Indeed, one of the most affordable ways to make your home more energy efficient is to focus on draught-proofing your windows. Energy efficient windows can be great investments for eco-friendly homeowners.

You might be skeptical that you need to make it a priority to make your windows more energy efficient. You will appreciate the argument better if you realize that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that around 25-30% of all heat loss in residential units is due to windows. You can trim your heating and cooling costs considerably by making sure your windows are more efficient.

We’re not talking about replacing your windows here (though that might be necessary if they are hanging off their hinges) but simply helping them keep the cold air out and the warm air in. The air generally gets in through small gaps and cracks in your doors, floorboards and windows but the windows are typically the worst offenders and the most logical place to start.

Draught-proofing your windows doesn’t have to be a costly or laborious job either. Indeed, it can set you back pocket change but could end up saving you significantly more on your heating bills every year. You might even feel comfortable lowering the thermostat a notch, which is certainly not going to help the cause either.

Getting the right balance

Of course, the opposite side of the coin is that completely sealing your home can make it feel incredibly stuffy, particularly in the summer months. This is one of the most effective ways to make it more energy efficient. Warm air also often leads to condensation, which is never ideal. This means you need to strike a balance between sealing and ventilating your home. That’s why there are extraction fans in your bathroom and kitchen, after all.

There is a wide variety of sealant products available today, but the trick is to how each one works and what task they are appropriate for.

Wiper seals – These are strips made from plastic or metal that have brushes or wiper blades attached to them. This is attached to the inside of the window and creates a firm seal when it’s closed. Note that these are often more commonly used on doors.

Compression strips – This is a strip of foam that compresses when pushed into a narrow space (like the crack in a window). This is the affordable option but that doesn’t mean it should be sniffed at.

Silicone sealant – For when the windows are not designed to be opened as this seals them right shut.

Getting the materials right

If you’re getting new windows fitted, you’ll want to ensure they are framed in wood or uPVC as these are the materials that offer the best cost/efficiency balance. Double-glazing is also absolutely recommended and triple-glazed options are available if you want to go a step further. The gaps between the window panes are filled with air to prevent condensation and offer a perfect seal.

In either case, however, we’d always recommend hiring a professional to offer advice and keep you sealed nice and tight. But not too tight!

The post Learn to Create A More Energy-Efficient Window at Almost No Cost appeared first on Green Building Insider.

Anything that you can do to limit heat loss, and make the process more efficient, therefore, is likely to save you money and help the planet in the long run. But which energy-saving measures are worthwhile? You can make a big difference by simply serving your heating systems, but you might need to do something more aggressive to realize a better payoff for both your wallet and the planet.

Let’s consider a few of the popular options.

Bleeding Radiators

Over time, pockets of air can collect at the top of your radiator. While they are trapped inside, they will prevent hot water from filling the device, making it less efficient. You can fix this by regularly bleeding the radiator.

Serviced Boiler

Your boiler is the single most important (and expensive) component in your heating setup. An efficient boiler can save you thousands in the long run – but only if it’s regularly serviced. Regular servicing, indeed, is often a requirement imposed by your boiler’s warranty – so make sure that you make a point of getting it taken care of annually. Specialized boiler cover will protect your boiler during the winter months – if you are worried about boiler failure, it is a possibility to bear in mind.

Insulation

If your property has cavity walls, then getting them insulated can yield substantial improvements in energy-efficiency. Adding insulation can be one of the best ways to make older buildings green, but you might have to remove some of the more toxic insulation. The same is true of your loft, which can be insulated either with blankets, loose-fill insulation, and the blown-fiber stuff that needs professional installation.

Double-glazing

Double-glazing will need to be replaced over time. The seals around the unit will fail, and the gas between the panels will leak, thereby compromising the heat-containing efficacy of the window. The solution is to replace the panel. In certain older listed buildings, you might find it difficult to obtain planning permission for a double-glazed window; look instead for secondary glazing as an alternative.

Compression Strips

Around the edges of an exterior door you’ll find squeezable strips that form a tight seal when the door is closed. Over time, these can lose their elasticity, which means that air will be able to pass from one side of the door to the other. Fortunately, they can be easily replaced.

Draft-Excluders

Similarly, the gap along the bottom of your door can be plugged using a draft excluder – which is more simply described as a long cushion. A rolled-up towel can do the same job, albeit less effectively. This is a measure resorted to in the case of older doors – but in many cases it’s better to bite the bullet and get the door replaced.

Thermostatic Radiator Valves

If all the radiators in your home are fitted with thermostatic radiator valves, then they’ll restrict the flow of water, depending on the ambient temperature. This basically means that you won’t be wasting heat in rooms that don’t need to be heated beyond a certain point.

The post 7 Huge Sustainable Investments for Bolstering Home Heating Efficiency appeared first on Green Building Insider.

It’s admittedly easy to overlook energy expenditure when pulling a project together. You might find yourself overwhelmed with unexpected setbacks, problems with installation and a wide variety of other issues associated with renovations. Even with these difficulties, it’s essential to set aside time to review your energy usage.

Fortunately, you have no shortage of options to reduce your expenditure. Many of them will effectively lower the final cost of your project, as well as decrease your carbon footprint. You’ll preserve both your savings and the planet by approaching your home improvements in a cost-effective, eco-conscious way.

Here are five energy-saving strategies and everything you need to know about green technologies and techniques. It doesn’t take much to make a difference, and even a small adjustment can cut your energy consumption by a significant margin. Consider some of the solutions below.

1. Use Energy-Efficient Building Materials

Conventional building materials are often inefficient and potentially hazardous. You don’t have to choose the standard options most homeowners limit themselves to, because energy-efficient building materials are available if you expand your search. These materials are particularly attractive:

• Spray foam insulation: As a substitute for fiberglass and cellulose insulation, spray foam serves the same purpose while trapping more conditioned air within the home. It also contains rapidly renewable material that doesn’t produce harmful emissions and is both water- and shrink-proof.
• Insulating concrete forms: Created when concrete pours between multiple layers of insulation material, these forms improve the strength and durability of a structure and meet high code requirements for energy efficiency. Additionally, they prevent certain issues like mold, mildew and rotting.
• Thermostat barrier radiant sheathing: A building product from Georgia-Pacific, this sheathing functions in both the roof and the walls as a sort of buffer zone against heat penetration. When properly installed, it reduces energy usage and lowers attic temperatures by up to 30 degrees.

Any of the three products above can help you reduce the energy expenditure in your home. Some materials, like insulating concrete forms, are only functional for certain kinds of projects, but spray foam insulation is far more flexible in its application.

2. Push for Improved Tools and Practices

The numerous motors and auxiliary components that comprise machine tools require a substantial amount of energy. While you’ve likely delegated this type of work to contractors, you can still make suggestions. As an example, switching off specific energy consumers during nonproductive phases can reduce energy use.

Start a conversation with your team and brainstorm ways to tackle the project with greater efficiency. If your project involves an air compressor, moving the intake into a shaded area outside is an easy and energy-efficient alternative. A reduction of 20 degrees Fahrenheit can lower operating costs by almost 3.8 percent.

3. Purchase an Energy-Saving Outlet or Strip

You can manage your energy expenditure with the simple purchase of a smart outlet. Many products are available, and any of them will reduce your usage when plugging power tools into your walls as you move through your renovations. They’re a wise investment, helpful even after you’ve finished your home improvements.

Depending on your needs, you’ll find some options more relevant than others. If you’re intending to use multiple outlets and need a convenient solution, you’ll likely see the appeal in a smart strip. It has various outlets for different devices. When you shut it off, the strip automatically cuts power to any peripheral outlets.

4. Hire Contractors With Relevant Experience

Over the course of your renovations, you’ll likely need the assistance of one or more contractors. Each of these professionals will conduct business differently, and some aren’t concerned with reducing their energy expenditure, only the final result. Take these three steps far in advance of hiring a contractor:

• Contact former clients and ask about the contractor’s performance, touching on their attention to energy efficiency and green construction.
• Search online for reviews and recommendations for the contractor, visiting sites like Angie’s List, CitySearch and Google Local for details.
• Meet with the contractor and question them about their approach to home improvements, their areas of expertise and relevant experience.

Once you’ve met and settled on the right contractor, you should move forward with the renovation process. As you continue with your project, you can feel confident the professional you’ve chosen will hold themselves to a high standard of energy efficiency. Still, it’s essential to compromise when necessary.

5. Choose Minimal Framing for Wall Installation

If your plans include a large-scale renovation with the addition of new walls, you should research your building codes.

Depending on the details of these codes, you could choose minimal framing for the installation, which will require fewer nails and less lumber. You’ll also reduce your energy usage in terms of power tools. If you choose metal framing, it cuts down on wood waste.

In addition to your savings, this suggestion has secondary benefits. When you minimize the framing in your walls, you have more room for insulation, and by extension, greater energy efficiency. Among other tips for an energy-efficient remodel, this is one of the most effective for homeowners with more involved projects.

A Green Approach to Home Improvements

As you organize your plans and evaluate your options, review some of the suggestions above. While you’re likely concerned over supplies, labor, schedule and budget, it’s essential to set aside time to assess secondary details like the energy efficiency of your remodel. These smaller considerations are no less important.

When you begin on your renovations, take a green approach. Use energy-efficient building materials, purchase smart outlets and collaborate with contractors who have your best interests in mind.

After you finish and step back from your work, you’ll feel satisfied with your project and proud of how you accomplished it.

The post 5 Simple Ways to Save Energy on Home Improvement Projects appeared first on Green Building Insider.

One of the first and most important steps that we can take is to reduce our energy consumption. And more exactly, in this article, we will discuss how to make your own home energy-efficient:

Impact on the Environment

Trying to move into a green home is not the cheapest decision that you can make, for sure. And trying to build one from scratch isn’t either, plus the fact that it’s a very stressful process. Given these facts, you might wonder what’s the exact impact that your decision to move from living in a traditional home into a green one, can have on the environment.

Well, for starters, it’s worth to mention a well-known fact that we all most probably are aware of by now: every form of electricity generation has a certain impact on our water, air and land. Another fact that not everyone is aware of, is that almost 40% of the energy consumed in the United States is used in order to generate electricity.

So here’s the first question that comes to one’s mind right after acknowledging this fact: How do I use electricity more efficiently? If everyone would start asking this sort of questions, a lot of great things could happen, like less fuel needed to produce electricity or less greenhouse gases emitted.

What Can You Do?

Luckily, thanks to technology advancements that are being made constantly nowadays, it’s much more easier for people to help the environment. The only other thing that’s necessary, is people’s willingness to make a change. Here are some energy saving techniques that you can start thinking about:

Insulate

One thing that will help you cut down on your yearly energy-usage is making sure your home’s insulation is as recommended by the Department of Energy (DOE). You mainly have to check the insulation level in certain places of your home, like the attic, the sidewalls and crawl spaces. Of course you can do that yourself if you are able to, but if not, you can always hire someone that will help you reduce the energy loss in your own home.

Shutterstock Licensed Photo – By ronstik

But that’s not that the only benefit that insulating your home brings. One other benefit is the control that you have over noises. You might wonder what does noise have to do with insulating your home. Well, if you go for fiberglass insulation, this will not only keep out the noise from outside of the house, but it will also reduce the probability of hearing noises from one room of your household in another one. The best part about choosing to insulate your home this way, has to be the fact that fiberglass insulation is very environment friendly.

Solar Energy

If you would have large, south-facing windows all over your home, you would be able to do more than 80 percent of your heating by just using solar energy. Well, if that’s possible (and it definitely sounds amazing), think about what can happen if you would go for rooftop solar panels.

Shutterstock Licensed Photo – By Diyana Dimitrova

And if it wasn’t already obvious, using solar energy in your green home has a positive effect on the environment. If you go for this alternative source of energy, you automatically help reduce the usage of other energy sources that could have larger negative impacts on the environment. There are some toxic materials that are used when building the solar panels, but they’re not even close to being as harmful to the planet as traditional energy sources.

Windows, Doors and Garage Doors

Are you interested in the idea of cutting heat loss in half in your own household? Of course you are, who wouldn’t be? Well, one great technique that you can start thinking about is investing in storm windows and doors. And if you want to be even more effective, you can always go for double or triple-glazed windows.

Another upgrade that you didn’t know you needed in your life is energy-efficient garage doors. This upgrade could be the perfect decision that you’ll make next winter, given the fact it can dramatically lower your home’s heating bills.

Lightning and Appliances

This might seem hard to believe, but you are able to cut the electricity used for your home’s lightning by as much as 75 percent. How’s that possible? Just think about replacing your regular incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. And the lightning bulb is just a minor example of a thing that you can change in your home, get your money back (and even more) and also help the environment at the same time. For example, you can think about purchasing energy-efficient home appliances.

If you use energy-efficient home appliances you are being really helpful when it comes stopping the exploitation of natural resources. Also, another benefit of using this kind of appliances is controlling the pollution. The explanation is simple: when producing energy and using water, oil, coal or natural gases, it can lead to water, air and soil pollution because of the industrial effluents and emissions.

It’s clear that something has to change, isn’t it? The uncontrolled consumption of energy is one of the main sources for some of the biggest issues that our planet is facing nowadays. It might not seem like something revolutionary that can change the entire world, if you start doing all of the things mentioned above. But the simple fact that you switch living in a traditional home for living in a green one, brings us as humans, one step closer to healing the planet and reducing the concern for the sick environment that we all live in.

The post How Energy Efficient Homes Are Good for the Environment appeared first on Green Building Insider.