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| What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? http://www.propertymaps.com/village/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=485 |
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| Author: | janetfpost [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
Winter is just around the corner and in these financially hard times every penny counts. An inefficiently house can cost homeowners several hundred dollars a month in energy bills. Do you see any home repairs that could help save money in high utility bills? Do you consider your home energy efficient now? What have you done and would you recomend other do the same? Share your ideas with others. |
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| Author: | matthiew [ Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
I am trying to save as much money as possible these days. One of the first things I've done is use florescent light bulbs that I purchased at Costco. In Montana, the winters are very cold, long and harsh. To keep my house nice and warm during the cold winter, I insulated my crawl space and have noticed the difference already. In addition, I upgraded my old thermostat to a new digital. One of the advantages was we can program the temperature according to our schedules. There's no need to heat the house when were not home. I also decided to get clear shrink wrap to put around all of the windows in the house. Every little bit helps and I'll do anything to avoid a high heating bill that I can't afford. |
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| Author: | svet169 [ Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
I was shocked to see my heating bill last year, so I decided to take steps. During the summer I reinsulated the attic. I also caulked and sealed around doors and windows throughout the house. I even went so far as to install a new pellet stove insert to maximize the efficiency of our fireplace. Eventually, I plan on installing an energy star storm door in the front of the house. That'll be next year hopefully. |
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| Author: | rachel2400 [ Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
In my house, one of the things I do is insulate the pipes, especially the hot water pipes. I started doing this a few years ago and noticed a big difference. If your pipes are uninsulated the hot water pipes will lose heat and cause the water heater to to work harder than it should. Simply wrap them with foam pipe insulation sleeves that are available at any Home Depot or Lowe's. You will not be disappointed with the results! |
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| Author: | cactus4 [ Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
Two huge places where valuable house heat gets out are the windows and doors. I did install Energy Star vinyl windows ( rated for high altitude, which is a very important thing to check when you buy ). But even so, I use tightly woven sheers during the day and pull the drapes at night. Those drapes are lined and heavy, and reach the floor. This is an incredibly easy way to block heat transfer at the windows, and it is really stylish, too! At every door ( again Energy Star ) I noticed that after just one year the natural settling of the frame left gaps at the bottom and at the seals. Adjusting the bottom seal just takes a screwdriver ( a screw gun may strip the screws if you aren’t very careful ) and some time. The result was that a little votive candle I use to check for leaks didn’t even quiver. The seals were not too loose, but I noticed on the big front door that when the deadbolt was set, the votive candle stayed steady, but when it wasn’t set, it danced around near the latch. The fix for that was to move the strike plate for the latch closer to the seal or set the dead bolt all the time. I set the dead bolt for now . . . when it is more noticeable, I’ll re-drill the holes and move that strike plate. By the way, if you are moving something that already has screw holes the new holes may need to be too close to the old ones. I got the solution from a professional door installer. Find or make a round, pointed hardwood scrap ( a golf tee works perfectly for a big screw hole ) dip in wood glue, and hammer it into the old hole. When dry, chisel and sand flush and start your new screw hole. |
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| Author: | hender [ Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
I realize a lot of heat escapes from windows, but if I was looking to install energy efficient windows, what should I be looking for? Are energy efficient windows different from one another? I was thinking of simply putting plastic over my windows this winter, since my current windows are a bit older and I need to save enough money to purchase new windows. Someone told me I'd be wasting my time putting up plastic because the cold can penetrate trough it, leaving me with a cold house. Is this true? |
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| Author: | jadugar [ Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
Energy efficient doors and windows have three areas of design that make them keep the temperature in your home what you want it. The first is the number of glass panes in the window and the frame of the glass. Mine are vinyl framed windows, and double-paned. The reason I chose double over triple-paned is that the amount of energy efficiency added for the third pane was not large. My area simply doesn’t get cold enough. If you live in an area of extreme temperatures ( either hot or cold ) you may find that extra insulation is worth the investment. Vinyl windows and frames are very good at keeping temperatures where you want them. They are also very good at resisting sun damage, and are not going to rot if they are exposed to water. Installing them is usually a matter of nailing them into place and sealing with a strong sticky tape all around. They must be installed on a flat, even surface if they are to smoothly slide open and closed. Take every step needed to make sure they are – and check the operation before you seal the frame to the house. Pre-made vinyl windows are vented so water that does build up either inside or out will drain out and away. Look for the Energy Star sticker for ratings. Also make sure you take your tax deduction for the cost at the end of the year. Custom windows are fairly expensive, so matching the windows to the frame of your window opening is pretty important. Luckily, most standard sizes are manufactured for easy replacement. The dimension you are interested in is the frame opening. Without removing the window, this can be measured by taking off the interior trim pieces and measuring the opening in the framing. Check that the window framing is square. Check both vertical dimensions and both horizontal dimensions. It is easier to fit a smaller window into a larger opening than it is to make the opening larger. The third design element is the way the window overlaps the outside of your window opening. If this flange is sealed against your home’s exterior, it will be a very good window for keeping out drafts and air leaks. Many tapes and sealants are available to handle this job, so check with the window supplier for the best method for your home’s exterior. You will probably either have to remove and re-install or replace the exterior window trim. Either way, make sure you seal the trim against the siding material at both top and sides, This will keep rain from getting behind the trim pieces. When replacing trim, look for composite materials that resist rot and sun or weather deterioration. They will repay the small additional expense with ease of use and freedom from maintenance for years to dome. |
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| Author: | gavringrisha [ Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
You can seal your windows temporarily with plastic sheeting. If done properly, it will help keep drafts from getting through your window frames during a cold winter. There is no way to keep it from looking very unsightly if you attach it to the outside of the windows, though. You will want to use very heavy “clear” plastic sheeting. The minimum thickness will need to be six millimeters ( 6 mil ), but thicker is better here. The reason for this is that you need a thicker material to make sure it can be solidly sealed, or you will get little or no benefit. If you are planning to attach it to the inside of the windows and cover it with curtains or drapes, make sure you can still get out of the house in the case of an emergency. Either designate an exit and don’t cover with plastic, or make sure your family does emergency drills with a tool to cut through the plastic if needed. A big part of putting up plastic sheeting is making sure it is securely attached. Depending on your window trim, you can use thin strips of more solid material and staple to the trim. The material can be as simple as strips of cardboard or pieces of thin wood composite. Place long thin strips over the plastic and staple through the two layers. Leave excess plastic sheet outside the strips to pull the surface tight. It can be trimmed later. Staple frequently, and push the strips into any corners at the lower sill, or wherever the trim is not flat and level. If you find the plastic is “noisy” you can reinforce it with strapping tape. This tape does not stretch and allow the “flapping” to happen as easily. Run the strapping tape both diagonally and vertically a few times until the nose is reduced. The only good thing to remember is that if there is a lot of noise, it is caused by a very leaky window, and that noise means you are saving money. |
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| Author: | lovesome [ Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What are you doing to make your home energy efficient? |
A better approach is for us to just stop using such a ridiculous amount of energy in the first place. affordable modern furniture | modern dining chairs |
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