Showing posts with label ENERGY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ENERGY. Show all posts
Apr 20, 2016
This Friday is Earth Day. While you may be overwhelmed with messages about appreciating our planet and becoming more environmentally friendly this week, we want to make sure the notion of the importance eco-consciousness lasts beyond April 22nd. Consider the simple tips below to help reduce energy consumption at home. These ideas are easy to adopt, and can help you save money and the planet. Try implementing them today and develop a more eco-friendly lifestyle for Earth Day and years to come.
Turn Off & Unplug
Did you know that items like TVs and computers continue to draw power even after they’ve been turned off? To help limit energy consumption, ensure that in addition to turning them off when they aren’t in use, you unplug these types of products. Is it a little cumbersome? Sure. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Not only will it help to reduce your energy bill, it also reduces the amount of energy your household wastes.
Know When to Use Major Appliances
Most energy providers will apply a discount or credit when you use major appliances during off-peak hours. Doing your laundry or dishes outside of peak hours (peak hours are usually right before and after work during the week, but check with your provider for specific times) means that you aren’t contributing to the grid getting overcrowded, and you’re able to save a bit of money. Now that’s what we call a win, win.
Timers are Your Friend
If you haven’t put your indoor and outdoor lights on timers, what are you waiting for? We understand that exterior and hallway lights help deter burglars and pests, and can make you feel more comfortable at home. What’s not comfortable, however, is having these lights on all night long. Reduce energy consumption without compromising on safety by putting your lights on a timer. You can set when they turn on and off, creating additional security for when you aren’t home.
Full Is Better
Doing a half load of laundry or running the dishwasher when it isn’t full can increase how often you’re using these appliances. Efficiency is important for major appliances. Wait until these items are full before using them. Does that mean you might have to do a couple dishes by hand if you run out of forks before the dishwasher is full? Yes. Will you sometimes have to wait longer than you want to wear your favorite top? Sure. But that sacrifice is worth it.
Tip: Always make sure you’re washing your clothes with cold water. Washing machines consume so much energy because the water has to be heated up. Washing in cold water greatly helps to reduce your energy consumption – plus, most laundry detergents are formulated for cold water.
Blind Leading the Blind
Using your blinds to block out the sun on hot days can significantly cool down the temperature in your home. Give your air conditioner a bit of a rest during the summer by strategically closing the blinds when the sun is shining. Similarly, help your furnace out by opening the blinds on sunny days in the winter.
Green Products
Eco-friendly products like light bulbs, windows, doors, and appliances, can all contribute to reducing your energy consumption and bills. So the next time you need to get a new light bulb, grab the energy efficient ones. They may be a little more expensive, but you’ll see a return on that investment. This is true of windows, doors, and major appliances as well, however these items need to be replaced less frequently. When it comes time to upgrade them, consider the environmentally friendly option (although it may be more expensive than the regular model).
We hope these tips help you and your family to live a little greener this Earth Day and all year long. Have some eco-friendly ideas you want to share with us? Tweet or Instagram your best advice to @HomeShows or share it with Home + Garden Events on Facebook. We love hearing from you!
Turn Off & Unplug
Did you know that items like TVs and computers continue to draw power even after they’ve been turned off? To help limit energy consumption, ensure that in addition to turning them off when they aren’t in use, you unplug these types of products. Is it a little cumbersome? Sure. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Not only will it help to reduce your energy bill, it also reduces the amount of energy your household wastes.
Know When to Use Major Appliances
Most energy providers will apply a discount or credit when you use major appliances during off-peak hours. Doing your laundry or dishes outside of peak hours (peak hours are usually right before and after work during the week, but check with your provider for specific times) means that you aren’t contributing to the grid getting overcrowded, and you’re able to save a bit of money. Now that’s what we call a win, win.
Timers are Your Friend
If you haven’t put your indoor and outdoor lights on timers, what are you waiting for? We understand that exterior and hallway lights help deter burglars and pests, and can make you feel more comfortable at home. What’s not comfortable, however, is having these lights on all night long. Reduce energy consumption without compromising on safety by putting your lights on a timer. You can set when they turn on and off, creating additional security for when you aren’t home.
Full Is Better
Doing a half load of laundry or running the dishwasher when it isn’t full can increase how often you’re using these appliances. Efficiency is important for major appliances. Wait until these items are full before using them. Does that mean you might have to do a couple dishes by hand if you run out of forks before the dishwasher is full? Yes. Will you sometimes have to wait longer than you want to wear your favorite top? Sure. But that sacrifice is worth it.
Tip: Always make sure you’re washing your clothes with cold water. Washing machines consume so much energy because the water has to be heated up. Washing in cold water greatly helps to reduce your energy consumption – plus, most laundry detergents are formulated for cold water.
Blind Leading the Blind
Using your blinds to block out the sun on hot days can significantly cool down the temperature in your home. Give your air conditioner a bit of a rest during the summer by strategically closing the blinds when the sun is shining. Similarly, help your furnace out by opening the blinds on sunny days in the winter.
Green Products
Eco-friendly products like light bulbs, windows, doors, and appliances, can all contribute to reducing your energy consumption and bills. So the next time you need to get a new light bulb, grab the energy efficient ones. They may be a little more expensive, but you’ll see a return on that investment. This is true of windows, doors, and major appliances as well, however these items need to be replaced less frequently. When it comes time to upgrade them, consider the environmentally friendly option (although it may be more expensive than the regular model).
We hope these tips help you and your family to live a little greener this Earth Day and all year long. Have some eco-friendly ideas you want to share with us? Tweet or Instagram your best advice to @HomeShows or share it with Home + Garden Events on Facebook. We love hearing from you!
Nov 18, 2014
With the nights getting longer, the days colder, and snow on the horizon, there's no denying it: winter's on its way. While it doesn't technically arrive until next month there's already a pretty strong chill in the air. As energy prices continue to rise heating your home this winter could be very expensive. To help you cut costs, we've compiled a list of simple measures you can undertake to make your home more energy efficient. Spending less on your energy bills means you'll have more to put towards your heating costs. Check out our list below and start saving today.
1. Be smart about when you use your major appliances - Did you know there are peak times for energy consumption? A time is considered peak when there's consistently more energy being consumed during that period. It's more expensive to use energy at these times. For many areas peak times are on weekday mornings and early evenings. Using your major appliances in off peak times can go a long way on your energy bill. Be conscious of when you're running your dishwasher or doing a load of laundry.
2. Don't let the heat out - Seal your windows, doors, and any cracks in your foundation. It's harder to heat a home where cold air has a lot of entry points. Closing them up will keep the heat in and the cold out, and it also helps to protect against bugs and rodents.
3. Think first - Before you open the refrigerator think about what you'd like. Standing with the fridge door open for a few moments may not seem like a particularly wasteful or expensive habit, but it adds up. Pausing to decide what you'd like to eat before opening the fridge is a simple but effective way to reduce energy consumption.
4. Switch to energy efficient bulbs - Choosing the more energy efficient version of any appliance or system will help to lessen the energy usage in your home. That said, energy efficient appliances are expensive and it's not often that you have to replace these items. However, you do have to replace your light bulbs on a more frequent basis, and their energy efficient counterparts are available for a very reasonable price. If you're due to replace any of your major appliances definitely select an energy efficient model. If not, get energy efficient bulbs the next time you need them.
We've outlined some very straightforward and non-invasive actions you can take to make your home more energy efficient. Would you be interested in reading about more complex measures homeowners can try to make their properties even more efficient? Let us know below.
1. Be smart about when you use your major appliances - Did you know there are peak times for energy consumption? A time is considered peak when there's consistently more energy being consumed during that period. It's more expensive to use energy at these times. For many areas peak times are on weekday mornings and early evenings. Using your major appliances in off peak times can go a long way on your energy bill. Be conscious of when you're running your dishwasher or doing a load of laundry.
Image via House & Home
Consult your electric company to learn exactly when your area's peak times are.
2. Don't let the heat out - Seal your windows, doors, and any cracks in your foundation. It's harder to heat a home where cold air has a lot of entry points. Closing them up will keep the heat in and the cold out, and it also helps to protect against bugs and rodents.
Image via Apartment Therapy
3. Think first - Before you open the refrigerator think about what you'd like. Standing with the fridge door open for a few moments may not seem like a particularly wasteful or expensive habit, but it adds up. Pausing to decide what you'd like to eat before opening the fridge is a simple but effective way to reduce energy consumption.
Image via House & Home
4. Switch to energy efficient bulbs - Choosing the more energy efficient version of any appliance or system will help to lessen the energy usage in your home. That said, energy efficient appliances are expensive and it's not often that you have to replace these items. However, you do have to replace your light bulbs on a more frequent basis, and their energy efficient counterparts are available for a very reasonable price. If you're due to replace any of your major appliances definitely select an energy efficient model. If not, get energy efficient bulbs the next time you need them.
Image via NPR
We've outlined some very straightforward and non-invasive actions you can take to make your home more energy efficient. Would you be interested in reading about more complex measures homeowners can try to make their properties even more efficient? Let us know below.
Aug 27, 2013
EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT
You won't want to miss Landscape Lighting Designers Plus at our 2013 Orlando Home Show (Oct. 4-6)!
Get to know this fabulous exhibitor!
Get to know this fabulous exhibitor!
- Describe your product(s) or service(s)
- Landscape Lighting Designers Plus offers a wide range of outdoor lighting and effects that will give your home a uniquely magnificent appearance.
- What are your best home or garden tips for this season?
- We recommend adding LED Lights to your outdoor decor.
- What is your favorite part about the home show?
- The special guests!
- Tell us a little more about your company's work and dedication?
- Our company takes pride in the fact that we are more than just lighting installers; we are also artistic designers. When we come to your home we will inspect the layout of the yard and the home's exterior. This helps us decide what the best lighting effects would be and where they should be placed. If any bulbs go out within the first year of installation we will replace them for free.
You can catch Landscape Lighting Designers Plus at our
2013 Orlando Home Show (Oct. 4-6) at the Orange County Convention Center!
Jul 25, 2013
EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT
You won't want to miss Advanced Film Solutions Inc. at our
2013 Orlando Home Show (Oct. 4-6)!
You can catch Advanced Film Solutions Inc. at our
2013 Orlando Home Show (Oct. 4-6) at the Orange County Convention Center!
2013 Orlando Home Show (Oct. 4-6)!
Get to know this fabulous exhibitor!
- Location:
- Orlando - Tampa - Sarasota
- Describe your product(s) or service(s):
- Solar and solar security window film coatings that lower energy costs, block UV and glare and provide home comfort.
- What are your best home or garden tips for this season?
- Cover west and east facing glass and you can anticipate 30% lower electric bills.
- What are your featured items this season?
- Our all season EnerLogic Films have created incredible buzz thanks to the winter and summer insulating benefits.
- What is the strangest client request you've ever received?
- Tint an alarm clock.
- Fun company fact:
- We have earned the Super Service Award for the last two years from Angie's List.
- Give them a call:
- Call Advanced Film Solutions Inc. today at (407) 843-9350!
You can catch Advanced Film Solutions Inc. at our
2013 Orlando Home Show (Oct. 4-6) at the Orange County Convention Center!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
I recently discovered the coolest website EVER! Wordle.net generates free and customizable subway art in as quickly as 1 minute. Sim... -
Tweet Thanksgiving and holiday entertaining is in full swing! We know you're all preoccupied planning meals and getting the ho... -
It's gift giving season! As you prepare your list, consider making a few of your gifts this year. Impress your friends and family w... -
Calling all bloggers, designers, and entertaining enthusiasts: we're searching for the next big name in design, entertainment, and all t...