going wrong with your car and it's a good idea to fix it while the problem is small. Neither scenarios are good for the environment or your pocketbook.

2. Keep your car tires inflated to the recommended pressure and this will save you on gas and get you the least rolling resistance. Some of your precious gas goes to overcome rolling resistance. Replace your tires when it's time and get the best ones available for lower rolling resistance.

Image via Wikipedia3. If you eat out a lot, consider making more meals at home. Preparing food at home can take the same amount of time that it takes to drive to a restaurant and wait for your meal to arrive at the table. The benefits to cooking at home are in using fresh organic ingredients which are good for your body, plus it's cheaper to eat at home and you don't waste gas driving to a restaurant. (See our Cooking From Scratch blog for some great cooking tips, ideas, and recipes!)

4. When you need to run an errand, make sure you take care of several errands while you're out. Plan your route out ahead of time to use the least amount of gas possible. Did you know driving to your errands in a clockwise direction saves time and gas because you're making right hand turns? Sitting at a light waiting to make a left turn uses more gas and causes your car to spew more emissions into the air. (Nifty tip, huh?)

5. Get a programmable thermostat in your home. The price of a new programmable thermostat is not terribly expensive and you can save a lot of money on your energy bill because you can program it to a lower heating temperature at night when you're asleep and during the day when you're not at home.

Image by amy_b via Flickr 6. Plan your meals to get the maximum usage from the groceries you buy. Think about how much food you throw away each month because you didn't eat it and it spoiled. Leftovers can be given new life by turning them into soups or stews, putting them on a pizza crust, or tossing them with pasta or lettuce. Before you buy perishable food, plan how you will use all the food, even the leftovers. (And for even better benefits to your health and the environment, why not check out a local farmer's market or CSA, and support the local community? Or even better, grow your own sustainable garden!)

7. Take shorter showers. Every minute you shave off showering saves gallons of water. Put a gallon bucket in your shower to catch the water while you're waiting for it to warm up. Use this water to water your potted plants or your garden. Turn off the shower while you're sudsing up and shaving and turn it back on when it's time to rinse off. If you tend to linger mindlessly in the shower, you might want to consider setting a timer to remind yourself to finish up.

Taking care of the environment can also mean saving money. Try these ideas and any others you come up with and enjoy your results. (And feel free to post a comment below, with your own tips!)