Suburban Blog

Obama's New Energy Efficiency Program: "Cash for Caulkers"

     President Obama will be announcing a new $6 billion dollar program today called "Cash for Caulkers" that will hopefully stimulate the economy by providing incentives for Americans who make energy efficient home improvements. The new program "is intended to prompt Americans to invest in everything from insulation or new windows to overarching energy upgrades of their homes."

    Created after the success of "Cash for Clunkers" last summer, this program has been developed to create more jobs and provide incentives for all who participate. This program will only be available for a short time period, however the White House is expecting that the average household could save between $200-$500 this year if they participate. "The program involves a range of incentives for consumers, including rebates from stores that sell building materials, companies that install the equipment and utility energy efficiency programs. Consumers can also get rebates for a range of home energy upgrades."

    Here at Suburban Windows & Siding we have an exclusive line of Heat Mirror Replacement Windows that are one of the most energy efficient windows ever designed. To find out how you can take advantage of "cash for caulkers" and other energy efficient incentives, please feel free to contact us at 860-828-8227. 

 

Seal Up That Drafty House And Save Energy

Burrrrrrrrrrrr, It looks like winter has arrived in the northeast.  I was hoping it was going to pass us by this year.  I 'm sure many of you have noticed over the past few days how cold your windows feel and how drafty your home is.  

More than any other time of year, you notice your home's air leaks in the winter. Most people call these air leaks "drafts." You may feel these drafts around windows and doors and think these leaks are your major source of wasted energy. In most homes, however, the most significant air leaks are hidden in the attic and basement. These are the leaks that significantly raise your energy bill and make your house uncomfortable.

But locating leaks can be difficult because they are often hidden under your insulation. In cold weather, warm air rises in your house, just like it does in a chimney. This air, which you have paid to heat, is just wasted as it rises up into your attic and sucks cold air in all around your home - around windows, doors, and through holes into the basement.
Common Household Air Leaks

* Behind Kneewalls
* Attic Hatch
* Wiring Holes
* Plumbing Vent
* Open Soffit (the box that hides the recessed lights)
* Recessed Light
* Furnace Flue or Duct Chaseway (the hollow box or wall feature that hides ducts)
* Basement Rim Joists (where the foundation meets the wood framing)
* Windows and Doors

Locating Basement Air Leaks

A common area of air leakage in the basement is along the top of the basement wall where cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame. These leaks can easily be fixed in portions of the basement that are unfinished. Since the top of the wall is above ground, outside air can be drawn in through cracks and gaps where the house framing sits on top of the foundation. This perimeter framing is called the rim (or band) joist. In the basement, the above floor joists end at the rim joist creating multiple cavities along the length of the wall, and many opportunities for leakage. The following DIY Guide by Energy Star is the best guide I have seen on sealing up the drafts in a home.  Even implementing a few of the improvements can make a big difference,

Download the DIY Guide PDF (2MB)

Replacement Windows and Drafts In Your Home

It's a lovely fall weekend in New England but we all know that it wont be long  before the cold winter weather will be a pone us. This is the time to look at the thermal envelope of your home and make it as energy efficient as possible.  HouseGuru will continue to post energy saving tips for your home and offer ways to help you conserve energy and save money.

The most important thing to be aware of now are the air leaks around your home.  You can start by looking at your windows and doors since these are two of the areas that can lose energy to air infiltration.  Remember the  the energy tax rebate program ends December 31st where you can recieve a $1500 dollar tax credit from the government for Energy Efficient Replacement Windows that qualify for the program. One of the most efficient windows on the market that meet and exceed the programs qualifications are Heat Mirror Windows.

More than any other time of year, you notice your home's air leaks in the winter. Most people call these air leaks "drafts." You may feel these drafts around windows and doors and think these leaks are your major source of wasted energy. In most homes, however, other significant air leaks are hidden in the attic and basement. These are leaks that also significantly raise your energy bill and make your house uncomfortable. But locating leaks can be difficult because they are often hidden under your insulation. In cold weather, warm air rises in your house, just like it does in a chimney. This air, which you have paid to heat, is just wasted as it rises up into your attic and sucks cold air in all around your home - around windows, doors, and through holes into the basement.

Common Household Air Leaks

* Behind Kneewalls
* Attic Hatch
* Wiring Holes
* Plumbing Vent
* Open Soffit (the box that hides the recessed lights)
* Recessed Light
* Furnace Flue or Duct Chaseway (the hollow box or wall feature that hides ducts)
* Basement Rim Joists (where the foundation meets the wood framing)
* Windows and Doors

Locating Basement Air Leaks

A common area of air leakage in the basement is along the top of the basement wall where cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame. These leaks can easily be fixed in portions of the basement that are unfinished. Since the top of the wall is above ground, outside air can be drawn in through cracks and gaps where the house framing sits on top of the foundation. This perimeter framing is called the rim (or band) joist. In the basement, the above floor joists end at the rim joist creating multiple cavities along the length of the wall, and many opportunities for leakage.

 

 

Home Improvements- How to Improve your Water-Heating Efficiency

     The average home uses 14% of its energy for heating water. Water heating is one of the most variable energy requirements among families. It its affected by: the number and ages of those who live in your home, the efficiency of your shower heads, and most importantly the water temperature used for washing clothes. Here at Suburban Windows & Siding we have put together a list of effective ways to improve your water heating efficiency.

• Wash your laundry in cold or lukewarm water! Each load of laundry washed in cold water saves enough energy to power a television for up to 34 hours!
• Set the water heater temperature to 120 degrees.  Lowering the temperature reduces stand-by losses, also reduces the chance of scalding from hot tap water, and finally this will help extend the life of your water heater.
• Increase your water heater's insulation. Installing an insulation jacket on a water heater can be an inexpensive and effective way of reducing energy loss.
  

• Remember this is the time to check your windows and doors for air-leaks and cracks which can account for 10- 25% of your winter heating bill, through heat- loss. Suburban Windows & Siding can help you with any of your home improvement questions and concerns. Also take advantage of the $1500 tax-rebate this year for your energy-efficient home improvements, such as our exclusive Heat Mirror window, which is the most effective replacement window available today.

How to Buy The Right Showerhead!

Today's shower head fixtures are relatively Eco-friendly. If your shower head was made after 1992 then its government mandated to pump a maximum of 2.5 gallons of water/per minute. However if your shower head is looking a bit outdated, check out the new energy efficient "low flow' models that will pump around 1.5 gallons of water/per minute which can save your family up to $100 annually. Here at Suburban, we have made a list of features to look for next time you upgrade:

1. The Water Pressure! Most new models are Eco-friendly, which means that they range in water usage between 1.5 to 2.0 gallons/per minute.
2. The Spray. Most shower heads have at least 2-3 settings: Aerated, Mist, Needle Point and Pulsating. A shower head with multiple body sprays sounds appealing to most, but be careful because the water usage is extremely higher.
3. The Finish. Choose a shower head with PVD (physical vapor deposition) because this will reduce your corrosion and tarnishing over time.
4. The Price. Most Eco-friendly shower heads range in price from $35- $70. However, a hand held shower head will cost you around $100. 

Quick Tips For Winterizing Your Home

Autumn is the best time to start any project that will prepare your home for the cold winter months ahead of us. Here at Suburban, we have put together a few cost-effective ways to prepare your home for the cold weather by increasing your heating efficiency:

1. Add humidifiers to the living areas in your home where you spend most of your time. Adding a humidifier will make the air in your room feel warmer in the winter. 
2. Close off any unused parts of your house that do not need heat ventilation.
3. Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors. The biggest loss of heat in your home will result from any window or door that has air leaking through it. Take a look at the advantages of Heat Mirror windows, they are the most advanced and energy efficient replacement window available.
4. Consider replacing your thermostat with a programmable thermostat that will reduce your energy bill tremendously over the winter.
5. Check to see if your attic and/or basement has insulation. If not, consider doing this because it will greatly reduce your energy efficiency.

Are You Juggling Your Energy Bills?

 I thought this  Video Clip was pretty cool and wanted to share it with our readers. It's an entertaining way to demonstrate how your household bills can get out of control. Did you know that the Average American uses 20 times the amount of oil/per year than any other citizen in the world. Take a walk around your house with our Energy Conservation Checklist (located below this article) and look for ways you can reduce next month's energy bill!  Subscribe to our HouseGuru blog for interesting and useful information on saving energy and living green. Even know we specialize in Replacement Windows and Vinyl Siding we are dedicated to helping homeowners save money and live more comfortably.  

 Enjoy the video and have a great day !

 Your friends at Suburban Windows & Siding

 

Your Free Energy Conservation Checklist

Did you know that there are several ways to conserve energy at home for little to no cost? As the winter is closing in on us in Connecticut, Suburban Windows and Siding would like to help you learn how to reduce your energy bill's effectively. Take a walk through your house using our Energy Conservation Checklist to figure out where you can eliminate unnecessary expenses.

1) Use dimmers on your indoor lighting and remote sensors on your outdoor lighting. This will help you save energy whether or not you are home.

2) Use automatic controls for your thermostats, heaters, and hot-water heaters. It is suggested to keep your thermostat no higher than 68* degrees in the winter.

3) Close off unused parts of your house that don't necessarily have to be heated everyday (attic, basement, guest bedroom, etc.)

4) Make sure that you are not obstructing any vents or air returns in your home.

5) Check to see if you need to replace any filters in your heating/cooling system.

6) Seal any cracks in your windows or consider replacement windows that will ensure you are heating your house and not your neighborhood. 

7) Take advantage of natural or existing light when heating and/or lighting each room in your house.

8) Check to make sure that there are no cracks or spaces in the siding of your home. Consider replacement vinyl siding if your home cannot hold in your heat as well as it used to be able to.

 

5 Ways to Lower Your Energy Bill Today

This time of year in New England is responsible for several changes in our daily life, whether we realize it or not. For example the cold weather is starting to increase everyday while the amount of light starts to decrease. Many of us are too busy to adjust to the changing season at home, and in return turning the heat up seems to be the quickest solution to our problems. Here are a few tips that can dramatically lower your energy bill without too much hassle.

1. During the winter you should turn your ceiling fan on a slow speed to push warm air that has settled up there around your entire room making you feel more comfortable.
   
2. Upgrade your light bulbs to florescent. Although they cost more initially, they will last up to 13 times longer and use only 1/3 of the energy that a normal light bulb needs.
3. When operating your washing machine, use COLD water. Laundry detergents are so advanced these days that using warm water is not necessary anymore. Using cold water can cut your energy bill to 1/5 of what it is now.
4. When using your dishwasher, turn off the Heat Drying feature because it uses extra energy for something that doesn't really need to be done.
5. When you are not using your fireplace, make sure you have closing glass doors installed because naturally a fireplace will drain your warm air and replace it with cold air from outside.

Energy Auditing Tips

Did you know? The easiest, most economical area in which to conserve energy for most homeowners is insulation and weather stripping. As we begin our transition into the colder weather this Fall we think that everybody should consider cost-effective energy improvements before its too late. Check out these 5 tips on how to do an energy audit on your own without hiring a professional..

1) Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors and crawl spaces.

2) Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.

3) Check for open fireplace dampers.

4) Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner's manual for the recommended maintenance. 

5) Study your families lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside lighting. Use lighting controls such as: sensors, dimmers and timers to reduce energy use.