Many large-scale renovations only make sense for homeowners. Naturally, you don’t want to invest your hard-earned money on costly upgrades that get left behind when moving out of an apartment or rental home. But luckily, there are lots of ways to reduce your environmental footprint and save money even if you don’t own the property you call home.
One of the hallmarks of a home’s energy efficiency is its thermal performance. So it’s important to understand the distinction between the concepts of thermal mass and insulation.
Ever live in an apartment with the utilities included for free? Well, geothermal is sort of like that – the earth provides free home heating and cooling for anyone who wants it. And the systems to capture it are cheaper and more efficient than ever. So read on to learn more about geothermal home heating and cooling, and how it can drastically cut your energy consumption and utility bills.
EcoSmart ethanol fireplaces deliver warmth and ambiance, minus the smoke. And they’re available in dozens of designs for any space in your home, indoors or outside.
In cold climates, wintertime doesn’t just mean chilly air – it means very dry air as well. Adding humidity into the air in your home can make it more comfortable, but did you know it can save energy too? Maintaining the proper humidity level in your home can make it feel several degrees warmer – which means staying just as comfortable with the thermostat set lower.
One of the best ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency is by insulating and sealing openings, but the trade-off in a tightly sealed home can be stale indoor air. Energy recovery ventilators like the offer the best of both worlds, providing fresh air while keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Space heaters have come a long way over the years. Modern designs like the Lasko Full Circle deliver some serious thermal performance, and they use far less power than older models. And if using it lets you maintain your entire home at a lower temperature, you’ll trim your utility bills and stay comfortable with less energy.
Radiant heat floors aren’t a mere decadent luxury. Typically consisting of flexible PEX tubing embedded in flooring to circulate heated water, radiant heat systems can actually help homeowners comfortably use less central heat – saving money by reducing overall energy consumption.
The advantages of hybrid heat pump water heaters are clear: excellent energy efficiency, lower operating costs, and relatively simple and affordable installation. And of all the options available, GE’s GeoSpring model is one of the best.
We love this stuff – it’s amazingly easy to work with, and has countless applications for improving energy efficiency around the house. Attics, crawl spaces, walls, water tanks, even garage doors can get a big efficiency boost from a single layer of Reflectix insulation.
