Posts tagged: energy_efficiency
Added Extra Insulation Around Ducts
By tmgeorgo
Last month I finally took care of a project I've been meaning to do since I moved into my house--wrapping my ducts with more insulation.
The ducts in my crawlspace are insulated on the inside and there wasn't a whole lot of insulation in them, so they were rather energy inefficient. To correct that, I bought a tube of duct mastic, some metal foil tape, and several rolls of R-6 duct wrap from the Home Depot and spent a few afternoons sealing » READ MORE
Oikos Green Building Library
By tmgeorgoI've been to all sorts of green building and energy efficiency websites, but none have really compared to the Oikos Green Building Library. I stumbled across the site by accident one day and couldn't believe how in-depth and useful the articles are. The Oikos library is not of those sparse "Green & Eco-Chic Living" or "10 Easy Ways to Go Green" sites, it is instead is geared towards homeowners and builders who look for and understand more techn » READ MORE
New Water Heater
By tmgeorgo
My water heater sprung a leak over the weekend, right around the seal where the pressure relief valve connects to the tank. It was 12 years old and the thermostat was flaky anyway so I decided it was time to replace it. After a few calls to the hardware store, plumbers and the local gas utility, I learned that the direct vent natural gas model I needed is a special order item at most hardware stores (except at Home Depot, which had some i » READ MORE
Save BIG BUCKS at the Gas Station
By DIY Maven
Tell The Drive Smarter Challenge the make and year of your vehicle and they’ll ‘challenge’ you on how to save significantly at the gas station. TDSC also encourages us to spread the word and invite 6 friends to take the challenge. Not only do these tips have an immediate effect on our own pocketbooks, if everyone in the U.S. rose to the occasion, we might even be able lower the price of gas ourselves.
You might also want to check o » READ MORE
Bubble glazing
By fontgoddess
Affordable and very effective. I'd pair this with some pretty asian paper or large sheet of vellum, if I wanted to conceal the main material. But, honestly, it looks pretty classy.
http://www.mtbest.net/bubble_glazing.html
DIY Home Energy Audit: Easily Find Out How Much Energy You Are Using.
By Chrisjob"Energy costs continue to rise, placing ever-greater pressure on households. And the energy you use to heat and cool your home is a large part of your carbon footprint.
By knowing what to look for you can conduct your own home energy audit. Here's how to get started."
1. Get To Know Your Energy Bills
2. Check out The Daily Green's Checklist
3. Locate Air Leaks
5. Examine Heating and Cooling Equipment
6. Analyze Your Appliances
7. Look for » READ MORE
Window Film that Prevents Heat Loss - Panacea for Post-and-Beam Homes?
By eichler
Is this a product that is too good to be true or the real deal?
As the owner of a Bay Area Eichler Home that has no weight-bearing walls and essentially is compromised of floor-to-ceiling single-pane glass throughout, we've grown to love the indoor /outdoor feel that our home provides however we've always had some general concerns about our mid-century modern 'glass house':
- Safety: floor-to-ceiling, single pane glass is common with many m » READ MORE
