1) Use your laptop. It runs on batteries, which use 80 percent less electricity than a desktop computer.
Cost: Being vigilant about unplugging the battery charger once your computer is juiced so it doesn't sap unnecessary energy.
Savings: $30 per year off your electric bill.
Bonus: You can relax on the sofa while perusing coupon sites.
2) Get your chimney swept in the summer for an off-season price.
Cost: Just a little forethought.
Savings: $50 per flue.
Bonus: Get the job done at your convenience because sweeps' schedules are wide open.
3) Replace central-air-conditioning filters every month during the summer to keep air flowing freely through the ducts and reduce strain on the blower motor.
Cost: About $11 for three filters.
Savings: $40 or more on cooling costs.
Bonus: New filters keep dust and mold from collecting on condenser coils, extending the equipment's life.
4) Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. It's probably set at 140 degrees F to shorten the wait time for a steamy shower. But 120 or even 110 degrees is plenty hot.
Cost: A few minutes with a screwdriver in the utility room.
Savings: $30 or more per year on gas, oil, electricity, or propane.
Bonus: Your kids are less likely to scald themselves if the max water temperature is 120.
5) Insulate hot-water lines. Preformed foam tubes fit right around the pipes, thanks to a slit along their length.
Cost: 29 cents to 35 cents per foot of insulation, depending on pipe dimensions, at Energy Federation.
Savings: $50 per year on energy.
Bonus: Halving the wait for hot water to reach upstairs faucets.
House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com
Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6
604-945-1904 (office hours) - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)
Six Signs You Need New Windows:
- Condensation between panes of glass
- Wood windows have rotten frames
- Drafts coming in through windows
- Bugs coming in through frames
- Windows that are broken or not functioning
- Leaking or moldy windows
Here are Some Different Styles of Windows
Casement
- Have a crank out hardware mechanism to open and close the windows
- One key feature to look for is a multi-point lock that will lock your window in multiple locations, ensuring a tight seal.
Awning
- Similar to casement, these windows have crank out hardware, but are hinged at the top
- Often used in places where it’s difficult to push or pull open a window, for example, above a kitchen sink
Bay
- Come with a seat or walk-in option (you walk into the bay area)
Bay/ Bow
- Bow windows are similar to bay, but have softer angles
Bow
- These windows have sliders that are either vertically or horizontally placed
- Two formats; single and double hung
- Single hung:has a fixed sash on one side and an operating sash on the other
- Double hung: two operating sashes
- Often these windows lift out or tilt out for easy cleaning
Picture/Fixed Windows
- Don’t open or operate
- They come in many different formats
At House Smart Home Improvements, We Use Energy Star Windows! Energy Star Windows come in all styles, are of the highest quality, offering you the greatest comfort with less energy used.
ENERGY STAR® windows offer these benefits:
- Double glazing with a sealed insulating glass unit, not only reducing energy costs, but also increasing comfort.
- Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings, which are like insulation and
sunscreen on windows. This thin layer of transparent protection, applied
in the gap between window glass panes, improves your family’s comfort
by reducing the quantity of heat passing through the windows.
- Inert gas, such as argon or krypton, sealed between windowpanes
results in reduced heat transfer and minimized condensation, increasing
the windows’ insulation U-value and energy efficiency.
- Low conductivity spacer bars that prevent heat loss and minimize drafts.
- Lower overall heat loss ratings (U-values), meaning greater comfort with less energy used.
- Heat transfer between the inside and outside of a home is slowed.
- Heat reflection that keeps the sun out during summertime and keeps rooms from feeling drafty
during the winter.
- Reduced fading of fabrics and wall coverings.
House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com
Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6
604-945-1904 (office hours) - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)
