Insulate Now

Now that summer is over, it is time to add extra insulation to save money this winter on energy costs. Take a yardstick up in the attic and meassure the depth of the insulation there. If it is 6 inches or less, you will benefit greatly by adding more attic insulation. Six inche will give you an R value of 19 while 12 inches will boost it up to R38. This will keep your furnace running less and more money in your wallet.

Get Ready

Get some old clothes on and get ready to get dirty. Now is the time to start inspecting your home and getting it ready for winter. If there are any shingles missing, get them replaced now. Put new roofing cement around pipes and seams. With snow setting on the roof, there is a good chance it will find it's way in if there is a bad spot anywhere. Check your crawl space for clutter and debris. This area should be free so air can flow to keep it dry. Once it starts to get below freezing, then close of your foundation vents. Cut a piece of board insulation to size and seal around the edges. So get ready and get inspecting.

No electricity

We have grown soft and spoiled. We are energy gluttons living in comfort. To help the planet recover, we all need to pitch in and help. I am asking for 1 day a month. Use no electricity, no gasoline, and use part of that day to walk around or ride a bicycle to pick up aluminum cans for recycling. One day a month to help the planet. It does not seem like much, but if everyone did this we would save huge amounts of energy. So keep our planet alive and do real community service for the good of everyone.

Autumn Is Great For Insulating

With Autumn arriving soon, it is a good time to buy some extra insulation to put in your attic space. You can either opt for blow in type or some unfaced fiberglass roll insulation. If you already have some insulation in your attic, it is best not to have the paper on it. When installing any insulation with paper backing, always have the paper side towards the living area. This can save you some bucks on your utility bills for years to come.

Perpetual Motor Generators

Check out these perpetual motor generators on YouTube or elsewhere on the web. Building a small one should produce enough electricity to power a small house. I'm not making claims here, just saying it could be worth checking out. Anything to lower the dependence on coal and oil. Do some research but check it out good. Don't give out money because most likely it will be a scam. Keep creating free energy.

Solar Updraft Towers

Solar updraft towers could be a big help in decreasing our supply on oil. They are made with reinforced concrete and glass, which is available almost anywhere. A large one can put out as much energy as a conventional power plant. They work on the principle that hot air rises and creates an updraft, it also uses no fuel and takes very little mainentence. And also no deadly radiation or chemicals. Let's vote for the solar towers.

A Really Green Car

In Australia they tested a new wind powered car that set a lot of new records. This car was extremely lightweight but you can see potential for better things. It is an electric powered vehicle use a battery similar to most recent electric cars. The difference is it comes with a retractable wind turbine that is used to recharge the battery. This works out to an almost zero emission vehicle. This would be a great commute to work vehicle. You can recharge the battery during the day at work and at night in your driveway. Imagine the money you will save on energy by cutting out your fuel cost. Hopefully this will be in the market someday so the consumer can benefit from it. It will also be good for the planet by cutting the carbon footprint done immensely.

Heating Duct Insulation

If your heating duct work is made out of fibered insulation duct board, every time your furnace kicks on it blows air across these fibers in the insulation. This can cause respiratory and itching problems, especially in children and the elderly. It is much better to use metal furnace pipe and seal all the seams good, then insulate the outside, preferably with a thick foam type insulation. Fiberglass type insulation works good, but it always needs to be sealed away from the living area. See you next time.

Attic Insulation

When installing attic insulation, there is more to it than just blowing insulation in. Your attic needs to be sealed from the living quarters. I don't mean block the entrance to your attic. This is something that also needs consideration. You will need to have an airtight seal around your attic entrance. The insulation in your attic can also leak around light fixtures, in corners, and any unsealed holes. The fibers from your attic insulation can leak into your living area and cause respiratory problems, itchy skin, and other health related problems. Your attic insulation should stay in your attic, including the small tiny fibers. If you have a contractor installing your attic insulation, make sure he is aware that there could be small openings to let these fibers in. Stay healthy and see you next time.

The Replacement

When an appliance wears out and it is time for a replacement, make sure the new product is energy efficient. Check to see if it has a green star rating. A new water heater should be well insulated and have a large burner or coil. A tank-less water heater is a little more energy efficient, however the high cost of buying and also installing makes a long time to pay for itself. Wash your clothes in cold water and you will save on your energy bill. Run the dishwasher only when it is full. Even though individual things do not seem like much, everything does add up. See you all later.

Heat Loss And Insulation

The heat is always trying move to the cold areas. This is a natural occurrence in nature. In the winter the heat is trying to get out of the house and in the summer, it wants in. To slow down the heat transfer, you must insulate. Heat travels due to convection, conduction, and radiation. For best results it is best to combine fiberglass insulation wit reflective type of insulation. This way you will slow down all types of heat transfer. Insulation alone will not stop all heat loss. The insulation in your wall is not a seal. It just slows down the heat transfer to the cold areas. But it is good to insulate. The amount of money you will save on your utility bills will be tremendous over an uninsulated house. See you again.