The Four Energy Saving Areas in Your Home

Basically, you’ve got four major energy saving opportunities in your home…

1. Lighting
2. Appliances and electronics
3. Heating & cooling
4. Water heating

You could, of course, break it down even more. Each of us has hundreds of ways we could be saving more energy, but the above four are major and a good place to start.

For lighting you can save more by incorporating day lighting into your home with energy efficient windows, skylights, and light tunnels. You can buy energy efficient bulbs and keep the lighting to a minimum or as needed basis. You can also remind family members to simply turn off the lights.

Appliances and electronic equipment makes up about 20% of your home energy usage and costs so it’s smart to purchase energy efficient versions of things like televisions, microwaves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, audio equipment and anything else you plug in. You may be able to get rebates on many of the items you buy. To further use these items efficiently, use them sparingly – i.e. hang dry many clothes instead of using the dryer each time. Plug all items in one space into one power strip then turn the whole darn strip off when you leave the room. Also, cook wisely – you don’t need the stove for everything.

For heating and cooling think ahead of time. Make sure you build or buy a home that’s got energy saving features such as good orientation, evergreen windbreaks, try passive solar design, and weatherize properly for winter. Also little adjustments such as turning the heat down a few notches adds up over time.

Heating your water can actually account for as much as 25% of your energy use. Try a solar water heater or the next time you upgrade, upgrade to the most efficient model you can. Insulate your hot water pipes and heater, install a water timer, and do the little things like taking shorter showers.

If you do all of the above it will not only save you energy but it will put money directly in your pocket – good timing with the holidays here.

Source : http://www.bestgreenhometips.com/

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Things to Understand Before Painting

Paint is not only a protective or wallpaper that has aesthetic value, but also significantly impacted on the change room. Only by painting over the wall in an area, nuance and a new impression is created.

In other words, this is the fastest way to change the atmosphere. The cost was not too much when compared to replacing new furniture. However, there are some things that must be understood before painting.
Painting the room starts from the top area. In this case, the ceiling was a top priority for the painting, then to the walls, wooden windows, and others.

Clean the surface to be painted properly. scratch layers of old paint is peeling, then give sandpaper for smoothing. This will give the paint surface better after a dry and durable.
The size of the brush should be tailored to large painted surfaces to provide excellent results. Roller should be used for large surfaces such as walls and ceilings, to be more efficient time.

When using more than one gallon of paint, paint mix all materials since the beginning of the process, although composed of the same color. It is important to maintain color consistency
To select a paint color, adjust the dominant colors found in a room, such as furniture, curtains, or carpets. On the surface large enough, usually the color will appear darker. For that, choose paint that has one or two levels lighter than desired color. Still, can not be denied at least a dark color, too. depends on the intensity of light coming in and other interior color selection.

Calculate paint finishing techniques, polished or not, adapted to the needs of the room. If not proficient in using a variety of paint techniques, should not use the type of glossy as they may leave a trace of brushstrokes irregular, thus disturbing the aesthetic value of the room.

Estimate material needs a good paint. Comparison of the standard is any area of 9 square meters require 5 kg of paint.

Choose quality paint. One characteristic that contain enamel, which serves as a reinforcement layer of paint, so not easily fall out or moldy.

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Lamp for your home

Almost in every house to use as a lamp lights. As a light, electric light the most commonly used as artificial light for a house, can be classified into 3 major groups, namely incandescent lamps, halogen lamps and fluorescent lamps.

The many types of lighting currently make you need to consider what factors should you consider when choosing a lamp. Here are some factors you can consider:

1. The first step you can do is to determine the placement spots lights, especially those planted on a wall or ceiling.
This is done before you build or renovate housing.

2. It is better if the placement of lights adapted to environmental conditions.
That is, for the lights should be placed outside using stainless steel, aluminum or painted steel against corrosion.

3. Specify color lights you want to use.
Lights with light-colored character was allegedly able to generate a warm atmosphere and romantic, so it is suitable placed in the bedroom or other space used for leisure. While the white light is more suitable for use in the workplace. Determination of color of this light by itself will guide you make a choice between fluorescent and incandescent lamps.

4. Customize your lamp with the character of the model house.
Lamp with a classic traditional design would be visible when placed on jomplang house with modern minimalist concept.

5. The nature of radiating heat lamps can also be used as weighing factors when you choose the house lights.
As a whole, the house lights that you choose should be resistant to heat, not easy to melt and is not flammable.

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