Provided By Realty Times
Summer heat is a mastermind at emptying our wallets. In today's economy, many families cannot afford large rises in their monthly bills. How can you keep energy costs low this Summer?
Implement these simple tips into your daily routine and you'll find big savings
First, substitute traditional incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights(CFLs). The initial cost may be higher, but CFLs use less energy and last 1,000's of times longer.
The next consideration can save you money now and later. There are numerous tax credits available for energy upgrades, such as insulated windows. You can visit energystar.gov to get the specifics. Insulated windows and doors are a great way to keep cool air in and hot air out. If you are replacing windows, consider using an insulating window wrap around the new install. This will help reduce energy loss from around the window.
Now is also a good time to do a quick home inspection. Check for leaky duct work. There's no reason to pay to cool your attic! Be sure that attic vents are open and have good circulation.
If you live in an old house, you may find that your attic insulation is non-existent or in need of upgrading. Do a thorough inspection of your home to see where it needs some TLC.
Next, embrace fans. They can circulate and move air, requiring less need for air conditioning.
Speaking of air conditioning, there is now a new alternative to traditional window units. Window units are eyesores that lack energy efficiency. For around $300 to $500you can buy portable AC units. These portable units mean you can move them from room to room as needed. They use a no-drip technology that saves money by using an eco-friendly refrigerant gas. They also come with an adjustable thermostat and 24-hour countdown timer -- two more energy-efficient upgrades.
If you have central air, be sure to keep the temperature turned up during the day when you are away from the house. Don't turn the unit off completely, since then it has to work overtime to cool the house when you arrive home. If you can, program your thermostat to turn down 30 to 45 minutes before you return home each day.
To keep your unit working at optimum efficiency, replace your air filter regularly and have it serviced when needed.
Next on the list of ways to reduce your energy bill is keeping appliances unplugged when not in use. Even if an appliance is off, but still plugged in, it will be drawing power. Keep appliances unplugged, or go for a clean-line look and store them whenever they aren't in use.
These are just a few tips that can help you reduce your energy bill. Good luck saving this Summer!
Are you interested in a 'greener' home? Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at frontdesk552@kw.com.
Showing posts with label green homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green homes. Show all posts
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Bathroom Design Trends: Clean and Green
Provided By Realty Times
Written By Jim Adair
Tiles that clean themselves, faucets with no levers, residential urinals and automatic humidity sensing fans – these are some of the design innovations that have started showing up in the bathrooms of upper-end homes during the last few years. Combined with a trend to minimal Asian design, bathroom designs these days can best be designed as clean and green.
Active Clean Air and Antibacterial Ceramic Tiles were introduced to Canada last year by Savoia Canada, a subsidiary of the Italian GranitiFiandre Group. The company says the tiles use titanium dioxide to "clean the air of polluting organic substances when either sunlight or artificial UVA rays shine on the tiles. This process transforms harmful organic and inorganic substances into compounds that are harmless to humans." They are available in about 40 different colours and various sizes.
A set of faucets and showers from American Standard has no levers or faucets, just four electronic control icons on the top surface of the tub filler or the bottom of the shower column. They are operated by regular C type batteries.
Kohler Canada offers waterless residential urinals and toilets with built-in bidet functions including a control for water temperature and flow, a deodorizer function, a heated seat and warm air drying at three speeds.
If you can never remember to turn on the bathroom fan during or after a shower, Broan-Nutone offers Humidity Sensing Fans, which automatically turn on when a rapid rise in humidity is detected in the room.
Waterfall faucets and shower towers that include everything from steam options to waterproof built-in speakers are other popular bathroom features. From an esthetic point of view, Japanese influences are being seen in the clean lines and open spaces in new bathrooms. Hotel-like "floating" vanities and wall-mounted toilets make small rooms look larger.
An American Standard survey in 2008 showed that 88 per cent of people were "doing a lot of things inside their bathrooms besides the obvious." More than one-third read their mail there, while 43 per cent used it to get dressed, 19 per cent listened to music on their radio or I-Pod, 15 per cent talked on the phone and three per cent watched TV.
Most people spent about 30 minutes in the bathroom a day, but 25 per cent of people reported spending at least an hour. Women spent more time there than men, and women with children spent more time in the shower than women without kids.
The biggest bathroom trends are in the "green" categories – conserving water and energy. In Ontario, the provincial government recently announced plans to mandate water-saving toilets. It says Ontarians currently use about 260 litres of water a day, nearly twice as much as people in Germany, the U.K. and the Netherlands. American Standard says Canadians use the second highest amount of water in the world, with 35 per cent of the water used for the shower and the tub, and 30 per cent used by flushing the toilet.
Many municipalities offer incentives to residents to switch from 13-litre toilets to energy efficient six-litre models. For example, Toronto residents can get $60 or $75 for making the move. Kohler Canada offers an interactive map that shows where you can get rebates in municipalities across the country.
In addition to dual-flush and low-flow toilets, water is being conserved in the bathroom with low-flow faucets and showerheads. Changing all three in a bathroom costs as little as $600, but provides long-term financial benefits.
Some other "green" trends include using cleaning materials that are ammonia-free (such as water and vinegar), and installing energy-efficient lighting. Kohler is using recycled and reclaimed materials in some of its cast-iron products.
What’s coming up in future bathroom trends? While white still rules as the dominant fixture colour, other more vibrant colours may be making a comeback. In terms of bathroom design, an aging population is prompting more consideration of accessible features, such as grab bars and curbless and level-access showers.
Are you interested in buying or learning more about "green" homes. Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.
Written By Jim Adair
Tiles that clean themselves, faucets with no levers, residential urinals and automatic humidity sensing fans – these are some of the design innovations that have started showing up in the bathrooms of upper-end homes during the last few years. Combined with a trend to minimal Asian design, bathroom designs these days can best be designed as clean and green.
Active Clean Air and Antibacterial Ceramic Tiles were introduced to Canada last year by Savoia Canada, a subsidiary of the Italian GranitiFiandre Group. The company says the tiles use titanium dioxide to "clean the air of polluting organic substances when either sunlight or artificial UVA rays shine on the tiles. This process transforms harmful organic and inorganic substances into compounds that are harmless to humans." They are available in about 40 different colours and various sizes.
A set of faucets and showers from American Standard has no levers or faucets, just four electronic control icons on the top surface of the tub filler or the bottom of the shower column. They are operated by regular C type batteries.
Kohler Canada offers waterless residential urinals and toilets with built-in bidet functions including a control for water temperature and flow, a deodorizer function, a heated seat and warm air drying at three speeds.
If you can never remember to turn on the bathroom fan during or after a shower, Broan-Nutone offers Humidity Sensing Fans, which automatically turn on when a rapid rise in humidity is detected in the room.
Waterfall faucets and shower towers that include everything from steam options to waterproof built-in speakers are other popular bathroom features. From an esthetic point of view, Japanese influences are being seen in the clean lines and open spaces in new bathrooms. Hotel-like "floating" vanities and wall-mounted toilets make small rooms look larger.
An American Standard survey in 2008 showed that 88 per cent of people were "doing a lot of things inside their bathrooms besides the obvious." More than one-third read their mail there, while 43 per cent used it to get dressed, 19 per cent listened to music on their radio or I-Pod, 15 per cent talked on the phone and three per cent watched TV.
Most people spent about 30 minutes in the bathroom a day, but 25 per cent of people reported spending at least an hour. Women spent more time there than men, and women with children spent more time in the shower than women without kids.
The biggest bathroom trends are in the "green" categories – conserving water and energy. In Ontario, the provincial government recently announced plans to mandate water-saving toilets. It says Ontarians currently use about 260 litres of water a day, nearly twice as much as people in Germany, the U.K. and the Netherlands. American Standard says Canadians use the second highest amount of water in the world, with 35 per cent of the water used for the shower and the tub, and 30 per cent used by flushing the toilet.
Many municipalities offer incentives to residents to switch from 13-litre toilets to energy efficient six-litre models. For example, Toronto residents can get $60 or $75 for making the move. Kohler Canada offers an interactive map that shows where you can get rebates in municipalities across the country.
In addition to dual-flush and low-flow toilets, water is being conserved in the bathroom with low-flow faucets and showerheads. Changing all three in a bathroom costs as little as $600, but provides long-term financial benefits.
Some other "green" trends include using cleaning materials that are ammonia-free (such as water and vinegar), and installing energy-efficient lighting. Kohler is using recycled and reclaimed materials in some of its cast-iron products.
What’s coming up in future bathroom trends? While white still rules as the dominant fixture colour, other more vibrant colours may be making a comeback. In terms of bathroom design, an aging population is prompting more consideration of accessible features, such as grab bars and curbless and level-access showers.
Are you interested in buying or learning more about "green" homes. Give us a call at 972-772-7000 or email us at rockwall@kw.com.
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