We recently had the opportunity to share information and collaborate with Krista White of The Almost Natural Mama – Sustainable Living for Everyone.
In her article “Increase your home’s energy efficiency by addressing these areas” she features insight from Eco Three on ways individuals can live more sustainable lives with her tips for energy efficiency.
December may be the season of light, but it doesn’t have to be the season of astronomically high light bills.
You can keep your utility bills reasonable during the winter holidays by taking a few steps to ensure Christmas lights, holiday meals, and cozy nights don’t bloat your energy use.
Here are some tips from Eco Three to make sure your holidays are bright and your energy bill is light!
Although the initial cost of LED light strings is higher, LEDs consume 80 percent less energy than their traditional counterparts, and they last 25 times longer, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Also, LED bulbs are cooler to the touch than incandescent bulbs, posing less risk of fire.
The DOE estimates that devices plugged in 24 hours a day (like a phone charger, for instance) can drain anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent of your residential electricity. To reduce the energy drain during the holidays, use power strips for your holiday lights, televisions, cell phones, and laptops and turn off the power strip when you leave home or go to bed. You can also set your outdoor displays on timers. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and will help you rein in energy use.
Turn down the heat during the holidays, especially when you have guests in your home. Extra people mean extra body heat, so your home will still be warm and cozy. If you have a fireplace, you can also use it to heat your home. Just remember to close the flue when not in use, so heat doesn’t escape through the chimney.
When you are cooking for a crowd, all kinds of appliances come into play. But use them wisely, and you can avoid gobbling up a lot of energy in the kitchen. For instance, only run the dishwasher when it’s full, and resist the urge to open the oven to check the food. Use your oven light instead. You can find more tips for energy-efficient cooking during the holidays here.
If you take a few steps to lower your energy use over the holidays, you can focus on the festivities without worrying about your January energy bill.
Interested in other ways to make your home more energy efficient? Contact Eco Three, a trusted, leading-edge home energy authority dedicated to helping homeowners in Alabama through our comprehensive home energy audits and energy-efficient upgrades. Our nationally accredited team of hometown experts uses the latest technology to provide actionable solutions to outrageous energy bills and home comfort issues. We’re not a franchise – we’re an experienced group of people with a unique plan and a sincere interest in making a difference in people’s lives and the environment. We service existing homes as well as new construction.
BUILD Magazine Announces The 2019 Home & Garden Awards Winners – Including Eco Three for Best Energy audit Company in Alabama.
United Kingdom, 2019– BUILD Magazine has announced winners of the 2019 Home & Garden Awards.
If a home is a person’s castle, then our gardens are our kingdoms. With the Home & Garden Awards, BUILD Magazine looks to showcase the businesses and enterprises who provide us with the products and services which make our living environments, not just a place in which we exist, but embodiments of our hopes and dreams.
Discussing the success of these deserving winners, Nathan Angell, Awards Coordinator praised their hard work and commitment to excellence: “From creative minds in landscaping and interior design, to cleaners and carpenters, this programme is designed to highlight those industries that truly make a house a home. I am proud of all of my winners and wish them the best of luck for the future.”
To find out more about these prestigious awards, and the dedicated professionals selected for them, please visit https://www.build-review.com/winners-list/?award=96932-2019 where you can view our winners supplement and full winners list. https://www.build-review.com/winners/eco-three/
About BUILD
Published monthly, BUILD endeavours to bring you the latest need-to-know content and updates from across the global construction and property industries.
Keeping pace with a vast array of ever-changing sectors thanks to regular contributions from some of the world’s foremost construction, design and real estate experts and firms, Build is home to the very best news, features and comment from the people and institutions in the know. Taking in everything from the latest products and techniques, to up-to-the-minute design trends and industry-moulding regulations, BUILD should be the first port of call for any construction or property professional looking to remain on the cutting edge when it comes to their or related industries.
The holiday season is upon us, and that means planning the Thanksgiving feast. For many, preparing a turkey and the trimmings is just as enjoyable as eating the meal.
However, the time-consuming process of cooking this special meal can gobble up energy, especially when you consider all the appliances in use — refrigerators, mixers, food processors, the oven, stove, and, of course, the dishwasher. In fact, according to the Department of Energy, your kitchen can account for 15 percent of your total energy use — on a regular day.
But don’t let the specter of high energy bills dampen your Thanksgiving cheer. Here are a few tips from Eco Three to help reduce energy usage while cooking during the holidays.
pen the oven door when necessary.Heat escapes every time you open the door to peek at your turkey. Use the oven light instead.
Always cover pots and pans. Trapping the heat inside the pot or pan with a lid will reduce cooking times. And make sure the size of the pot you are using matches the size of the burner. Using the right-sized pots on the stove can save about $36 annually for an electric range or $18 for gas, according to the Department of Energy..
If you have a gas grill, you might consider cooking your turkey or ham outside. Gas grills are clean-burning and one of the most efficient options.
Make sure to cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered items release moisture and make the compressor work harder, according to the Department of Energy. Also, keep the refrigerator door closed and remind children to do the same. Try to think about what you need from the fridge before opening the door so you won’t have to open it repeatedly. You can also set up drinks in coolers outside the fridge so your guests won’t have to open the door each time and let the cold out.
Also leave leftovers out until they have cooled before putting them in the refrigerator. Hot foods make your refrigerator work harder to cool them down.
The microwave is the most efficient (and fastest) means of cooking. It’s also a great way to prep food for recipes. (Bacon crumbles for potatoes, anyone?)
Run full loads of dishes, but don’t overload it. Use the energy-saving “air dry” feature if it’s available on your dishwasher. Avoid using the rinse hold setting for just a few dishes because it uses three to seven gallons of water each cycle.
Make sure you get the right size bird for your party. A smaller turkey takes less time to cook and uses less energy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends cooking a thawed stuffed turkey of regular size for 4-4.5 hours. Electric ovens use 2 kWh when used at 350° for an hour. That means cooking a holiday turkey could use about 8 kWh of energy. That’s the equivalent of washing two loads of laundry.
Also, thaw your turkey in cold water, not in your refrigerator, and cook your dressing separate from your turkey to reduce oven usage.
With a little planning and discipline, you can create a feast and be energy smart. Follow these guidelines, and your energy bill may be just as pleasing as your dinner!
Interested in other ways to make your home more energy efficient? Contact Eco Three, a trusted, leading-edge home energy authority dedicated to helping homeowners in Alabama through our comprehensive home energy audits and energy-efficient upgrades. Our nationally accredited team of hometown experts uses the latest technology to provide actionable solutions to outrageous energy bills and home comfort issues. We’re not a franchise – we’re an experienced group of people with a unique plan and a sincere interest in making a difference in people’s lives and the environment. We service existing homes as well as new construction.
Have you noticed a musty smell, elevated humidity levels, or cupping floors in your home? Those are all warning signs of crawl space moisture. Moisture can lead to mold growth, wood rot, structural issues, higher utility bills, poor indoor air quality (and respiratory issues), and even bug infestations.
Maybe you just moved into your home, or you are considering putting your home on the market. Or maybe you are settled into the home you plan to be in for the foreseeable future. Regardless of your situation, crawl space issues need repairing as soon as possible.
“Acute weather events do not cause chronic crawl space issues,” says Jonathan Handey, founder of EcoThree. “They take time to develop.”
As a home ages, waterproofing on its foundation can begin to fail, allowing water to infiltrate the space. Also, concrete is very porous, and standing water around the outside of the home can leak through concrete block.
The fall is a good time for crawl space repairs because the weather is typically drier. The repairs could also help reduce heating and cooling costs. Here are three ways you can deal with crawl space issues:
A vapor barrier system is a layer of plastic sheeting that blocks ground moisture evaporation. It’s an affordable and simple solution for mild water infiltration. But the vapor barrier isn’t permanent and won’t resolve a crawl space’s air humidity level. It also doesn’t address foundation drainage.
Encapsulating a crawl space includes sealing any vents to the outdoors, applying a heavy-duty polyethylene barrier, and running it up the side walls of the crawlspace and up any piers. A dehumidifier is also recommended for this system. “It can can be expensive because it’s very time consuming and challenging work,” Handey says. “In many situations, the home has made the decision for the homeowner…But a fully encapsulated crawl space works well to improve efficiency, air quality, and would be a selling point for any home.” This system helps control moisture in the air and the soil.
Other solutions include a French drain/trench system that can be used in either a vented or unvented crawlspace to help divert water caused by drainage issues. Another repair can include installing a sump pump which physically removes water from the space and can be used in a vented or unvented crawl space. Depending on the issues, the best approach may be a combination of several solutions.
If you are unsure about how to handle your crawl space issues, contact Eco Three for a consultation.
Eco Three is a trusted, leading-edge home energy authority, dedicated to helping homeowners in Alabama through our comprehensive home energy audits and energy-efficient upgrades. Our nationally accredited team of hometown experts uses the latest technology to provide actionable solutions to outrageous energy bills and home comfort issues. We’re not a franchise – we’re an experienced group of people with a unique plan and a sincere interest in making a difference in people’s lives and the environment. We service existing homes as well as the new construction sector. Please reach out to us today here or feel free to give us a call at 205-314-3500.