marcynetwork's Articles
Conserve Energy & Save Money at Home While on Vacation
There are a few times a year when you can easily increase electrical conservation in your home. Leaving home and going on vacation is one of those times. If you are planning a summer vacation, don’t be misled into thinking that you’ll save money on your utility bills when you’re away. It takes more than locking the door and leaving to save power while you’re gone. If you’ll be going on vacation this summer, you’ll want to read the following tips to prevent coming home to high utility bills. Whether you’ll just be gone a few days or for a few weeks, the following tips will help ensure that you aren’t paying for unnecessary electricity while you are out.
The A/C
It’s not always enough to turn down your a/c. Instead, shut it off completely. If you have a programmable thermostat with advanced settings you may be able to program it so that it cools your house before you come back. A timer may be necessary to have the a/c power go on.
Water Heater
Water heaters are notorious for wasting energy, as they constantly heat the water in your home. Turn off the water heater at the circuit breaker or fuse box. This could save you $15-$20 a month. If you are going to be on vacation for more than 2 weeks, this step is really worth your while.
Refrigerator and Freezer
Slightly raise the temperature on your fridge and freezer if you’ll be gone for just a few days. If you’re going on a longer vacation, empty all contents and shut it down. Prop open the door to prevent mildew. Clearing
out and shutting down your fridge and freezer can prevent you from a substantial loss. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way. During the Northeast Blackout of 2003, we went on a month long vacation out of the country, leaving behind a freezer full of food. I had even prepared a few frozen meals so that we could eat well on our hectic week back from vacation and had stocked up on frozen goods to avoid a shopping trip. Our loss definitely amounted to a few hundred dollars.
Lights
Make sure that all lights are turned off. Depending on how important home security is in your area, consider leaving a few lights on timers to create an occupied look for your home.
Close Your Blinds
Make sure the blinds or drapes are closed. If your a/c is on, closed shades will help keep the house even cooler for your return by keeping the sun out.
Pull the Plug
Unplug all appliances and anything electrical before you leave. Electrical items that are plugged in while not in use utilize what is referred to as a standby power. Standby power can contribute to as much as 10 percent of your electricity bill. Go through each room in your home and make a checklist of each electrical item. Here are a few that you shouldn’t overlook:
. TV
. Digital TV recorder
. Cell phone and battery chargers
. Computers
. Printers, scanners, fax machine
. Microwave
. Digital clocks
. Lamps
Written by Marcy Tate
Marcy is a blogger at Networx. She also writes for Electricians Networks.
A Guide to Green Kitchen Remodeling
Photo Credit: Vetrazzo.com
If you have been thinking about upgrading your kitchen to be more eco-friendly, then spring is the time to do it. Green kitchen remodeling has risen in popularity as more and more homeowners realize the money-saving perks that go along with green kitchen remodeling. While many eco-friendly kitchen improvements require more up-front costs, homeowners will save in the long run. Additional money can be saved through federal tax credits available to those who install certain Energy-Star approved appliances.
Creating a green kitchen involves using environmentally friendly building materials and installing energy-efficient appliances. Just a few years ago, many eco-friendly building materials, such as bamboo flooring, were not as accessible as they are today. But as the green demand grows, accessibility becomes easier and prices begin to drop. All of the “big box” home improvement stores, such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, carry a vast selection of green building materials.
Countertops
Many stone countertops contain petroleum-based plastics or non-renewable quarried stone. Popular green countertop alternatives include concrete, ceramic and recycled glass.
Concrete countertops are eco-friendly because concrete is a widely available and renewable resource. Additionally, concrete countertops resist all types of damage including chipping, cracking and scratching, and they don’t require much maintenance.
Ceramic tile manufacturing doesn’t create pollution, so the tiles are therefore considered an eco-option. They are durable, easy to clean and cost-efficient. Some of the disadvantages include that the surface is not smooth, and regular maintenance is required.
Recycled glass countertops are eco-friendly, as they are made from sustainable, recycled resources and can be recycled. Recycled glass countertops are highly customizable and provide an option to create a distinctive, one-of-a-kind countertop.
Cabinets
Instead of replacing your cabinets, resurface them. Resurfacing your kitchen cabinets will keep the old ones out of landfills. If you do choose to replace your cabinets, give the old ones to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity that will re-use them and thus keep them out of the landfills. Green cabinetry options include those made from reclaimed or recycled wood.
Windows
For ultimate energy-savings, select low-E glazed windows and triple-paned glass windows. Consider a bay window over the kitchen sink. A bay window allows a great amount of natural light into a kitchen and can provide a perfect area for placing small plants.
Skylights
Adding a skylight to your kitchen can reduce the need for lighting in the daytime. The most economical skylight option is a tubular skylight, also known as a sun tube or sun tunnel. It resembles recessed lighting fixtures and blend well with any home décor. Because of its small size, a tubular skylight is more energy-efficient than conventional skylights. The small size means that there is less heat loss in the winter and less heat gain in the summer.
Lighting
Replace old, inefficient light fixtures with low-voltage, energy-efficient fixtures and bulbs. Place fixtures strategically for the most lighting coverage. One of the most versatile types of low-voltage lighting fixtures is the pendant lighting fixture. Pendant lights and mini-pendant lights can be used over an island or the kitchen table. With the right bulb type, such as xenon or halogen, pendant lights can provide just the right amount of light for a room. Halogen bulbs can last for about 10,000 hours.
Flooring
One of the most eco-friendly flooring types is concrete flooring. While most practical for new construction homes, concrete flooring is accessible for all homes. The benefits of residential interior concrete floors are vast, from durability to a wide range of styling options. Concrete floors are an eco-choice for two reasons. First, less energy is used in the production of concrete than any other flooring type. No trees need to be cut down, and concrete is recyclable. Second, concrete floors work to reduce energy consumption. Because they can make one feel cooler, there is less of a need to use the air conditioning. During the winter, concrete floors absorb the heat from the sun, helping to keep your home warm.
Other green flooring choices include bamboo and cork, which are less expensive than concrete. Bamboo is available in a variety of colors, including earth tones and caramelized colors. It is also water-resistant, making it a smart kitchen flooring option. Cork is durable, provides thermal and acoustic insulation and is rot and fire resistant. It also has a soft texture, making it very comfortable to stand on.
Written by Marcy Tate
Marcy is a blogger at Networx, Your Home Improvement Network. She has been working with kitchen remodelers for over a decade learning about affordable green kitchen remodeling.
Eco-Paints & Eco-Painting: Healthier for You and the Environment
Eco-friendly painting habits are easy to learn. Proper care of paint and supplies, along with purchasing low-VOC paint will make your painting project eco-friendly.
There has been a lot of hype in the past few years about the harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in paint. VOCs are a group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. Some VOCs have an odor, while other VOCs have no odor. The bottom line is that research now shows that the concerns over VOCs weren’t just hype. Research shows that VOCs are, in fact, harmful and can cause damage to our health and environment without us realizing. According to the Minnesota Departmenmt of Health, “Breathing low levels of VOCs for long periods of time may increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOCs may make symptoms worse in people who have asthma or are particularly sensitive to chemicals.” Long-term exposure to VOCs means an increased risk of cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and central nervous system damage. VOCs are bad for the environment for several reasons, but primarily because the gases they emit harm the ozone.
Until recently, most paints contained dangerous levels of VOCs. However, nowadays, most paint manufacturers produce low-VOC or no-VOC paints. Purchasing low-VOC paint (or non-toxic alternative paints) along with careful paint disposal, will help you and your family stay healthy.
Eco-Friendly Paints
It’s important to distinguish between the different types of eco-friendly paints. Just because a paint is low-VOC doesn’t mean that it does not contain harmful chemicals. Low-VOC simply means that fewer harmful ingredients are present in the product. For a nearly toxic-free paint, select no-VOC paint.
Eco-Friendly Paints:
• Sherwin-Williams – Harmony line of interior latex low-odor coatings.
• The Real Milk Paint Co. – This eco-friendly company developed milk paint (also known as casein paint). Pigmented powders can be mixed into the paint to create colors.
• Benjamin Moore – Natura interior waterborne paints in several finishes.
• Green Planet Paints – Zero-VOC paint in three finishes: flat, eggshell and semigloss.
Also check out these additional eco-friendly paints.
Eco-Friendly Painting
Follow the eco-friendly painting techniques below for a healthier painting experience.
Paint Applicators
Purchase paint applicators made from recycled and renewable materials. There are many green painting applicators on the market. Look for brushes with recycled nylon bristles and recycled roller covers.
Determine How Much Paint You Need
Careful measuring will prevent leftover paint and will help to avoid waste.
Use Cloth Tarps
Cloth tarps are stronger than plastic and can be used more than once. Using cloth tarps helps prevent waste.
Skip the Washing
Instead of washing your applicators, wrap them in a plastic bag. If kept out of the sun, the applicators will last overnight or even a few days.
Clean and Scrape the Paint Cans
Scrape excess paint from cans, rollers and brushes. A stir stick or wall scraper works well. Scraping before washing will make the applicators easier to clean. Wash your applicators indoors and not in a drain on the street or outside in your yard with a hose. The paint can harm your soil and storm drains generally drain to natural water sources, which you should not pollute with paint.
Do Not Pour Paint Thinner Down the Drain
Paint thinner and oil-based painted contain toxic chemicals. Place kitty litter or shredded newspapers right into the paint can. This will absorb the liquid. You can then discard the can in regular waste. If your city has a hazardous waste drop-off center, then take the paint or thinner to the center.
Dispose Paint Properly
Convert extra latex and acrylic paint to a solid by removing the lid. This will allow the water or solvents to evaporate. Then discard in the regular trash. If a recycling program exists in your area, then recycle the empty paint can.
Tightly Seal Paint Cans
Tightly sealed paint cans should be stored upside down. This will help elongate the life of the extra paint.
Written by Marcy Tate
Marcy is a home improvement blogger at Networx. She has been working with house painters for over a decade.
