In our field, we tend to attack items that draw phantom power (power drawn while the appliance is "off" and in standby mode) - TV's, Computers, DVD Players, Cable Boxes...the list goes on. Typically, our solution is to unplug them when they're not in use, or to have them plugged into power strips & flip off the power strip. However, there are other ways to make these devices more efficient, even when they are in use.

Our Administrative Assistant found this fantastic article, explaining how changing the brightness on your TV, setting your computer on power-save, and other quick tricks may help save you nearly $300/year on your electric bill! Click here to read "Energy vampires: Is it worth it to unplug your electronics?" on Yahoo! Green.

Jesse M.

When we think of energy efficiency, it's no surprise that the first thought that comes to mind is reducing heating & cooling costs. However, there are other ways to reduce energy usage during the holiday season.

Holiday decorations are beautiful, but they also use a lot of energy. Simply turning them off at night before you go to bed can help cut back on electricity usage. Timers make this task even more convenient. You may also want to consider changing to more efficient lighting in your decorations, making use of mini-lights and/or LED's, instead of traditional lighting. Fiber optics are another great energy-saving technique for decorations, as most fiber optic decorations use just one bulb to illuminate many points.

You can also cut back energy usage in the kitchen, whether you use electric or fuel-fired cooking appliances. Items that take several hours to cook don't require you to pre-heat the oven. Checking on your food through the window in the oven instead of opening the door is another way to save energy. Opening the oven door may reduce the heat in the oven by as much as 25 degrees! 

Going away for the holidays? Setting interior & exterior lights on a timer reduces electric usage while giving the illusion that your home is occupied. Reduce your water heater thermostat to the lowest possible setting; no one's going to be showering or doing laundry while your home is vacant.

Spend your money on family and friends this holiday season, not insanely high utility costs!

Read these and other energy-saving techniques for the holidays in this article. 

Jesse M.

Though appliances today are more efficient than their older counterparts, household electricity bills are still skyrocketing. This may be attributed to both increased rates and higher demand. 

While appliances have become more efficient, consumers have larger homes, use more air conditioning, and have more electronic devices than they ever have before. 

As well as high demand, electricity rates are rising. These increases reflect a multitude of factors. Fuel prices are rising. Old power plants are being replaced, especially coal-burning plants, which, though they are cheap to operate, have been deemed environmentally unfriendly under the EPA's Clean Air Act. 

USA Today has a fantastic article on the subject here.

Jesse M.

Sometimes, product failure should be blamed, not on the product, but on the installer of said product. A perfect example of this is spray urethane foam. When installed properly, spray foam makes a great air-sealing mechanism, as well as a thermally resistant insulation, providing up to an R-7 per inch. However, when installed improperly, like anything else, it loses its functionality. 

When using spray urethane foam, proper temperature is very important; this means the air temperature, and the temperature of the chemicals and the surface to which they are being applied as well. Optimal operating temperature of the chemicals is around 70 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface one intends on applying the foam to should be at least 65 degrees.

When temperatures aren't right, foam will not cure properly. Insufficient chemical temperature will cause the foam to remain tacky; if the chemicals are cold enough, it may not cure at all. This condition greatly reduces the effectiveness of the foam. If the surface to which the foam is being applied is too cold, the foam may peel away from the surface, leaving air gaps & reducing R-Value. Applying too much thickness at once may yield the same result. 

This article, courtesy of The Snell Group, gives a brief explanation of how Infrared Thermography can be used to diagnose a spray foam failure: Click Here

Thank you & Stay Warm!
Jesse M.

Starting January 1, 2012, new legislation goes into effect that may mean the end of incandescent lighting. 

The legislation starts with higher wattage bulbs, targeting those that produce 1490 - 2600 lumens. This includes standard 100w incandescent bulbs. Following suit in 2013 are bulbs that emit between 1050 - 1489 lumens (including 75w incandescent bulbs), and in 2014, those that produce 310 - 1049 lumens, which means goodbye to our standard 40w & 60w incandescent light bulbs. 

The new legislation also requires that all bulbs have a rated lifetime of at least 1000 hours of active use, and that they are branded with new "Lighting Facts" labels, similar to the "Nutrition Facts" labels we find on our food & drug packaging. These lighting facts labels will outline brightness (in lumens), power draw (in Watts), rated lifetime, light appearance (aka: color temperature), and estimated annual energy cost.

Read more from the original article here.

Jesse M.