Cut your Energy Costs

There are many quick and easy steps you can take to reduce energy right away. For example: using compact fluorescents wherever practical and operating only full loads of dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers.

Temperature Control: Check that your attic and walls are properly insulated (with adequate attic ventilation). Apply weather stripping on exterior doors and windows to reduce drafts. Set back your thermostat to save energy when it’s not required (when no one is home or everyone has gone to sleep). You can also use heavy drapery or curtains to help stablize indoor temperatures by reducing drafts and controlling the heat from the sun.

Hot Water: Turn down the thermostat on your hot water tank. By reducing the temperature just a few degrees, you can save a great deal of energy because most hot water tanks heat the water in the tank continuously, not just when you need it. Also purchase a insulation blanket for your tank, and applying insulating pipe wrap for your hot water pipes to prevent unessessary heat loss.
Energy Efficient Appliances: With the new Government grants purchasing a energy efficient appliances with save you money.

Painting

New types of paint have specific functions. Some of these new paint products have already entered the marketplace, and others will soon be available.

Exterior: Paints with unique additives offer new dimensions to specialty applications, such as roofing, exterior walkways, patios and decks. For example; it is now possible to apply specialized paint directly onto many common roofing materials in order to create an effective waterproof seal that can protect and insulate common roof membranes under most climates.

Interior: Residential paints are becoming considerably more user friendly and environmentally friendly. Paints that contain fewer toxins, or volatile organic compounds (voc’s) are now widely available.