Texans are all about doing things in a big way and that includes saving and making money. One of the newest ways that residents across Texas are padding their wallets is by adding solar arrays to their homes. Most people know that you can save money with solar but aren’t aware that you can actually make money too.
The most popular trend in home design today is adding eco-friendly features. From full Net Zero homes to adding Energy Star appliances, homeowners are looking for ways to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Carbon footprint reduction has become a serious issue for people around the world.
One of the biggest roadblocks of adding solar to your home is the initial set up cost. Putting up solar panels and setting up a full battery and conversion system can be expensive. But, it’s worth the cost when you take part in a solar panels buyback scheme that will have the power companies paying you instead of you paying out to them.
We have put together a list of some of the ways that you can make money by adding solar to your home in Texas and around the country.
Lower Your Bills
The amount of money that you can save on your energy bills is largely dependent on the size of the solar array you choose to invest in. You can calculate how much solar power you need to run your home using an online app or talk to your provider about how many panels are right for your home.
Once you are set up you will start to see an immediate reduction in the cost to power your home. If you add a large enough array you can eliminate your energy bills altogether, putting money back in your pocket every month.
Raise Property Value
Your home is likely the largest financial investment that you will ever make. With the markets still recovering, it’s important to find ways to increase the value of your home. When you add solar to your home you can expect a 4% increase in your property value. That can be a big chunk for many homeowners and a great way to put money in the bank when it comes time to sell your home.
Tax Break
The only things in life that you can’t avoid are death and taxes. But, wouldn’t it be nice to make a better return during tax season? When you decide to go solar you can get a great tax break at the end of the year.
Up to 25% of your initial set up cost for home solar can be written off on your annual tax return. That’s a huge break for many families and allows you to invest in your solar package with confidence.
Buyback Program
For those homeowners that end up collecting more solar energy than they need to power their homes, there are great benefits to signing up for a solar buyback program. This means that any power that you produce in excess of what you need can be sold back to be used by your local grid. This means that instead of sending money out to the energy companies, they will actually start paying you.
Money is a scarce resource. Don’t let monthly bills break your bank while there are numerous things you can do to minimize them. From adding attic insulation to insulating outlets, and installing programmable thermostats, you’ve countless options for reducing your utility bills. Check out the following tips for cutting down your monthly expenses affordably and more effectively. Plus, you will learn everything utility bills.
Incorporate Attic Insulation
Most of the energy people use at their homes goes toward heating or cooling. Research shows that most of this heat escapes to the attic. Most homes lack enough insulation up there to prevent heat from getting out.
Fiberglass insulation is extremely cheap and easy to install. In fact, you can quickly install them on your own. By effectively insulating your home, you could actually save up to 20 percent on your heating, as well as, cooling costs.
But if you can’t install attic insulation yourself, you can always get help online. There are numerous DIY tutorials that can help you through the process.
Install Programmable Thermostats
By installing a programmable thermostat, you’ll be able to save up to 10 percent on your utility bills. Set your unit’s temperature to drop during winter months and raise them during the summer months when you aren’t home. You can then program the unit to return to more comfortable temperatures right before you get home.
This will go a long way in reducing your energy bills and saving you substantial amounts of money. So, what are you still waiting for? Act fast! For more information, visit http://regionalenergy.ca.
Insulate Outlets
Did you know that outlets and light switches can be a major source of air leaks? To prevent this, consider insulating them, particularly if they’re positioned on an outside wall. There are numerous types of specialized seals and insulation materials to choose from. And they’re specifically designed for outlets, as well as, switch plates, so you don’t need to worry about fire risks.
Upgrade to Low-Flow Showerheads
Older showerhead models generally put out 5 gallons of water per minute. On the other hand, low-flow showerheads put out a mere 1.5 gallons per minute and still allow you to enjoy forceful showers.
Even more, they’re easy to install. If you want something more efficient and affordable, then go for a low-flow showerhead. It will help conserve water and save substantial amounts of water every day.
Insulate Water Heaters
Did you know that insulating an older water heater could help you save up to 9 percent on water heating costs? Well, now you know. Insulating hot water heater jackets can prevent standby heat losses by 25 to 45 percent, allowing you to heat your water easily and more efficiently.
Why you should install a Smart HVAC Based System
The HVAC system accounts for more than half of the energy consumed in your home. That’s why a fault system is likely to increase the overall energy consumption in homes. However, with proper maintenance, you can lower these energy bills and still have comfort in your home. So, if you are planning to install an HVAC system in your home, keep reading. Among other things, you will learn about the benefits associated with installing smart based HVAC systems in your home.
Lowers Electricity Bills
Energy bills can be annoying, especially when they skyrocket. Even more, the global energy sector is strained. That’s why energy costs keep on increasing. But does this mean letting nature take its course? No. You can do something to lower these bills. In particular, switching to a smart HVAC system can be your answer as far as reducing the energy bills in your home is concerned.
According to the stats, installing smart system in your home can save you up to 20 percent in terms of energy bills. Plus, they are more efficient and reliable. They utilize smart technology that heavily uses sensors to cool or heat your interiors. Even more, these systems are great at lowering your overall carbon footprint since they are environment friendly.
Superior Temperature Variability
One of the biggest pluses of these smart HVAC systems is superior temperature variability. With a smart system, you have an HVAC that will give you the power to control tempt variability according to your needs. This means that users can cool and heat specific rooms effectively without moving from space top space. This saves time and gives you an easy time as you relax or go about your activities.
Clean Air
Another good thing about smart systems is that they give you access to smarter air. Remember, the quality of air is important when it comes to your health. And that’s where smart HVAC systems come in. With these systems, you have a solution that will reduce stuffiness as well as drafts. So, if these are the things that you are looking in an HVAC system, then go the smart way.
You Can Access Then Remotely
Smart technology gives users access to their systems from remote settings. This means that even if you are at work, you can still monitor the functioning of your system. Thus, it’s possible to set the temperature of your room from your workplace before reaching home. This not only reduces energy costs but also improves the overall efficiency.
Why Utility Bills Keep On Increasing
The dreaded energy bill is coming. It can be annoying. If you are unlucky, it will deflate your bank account. Of course, you can try several measures to control the energy budget. However, things may not work out, especially if you don’t pay close attention to your HVAC system. According to research, the HVAC is responsible for almost half of the energy costs in homes. Thus, if you need to bring these bills down, work on your HVAC system. It’s one of the best starting points. So, if you have been wondering why your monthly bills are steadily increasing, sit back. Here are the top reasons why your energy bills are not going down any time soon.
Age, Maintenance
Age has a big say when it comes to the performance of your HVAC system. An old system tends to be less efficient. This means that it will work more to cool or heat any space. So, if your system has served you for years, expect the bills to continue going up. Similarly, a poorly maintained HVAC system tends to be inefficient. This means that it will consume more energy and pump up energy costs. However, don’t let these factors continue draining your money.
You can install a new HVAC system and drive the bills down. If you have the cash, consider going for a smart system. It’s efficient, convenient, and highly reliable. Also, consider maintaining your system on a regular basis. Consult with your heating and cooling contractor to schedule maintenance. According to experts, it’s advisable to do it twice per year.
Operating Costs
The operating costs at a particular time can influence the amount you pay towards offsetting your energy bills. For instance, systems that were developed in the 1990s are less efficient than their modern counterparts. This can be attributed to the emergence of technological advancement. For instance, sensors have made these systems more smart and efficient. Thus, they consume less amount of energy, which plays a key role in bringing the energy bills down. Customers are advised to install the newest HVAC systems to bring the energy bills down.
Features
Features also play a key role when it comes to cutting down energy costs. Modern systems come with sophisticated features that make them more efficient. For instance, the efficiency standards of modern equipment are on an upward trajectory. This means that modern systems have superior performance and efficiency than their older counterparts.
Standard such as SEER, HSPF, as well as Annual Fuel Utilization is important in determining the efficiency of any system. Also, energy features like variable-speed fans, heat exchange technology, as well as variable speed based compressors can make your system more efficient.
The Locality’s Climate
Your local climate can also increase or lower the amount of money you pay towards energy bills. For instance, if you are located in an extremely cold setting, you will need more energy to heat the interiors. Consequently, your energy bills will be higher. On the other hand, those located in extremely hotter environments will spend more money to cool the interiors.
Additional Factors
Also, the following additional factors play a key role when it comes to the energy bills of any home.
The thermostat and other control settings in your system
How the unit was installed
Maintenance levels of your system
The level of insulation in any home
Windows, doors, and other openings in your home.
The Bottom-Line
Are you looking for quick ways to reduce your energy bills? Well, there are actually several measures you can undertake to minimize your electricity costs. According to http://www.regionalenergy.ca/alberta-natural-gas-company/, these measures include insulating outlets and switches, installing a programmable thermostat, insulating your water heater, and installing a low-flow showerhead. Doing this will go a long way in reducing your utility bills and saving you junks of money.
Heating and cooling account for more than 50% of home energy consumption. If you are paying a lot in the name of energy bills, your HVAC system is most likely the primary cause. It is vital to cut down on the energy consumption of utilities to save money (and energy). Energy companies such as American Power and Gas, suggest consumers and homeowners pay special attention to their HVAC system. as heating and cooling cost make up about 40% of your energy bills.
It may also be wise to consider switching to a system that operates on solar or other forms of renewable energy––Providing if it can be afforded.
Here are some ways you can reduce HVAC energy consumption:
Programmable Thermostat to The Rescue
HVAC system design can be made to consume less energy with the help of programmable thermostats.
The DOE recommends reducing room temperature to 15 degrees in winters when you are not home for 8-10 hours. Similarly, they suggest increasing the temperature by around 15 degrees in summers when you are not going to be home for half the day. This will help you save about 15% more energy annually.
The benefit that programmable thermostat gives you is that you won’t have to manually adjust the temperature every day. You can simply program it to change the temperature and save energy. It also has the added plus of operating on a timer so you don’t have to worry about leaving it on throughout the day.
Maintain The Coils Of Your AC Unit
The outdoor unit of the AC can allow dirt and debris to pass through it and gather around the coils and reduce the efficiency of the AC, as a result the unit consumes more energy to keep the room cool.
Keep your outdoor unit clean from dirt, fallen leaves, and other debris to make it work perfectly. If you believe that your outdoor unit needs cleaning, shut it off and use a vacuum to pull out all the dirt.
Inspect Air Filters
Air filters need special attention as they can get blocked due to dirt and debris. They need to be replaced every season as damaged filters put extra pressure on the unit causing energy to be wasted.
Other than this, you should also replace the filters every now and then. This is not a very tough job and you can do it on your own.
Here’s how to do it:
Remove the filter and check for debris stuck in the filters.
Keep the filters under light to see if it’s able to pass through. If it doesn’t then you will have to wash the filters.
Clean the filters with a toothbrush, or another such tool first.
Put the filters in soapy water for a few hours, dry and see if the light passes again. If it does then you can re-apply those, otherwise, you may have to change the air filters.
The average life expectancy of air filters is about 2 to 3 months if they aren’t maintained. Otherwise, they can easily run for a year.
Out With The Old, In With The New
HVAC systems can be costly but if you have been using one for more than 10 years now then it’s time to replace it with a modern and an energy efficient HVAC system.
AC Coils of HVAC systems require regular cleanup
A Clean Way to Cool Down
You can also consult with your energy provider regarding making the switch to renewable energy services. You can also look into energy storage systems such as Tesla’s solar panels that can drastically cut your power bill and provide clean sustainable energy for your home.
The Verdict
Around 48% of US home energy consumption is directly attributable to HVAC use and heating or cooling. These are some of the most efficient ways which you can reduce the amount of energy consumed by your HVAC system.
Homeowners are well aware that they should have their boilers serviced on a yearly basis in order to prevent breakdowns and save a ton of money on repairs. However, many are oblivious to the fact that annual boiler service comes with additional benefits worth exploring.
This article is going to cover five of these surprising benefits that will have you shake your head in disbelief, such as improved energy efficiency, lower fuel bills, and longer lifespan. Scroll down to get all the info.
Key Takeaways
One of the surprising benefits of annual boiler servicing is improved safety
A properly maintained unit will generally offer optimal performance and efficiency
This will also extend its lifespan
At the end of the day, you will have the peace of mind that you will always have hot water and a warm home
Increased Efficiency and Lower Energy Bills
Energy efficiency is one of the biggest benefits of a well-maintained machine. Regular boiler servicing will definitely increase the efficiency of your unit, which will result in a reduction in your energy bills.
The reason is simple. A boiler that works at optimal levels will use less energy to heat your home. The number one cause of a poorly efficient system is everyday wear and tear as well as accumulation of sediment and debris.
When you have your boiler serviced annually, the technician will normally take care of those. They will check different parts of your appliance to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. And if it isn’t, the right steps will be taken to get it fixed.
Improved Safety
Boilers that are not properly maintained can present a health risk. Annual boiler servicing can help identify potential safety hazards like gas leaks or carbon monoxide leaks, ensuring that your unit is functioning as it should.
It is vital to address them before they become more serious problems. Not only will you save money in the long run, but you will have hot water at all times. This means not having to limit your showers.
The bigger the fault you have to deal with, the more time you will spend in a cold house. That’s very inconvenient for a small household, let alone a large family. By having a qualified engineer check your boiler every year, you can also guarantee that the unit is installed correctly and working as intended.
Extended Boiler Lifespan
Regular maintenance can help prolong the lifespan of your boiler by identifying potential problems before they escalate into more serious issues. This can help you avoid costly repairs or replacements in the future.
Regular maintenance can help prolong the lifespan of your boiler. By catching problems early on and addressing them before they become more serious, you can avoid costly repairs or replacements in the future. Additionally, a well-maintained boiler is less likely to suffer from breakdowns, which can also help to extend its lifespan.
Improved Performance
Regular servicing serves to ensure that your unit is operating at optimal performance, reducing the risk of system failures and breakdowns. Thanks to annual maintenance, your boiler will be balanced correctly and the radiators will be bled on an as-needed basis, enabling the system to heat your home much more quickly.
The team of technicians can also make the necessary adjustments to the settings so that the unit’s performance can meet the hot water needs of your household. Since these needs will change over time, you can rest assured your boiler is set up accordingly.
Peace of Mind
Without a doubt, having your boiler serviced annually can give you peace of mind, knowing that the system is running safely and efficiently. Professional boiler service experts, who are Gas Safe registered, like Gas Boiler & Heating Repair LTD, recommend having your boiler serviced annually to ensure it is running safely and efficiently. This can give you peace of mind, knowing that the system is in good working order and prevent unexpected boiler breakdowns, especially during those cold winter days. With their expertise and quality service, you can trust them to keep your boiler in top condition. Contact Gas Boiler & Heating Repair LTD at 49 Pendragon Rd, Bromley BR1 5JZ, United Kingdom, or call them at +44 7795 034003 to schedule your annual boiler service today.
FAQ
Q: What is annual boiler servicing?
A: This is a routine checkup carried out by a qualified technician known as a heating engineer. The goal is to ensure that your boiler is working at its best without compromising your safety.
Q: How does annual boiler servicing reduce energy bills?
A: It’s simple. A well-maintained boiler will need less energy to heat your home, which will lead to smaller energy bills. In turn, this will reduce your energy waste, which is great for the environment. Great for your wallet, great for nature – it’s a win-win.
Q: How does annual boiler servicing reduce the risk of breakdowns?
A: When a boiler is not serviced right, it’s not uncommon for small issues to turn into major problems. One thing leads to another and soon you have yourself the very first breakdown. To reduce the need for emergency repairs, which are in no way gentle on your wallet, schedule that annual service.
Q: How does annual boiler servicing improve safety?
A: During your regular servicing appointment, the technician will not only clean the unit but also check for faults that could signal harmful chemical leaks. More specifically, they will want to verify that there are no carbon monoxide emissions. Carbon monoxide is an odourless gas, which means you may not know it when there is a leak.
Q: How does annual boiler servicing extend the lifespan of the boiler?
A: It’s simple. When your boiler is regularly cleaned and maintained, this can prevent the accumulation of corrosion and debris. And these do damage the system over time. Therefore, if your unit doesn’t have to deal with the aforementioned offenders, it will have a longer lifespan.
The future is green, and it’s more important to get on board with it than ever before. The past year has seen countless climate change related natural disasters, from the recent devastating mega-fires in California to frequent hurricanes sweeping the US and the Caribbean.
Solar panels are becoming much more accessible, for homeowners and for businesses. Traditional roof-rack solar panels can now be installed for as little as around $3,000, and are practically a no-brainer due to the energy savings you’ll make over time (you could even totally eliminate your electricity bill). Not to mention that you’ll be doing your part to help the environment in our planet’s time of need.
Solar panels are becoming more accessible, for homeowners and businesses
If you’ve always found chunky solar panels ugly and off-putting, business magnate Elon Musk has a solution. His electric car and solar panel company Tesla has recently unveiled invisible solar roof tiles. The tiles look exactly like normal roof slates, but capture the sun’s energy without drawing attention. These tiles are paving the way to normalizing sustainable, beautiful eco-homes.
After the initial investment of purchasing the panels and installation, the energy produced is all yours. Even if you consume more energy than your panels can produce, you’ll make drastic savings on what you are currently paying by purchasing all your electricity from the grid.
You’ll make even more amazing savings if you live in a sunny state or country – prices in Brisbane, Australia, are particularly low to purchase and install solar panels. And as the city enjoys on average 261 days of sun per year, panels there will produce more than enough energy to power homes all year round.
Energy costs are only set to rise and rise – meaning that by investing in solar panels now, you’ll never feel the strain of your electricity bills going up again. This is an especially smart idea for business owners with fluctuating income, as you can more easily predict your cashflow with fixed energy prices.
Increase the Value of Your Home
If you are open to the possibility of moving to a new house in the future, you will be able to sell your current property at an increased value by equipping it with solar panels. It’s an attractive prospect for buyers if a potential home comes with very small or no electricity bills, so you’ll be making a huge return on your investment in this way, too.
Note: Be wary of ‘renting your roof’ to solar panel companies if you can’t afford to purchase the panels outright. You may want to ‘go green’ in any way you can, but buying panels is by far the most practical way to enjoy the benefits. The lengthy leases that come with rental panel contracts (often 25 years) have been seen to put off mortgage lenders.
It’s highly recommended that if you want to benefit from free electricity and help the environment with solar, you should save up first to increase the value of your property – not render it unsellable.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
As we said, it’s never been so important to do your bit to save our eco-system. The polar ice caps are melting faster than has ever been recorded, and the earth is suffering terrible effects. As well as hurricanes and fires, we’ve also experienced floods, earthquakes and landslides all over the world this year.
In the large scheme of things, installing solar panels doesn’t seem like it will help much, but if everyone did their part to be more eco-conscious, we could significantly reduce the strain of destructive fossil fuels on the environment. By equipping your property with solar panels, you will save money while making steps to saving the environment – a tough offer to turn down!
Utilizing green energy within your business has even better rewards. Marketing your business as eco-conscious and sustainable is a great way to attract customers and impress existing ones. In recent years, studies into consumer activity have found that sustainability is a big shopping priority, especially among the millennial generation. Corporate solar panels will increase your revenue by expanding your customer base AND saving your business’s energy bills.
So – what are you waiting for? Contact a solar energy company today, who will be more than happy to assist you on your green energy journey.
When it comes to your home, it is natural that you want it to look great. However, it is not just the interior of your property you need to focus on but also the exterior. If you love to spend time in your garden, there are various ways in which you can make it look better. One of these is to use the right lighting and for many people, this means investing in solar lights for the garden.
Choosing solar lights offers a range of benefits including making a big difference to the overall appearance of your garden by using these lights. There are many different designs and types of solar lights, which means you can find the perfect ones for your garden. If interested to get one, bestoftools.com has reviewed the best solar-powered garden lights and many other useful gardening tools.In this article, we will look at some of the key benefits of using solar lights for your garden.
Key Benefits of Solar Lighting in Gardens
There are multiple benefits you can look forward to when you choose solar lighting for your garden rather than other types of lighting. One of the key benefits is financial, as you can expect far lower bills from your energy company if the lights you use are solar powered according to an expert from Provision Power & Gas. The great thing about this is that you can enjoy having a garden that looks beautiful and lights up as it gets darker, yet you won’t have to worry about your energy bill rising.
Another great thing about choosing solar lights is that you can do your part for the environment. When you turn to solar lighting, you can draw on the energy from the sun to light up your garden and make it look more attractive. We all need to do our part when it comes to the planet and by conserving energy by using natural sources, you won’t have to worry about wasting energy and paying higher bills as a result. Everyone wants their garden to look nice so they can enjoy pleasant surroundings when outdoors, and this is a great way to make your garden look magical.
Of course, one of the key reasons people choose solar lights is so they can boost the aesthetic appeal of their garden. With so many different lights to choose from, you can select the perfect ones for your garden. This includes everything from outdoor fairy lights through to ground lights, hanging solar lanterns, and much more. The right lights will help to add not only light to your garden but also color and stunning beauty.
Transforming Your Outdoor Areas
By investing in solar lighting, you can help to transform your outdoor areas and enjoy having a wonderful place to relax. You can use solar lighting both at the front and back of your home so you can help to improve the appearance of all of your outdoor space. The simplicity of these lights makes them even more appealing, as you simply need to position them in the right place where they can get plenty of sun during the day.
Are you looking to make your business more sustainable? This is something that every business owner should be looking to do even during the discovery phase of project and it can bring a multitude of benefits in addition to the ethical reasons, so here are 10 of the best ways that you can go about doing this.
1. Eco-Friendly Products
First, you need to make sure that you are both producing and sourcing eco-friendly products and trying to reduce plastic use as much as possible.
2. Green Energy
Switching to a green energy provider is one of the most effective ways that you can reduce your impact, plus you can make huge energy savings over the long-term on your energy bills, so it is a smart financial move to make.
3. Encourage Cycling
It is important to encourage staff to use green forms of transport as opposed to driving. One way to do this is with bike parking outside of the office and to start a cycle to work scheme.
4. Reduce Food Waste
You should try to reduce food waste as much as possible and the best way to do this is to educate your staff on the importance of only bringing in what they need and using up spare food.
5. Watch Water Usage
Water usage is another area to address and you will want to try to cut down on if possible, particularly when it comes to washing and cleaning.
6. Increase Recycling
Recycling is one of the best ways to be more sustainable but often an area where businesses could improve on. You can do this by educating staff on what they can and cannot recycle and making it easier for them to recycle items, such as placing recycling bins in the office.
7. Reduce Paper Usage
You should also try to minimize paper usage throughout the business. Where this is not possible, you should instead look to eco-friendly alternatives. As an example, you could have loyalty and business cards from eco-friendly supplier.
8. Use Energy-Efficient Equipment
Switching to energy-efficient equipment is smart as it will reduce your energy consumption, which will also help to reduce your utility bills too.
9. Green Shipping and Delivery
Opting for green shipping and delivery can greatly reduce your impact and costs, which can be achieved through green packing materials, minimizing packing materials, and using compact packaging. Also, using a routing app will make delivery more efficient and fast, encouraging the use of bicycles, and reducing air pollution from cars and motorcycles.
10. Charitable Contributions
Business can also be more environmentally sustainable through charitable contributions, such as starting a promotion, donating a percentage of profits to charity or starting a fundraiser.
Hopefully, this post will inspire you to make positive changes to your business and play your role in preventing environmental damage.
Utilities like water and power can end up costing nearly as much as your rent or house payment in a bad month. Unfortunately, you can’t cut off your water service to save money the way you could cut the cable. Here are a few tips to tame your utility bills and make it easier to pay your electricity bill with ease.
1. Clean Up
Cleaning the coils on your refrigerator helps it work more efficiently. Cleaning the coils on your air conditioner can do the same, but your AC uses far more power than your fridge. Remove any debris from the air intakes, whether it is leaving piles up by the AC or the air vent to your furnace. Rinse the air filters for your room air filters, the air conditioner, and your dehumidifier.
2. Turn It Off
While the appliances that are sleeping may use less energy than when on, the reality is that they use almost as much power in standby as they do when active. The solution is to turn things off. Unless your game station is downloading updates, unplug it to save power. Turn off the TV instead of letting it sit in standby, or worse, use it as background noise.
When gadgets are fully charged, disconnect them from the charging station and turn off the charging station. If you can’t stand to turn off your computer, turn off the monitor instead. Turn off lights when they aren’t in use, and consider when you can utilize natural light instead. Don’t let appliances idly run while you’re busy. Get the clothes out of the dryer instead of letting it run every five minutes to prevent clothes from wrinkling.
Turn off the oven when you’re done with it. The same might be said for your pool pump or air filters. Does it need to be running? If not, consider turning it off for a while. Always aim to improve your habits and to acquire energy-saver appliances. Also, consider that you are still allowed to hire a better energy provider in case the current one is not the best fit regarding your lifestyle. For instance, there are plenty of options when it comes to the most suitable electric companies in dallas.
3. Track Energy Usage
You can get apps that report energy usage in your home. These apps can tap into your smart meter and tell you which appliances are consuming the most energy. If you can’t cut back on energy usage, you could get advice on how to shift energy usage in order to reduce your electric bill.
For example, running the clothes dryer at night may allow you to get utility discounts. One of the advantages of hydroelectric energy is that despite facing daily and seasonal variations, utility companies will still provide discounts when the demand for power is lower.
Set up the dishwasher to run a heavy load when you go to bed, and the cost per kilowatt maybe a third of what you’d pay if it ran during the day. You may also find that the AC is running heavily during the hottest part of the day.
Could you alter the thermal profile of your home so that it uses less energy while keeping you comfortable, such as not trying to keep the house at 65 when you’re at work? If you cannot get the house comfortable without the AC running full blast all the time, you may need to have the air conditioner repaired or replaced with a more powerful unit.
4. Check for Leaks
If you’ve ever heard the joke that you’re not heating the neighborhood, recognize that there is an element of truth to that joke. When you leave the door open while you’re bringing in groceries or getting the mail, you’re wasting the energy used to heat or cool that air. Gaps in your window frame and window stripping cost you the same way.
Leaks in your hot water heater waste both water and the energy used to heat it. Look for water leaks when you suspect them, too. Not only does this damage the structure of your home and wastewater, but damp insulation has a fraction of the thermal value of dry insulation. This is how a water leak could be contributing to your higher energy bills.
There are a number of things you can do to reduce your energy bills and water bills without radically changing your lifestyle. Then you’ll be able to save the Earth’s resources and money at the same time. It is truly a win-win for everyone.
If you already have an air compressor, you will be aware of how they are an incredibly valuable tool for industries and DIY enthusiasts. Commonly used to power pneumatic tools but can be used for a variety of applications. Air compressors provide you with complete power over spraying, nailing, sanding and hammering at a fraction of the time it would take with manual tools.
You can also find these smaller sized air compressors everywhere that are very portable and best at doing small work. Bob Robinson of BestOfMachinery swears by these portable tools. “Small air compressors essentially push air from the tank in the unit, into the tools that you want to use for either DIY, hobbies or work purposes without the need to lug heavy stuff.”, he commented.
These machines can also be used for inflating tyres, auto repairs and even creating home-made snow machines. Sandblasters, impact wrenches, grease guns, die grinders and angle disc grindles can also be attached.
We all love our power tools and would be lost without them; however, we are becoming more aware regarding the issue of carbon emissions. Reducing our carbon footprint is one of the most important things companies and individuals can do in their lifetime. Small changes within your business and homes can be a great start to decrease our carbon emissions and help save the planet.
If you are looking to purchase your first air compressor or to update an existing model, Direct Air has created a guide on why an oil-free air compressor is a great choice, not just for the environment, but to help you save on energy bills. You can see their full range of oil-free air compressors at https://www.directair.co.uk/products/oil-free-air-compressors/.
Every air compressor requires lubrication in order to efficiently and safely draw in air to its cylinder, commonly using a piston movement. The traditional method to achieve this is using oil, while oil-based air compressors do have their benefits as they are more robust and can handle large-scale applications, they are higher in initial cost, harder to maintain and far heavier than their oil-free counterparts.
Oil-free air compressors gain lubrication through a non-stick coating, generally Teflon. As extra elements to hold oil are eradicated from these machines, they are far lighter and smaller than oil-based air compressors which make them ideal for applications that are not static. Due to less components, oil-free air compressors are often cheaper to purchase.
Oil-based air compressors must remain static and upright when in use, oil-free are far more versatile. As you do not need to consider the oil flow, they can be positioned wherever you see fit. They are also operatable at any temperature, oil can become viscous in cooler climates and can cause problems when attempted to start the motor, oil-free erases this issue.
With these benefits in mind, you can achieve even more with your oil-free air compressor by helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels maintain the planet’s natural resources. You can also make a direct impact on your running costs, saving you and your business money on your energy bills.
With an oil-free air compressor, all costs to collect and dispose of oil-laden condensate will be removed, not to mention the initial cost of the oil itself. These compressors are less wasteful as they do not require the replacement of the air/oil separator and filtration elements which are required to get rid of oil aerosols, these parts are notorious for wearing down quickly. You will not needlessly be sending these parts to landfill and be bearing the cost of new ones on a regular basis.
If you are worried about direct harmful emissions from your air compressor, oil-free air compressors produce the purest form of air which will reduce any negative impact into the atmosphere, great for the planet and for those working around it. You will also not have the trouble of potentially contaminated products from oil spills during projects.
A big bonus of oil-free air compressors is that they are safer than their counterparts, as there is no oil, you eliminate the risk of compressed air pipeline fires. An incredibly important factor to consider for the safety of you, your staff and your premises.
Oil-free air compressors can dramatically reduce your energy bills compared to the oil-based counterpart as they require less energy to run which will cut down your environmental impact. Oil-free air compressors do not need increased forces of power when the unit has a drop in the filtration in the downstream pressure, unlike oil-based. Oil-free units can, on average, unload in 2 seconds of your command which only uses around 18% of its full load horsepower.
Of course, all machines come with their downsides and oil-free air compressors are no exception. Oil-free air compressors are known to generate more noise which can be an annoyance and hazard to those using it and those around them.
There is a solution, you can invest in a low-noise air compressor. These reduce noise levels to around 40dB. The lowest safe level is considered 60 dB and anything over 80dB can cause long-term problems with hearing.
With the addition of an acoustic cylinder to contain this noise, opting for a low-noise air compressor is an investment worth making. It is recommended when using any power tool that protective gear is worn to eliminate lasting damage and long-term effects, even with a low-noise machine.
If you were considering purchasing a new air compressor or have simply been doing research on them, you should now have a comprehensive understanding of the benefits an oil-free air compressor possesses.
As soon as the chill begins to set in with fall, the need for indoor heating starts to push electricity bills up significantly with each passing month. This continues until winter finally arrives and skyrockets electricity bills to ridiculous amounts. This is pretty much what happens in summer too if you happen to live in Texas, Florida or any of the other hot states.
In both situations though, it’s the HVAC system that consumes all the energy, which is not exactly unexpected. What most of us don’t realize is that it’s most likely those clogged air filters that are making the HVAC waste more energy than it should need. Let’s talk about the impact of clogged air filters on HVAC energy consumption
How Do Clogged Filters Affect Your HVAC System?
Before we can discuss how clogged filters affect electricity bills, it is important to understand how clogged filters affect HVAC units in the first place.
The role of an air filter is simple enough; it stops as much of the air impurities as possible from entering and circulating in the indoor environment. After a while, all that dirt, dust, debris, etc., that the filter prevented from getting in begins to congeal together, slowly closing off the airways.
Once the accumulated gunk becomes heavy enough, the HVAC system has to work extra hard to push air past these narrow airways. This is where the problem lies, as a number of negative effects from the increased exertion and dirty filters are seen.
The Effects of Extra Load on HVAC Units
Given that an HVAC system isn’t equipped to handle all that extra load on a regular basis, a number of negative impacts are seen as a result of clogged air filters.
The unit begins to consume more power, to be able to push air past the dirty air filters
The increased power consumption becomes evident, as energy bills surge in direct proportion
Excess load decreases the potential lifetime of an HVAC unit
The heat exchange mechanism can overheat and short-circuit
The cooling coil may freeze in absence of sufficient airflow for dissipating condensation during summer
Breakdowns become more common, further adding to the maintenance expenses
Both the heating and cooling capacities of the unit suffers; slower and less effective heating/cooling
Since the air is pushed through the gunk with force, it circulates all the dispersed pollutants throughout the house
How to Know When Your HVAC System Needs a Filter Change?
Some of the signs are pretty obvious, but you should act before they become too obvious and your unit breaks down in the middle of January! It can get a little costly to change air filters on a regular basis for sure, so try to get them from discountfilterstore.com.
Go through the following and it should provide a decent guide towards detecting the need for a HVAC filter change before the problems get too serious.
It has been more than three months since your last filter change
The filters are starting to look grey or develop spots
Increase in indoor dust accumulation
Increase in allergic reactions such as sneezing, skin rashes, etc.
Heating/cooling seems to be taking a lot longer than expected
Heating/cooling isn’t as effective as before
Air filters serve the vital function of keeping the indoor environment fresh and healthy for everyone, but those same filters can also become the cause for health and financial problems unless they are changed in time. As long as you keep track of the change cycle though, none of what we discussed should be a cause for concern.
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