CFLs Getting Phased Out

GE has announced the end of an era--just when CFLs had become the main choice for light bulbs across the country. LEDs are on their way and will becoming more and more affordable as GE streamlines the production of these lights. Start making the transition now if you haven't already! Here are a few of the benefits:

1. 11 to 22 years lifespan depending on use (22 years if your light is used 50% of the time)
2. 80% to 90% more energy efficient than incandescent light bulbs
3. No harmful chemicals
4. Rugged and durable
5. Better light
6. Lower voltage

Check out the following links for more information about LED lights

http://www.ledluxor.com/top-10-benefits-of-led-lighting 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/business/energy-environment/ge-to-phase-out-cfl-light-bulbs.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FEnergy%20Efficiency&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=collection&_r=0

Energy tips from the Government

http://energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver-guide-tips-saving-money-and-energy-home

Check out this link for some great tips on making your home more energy efficient and become energy wise with you home and money!

What is an energy audit?

Many people don't know what an energy audit is so we're here to help clear up any confusion!

Energy audits are the first step you can take to make your home more energy efficient.

An energy audit is a detailed examination of your home that determines where/how energy is being lost in the home, which systems are working inefficiently and what measures can be put in to place to make the home more comfortable and energy efficient.

There are 2 kinds of audits, a home energy survey and a general energy audit. Both are important and both will end up saving you money in the long run.

Home energy survey tests the windows, doors, etc. It will check your heating, cooling, lighting and any visible moisture leaks. They will figure out if you have any complaints and check to make sure there are no health or safety concerns.

A general energy audit includes diagnostic testing. They will check the location of leaks, how much leakage there is and how effective your insulation is.

An audit can help cut your power bill a lot and doesn't everyone like saving money??

Efficiency vs Conservation

Energy efficiency and energy conservation are often used interchangeably but there are still differences between them. Today we're going to help you understand those differences!

At the most basic understanding, energy conservation is more of a behavior change of using less energy, such as turning off the lights or lowering your thermostat.
Energy efficiency means using energy more effectively, it's more of a technical change.

An example of this...to conserve energy you could turn down the thermostat several degrees. You might be a bit colder though. To be more energy efficient you can install a more energy efficient heater and get better insulation. You'll be able to use the same amount of energy and still be able to turn your heater up more. If you plan on buying more energy efficient products, always look for the energy star!

It's important to have a mix of energy efficiency and energy conservation. If you want to learn more about our energy efficient products and work you can check out the rest of our blog or our facebook page by following this link! Click here!

Top 10 Home Efficiency Tips

Top 10 lists are always one of my favorite things to read. They are informative while still being short and sweet. Today I'll share my own top 10 list of home efficiency tips. Here we go! 

1. Seal it up! If cold air is allowed to seep in to your home it will raise your heating bill much higher than you'd like. 
2. Insulate your upstairs. Insulating upstairs will make sure to make your home better year round. “It turns out that about half of the homes in the United States are underinsulated,” says Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy.
3. Insulate the windows and doors.  About 1/3 of the home's total heat cost is through the windows and doors. You can seal the windows and cracks with rope caulk or can be weatherstripped. Installing storm windows is also a great option. 
4. Seal the ducts. Duct sealant can be used to help repair any leaks the ducts may have. 
5. Buy a programmable thermostat. It might not seem like it will help much but they've been proven to save about 10 percent on heating and cooling bills. 
6. Energy efficient doors and windows. You can actually install energy efficient doors and windows that will help keep air from leaking through.
7.  Make sure you have the right equipment. Replacing an outdated HVAC system with an energy efficient one can lower  your monthly energy bills. 
8. High-efficiency water heaters. Water heating makes up anywhere from 15-25 percent of the annual energy usage in the home. Getting a high-efficient water heater will help drive down the cost of your bills. 
9. Understand how your home uses energy. It's important to understand how your home uses energy. 46% goes to heating and cooling at 12% goes to lighting. 
10. Lights. Don't leave the lights on when you leave a room. It's simple and effective. 

Is there anything I missed? What would you add to the list?

Baby Shower

We recently had the opportunity to celebrate one of our own by throwing a baby shower for Mali! She's been such a great employee for us we were really just looking for a way to give back a little and to be able to celebrate with her in such an exciting time of life. Thanks Mali for all the hard work you've done for us and we can't wait to meet your little one soon!

Woodbury... Here we come!!

Thank you to the city of Woodbury and all your residence! We had a wonderful time getting to know this area and its people. Please watch for the signs in your neighborhood! Let's not let winter get in the way of our home improvement projects... #dominatewinter