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Use Water Wisely In Your Louisville CO Homes – Don't Be a Drip!

June 28, 2010 By Author Leave a Comment

Conserving water has been fashionable since the Sixties or so-there used to be a popular bumper sticker that sagely advised people to "Save Water-Shower with a Friend!" Nowadays, we are as much concerned with earth stewardship as we are with conserving those pennies in our pockets. There are all kinds of things you can do in your Louisville CO homes to save water. Try these tricks and tips:

  1. Hate the idea of low-flush toilets? A great compromise on this one is to put something in your toilet tank that takes up the place of some of the water. Try a one-liter bottle for starters. (You can always put in a smaller or bigger bottle if you want to readjust.) You’ll save water, but you won’t lose flushing power.

  2. Observe all faucets, from attic to basement, for leaks. Just one drip per minute can add up to a gallon of wasted water each day. If you’ve got several faucets leaking, that can add up fast. Check the pipes for leaks. Put some food coloring in your toilet tank and see if the color shows up in the toilet bowl even without flushing. Or, just look at the reading on the water meter, leave all the water off for a couple hours, and check again: Has it changed?

  3. Yes, you’ve heard this one before, but it’s true: Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Turn off the water while you shave.

  4. Use aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets. They allow a nice spray of water that doesn’t make you feel deprived. If you really hate the low-flow shower heads, follow every other recommendation on this page and you can use the regular shower head to reward yourself.

  5. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. When you want a glass, you won’t waste water running it from the faucet to get it cool.

  6. Buy some polyethylene pipe insulation that’s been pre-slit and cover your hot water pipes. It’ll preserve the heat in the water; you won’t have to run the water to get it hot when you need it.

  7. Get your family involved in kitchen composting. Most of what you grind up in a garbage disposal can be composted. Since 25% of solid waste is compostable, you’ll be saving money on water in a really green way.

  8. In your garden, plant greenery that doesn’t need much water. For flowering plants, choose periwinkles, snap dragons, ground-covering alyssum, poppies, verbena, marigolds, nasturtiums, sunflowers, zinnia, and calendulas. Leaf-only types include jade or ficus plants. Philodendrons need very little water. Water lawns in the morning when the sun won’t dry up the water before it has a chance to soak in. And don’t over-water your grass: If it hasn’t rained, lawns tend to go into hibernation.

  9. Spray down your driveway and sidewalks, and then turn off the hose. Use your push broom to remove debris instead of relying on water power to hose it off.

  10. And, just like when you brush your teeth, turn the hose off while you’re actually washing your car. When you’re done, you can go back inside and enjoy taking that full-flow shower.

These tips not only help save water, it demonstrates that you are a responsible citizen. Save money and help the environment whether you are in Aurora CO or Evergreen Colorado.

Filed Under: Green Home Topics Tagged With: Louisville CO homes, save water, water conservation, water management

Are Solar Panels Worth The Bucks For Your Louisville Colorado Homes?

June 20, 2010 By Author Leave a Comment

Are you considering the installation of solar panels to your Louisville Colorado homes? Folks everywhere are concerned about the skyrocketing costs of energy. Some are worried about depending on foreign countries for oil, and others want to avoid using fossil fuels for home energy purposes no matter where the oil comes from. And people are looking to the sun.

If you think solar energy is only available in warm areas, you are in for a surprise! In fact, scientists believe that solar energy conversion is more efficient in sunny but cold areas-think Colorado in the winter. There are free-standing solar energy systems for homes that are in rural or isolated areas-probably the type of home solar energy most people think of. Silicone-crystal panels convert the solar energy into electricity, and there is a system of wires involved for this conversion plus a battery that stores extra energy for power at night. Most systems today, however, do tie into the local electrical company’s power grid.

If you’re in need of a new roof, this might be the best time to invest your money in solar panels, because both roofing materials and solar panels have expected lifetimes of about twenty-five years. Determine whether solar energy is feasible for your home by considering:

  • The daily average sunlight in your area.
  • How much room you have on your roof for solar panels.
  • How much energy you want from solar power versus conventional energy.

In the continental United States, southern rooftop exposure is best for solar energy panels. You need about a hundred square feet of exposure to produce one kilowatt of power, which is enough to partially supply one home. Keep in mind that if you don’t have adequate rooftop space, you can mount panels on your garage. You can even buy thin film panels for use on awnings or mount panels on posts in your backyard.

So are they worth it? Will solar panels be worth the investment, notwithstanding your worries about foreign countries or fossil fuel exhaustion?

Solar panels will raise your home’s value by $20 for every $1 that you save on utilities.
If you install a 1-kilowatt system, you will pay more per watt than with a 2- or 5-kilowatt system. Averages are $9 per watt with a 1-kilowatt system compared with $7 for a 5-kilowatt system, but the cost goes down to $2.50 per watt with rebates and tax credits.
Expect to save up to $75 per month on your home utility bills, depending on what type of panels you buy and how much square footage you install. Consider if you finance the installation, this could offset the savings in your monthly utility payment.
The original cost of installing a system can be reduced by rebates and tax credits. For example, if you live in Colorado and you spend $40,000, you can realize a savings of $28,000 for a real cost to you of $12,000. If you’re worried about all the paperwork involved, many vendors are offering to do it for you just to boost their sales.
Using the same example, your home’s value would appreciate by $10,000.

Visit Find-Solar.org, an information resource and solar energy needs calculator published by various solar and wind energy suppliers and recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy. You can find what rebates apply in your geographic area, and you can also find all kinds of resources like a glossary of solar energy terms, what kind of building permits you’ll need, what your city zoning inspector and utility company will want to know, plus lots more.

Solar energy is one of the best forms of energy to light up your Loveland CO homes. Those living in Castle Rock CO may also want to try this clean and green form of energy.

Filed Under: Green Home Topics Tagged With: Louisville Colorado Homes, solar panels, solar power

Solar Heating For Homes In Louisville Colorado | Difference Between Passive and Active Solar Heating

June 17, 2010 By Author Leave a Comment

You’ve heard plenty of talk about environmentally friendly, economical solar heating in recent years. But what’s the difference between active solar versus passive solar heating?

They both rely on the sun, but the physics are quite different.

Active solar heat involves the use of solar panels installed on rooftops of homes in Louisville CO to absorb the rays of the sun. The energy from the rays is collected and converted into electrical energy. There is a complex system of wiring and batteries.

Passive solar heat occurs when an object absorbs the intense rays of the sun. If you have a large picture window in your living room, and you are seated just in front of it, your skin will become warm from the rays of the sun. You might even develop a sunburn!

Both systems are being utilized in home energy systems these days. And passive solar heating techniques can augment active solar heating systems. But to understand either (or both) of these systems, you have to realize the way the sun travels over the North American continent.

Even though we think of the sun as rising in the east and setting in the west, you have to take into consideration the tilt of the earth and the position of our continent as the earth moves within the solar system. Ultimately, we end up with a sun that actually travels southwesterly on its daily journey. So, whether you’re aiming for active or passive solar heating, the first thing you need is a house with a generous southern exposure to the sun.

Active Solar Heating

For active solar heating, you’ll choose from two types of panels. The first type is a stiff, substantial panel made from crystal and silicone. Some are made from one large crystal, and others are made from blocks of silicone full of many tiny crystals. These crystalline panels are the most efficient type, but they are also the most expensive.

The second type is a panel coated with a film of silicone. A layer as thin as a human hair is spread over a glass or ceramic tile. These panels are cheaper and easier to make, but they are also less efficient. Scientists are working on newer panels that will utilize foil and plastic to carry the silicone.

The basic process begins when the panels capture the sun’s rays. And it doesn’t matter what time of year it is; industry experts believe the entire process works even better in colder months. Once an inverter converts the energy into electricity, it’s changed from DC to AC current. There is also a series of batteries to store the power and distribute it as needed and feeding into your local electrical company’s power grid. A meter box tells how much power your home produces and how much you actually use. In homes that stand isolated in rural areas, the solar batteries are not necessarily connected to the local power grid.

Passive Solar Heating

With passive solar heat, all of the home’s solar energy enters through its southern-facing windows. The walls and floor of the home are made from materials that will collect and hold the heat. When the temperature drops after sundown, these surfaces release thermal energy into living spaces. This process is called direct gain.

With indirect gain, the basic concept is the same, but heat-collecting walls are erected that separate the sun’s entry point and the rest of the home. The system for releasing thermal energy operates more proactively. But in most cases, the same materials-cork, walls containing water pipes, masonry-are used for the walls and floors.

Solar Synergy

In both types of solar heating, much thought must be put into a home’s design, including its orientation on the landscape, sizes and shapes of rooms, and so forth. It’s easy to see how both forms of solar heating can work together to maximize a homeowner’s harnessing of natural energy.

Solar heating of Longmont CO homes can be very efficient and cost effective considering the skyrocketing prices of other forms of energy such as oil and gas. Homes in other areas like Cherry Hills CO have also adopted this form of energy for heating and other uses.

Filed Under: Green Home Topics Tagged With: Active Solar Heating, homes in Louisville CO, Passive Solar Heating, solar energy for homes, solar heating

Be Green – Top Ten Tips For Your Louisville CO Homes

June 15, 2010 By Author Leave a Comment

Everybody’s thinking about ways to save money and save the planet in today’s world. We’re being bombarded with messages from all kinds of places: Stores like Target are rewarding people for re-using bags. Automotive repair shops are replacing petroleum-based products with water solubles. Our kids are bringing ideas home from school. Here are a few more tips-you can get the whole family involved:

  1. Stop bleeding power. We’re way past the stage of turning out the lights when we leave a room! These days, you should be aware that appliances continue to use energy for myriad internal functions even when we’re not using them! Look for smart power strips that minimize power use. They automatically turn off power when you’re not using equipment. You can even find strips that have outlets marked on them specifically for computer, home entertainment components, and so forth.
  2. Make your own household cleaning products. Those bought in the store eat up extra cash and they pollute the environment. You can clean your windows with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Mix salt with white vinegar or lemon juice to fight mildew. Add a little elbow grease and a heavy duty sponge, and you can beat just about any household cleaning job.
  3. Use your land to grow green things. Plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and breathe oxygen into it. They also work to hold the earth in place against water, wind, and erosion. Use trellises to grow climbing plants that will provide shade to your place while they produce some of that great Oh-Two.
  4. Look into the windows-and into window tints of your Louisville CO homes. They will keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer while they save you money on energy costs. With the rebates and tax credits available for greening-up your home today, they really aren’t that expensive.
  5. More and more homes are using solar energy. If you’re in the market for a new roof, maybe it’s time to add some solar panels. Visit solar-find.org for a calculator where you can input your zip code and find retailers in your area, plus a recommendation for how much energy you need. Even if you don’t want to convert your home, what about your swimming pool? You can add a system that runs your pool water through a solar collector to minimize the amount of gas it takes to heat the water. Or look into a solar water heater for your home.
  6. Don’t forget your doors. You can install new doors that utilize polyurethane foam insulation cores to control energy loss. Magnetic strips that act much like refrigerator gaskets stop leaks around the door. If you’re buying new glass doors for your patio, buy those with low-emissivity coatings to boost the poor insulation qualities of the glass. If you’re not buying new doors, just apply weatherstripping to your old doors-whether it’s winter or summer-to preserve heat or cool temperatures.
  7. Update your bathroom. You’ve probably heard about using aerators on your bathroom sink and showerhead, but that’s old news. Have you heard about the new tankless water heaters? While it’s a little scary to think they only heat two to five gallons of water per minute, remember the average shower only uses two or three gallons per minute.
  8. Choose only those appliances that are rated by the EPA’s Energy Star Program. They use somewhere between ten and fifty percent less energy or water. Put this tip to work for you whether you’re equipping the kitchen, the laundry room, the office, or the family room.
  9. Set up composting in your backyard. The EPA reports that 25% of our cities’ solid waste streams comprise trimmings from our yards and food wastes. You can compost the cores from paper towel rolls, animal manure, eggshells, dryer lint, tea bags, coffee grounds-and filters-ashes from the fireplace, plus your leftover fruits and vegetables. And much more!
  10. Contact your local waste collection service to find out if they have an electronics recycling program. People think of computes and televisions, but cell phones are also important. Recycling 100 million cell phones yields up to 7,500 pounds of gold!

We promised you ten tips to green up your home. But here’s an eleventh to consider: If you’re not using one of those funny-looking compact fluorescent bulbs with the spiral tube, why not?

Save the planet is the buzz word these days and efforts are being taken to bring about a change that will make this world a better place. Energy efficient homes in Littleton CO is one such way of achieving this objective. Solar energy is fast gaining popularity and replacing conventional energy. Along with Littleton CO, cities like Colorado Springs CO are joining hands in pursuit of a greener planet.

Filed Under: Green Home Topics Tagged With: green building tips, Louisville CO homes, solar energy for homes