Indoor and Outdoor Energy Efficient Lighting Options for Homeowners

If there's one thing that every home needs, it's good indoor and outdoor lighting. But if you're someone who has noticed that your energy bills are a bit higher than they used to be (especially if you happen to work from home), it could be because your current lighting choices are not as efficient as they need to be.

The good news is that there is a solution to this problem. Here are five different types of energy-saving lighting options that can have you seeing your budget from a much brighter perspective in no time.

Natural lighting. One of the quickest and easiest ways to bring more like into your home without spending a lot of money in the process is to focus on ways to bring more natural light into your house. You can do this by choosing window treatments that are made out of a sheer fabric or installing blinds that open and close. You can also do this by having your windows professionally tinted (that way, you can look out without others looking into them). Or, you can have a couple of skylights built into your ceilings. They are not just one more way to bring in natural light but they can help to increase the property value of your home as well.

Incandescent bulbs. When it comes to your indoor lighting fixtures, saving energy is about the kind of bulbs that you choose. One great alternative to traditional ones are incandescent bulbs. According to a lot of energy experts, you can save as much as 25 percent of energy by using them.

LED bulbs. A particular bulb that is becoming a favorite is the LED bulb. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. What it does is use semi-conductors that are inside of the bulb in order to transform electricity into light. LED bulbs are so effective that not only do they only use 20-25 percent of energy, but they reportedly last 25 percent longer than most traditional bulbs do as well.

 

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Compact fluorescent lamps. If you were to ask someone who conducts energy audits for a living about tips for efficient household lighting, something that they might recommend is that you invest in a few compact fluorescent lamps. They are the type of bulbs that look like little curly cues. The reason why they are worth buying is because they're crafted in such a way that they can help you to save as much as 75 percent of your bulb's energy. Plus, on average, they last 10 times longer.

Motion-sensor lighting. When it comes to outdoor lighting, there's one more thing that should be mentioned and that's motion-sensor lighting. By installing it around your home, not only will it help to keep your house safer, but since the lights only come on when someone is within its sensor path, you don't have to worry about leaving your porch lights on all night. If you're interested in knowing how to get the best kind of motion-sensor lighting, visit a local home improvement store like Lowe's or Home Depot for details.

How to Better Understand Your Energy Bill and Find Ways to Save

There's a pretty good chance that whenever you receive your energy bill in the mail, the only thing that you pay attention to is the amount that you owe (or perhaps that past due amount as well). However, being that there is a lot of additional information that's included on it, have you ever wondered what the rest of the data is showing you?

If you've always wanted to have your energy bill simplified, this article will share with you how to read it better. Plus, it will also provide you with a few proven tips on how you can save money on energy costs too.

 

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How to Understand Your Energy Bill

When you first open your bill, there are two numbers you should look for. Yes, one would be the amount that is due. The other would be what is known as the kilowatt-hours. It will appear as this: kWh. 

What it represents is the amount of energy that you've used at the time that the meter reader came to inspect your meter (which is usually every 30 days). Although there are some utilities within your home that are basically given a baseline price (which is a set price for a certain amount of hours each month that the utility is used), if you happen to exceed that baseline, you will be charged more money. 

That's why energy bills, on average, tend to be higher in the summer and winter and lower in the spring and fall. Do take note that if you happen to see a significant spike in your kWh from one month to the next, that could be an indication that you have an air or water leak somewhere in the home or that an appliance is not working properly. If that's the case, you should either conduct an energy audit or hire a professional to come and inspect your house as soon as possible.

How to Reduce Your Energy Costs

When it comes to finding ways to make your home more energy efficient , the good news is that there are several. You can install a programmable thermostat in order to preset the temperature that you want your home to be. You can add more insulation to your attic so that the rooms in your house are better protected from outdoor temperatures. 

You can turn on your ceiling fans in order to increase or decrease the temperature by a few degrees. You can have your HVAC unit inspected twice a year in order to make sure that it's working at an optimal level. You can put LED light bulbs in your lighting fixtures to save as much as 30-40 percent of energy. You can use natural light more often. You can check your windows and doors to insure there are no small holes and cracks; if you do happen to see some, you can cover them up with caulking so that you won't have any more drafts. 

You can also unplug anything that doesn't need any electrical charge (such as your refrigerator) overnight. By doing these simple things, you can easily reduce your monthly energy costs by as much as 35-45 percent. For more tips on ways to conserve energy, visit Energy.gov and put "conserve energy" in the search field.

Alfresco Blinds: Perth Home Renovators Suggest Using These to Create Extra Useful Space for Your Home

Do you own a modest home that’s just the right size for your family but too small if you add another member? Well, most homes in Australia are such, especially in the city where dwellings are made in a compact fashion. It’s easy to come up with solutions to make do with small rooms especially if they’ll be used by the little ones; nowadays, there are beds designed for three people that can fit in a single bedroom – it’s certainly cramped, but young children rarely have any issue with that. However, if you’ll be housing a weekend guest, you’re going to have to create more comfortable conditions for him or her.

One of the savvy solutions to consider that you can quickly carry out for such a purpose (but can also maintain permanently for your home) is a thoughtful installation of Alfresco blinds. Perth home renovators claim that these blinds are perfect for properly enclosing porches, terraces, patios and even gazebos. Commonly used by dining establishments to take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation — and most customers’ desire for an easy view of the “outside” — these blinds effortlessly showcase their functional potentials which can be applied to other building structures, such as the regular home.

Now, going back to the creation of extra useful space for the home, these blinds can be installed in home extensions that directly open to the outdoors, such as the ones mentioned earlier. They are durable and sturdy enough to provide protection from winds, dust, insects and other elements, hence they make great “instant” walls. Home renovation professionals say that using these blinds to enclose patios, porches and gazebos to create a private, useful room is like being able to provide guests a very comfortable tent to temporarily live in.

Alfresco blinds come in retractable types that can be quickly adjusted to provide the right amount of shade and privacy for a space. Some can be controlled by a remote control and roll up quickly at a push of a button, and then there are those that can be pushed and locked up (to serve as an instant roofing extension) and down. They can also come in various materials and designs to meet the functional and aesthetic requirements of homeowners.

So, if you find yourself in need of an extra room for your house guests to use, consider this economical solution if you’re not keen on going for a real renovation job. These blinds will continue to prove their value as home features long after your guests have left.

About the Author:

Kenneth Lawrence is a passionate "handyman". His craft involves DIY concepts and he loves to share guidelines and tips about stuff on home improvement. He writes and reads about almost anything that can help him hone his skills and increase his knowledge about DIY concepts. He got the inspiration to write this article from http://www.visiondecor.com.au/.

 

Bubble Wrap – The Things It Can Do

We all have come in contact with this protective and resilient packaging must have-the wonderful bubble wrap. This innovative and protective wrapping material is made by locking pockets of air between layers of polyethylene film. The thickness varies and for best quality, one can consider 3”-5”cushioning. This multi-purpose wrapper is used for multiple purposes from shipping, to packaging to storage. The main purpose is creating a protective layer, but there are different things you can do with this versatile material. Functionality is something that is easily available when you use this wrapping wonder.

The following are some key benefits and uses of this wonder wrapping material.

Protection

When you ship goods and delicate, fragile products via ships as exports, you need to ensure that the same stay in good shape and are protected through the long length of journey. While everything is packed finally in containers and cardboard or wooden caskets, the basic fragility is handled by the superior quality of insulation provided by bubble wrap. Additionally, this wrapping provides a double layer of cushioning that helps the product remain in good shape during long haul shipping. Another benefit, is that it provides for good support while transportation via road, ships and air, making it effective and the preferred choice of almost all categories of industries. There are different kinds of thickness available, depending on your specific needs. One generally, finds all electronic goods being shipped with this casing as it is shock-free and very resilient. One finds food grade wraps too, which make great sheath of protection for perishable produce. Whatever, maybe the requirement, you can find the apt dimension to go with it. It provides safety against vibrations, abrasions and is shock-proof; hence it is a wrapper of choice for many industries globally.

Cost-effective

One of the best features lies in the fact that it can be used again and repurposed easily. If the wrap is in good condition, one can use it again for shipping purposes, making it an eco-friendly item. Additionally, it makes for a good investment as one can cut down on operational expenses by reusing this wrapping material again. Moreover, the lightweight material does not add undue weight to your packaging, hence has no bearing towards increased freight charges.

Multi-purpose

This is really a wonder material as it goes beyond just adding protection and packaging. One can use it to fill the gaps between other kinds of packaging like between foam sheets or paper packing. You can also use it to insulate your home or commercial property against heat, in winter around pipes and other things that may freeze, basically against extreme temperatures. It is also used as a tool to prevent pest infestation in attics and other common areas of concern. The versatility of the bubble wrap makes it a popular choice.

In conclusion, whatever is your requirement and kind of product, using bubble wrap to cover it, will keep them safe and secure at all times.

Author Bio - Having spent most of her career in the world of packaging, Rhea is an expert on the various ways one can pack and ship goods using multiple transportation routes. She has worked with bubble wrap and understands its benefits and its potential

The Benefits of Installing Home Alarm Monitoring System

Many homeowners and even renters are having home monitoring systems installed in their homes. This choice is being made because homeowners and tenants realize the benefits. Having a home security system installed comes with three chief benefits. It serves as a deterrent for the bad guys, provides quick access to help and offers peace of mind.

Deterrent for the Bad Guys

When burglars and other criminals are scanning the neighborhood for houses to break into, they are checking for a number of things. First, these bad guys monitor the routines of tenants and home owners to see if they can find a time when their homes will be regularly empty. Once a good time for invading a home has been determined, criminals might then check to see which homes have dogs in them. While some people will be discouraged to break and enter, not everyone is afraid of dogs. Thus, burglaries might still occur. Finally, the criminals will check to see which homes are monitored by alarm systems. Homes that have alarm systems are much less likely to be broken into because criminals do not want to take the risk of being caught by law enforcement. Very few people are capable of disabling these systems.

Quick Access to Help

With alarm systems installed, homeowners and tenants will have quicker access to help when it is needed. Rather than having to look for the phone to call emergency services, individuals can either punch in a code on a small remote or access a panic button. A panic button or remote will allow a person to silently get help without having to talk at all, enabling them to keep from being discovered.

Peace of Mind.

Those who have their homes monitored by security systems enjoy a greater sense of peace of mind. The worry of coming home from work or waking up in the middle of the night due to a break in will be nonexistent.

One does not have to go far to find companies that offer discounted alarm Monitoring services as there is a great deal of competition on the market. Providers are always trying to get one up on each other by seeing who will offer the most outstanding deals. Since this is the case, it is a guarantee that consumers will be able to enjoy all the benefits of home monitoring at a fraction of the cost.