Living The Green Energy Home Dream

With all the advances in green energy technology, it is easier than ever to start converting your home into a green energy home. A green energy home utilizes renewable resources to provide electricity, hot water, heat and peace of mind.

There are several ways to implement your green energy home plan. The first is solar energy. In a green energy home you can install solar hot water panels which heat and store water for use and you can install solar panels, which use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. These systems can be pricing if purchasing them and having them installed by a professional, but there are many great resources available to build your own solar panels and solar hot water systems that can reduce the cost greatly.

If you are just building your home, a great way to make it a green energy home is to implement passive solar design during construction. This means taking advantage of south facing sides of the house for heating and cooling. By installing lots of highly efficient windows and heat retaining bricks and stone on your south facing areas, you are taking advantage of passive solar techniques to develop your green energy home.

Another addition to the green energy home would be a windmill. Windmills are used to generate electricity from the renewable resource wind. Windmills can be installed on rooftops or in yards and offer pollution free electric. Windmills can be purchased from retailers or there are a wide variety of affordable kits available for the motivated do-it-yourselfers to handle the implementation of their own green energy home plans.

If you have a stream on your property, you may also add to the efficiency of your green energy home with hydroelectric power. This is also a great pollution free option that is easy to maintain and works as long as there is water available.

The ultimate green energy home would combine all of these resources. By using wind, water and solar to generate electricity you are looking not only at huge savings and possible profits from your electricity usage, but you would truly be green as each of these options contributes little to global warming. To further combine passive solar design and solar hot water systems, you are reducing your energy needs exponentially and truly living the dream of going green.

A green energy home doesn't require more maintenance than traditional homes. Solar technologies require little to no maintenance and wind and water turbines require only regular oiling for peak performance. There is no better time to create your green energy home and start living your dreams in green.

About the Author:
Susmanto Hadi is independent author and writing some books. Search Your Finance and Car to Shopping and Travel Around The World With Computer on Hand.Start here: http://www.ebookworldgateway.com/ and Stop Global Warming-Use Renewable Energy is here: http://www.digitallylearning.com

Accessorize Your Green Home With Energy Efficient Window Treatments

In an age of increasing environmental awareness, resource conservation, and ever rising energy costs, why not accessorize your home with energy efficient window treatments and enjoy the multiple benefits of this responsible and conscientious option. Since windows account for approximately 30-50% of all heat loss or gain, taking advantage of the many more efficient choices will not only contribute to reduced home energy bills both in summer and winter, but will also assist in maintaining a more comfortable and consistent indoor temperature.

Thermal curtains, cellular or solar shades, wood blinds, or shutters can help insulate your home in the winter, repel heat in the summer, reduce glare while working or watching TV, and protect against damaging ultra violet rays that can fade upholstery, furnishings, and flooring. And since energy efficient window treatments usually provide more complete coverage, you will also appreciate the extra bonus of their privacy, security, and sound-reducing benefits.

Room darkening and energy efficient window coverings were often avoided because they were heavy or bulky and, though they served an indisputable purpose, they offered very little style or character. However, amazing new technologies have found ways of creating energy conserving window treatments that are lighter, practical, stylish, and affordable.

Whether you want cozy comfort or modern pizzazz, classic durability or trendy flamboyance, room darkening for sleeping or sound deadening for studying, energy efficient window coverings are available in a variety of styles that will appeal to your pocketbook without compromising your decor. And making the switch to more efficient window treatments also benefits the environment, reducing the demand for energy and dramatically decreasing the by products created by heating and air conditioning. You can even appease your inner environmentalist by purchasing some of the many eco-friendly products made from recycled materials, chemical free ingredients, and long-life components; thus, reducing landfill waste.

While energy efficient window treatments are a wise choice for both the environmentally and financially conscious, not all products are created equal. New and improved technologies have increased our options and helped make practical choices more attractive; however, since a significant investment is usually required, it is important to make educated and well informed decisions.

With words like R-value, UV transmittance, shading coefficient, and solar reflectance, shopping for the energy efficient can become overwhelming, But don’t let that deter you. A little research and a few brief discussions with window treatment experts will assist you in making the best selection for your home.

Whether you go with simple and easy to clean shutters, elegant and fashionable curtains, or sleek and sophisticated blinds, energy efficient window treatments are both beautiful and manageable, allowing you to control everything from decor to indoor temperature to heating and air-conditioning costs.

Become a green-conscious consumer today. The benefits are amazing! You will realize the immediate perks of a more comfortable home and a less stressed budget, and you will be doing your part in protecting the environment. Energy conservation and cost reduction never looked so good! Not only will your home be beautiful, but both your wallet and planet earth will thank you.

About the Author:
With years of experience in window treatments and design consultation, Mary Hamilton offers insight and tips on choosing and installing window coverings, hardware, and accessories for your home at http://www.window-treatment-pro.com and includes creative solutions and professional information on the latest energy efficient window treatments available for the environmentally conscientious consumer.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com - Accessorize Your Green Home with Energy Efficient Window Treatments

Ideas For Achieving Energy Efficient Homes

With all costs on the rise, adding up to the already huge problem with the New York housing crunch and worldwide economic woes; more and more people are searching of ways to cutback on costs. In our homes, one of the largest shares where our hard-earned budget goes to is the energy bill, thus making the efficient use of energy a great way to reduce monthly expenses. With that said, let us look into superb ideas to achieve energy efficient homes which are practical whether you are in Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan or Queens.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #1:

Proper and Enough Insulation and Sealing

Other than maximized indoor comfort and increased home value, proper and enough insulation and sealing also makes your HVAC systems work less hard thus resulting to less operation costs and lower energy bills. Unknown to many homeowners, a well-insulated home extends beyond just the exterior walls and the attic. You should also ensure insulation in these areas: floors, ceilings especially those below unheated areas, basement walls, kneewalls, overhangs, and between interior walls.

Air leaks are silent predators that waste much energy even if you own a set of state-of-the-art energy efficient systems. Sealing should be approached in such as way that the whole house is benefited starting from the systems alone with its series of ducts and pipings to the walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, electrical outlets, and lighting and plumbing fixtures.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #2:

Lighting

Saving energy with lighting can be done in many ways.

• Replace existing lighting fixtures with efficient models that give off as much brilliance but uses up less electricity like compact fluorescent bulbs, reflector lamps and tungsten halogen.
• Make use of lighting controls such as dimmers and other devices that reduce the time that lights are on unnecessarily.
• Make full use of natural lighting.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #3:

Solar Panels

When thinking of energy-efficiency, nothing beats making full use of natural resources as not only are they powerful, they are free as well. One of the most popular innovations in natural resource-use is solar panels. Solar panels can come as solar thermal collectors with which the energy from the sun is used to heat water or liquid fuels, or solar photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #4:

Appliances

A good percentage of energy consumption in homes results from operating appliances. When shopping for appliances, it would be wise to pick those with the Energy Star label. Though the initial cost would be much higher, think about the long-term benefits. When computing the ‘real’ cost, you should also take operating costs and annual energy consumption into consideration. Looking into such factor proves that energy-efficient appliances are wise investments.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #5:

Proper Maintenance of Appliances and Home Systems

Without regular cleaning and proper maintenance, appliances and HVAC systems would be working laboriously. This added strain would not only lead to damages but more consumption of energy as well. So, check your manuals for recommended ways of cleaning and proper equipment maintenance.

About the Author:
Eugene Makeev uses his skills and expertise to help home owners in Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island avoid the common pitfalls by matching their needs with prescreened remodeling contractors New York.

Visit us for more on Remodeling Long Island.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Ideas for Achieving Energy Efficient Homes