Do some stuff to conserve, or at least read about it...

The very good newspaper/online newspaper site of the Arizona Republic, arizonacentral, posted a list of tips of things you can do to help the evironment. Some of them make sense for us, many of them are for hippies-not that there is anything wrong with hippies-take a bath, please! Ahem, pick out a few and see if you can integrate them into your life. I have been working on water conservation, and turning the thermostat up or down...I am going to add in the cellphone disposal thing...I must have 5 of the things...Later...

I had to take a few days off this week...

Hi all,

I had to take a few days away from the blog this week, but I will get to the next article about Windows in the warm climate early this week. I have been taking a crash course in Go Live! from adobe, and it has taken me several days to get a handle on it. I am going to put up a new blog at my own domain, but I wanted to learn a good piece of software to do it. I tried wordpress, which I loved using at my althing site on wordpress but I am having a heck of of a time getting it installed. I am not sure why. Go live! is a good professional sofware that will also work as a blog editing software. It is not as easy to use wordpress or blogger's software, but I need to learn it for my day job to upgrade my business site anyway, so it might be worth it to learn it.

I have several new ideas for conservation tips and technology for you fellow consumers that I will be writing that fit nicely in this series of articles, and I will try to get to them ASAP. Hopefully, some of you are finding this stuff interesting or at least thought-provoking.

In the meantime, here is a green site that you might find interesting. I am not in this category of environmentalism, but treehugger has good thoughts in mind for the environment, and some good environmental related stories.

I am not the biggest fan of everything the Sierra Club does, but their heart is in the right place regarding the environment. Are you making a difference? Find out here. I'm making a difference.

Sierra Trading Post is not the same as Sierra Club that I know of, but you may find some cool outdoor clothing and gear at this site. I always think its a good idea to look for bargain stuff. It means less stuff that ends up in the dumps eventually.

Bargain Barn items 60% off or more at Sierra Trading Post!! CLICK HERE TO REDEEM.

New Windows too expensive? Other ways to beat window energy loss.

This is one in a series of articles to promote and create interest in conservation of scarce resources, especially energy. Energy is at the very core of so many of our most worrisome issues, and our leaders spend little to no time on it. I am not an environmentalist; far from it; I am an average American consumer, and I see the need for realistic solutions that average consumers can work towards. Its all well and good for hippies to talk about using public transportation, but for those of us who live in the real world with jobs, families, and commitments that require us to use modern conveniences, cutting ourselves off from our cars and air conditioners is not an option. I am going to examine in this series changes and techniques that we all should be taking action on, to one degree or another, in hopes that a little discussion will show us that it is possible to have a real effect on conservation efforts, without turning the clock back to the stone ages that many environmentalists seem to advocate. -DV


So you already know your windows are costing you hundreds of dollars in energy losses. You also know that you can't afford to change them out right now, or you don't plan to stay in the house for long. What can you do to combat window energy loss?

You can actually do a lot. We know that modernizing by replacing your windows would be great, but it is no small expense. It doesn't help that we can no longer finance our homes as easily as we did when values were shooting up and rates were going down either, so we need to go with plan B. There are several useful tips that will help you save money as you go through your extreme weather season, whether you live in the cold climes of Northern America, or in the heat of the southern U.S.

If you are a citizen of the Frozen north, you know what it feels like when Jack Frost starts invading your home. Windows are one of his favorite places to invite himself. Here are a few tips to slow him down:

1. The best way to deal with poor-efficiency windows in winter climates is to install exterior storm windows. Storm windows are typically inexpensive glass windows placed in basic frame that can be easily attached or detached from the exterior of the home. They are relatively inexpensive, and can make a considerable difference in your winter heating bills. You can even buy Low-E glass storm windows, which save even more energy. You will want to make sure that you seal the contact serfaces very well, as this will reduce or eliminate potential draft. This always makes me think back to a home I rented in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in which the owner had converted the garage, which was on the Northwest corner of the home, into a den. This garage was terribly insulated, and the windows were so bad that little snow drifts would accumulate in the window sills during blizzards. We took little notice of these tiny snow drifts, as we were always much more concerned with the pyramid snowdrift that built to about 18 inches high in the northwest corner of the room! We didn't use that room much in the winter, I can tell you that. Weather stripping is cheap, it works well, and is available at any Hardware store. Make good use of it when installing storm windows.

2. If you can't afford storm windows, you can make a relatively inexpensive and mostly effective substitute. Buy a roll of thick plastic sheeting. This material does a fair job of conserving energy as it keeps the wind off the windows, thus not sapping heat from the glass. You can create a cheap frame with scrap wood. The downside is this is not the most aesthetically beautiful solution, but it is effective. You can make an actual window frame, utilizing the plastic instead of glass, and installing much like a storm window. If you are looking for quick and dirty, you can use lathe board to hold it n place, and either nail or screw it to the trim. Don't make too many holes, or you just create more opportunities for drafting. Try to stretch the plastic as tight as possible over the window, so you can still see out of it to some degree. If you are start on top, use the lathe board to hold it in place, and stretch it down, connecting at the sides and finally the bottom, you should be able to get a well stretched fit. Your neigbhors might not love the look, but it will save you a lot of money, and you can take it down once spring rolls around.

3. If exterior storm windows are not possible in your situation, there is still something you can try. You can buy diamond clear plastic insulation kits to install on the inside of your windows. It does allow you to see through it very clearly once installed. 3M makes a very good product and it is widely available. The downside is that it can be very touchy to work with. It wrinkles quite easily, and getting it in place is best done with a helper. Typically, you would install it with double sided tape. It is an interesting material in that you use a hair dryer to shrink it in place, giving you a tight fit with a nice clear view. It is not as effective as a storm window, but it does a creditable job, given its relatively low investment. It is quite brittle, and you will have to re-do it each winter.

4. Use heavy cloth curtains or shades to further block the cold air emanating from windows. Southern facing windows do let in the winter sun, so open those shades are during the day.

For more information, try the Department of Energy.

Part 2-to be continued-Warm climate window tips... DV



I have actually used Lexington, and they did a great job for me. They cleaned off stuff that shouldn't have been there, and some that should have been! True Story.

Windows on our world...New, energy-efficient, windows on our world.

If you are the owner of an older home that has never been remodeled, chances are you peering through one of the chief energy wasters in your home-bad windows. Older windows sin in a variety of ways. See here how this occurs. The frames leak, the glass is sealed poorly, and they are often single-paned. The Department of Energy estimates that almost half of all American homes have single-paned windows. You might say, "so what? How much difference can it make?" Well, simply put its a lot. Windows account for the expenditure of 10%-25% of your energy costs. You really want your costs to be on the low end of that range. If you have single-paned windows, then your cost certainly are in the higher end of that range, and may actually be higher. This is tremendously wasteful, and quite likely it makes your house uncomfortable or even drafty in extreme weather. If you are interested in efficiency, and in a place financially to do so, consider changing those windows. Here are a few things for you to look for.

An absolute must is buying Energy-Star rated windows. If a window has an Energy Star rating, it means it meets a certain level of efficiency. Energy Star refers to a program formed between the EPA and the Department of Energy. These entities introduced ENERGY STAR as a "voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions", according to the Department of Energy. It is a system that has encouraged manufacturers to make thousands of products more energy efficient, and must be considered an unmitigated success. Find out more at the government's excellent Energy Star website. It is full of useful information for saving energy in a multitude of applications. Energy Star rated windows might not be the absolute cheapest windows you will find, but the marginal cost will be made up for in the energy savings.

Depending on what kind of climate your home is in, you will be looking for different features. If you are in a cold weather climate, Low-E windows that are of course Energy Star rated should be your choice. Low-E means Low Emissivity coating have been applied to the glass. They are usually double-paned, and gas filled, often with Argon. This reduces heat transfer loss in cold climates.

If you are in a warm weather climate, you will want to select windows with what is known as "spectrally selective" coatings. These windows reduce the amount of UV rays that come through the glass, reducing heat gain. Take the time to compare windows, and ask question of the retailer.



Another factor to consider the type of window framing. Vinyl windows have come such a long way. The material is tough, it is easy to work with, it seals well, and it looks good over all periods of time, and is available in different colors. Wood and aluminum frames are also popular, but my preference is vinyl. I recently replaced all of the aluminum windows and doors in a condo I own, and installing vinyl windows changed the whole look of the house.

Besides the look of the house, the energy saving transformation was surprising. The reduction of direct conduction of heat through the windows was just incredible. The condo is in Arizona, with south and west facing windows, and the area of the home by the windows went from a sweatbox, even with A/C running,(due to leakage and direct sunlight) to my new favorite room in the home. It also eliminated the winter drafting that occurred. Yes, it does get chilly in Arizona sometimes! I chose a double hing slider model from Jeld-wen that I ordered from a Menards In Scottsbluff, Nebraska. I have found Mendards to compare very favorably in price to Home Depot and Lowe's, even with the additional shipping cost.

I had only four windows to change, plus, two french doors, so it was a job that I could handle myself, but you may wish to have windows professionally installed. You can try a window company such as windowbuyer. They can give you a package price for windows and installation using local contractors. I am not a fan of searshomepro, but they likely have service not far from your community. You will probably learn a lot from visiting Pella or Marvin windows as well. They are both quality manufacturers of windows. Andersen is also an excellent maker of windows. There is some excellent information about window replacement available at the Department of Energy's website.

For not a lot of money I was able to change the whole comfort level of the house. The house looks so much better than the neighbors' with their old aluminum frame style. Remember to consult with your homeowners associations about what you are going to do, escpecially if you are going to change the look of your home's exterior. Some associations are sticklers for a consistent look, and may be able to veto your project. Better to find that out front than after you have started.

Regarding installation, I was able to do it myself, with some expert help, but most people will want to have a professional installation done. It is very important that the windows seal properly, and if you don't know what you are doing, you may be better off not doing anything. I have since purchased another older home, complete with single pane windows, and the difference in efficiency is noticeable. As this is a much larger project I have not changed these yet, but it is going to happen soon.

Your savings will vary depending on the size of your home, and how long you intend to stay in it. One item that should encourage you is the $200 tax credit when you install new Energy Star windows. Remember, this is a credit, not a deduction, so its effect is like a much larger deduction. Consult a tax professional about the credit, or the window retailer. They use these as part of their sales pitches, so they should be able to give you information.

Window replacement should be a priority not just for the homeowner as in individual, but for our society as a whole. Billions of dollars are wasted each year through poor window performance. This is wasteful, but it is also preventable if we make window replacement a priority of our national conscience. It is difficult to change gas mileage in cars quickly, but it is very easy to save 10%-15% of energy loss by simply replacing poor quality windows.



Thank you for reading this article. I would appreciate anyone with knowledge of the subject to expand or even correct any information I have posted. I am trying to encourage people to think about ways how Americans can make significant differences, not just symbolic ones. Look for my next article on Real World Energy Conservation regarding what you can if you can't afford to replace windows. -DV

Energy Technology that's good for the planet...and your pocketbook.

There are a lot of things we can do as consumers to benefit the environment, but there are very few that can have as much positive impact on the planet as conserving water and energy. That also means you save money on your water and energy bills. And, it will likely qualify for a energy saving tax credit from the feds. What could be better?
What is this magical product, you ask? It is a simple household appliance that we all should be converting to willingly, and likely will be willingly or no in the next 10 years. It is none other than the tankless water heater. The tankless water heater is already mandated throughout Europe, where water and energy resources are especially scarce. Why is this so important to us? For several reasons, not the least of which is that it will slow our consumption of water drastically. Cate Blanchett can take all the 2 min showers she wants, but it can’t compare to half a millon households in every major city in the western United States drawing on only the water they use during the day, instead of storing 50-70 gallons a day in a metal tank. The less water that gets pulled out of the ground, the more groundwater for left for nature. Think of your water tank heater as withdrawing money out of interest bearing investments and redepositing instantaneously it to cover your withdrawls as you incur them, for the sole purpose of keeping your balance at some fictitious number you will never spend.
The second benefit, obviously, is the energy savings of not maintaining the water temperature of 50+ gallons at 125 degrees all day, even when you are not using it. Depending on your location, the energy required to heat water could be very minimal. If you are in a warm climate, such as Arizona, you will require very little energy. Even in the winter months, you would only have to heat water 30-45 degrees; in the summer, on 20-30. The energy savings would be most dramatic in warmer climates, where water has to be heated to a lesser extent.
I am not going to get into all the particulars of this; you can read all about them on retailers sites; what I do want to get across is that they are not particularly expensive to buy, and they are very efficient, and very worthy of our attention, especially in a desert state like Arizona. There are numerous good manufactures of these tanks, Rinnai, Eemax, Paloma, Stiebel Eltron, Bosch, to name a few. Again, these things are all over Europe, so it is not untested technology. There is a great amount of data available on the net about them, and I encourage you to look into them. One of the authorities on these is Low Energy Systems, a leading distributor of the Paloma and other tankless water heaters. .
There are tradeoffs, or we would all be using them already. One, obviously is cost, and a likely lack of familiarity by plumbers. As I mentioned, the cost can be slightly higher than a tank heater, but those costs are certainly offset by monthly bills over time. There is also the tax credit, which further offsets the higher cost. The next time you get a chance to talk to a environmental activist or oily-haired celebrity, I would certainly want you ask them if they have considered saving water and energy by installing a tankless water heater. I would be most curious about their answer.