Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Simple Household Tips to Cut-down on Electricity Costs!

Heavy electricity bills sealed in envelopes make us cringe every month. As the costs for even the most basic utilities begin to rise, people are looking for ways to cut down on electricity costs. Here is how you can do it:

First, you wish switch Incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps and bulbs. However, initial cost will be higher, but it will cut-down on energy consumption drastically. Using CFL you can save you to 75% energy, also they have longer shelf life than regular lamps.

To ensure you do not leave exhaust fan running after shower, install a timer so that the fan turns off automatically after you leave the bathroom.

Unplug your cell phone charger when not using it, as it continues to consume electricity, even while not in usage.

Clean your refrigerator and the coils at the back routinely, because the compressor has to work harder if there is accumulated dust at the back, resulting in more power consumption.

Get your furnace and air conditioning inspected for efficiency at the start of every season, if it is more than three years old.

In summers, install ceiling fans and try to use air conditioning as minimum as possible. Get your furnace air filters checked every month, because clogged furnace has to work harder to produce heat, resulting in more electricity consumption.

Hope above tips will help you in saving energy. Visit website for Home Energy Audit on regular intervals.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Which Heating Oil to Use For Residential Applications?

Home heating oil is a liquid fuel made from crude oil or petroleum. The fuel is refined and processed at refineries in order to make it ready to use at homes for different purposes. This oil can be used either for heating homes in winters or for industrial and commercial applications.

Uses

The main purpose of heating oil is to heat buildings and compartments through oil-based furnace. The fuel is added into a closed compartment, where it gets burned for producing heat. The produced heat makes heat exchanger warm and the heated air is directed toward ductwork. The duct then distributes warm air in the entire house.

There are different types of heating oil used in homes for an array of reasons. The different oils are shipped through specialized containers by oil companies in Westchester in NY. Mentioned below are some of the most frequently used heating oil used in homes.

1. Electricity

It is one of the most common heating fuels used in homes all around the globe. Over the decades, this fuel is in use for a variety of reasons. However, this fuel is also considered as the most expensive heating oil used in homes. Its cost is high as it is produced from burning of fossil fuels. It takes time to produce electricity through fossil fuels.

2. Natural gas

It is also one of the most popular heating oil used in homes. It takes millions of years to form natural gas as it is produced through plant matter decays. This gas is found at a place where oil deposits lay.  However, several new techniques have come into existence for speeding up process of forming natural gas so that it can be made available for residential and commercial applications. Natural gas burns cleanly but then also it produces certain amount of greenhouse gases, which are not good for environment.

3. Propane

It is home heating oil, which is mixed with natural gas. A small percentage of people use propane as heating oil in their homes. Propane is found in gaseous state, which makes it easy for oil companies to transport it to different locations. However, its density increases, when it is pressurized as a liquid. Propane is also transported in liquid form. It gets back into gaseous form on releasing pressure on its valve.

Therefore, you should use that heating oil in your house that you think will fit within your budget.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Are you Planning to Avail Home Energy Services? Good Choice!

Hiring a professional for assessment is better than a quick online assessment. Right from the scratch, they will work out to improve your home's energy utilization, and suggest you lot more.

 Following are few steps carried out by professionals-

  • The foremost thing professional will do is have detail discussion, asking you questions about members in home, how many rooms are in house, how many rooms are used, average temperature settings in winter and summer etc.
  • Next thing, they would consider is take a look at your past one year bills.
  • Once discussion has been done, they will have thorough examination of your home from the outside. Things like number of windows, their size, shape, orientation and the facing side of home will be noted down.
  • Lastly, they will carry out inspection of each room in the house. Specialized equipment, such as infrared cameras, furnace efficiency meters, surface thermometers, and blower doors will also be noted down as these things consume more energy.
  • Based on all these points, a detailed report will be made highlighting the present energy utilization in home, as well as a providing a list of changes to be implemented to improve home's energy utilization.

After configuring the energy utilization in your home, steps for energy audit in CT will be conducted by auditor of the firm, which is as follows-
  • First insulation in house is measured. If it is less than R-30 insulation, it is required to be added more.
  • The moving air in and out, air leaks are noted as these add a lot to heating and cooling bills. A walk is taken inside the home.
  • Heating and cooling ducts are to be measured as air escaping from it makes harder for the air conditioner cool the home.
  • Professionals look for the areas in house, which have any openings alongside the window frame and siding.
  • Pipes and cables are to be checked so that no openings are left through the walls leading to wastage of home energy.

However, finding a professional for home energy services though sounds to be touch, but is not a difficult task any-more, if one follows appropriate steps-
  • Take recommendations from state or local government energy office 
  •   Check telephone directory
  •  Make a list of professional auditors in your state and consult each of them.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

What Makes Propane, The Most Efficient Source of Energy in America?

Do you want to cut short your electricity bill? Do you want to have an energy efficient lawn mower? Do you want to save energy while ironing your clothes?

If the answer is yes, then it is time you switch to propane energy. There are propane suppliers in CT, NY and LA, which provide you home solutions so that you can save your money by installing smart and exceptional energy sources like propane.

Some facts that make it so good for use:

Instead of diesel lawn mowers, propane fueled four-stroke mowers are safe as well as efficient, and costs you half the half-price.
Did you ever wish for some way of drying clothes, removing the wrinkles, and making those clothes moist free, instantly? Propane
dryers can do that for you.

After watching Harry Porter, you might have wondered how can you turn the lights on; no, you are not going to get a ‘magic wand’ but you can lighten your front yard with a propane enabled outdoor lamp that gives an ancient feeling.   
Properties

Molecular Formula: C3H8

It is an odorless and colorless gas.

Propane vapors are used for residential purposes.

One of the peculiar features of Propane is its icing property: Propane becomes ice at -50F and boils at -44F.

Octane number is 100, it means that it is one of the energy efficient fuels known to us.

Flammability: A flame can burn up to 3595 F.

Density: 36.2 lb/ft

Absolute Viscosity: 0.080 centipoises

It can be stored in tanks and cylinders.

Now the question, which comes to our mind, is it convenient to use for residential purposes.

Propane is a gas, which is non-poisonous, non-toxic and can be stored in tanks and the danger of contamination is negligible.

Energy efficiency: One of the important traits of propane is that it is highly efficient having an octane number of 100, which allows us to conclude that it is clean source of energy.

Moreover, the refueling is equivalent to refueling of a gasoline carrier. 

United States has pipelines across all the states barring a few. 56,000 miles of propane pipeline network and 6,000 of retailors make it possible that availability is not an issue.