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Green Building Practices that Save Energy

If you are going to build a new home, or renovate your existing home, there are things you can do to save energy and cut costs. Everything from adjustments to your heating and cooling units, to adding lighting controls, to weatherizing windows will make a difference.

Service your Heating and Cooling Units

Older buildings and appliances are often inefficient when it comes to conserving energy. When you build a home from scratch or decide to renovate, paying attention to many details will pay off in the long run. Your heating and cooling units, for example, may be in need of service, contain leaks or need to be updated. Having a qualified professional take a look at these units, especially someone with energy saving experience, can make a big difference.

Limit the Use of Lighting Systems

Your lighting systems are also important. Some lighting fixtures are inefficient. In some cases, you might have the lights on for too long in the outdoor areas of your home. Lighting professionals can install more efficient lighting fixtures, sensors and even time clocks that control just how long your lights stay on. The more you can turn off lights that are not in use, the lower your power bill will be.

Weatherize Windows and Doors

Weatherizing windows and doors is another important consideration. An excessive draft can increase your heating bill. Installing properly fitting windows and doors will make a difference. Weatherstripping these areas is also an important task to keep out excessive temperatures.

A Green Roof and Trees

Keeping your home in a comfortable temperature without raising your power bill can be a challenge. You might install a green roof to protect your home from excessive sun. Plant trees outside of your windows to shield your home from excess sun. Hire professionals who can ensure that your home is properly insulated to keep out extreme heat or cold.

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Geothermal Energy Explained

Geothermal power technologies
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Most people are familiar with the concept of going digging for coal and minerals out of the ground. When it comes to geothermal energy, you are digging for heat. This type of energy heats your water. If you’ve ever been to the hot springs, you’re familiar with this type of energy. The earth’s core is filled with hot magma containing extremely hot temperatures. Tapping into this form of energy has been the answer to some countries’ energy dilemmas.

Who Uses Geothermal Energy

Because the earth’s core is perpetually hot, geothermal energy is considered a reliable form of energy. It heats up the temperatures of underground water reservoirs by hundreds of degrees. Many of the countries that take advantage of geothermal energy are located in regions with active tectonic forces. In the United States, about 10 states use geothermal energy. In Europe, four countries use this type of energy, including Iceland, Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland.

Iceland is prominently known for using geothermal energy, where half of the country’s energy comes from this energy source. If you were to live in Iceland, your home might be heated through geothermal energy. Your tap water would also likely be heated by this type of energy.

How Geothermal Energy is Accessed

To harness the power of geothermal energy, special power plants are needed that capture the heat. This energy is then used to power generators that produce electricity that services heating and cooling needs. To get the heat to the power plants, experts drill tens of thousands of feet into the center of the earth to access underground reservoirs.

The Advantages of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal power plants do not pollute the air. They don’t burn fuel and create no problematic emissions. The power plants also are not as large and space-occupying as traditional power plants. As renewable energy goes, geothermal energy is a promising option.

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Green Practices Leading to Green Jobs

As governments embrace the importance of finding renewable energy sources and educate the masses on how to conserve energy, new opportunities arise. More funding is channeled into alternative energy and rebates are issued to residents practicing green principles. Another outcome from all of these activities is the creation of new jobs in the green industry.

Green Transportation and Jobs

More and more people are realizing the wisdom of car sharing and taking advantage of public transportation. When gas prices rise, people know that driving a lot takes money out of their pockets. As larger numbers of people take the bus or train, more transportation options will be needed to accommodate the larger numbers. As a result, the future could see more jobs for bus and shuttle drivers, train conductors, and administrative people who run transportation operations.

Heating and Cooling Personnel

Knowing how to heat or cool a home in a way that saves energy is a skill. Individuals who are skilled in the installation and repair of heating and cooling systems are usually in great demand. Add to this, an increasing interest to cut power bills given rising energy costs. Those in the heating and cooling system professions who understand how to conserve energy by checking for the efficiency of systems will be in even greater demand. The highly skilled are able to make energy-saving recommendations that can make a difference in a homeowner’s financial bottom line.

Green Building and Green Jobs

With increased awareness about building homes that conserve energy, additional jobs are created. Building a green roof, for example, is a distinct skill that can only be carried out by trained professionals. As more and more homeowners start to implement alternative options, such as installing a green roof or solar panels, additional trained personnel will be needed in these areas to meet the public’s demands.

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Why Solar Energy May Be the Wave of the Future

Solar energy is a form of renewable energy that is freely available. In sunny environments, solar energy is an excellent source of energy. You can use solar energy to heat your water, to power your electricity, to provide heat and cool off your home.

Using the Sun to Heat Water

Through installing a solar hot water system, you can meet your hot water needs in your home. This lowers your power bill. The challenge with these systems is that they are sometimes costly and it might take a while to make back your investment. However, in the long run, it has the potential to payoff, particularly considering rising energy costs.

The Sun’s Ability to Cool Your Home

You can even use the power of the sun to cool off your home. Solar-powered equipment exists that converts the power of the sun to electricity that fuels a cooling machine. These machines are higher priced, but can potentially result in a lower energy bill in the long run.

Heating Your Home Using the Sun

To heat the air inside your home, you can install solar panels. These are special panels made by large manufacturers and are installed by specialists. Solar panels are designed to capture the sun and convert it into a flow of electricity.

The Pros and the Challenges of Solar Energy

Converting the rays of the sun into energy is a powerful and clean way to meet your heating, cooling and electricity needs. This, of course, is only a solution if you live in a sunny environment. In locations where the sun rarely shines, solar energy is a less reliable source of renewable energy. The unexpected climactic changes due to global warming are also another factor. However, generally speaking, people in sunny climates can take advantage of solar energy, and maybe even earn government rebates as a result.

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Why Sunrooms May or May Not Save Energy

Gable sunrooms offer high ceilings and a more ...
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All of this talk about capitalizing on the power of the sun has made some people run out and add sunrooms to their homes. In theory, this is a logical strategy. A room with very little shielding it from the powerful sun can warm your home on a cold yet sunny day. The challenge with sunrooms, however, is when your room is not properly insulated. In this case, you might find yourself spending even more money on heating your home than you normally would.

The Advantages of Sunrooms

In the winter, your sunroom will generally be your warmest room in the house if the skies are clear and it’s a sunny day. The wall to floor arrangement of windows will do little to block out the sun. And this is what you want on a cold day when you’re relying on the sun to warm you up. The warmer air in this part of your house will also naturally travel to other parts of your home. Or, you can use fans to blow the air into other areas.

During summertime, the sun exposure does not have to be problematic. You can open the windows and use fans to scatter any built-up heat. The impact of the additional windows in this scenario can be minimal.

The Challenge of Sunrooms

Some sunrooms have glass roofs. In these cases, overheating can be a big problem in the summer. Despite opening the windows, you might still experience extremely hot temperatures. The solution is to have adequate insulation and roof barriers installed to prevent the excessive temperatures.

In general, many sunrooms suffer from inadequate insulation. This can be very problematic in the winter, for example, when your goal is to keep out drafts and cold weather. The cold air will travel to other parts of your home and actually increase your heating bill. The key is to close off the room during winter or add sufficient insulation.

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Three Simple Green Practices for the Office

Work environments often waste energy and resources. This is typically because employers and employees are wrapped up in doing their work and are not tuned in to ways to save energy. Here are three simple ways to save energy and natural resources while on the job.

Use Less Paper

Many office communications can be carried out electronically. An inter-office memo can be circulated via email, removing the need to use lots of paper and printer ink. When documents do need to exist on paper, printing on both sides of the page will save paper. Also being careful to avoid printing out excessive copies of a document that will only end up in the trash is another way to save paper.

Set Up Light Timers and Sensors

Some offices leave the lights on around the clock, even if no one is around. Sometimes this occurs when the last person leaving the office believes that other people are still in the building. Installing a sensor that is set on a timer will alleviate this problem. The lights will turn on when someone is present in the office. They can also be set to turn on and off automatically at specific times throughout the day or night. All office environments should also install energy-saving light bulbs.

Unplug Unused Electronic Equipment

Offices are packed with electronic equipment. Computers, printers and fax machines are just some of the more common electronic devices in an office. Some offices have a wide range of appliances that are rarely used. In the lunchrooms and break rooms, coffee machines, toasters and microwaves are examples of other appliances. Any and all unused electronic equipment can be unplugged overnight. These appliances use small amounts of electricity. If all offices were to engage in this practice, the collective effect on energy savings would be tremendous.

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Adjusting Your Home Doors to Save Energy

When thinking about ways to save money and reduce your energy usage, your home and garage doors are important considerations. A quality, energy-efficient door can make a difference in lowering your power bill.

Buy Energy-Efficient Doors

If you live in an old home or haven’t attended to your home doors in a long time, it’s possible that your doors can use some care. Doors that do not fit properly in their frames allow in unwanted drafts. This can be problematic in the winter because you’ll have to crank up the heat to make up for the extra cool air seeping into your home.

To solve this problem, check the fit of your doors. Some doors can be adjusted to fit better in their frames by tightening screws and using sandpaper along uneven edges. If your doors are a lost cause, however, consider buying energy-efficient doors. These doors are specially made to protect your home from the cold.

Dealing with Glass Doors

Glass doors can also be problematic in some situations. Your back door to the patio may be glass and lacking in proper insulation. This is common with patio doors that are single pane. Replacing these doors with double or triple pane glass will more efficiently block out the cold air. If you can’t replace the door, you can improve how well insulated it is by having argon installed in the panes.

Paying Attention to Your Garage Door

If your garage is a place where you spend a lot of time, working on projects for example, you might invest in a heavy duty garage door that keeps out the cold air. Going back and forth between the garage and the rest of your home can push the cold air into the other parts of your living space. Having a garage door that is made from sturdy materials and adequate insulation can make a difference.

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Four Ways to Improve the Fuel Efficiency of Your Car

With higher gas prices and uncertainties about the future of access to gasoline, you may be thinking about ways to reduce your gasoline usage. In doing so, you can save money and help society by using less of this limited resource.

Unload Unwanted Car Weight

One simple way to improve your fuel efficiency is to carry less weight in your car. Some people load their trunks with unneeded books, tools and other items that they do not need while driving. Making a concerted effort to lighten your load when you drive will help you get better gas mileage. That goes for inside your car too. Cleaning out your car on a regular basis will help you to get rid of any items in the backseat that really belong in your house or in the trash.

Put Enough Weight in Your Tires

Driving around with tires that are not well inflated will lower your gas mileage. Be sure to check your tires on a monthly basis to make sure they are well-balanced and properly inflated.

Drive Sensibly

There are many driving behaviors that lower gas mileage. Speeding is one example. Driving aggressively, accelerating repeatedly and putting your foot on the brake every chance you get will lead to a waste in gasoline. Driving safely and sensibly will improve your gas mileage and keep you safe.

Get Regular Car Check-Ups

Taking good care of your car will increase your fuel efficiency. Dirty air filters can have a negative impact on your car’s engine, slowing down its fuel efficiency. Be sure to change the filters regularly. Changing your car oil regularly is also important, as is being sure to use the right type of oil. Dirty oil or the wrong type of oil can interfere with the proper functioning of your engine, and result in lower gas mileage.

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Purchasing a Car with Good Gas Mileage

There are good reasons to buy a car that uses up very little gas. Better gas mileage means more money in your wallet each month. When you use less gas, you also help to preserve a valuable natural resource.

Making the Right Car Purchase Requires Research

Making a sound decision about buying a fuel-efficient vehicle can be difficult. If you are buying a used car, you want to do your own research and not rely on the gas mileage information you receive from the seller. The same goes for buying a brand new car from a car dealer. By doing your own gas mileage research, you can feel more confident about your purchase.

Tools to Use to Research Gas Mileage

Whenever possible, use government sites to find tools for identifying the gas mileage of the car you wish to purchase. These search engines usually let you plug in the desired gas mileage and/or the year, make or class of the car. You can narrow down your search to a group of cars if you haven’t yet decided on a specific car. If you have chosen a particular car already, first verify before making a purchase that it is indeed a car with the best gas mileage.

Deciding Between Different Cars

You might come across a situation where you love the look and feel of a particular car that doesn’t get great gas mileage. In this case, you might continue your search for fuel-efficient vehicles that might possibly appeal to you. You will very likely drive the car for years to come, so it is important that you are comfortable with it. The other concern, of course, is that with the rise in gas prices, you want to be sure not to be locked into a purchase that will cost you too much in gas costs in the long run.

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The Business Obligation and Opportunity in Going Green

Devils Punchbowl Waterfall at Arthurs Pass in ...
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Going green is the new wave. Many people understand that the actions of individuals and groups have a global impact on the environment. Polluting the environment and wasting energy and resources are considered acts of apathy. Awareness is increasing daily about the importance of taking action to remedy the issues that are leading to global warming. In this lies both an obligation and opportunities for businesses both large and small.

Corporate Obligation to Practice Green Principles

Large corporations especially have an obligation to practice green principles. Enormous office buildings often lead to energy usage on a wide scale. Some manufacturing practices pollute the environment and lead to excessive waste. These business practices exacerbate the problems that the green movement is working to solve. The obligation of businesses in the green economy is to find ways to conserve energy, limit resource usage, and engage in practices that prevent environmental pollution.

Applying Green Principles in the Business Environment

Applying green principles in the business environment spans a wide range of activities. It might start with a simple policy to increase electronic communications to replace excessive use of paper for office memos. Some companies might increase recycling efforts. Others might look closely at how the steps taken to produce their products are polluting the environment.

Profit Potential in Creating Green Products and Services

In the green movement also lies tremendous profit potential. As society becomes increasingly aware of how simple actions taken daily and collectively can lead to global change, the motivation to buy green products becomes stronger. Businesses that create green products and offer green services can profit from this process. Making paper towels from recycled paper or selling books about ways to go green are ways for businesses to profit from the green movement. A tremendous opportunity exists for businesses to thrive while offering a much needed service to society.

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