Articles by Larry Gordon on ArticleSnatch.com

Energy Efficient Home: Following the Basic Steps

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:46:30 -0500

The rapid increase in human population is putting immense pressure on the limited natural resources like oil, gas and coal. Also the threat of global warming looms large over the horizon and the best way forward to solve these twin problems is to conserve energy. On the domestic front this can be done by living in an energy efficient home. The residents should follow some basic steps to make their house an energy efficient home and these steps are: • Take the help of a professional home energy auditor so that the leakages in the home can be easily pinpointed. An energy auditor uses equipment such as an infrared camera, furnace efficiency meter and blower door test equipment to show where the house is losing energy. The audit also shows how to conserve heating and cooling energy. • It is necessary to take the service of a capable contractor to correctly size up the heating and cooling system of the house. A right estimate about the actual cooling and heating loads of the house is necessary to install or modify the heating and cooling system for an energy efficient home. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can know about an energy efficient home & more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Energy Efficient Home: understanding the energy audit process

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:39:40 -0500

The first step that one should take towards making their house, an energy efficient home is to take the help of help of a professional home energy auditor. There are few points that should be kept in mind before hiring an energy auditor. "� Take the help of a local government energy office to identify a capable auditor or auditing company. "� Crosscheck the credentials of the auditor with other users, who have availed the services in the past and see what they have to say. "� The credentials of the energy auditor can also be checked from the office of Better Business Bureau to see if any complaint is registered against the auditor or not. Once the energy auditor is finalized, the next step is to prepare for the visit. It is necessary to make the list of existing heating and cooling problems of the home. The copies of the yearly energy bills should be kept ready as this information is what the auditor will be looking at during the survey. Once the auditor is at the home the auditor will generally look for the following information to check for the energy consumption pattern of the residents. **End Summary** Topics: energy efficient home]]> home energy audit]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can know about an energy efficient home & more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Energy efficient home and social responsibility

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 07:28:06 -0500

Much as we value and treasure our independence in thought and deed we also realize that we live together as a society and if we want to ensure our welfare we must ensure the welfare of the society as a whole. Therefore even if we can afford a life that uses more energy than it really needs to, as a society we cannot afford it. Because if one person wastes energy it affects everyone else. Just as with traffic rules we all need to follow energy conservation uniformly so that we have a workable system. Just as the odd traffic violation doesn't cause a break down of the system so also a single wasteful house will not cause a major problem. But as most of us conscientiously obey traffic rules so also the overwhelming majority must live in an energy efficient home. Energy conservation should be important to us as naturally as putting on the seat belt as soon as we get into our car is important to us. Once a society makes a saving even if it is a rich person making one, that money can then put by the society to a better use. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can know about an energy efficient home & more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Energy efficient home â it keeps getting better

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:05:30 -0500

It is not that people have only now woken up the fact that conserving energy makes a lot of sense. Mankind has sought ways to keep warm or cool since time immemorial. And all through modern history mankind's ability to keep warm or cool has steadily improved. Yet on the other hand energy conservation hasn't taken center stage in the affairs of mankind before. Then why suddenly in the 21st century do we see and hear a constant call for energy conservation? And of the need to live in an energy efficient home? It isn't just that there is serious climate change happening which needs to be addressed. It is also that it is now time for mankind to address the issue of energy needs in a manner that is truly long term. The use of fossil fuels has not been a perfect solution and it is not long term either. And going by the long standing proverb a penny saved is a penny earned a lot of focus has shifted to conserving energy so that we do not need as much energy in the first place. There have been significant technological advancements in the field of energy conservation. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy efficient]]> home performance]]> home energy saving]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

An energy efficient home is the need of the hour

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:56:39 -0500

Rising electricity costs and challenging environmental issues like global warming are shaping the general consensus that energy needs to be conserved and managed efficiently to counter these serious issues. The need of the hour is to reduce energy consumption by conserving more energy in residential buildings. This is possible and cost-effective by building an energy efficient home. Existing homes can also be made energy efficient by conducting a home energy audit. The audit helps to pinpoint the leakage that exist in the heating and cooling system of the house. There are various high tech devices and techniques employed to highlight the deficiencies in the insulation of the house and necessary recommendations are put forward to effectively overcome these drawbacks and make the home more energy efficient. There are many benefits of an energy efficient home. The energy cost of such a home is much lower compared to other homes. As the home is better insulated, the heating and cooling equipments of the house do not work for a long time to maintain desired temperature. This means that the machinery parts are subjected to less wear and tear and have a longer working life. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Home Energy Audit Helps Lower Your Energy Bill

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:55:29 -0500

The spiraling energy costs are putting immense financial strain on the consumers. It is high time that people should adopt energy efficient techniques to conserve the amount of energy used at home. This requires the help of home energy audit professionals. Prior to their visit to the home, it is necessary for the occupant to keep the energy bills, ready. The bills help the auditor to understand the energy consumption requirements. It is beneficial to provide other information like electricity usage pattern of the house, thermostat selection during winter and summer season, type of appliances used and number of rooms and occupants in the home. This information helps the auditor to clearly understand the energy needs of the home. The home energy audit helps the occupants know the true energy requirements and helps to conserve it by pinpointing the leakages in the home and the conditioning system. A careful analysis of ductwork, heating and cooling pipes, doors, windows, basement, corners and walls by specialized instruments like infrared camera, door blower and surface thermometer help to point out the exact the location of leakage, which can be later properly plugged to make the home, well insulated. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Improving Home Insulation for Major Energy Savings

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:33:51 -0500

Air conditioners cool and condition the room temperature according to the requirements of the occupants. In the summer season, the air conditioner dehumidifies and cools the room air as per cooling demands of the residents. But this process consumes a lot of electricity and it is important to properly size the air conditioning system to achieve better efficiency. If the system is undersized it will not cool the home to required levels and on other hand if the air conditioner is oversized it will cycle on and off quickly and not provide continuous comfort. In both cases the system will cause discomfort to occupants, draw more electricity and increase maintenance costs. The aim should be conserve more energy by utilizing the air conditioner efficiently. To cut the air conditioning costs, few steps can be taken towards improving home insulation. The priority is to seal any duct leakage and thereby cut down drastically the cooling losses via cracks and gaps in the system. A duct leakage saps considerable amount of energy from the air conditioner. It also induces more wear and tear by making it run for longer hours, to maintain the desired cooling level. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Energy efficient home tips

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:56:55 -0500

Though it is best to use the services of a professional and follow due process starting from a home energy audit to make your home energy efficient you can take up simple modifications that will improve the energy efficiency of your home. As you read further you will realize that a lot of this is simple and obvious, it is just that we never get round to actually doing it. Therefore if after reading this you feel a tip is a good one do try and implement it if it is feasible to do so. You can then enjoy living in your more energy efficient home. You can check if your exterior doors, including the garage door are insulated well enough. With higher energy costs better level of insulation is now available because the extra cost is now justified. You now get insulated fiber glass doors that look like wooden ones but are much better at insulating your house. You should also check and make sure air is not leaking from gaps between the door and the door frame. You can correct any flaw you find with the help of vinyl or rubber gaskets. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

DIY energy efficient home tips

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:42:41 -0500

It is best to use the services of professionals to plan and make yours an energy efficient home. However you can get started on improving the energy efficiency by yourself. There are many ways by which you can reduce the amount of energy used in your home. For example exhaust fans during winter also throw out warm air. Therefore if they are required to be used to remove air from the bathroom or the kitchen they should be used sparingly. Otherwise in as little as an hour they can throw out a huge quantity of warm air. Another simple to implement method of saving energy is to use CFL (Compact fluorescent lights), these consume far less energy for generating the same amount of light. Incandescent bulbs also do not last as long as CFL and therefore though a CFL costs more than an incandescent bulb in the long run it makes better sense to use a CFL. You will benefit from a reduced electricity bill for the rest of your life. A regularly serviced furnace also helps save energy. Energy efficient homes have furnaces that are serviced in time and the filters replaced as and when required. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

How a home energy audit helps

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:21:17 -0500

A home energy audit will identify areas in the energy consuming systems of your home where improvement is required. It will help you know how much you can benefit from living in an energy efficient home. It will also help you prioritize in which order you should address the problems that are identified. For example heat loss through the ceiling and walls can be very large if the insulation is not up to the mark. It is not necessary that your house was not built properly. It can happen that at the time your house was built the insulation requirements were lesser since energy costs at the time were much lower. You therefore need to check whether the walls of your house and the ceiling have adequate insulation. You will also need to check if key openings such as an attic hatch are properly insulated. It is not very easy for a lay person to do a thorough evaluation of how well insulated a ceiling or a wall is. Besides the insulation levels you also need to check for air leaks. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Home Energy Audit - make a start

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:08:30 -0400

A home energy audit will reveal a lot about how your home is using up energy. You can even do a basic audit yourself though it is best to have one done by a professional as well. You can do a walk through carefully noting your findings so that at the end you have organized information to make decisions. To get started on the home energy audit you can begin by checking for air leaks. This can give you significant energy savings and when you fix the problems that you identify the home will be more comfortable to live in as well. There are many places where you should check for potential air leaks. Some examples are switch plates, electrical outlets and window frames. Generally speaking any feature of the house where there is an opening in the wall and proper insulation is required to keep the room sealed. Either gaps or cracks in these places will lead to air leaks and therefore need to be taken care of properly. A key feature to check for air leaks are the windows. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:26:36 -0400

You can easily conduct a home energy audit yourself. With a simple but diligent walk-through, you can spot many problems in any type of house. When auditing your home, keep a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems you found. This list will help you prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades. When you start your home energy audit, first, make a list of obvious air leaks (drafts). The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5% to 30% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward. Check for indoor air leaks, such as gaps along the baseboard or edge of the flooring and at junctures of the walls and ceiling. Check to see if air can flow through these places: Electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches, wall- or window-mounted air conditioners. Also look for gaps around pipes and wires, electrical outlets, foundation seals, and mail slots. Check to see if the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly, leaving no gaps or cracks, and are in good condition. Inspect windows and doors for air leaks. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Energy efficient home â benefits of the integrated approach

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:49:38 -0400

Today many people want to live in an energy efficient home. The benefits of a truly energy efficient home are enormous. You reduce your cost of living and lessen your negative impact on the environment. You are embracing a sustainable life style and those who know you will admire you for that. However to live in an energy efficient home requires an integrated approach towards making your home energy efficient. Quite often people make isolated attempts at improving the efficiency of their house by improving an individual part or “system” such as the furnace heating system, insulation or air conditioning. However these efforts are piecemeal and will not bring about truly high levels of efficiency, nor will they necessary improve the comfort and health of your home. The various systems of the house are interconnected and with an integrated approach this interdependence is revealed. Therefore a great starting point is a home energy audit that will study and record how energy is being utilized in your home. This study will reveal where the biggest savings can be made. A home energy audit needs to be done by a professional as it will require expertise in more than one area. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

Home energy audit will help save energy!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:40:43 -0400

There could be hundreds of small places where your home is losing heating and cooling without your knowledge. When added up, it could significantly increase the time your furnace or air conditioner is running and still your house may not be comfortable. Hence a home energy audit is very important to cost-conscious and energy-conscious home owners. With a home energy audit, a professional can quickly and scientifically identify the areas that are most cost effective for improving the energy efficiency, comfort, and health of the home. A home performance professional will use a blower door and an infrared camera to identify the areas of greatest leakage. If you want to try it on your own here are a few suggestions for what you can do. Look for drafts in the areas that are most susceptible, like windows and doors that lead to the outside. A burning incense stick is a great draft locater. The smoke will toss and turn under the slightest breeze, making it ideal for hard-to-find drafts. If the caulk around your windows is beginning to show signs of wear, then it's time to replace it. For doors, check the status of the weather-stripping. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

How to make energy efficient homes

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:25:23 -0400

Making substantial improvements in energy efficiency will save home owners money in the long run and help him make energy efficient homes. By improving the efficiency of homes we can significantly lower our carbon footprint. The following are a few examples of home improvements that will help increase the value of your home and save you money on utility costs. • Seal leaky duct work systems to reduce wasting energy. This will also make the home more healthy by eliminating dirty air being pulled into the house. • Bring your attic insulation up to modern-day standards. Most attics do not have enough insulation and is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home. • Ceiling fans help reduce your home’s dependence on air conditioning during the summer months and, in the winter you can use the fan to help push heat down from the ceiling. • Use a programmable thermostat to reduce your energy costs by regulating the temperature in your home based on peak usage. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

An energy efficient home is eco-friendly and rewarding

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:48:40 -0400

As we go through our lives we consume the resources provided by nature. If we wish to lead a life that is sustainable in the long term, we need to ensure that nature is able to replenish the resources we consume as fast as we consume them. However a lot of humanity consumes resources faster than nature is able to replenish them which is not a sustainable lifestyle. It is usually not in the individual's hands to speed up the process of the replenishment of resources by nature, therefore the one way an individual can help nature is by consuming lesser resources. An individual consumes a variety of nature's resources and a lot of these natural resources are consumed to meet an individual's need for energy at home. Therefore a great way to consume lesser natural resources is by living in a truly energy efficient home. A truly energy efficient home is not the result of installing a few energy efficient equipments. The smart way is to conduct a home energy audit and put in place a holistic plan that meets all your energy needs in an efficient manner. **End Summary** Topics: home energy audit]]> energy efficient home]]> home energy effici]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com