Want to save money on your utility bill? There’s an app for that! Having a more efficient home is only the first step in reaping the benefits of reduced consumption. Creating a home with a green building envelope and systems that use less energy only work when occupants practice efficient consumption. Here are some apps that can help you to monitor and improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Summer cooling can significantly add to the running costs of your home and contribute to harmful greenhouse gas emissions. You can reduce both costs and emissions through the installation of radiant barrier sheathing. NASA has utilized radiant barriers on its astronaut suits and equipment since the Apollo mission as they are very effective at keeping out radiant heat. Radiant barriers are extremely effective at reducing summer heat gain in attic spaces.
The housing recession has led to the loss of many qualified building employees and the closure of many manufacturing facilities. Now that the market is rebounding, those who survived the recession are experiencing labor shortages and increasing building material costs. Rising concerns about these issues are starting to affect the market as builder confidence experienced a two-point drop in April.
Creating energy is a complex and surprisingly inefficient process. This process is especially inefficient when we use fossil fuels to generate electricity like natural gas and coal. When these fossil fuels are burned, large amounts of heat energy is lost. We then send electricity through miles of cables where further losses occur. This means that when you save 1kw of energy in your homes, you’re actually saving three or four; now that’s a great return on investment.
The reasons for investing in an energy efficient home are legion. As green technology improves and prices drop, energy efficient homes become more competitively priced. With energy consumption accounting for up to 15% of home ownership, homeowners are making the obvious choice. The savings taken over the lifetime of the home mean that home buyers can opt for higher priced homes or for more expensive finishes.
Roof insulation is instrumental in creating a sealed home envelope which will help your home retain heat in the winter and keep its cool in the warmer summer months. When working in conjunction with your ventilation system, insulation can save you fistfuls of money in utilities costs. When choosing the right insulation for your roof or loft, ensure that you consult your HVAC installer. It’s imperative that your insulation and ventilation systems work in unison to ensure the most efficient heating and cooling for your home.
Only two things in life are certain; death and roof maintenance. When your turn inevitably rolls around, there are green roof choices you can make that last longer and save you money. Some roof options have lower carbon footprints than others, some last longer and others are even able to generate electricity for you. When searching out a more eco-friendly option for your roof, consider the recycled material content, longevity and future recycling potential.
Energy efficient homes often perform well below their stated efficiency goals. The reasons for this are varied; at times cutting-edge technology is not installed correctly or components are added in a piecemeal fashion and don’t work as a combined system. Building construction has to be flawless as gaps or cracks in the building envelope will undermine insulation efforts. Read on to find how you can measure the energy efficiency of any building to ensure that it is performing as intended.
When combating high utilities bills and attempting to reduce carbon footprints, home and business owners tend to focus on electrical consumption. Traditionally the greatest power hog, electricity is quietly being usurped by the high energy demand of collecting, processing and transporting water. Water bills increase on average by 10% each year but there is much that can be done to reduce their assault on your paycheck.
If the unseasonably hot weather and terribly destructive storms weren’t enough to convince you that climate change is happening, then a recent study by Mercer should sway even the most stalwart naysayers. The study estimates that inclement weather will have a negative effect on buildings, transportation and the construction industries to the tune of $8 trillion by 2030. Now an organization called Architecture 2030 is issuing a challenge it hopes will encourage the building industry to help prevent the worst effects of global warming.
