Energy Saving Tip of the Week: Lower Your Energy Costs With Proper Landscaping!

Did you know that you can reduce your monthly energy costs by up to 25% through careful landscape planning? Properly planted trees, plants, and shrubs can protect your house from afternoon sun in summer and act as a windbreaker during cold winter months. Research has shown that summer daytime temperatures can be 3-6 degrees lower in tree-shaded neighborhoods compared to areas with no trees. Planting dense trees on the west and northwest sides of a house will block summer setting sun. Similarly planting evergreens on the north side will slow down cold winter winds while funneling summer cool breezes into the house. Additionally vines climbing on walls form a foliage cover that insulates the home from summer sun and cold winter winds.

*Landscape Picture above Designed and installed by Garden Associates Landscape Architecture Inc., Licensed Landscape Architects.   

Green-By-Design Open House at WCCC

Warren County Community College in Washington New Jersey hosted their first Green-By-Design Open House on August 4, 2010. Maija Amaro of School of Continuing Education, who organized the event, stated that they plan on hosting similar green events in the future to educate the community on sustainable living.

Sponsored by Hance Construction, GBW Insurance and Milton Terry Associates, Green-By-Design was free to attend for the public. Green Domain was happy to take part in an event geared towards educating local residents on ways of leading an energy efficient and sustainable lifestyle. Energy efficiency specialists of Green Domain gave useful information to visitors on benefits of a home energy assessment. Among other exhibitors were green construction companies, solar energy providers, and green products manufacturers.
Commenced by the keynote speaker, Dr. William Austin of WCCC, the open house featured other speakers who shared their expertise with attendants on various topics on sustainable living such as green construction, solar design considerations, and sustainable strategies in interior space planning.

Links:
http://www.warren.edu/
http://www.hanceconstruction.com/
http://www.gbwinsurance.com/
http://www.miltonterry.com/

Energy Saving Tip of the Week: Don’t Let Air-Conditioning Dollars Go Out the Windows!

Did you know that windows can account for a significant portion of your energy bills? Windows with low-emissivity (low-e) coating cost about 10%-15% more than standard windows but they reduce your energy loss by 30%-50%. Low-e windows have a coating which is a microscopically thin metallic oxide layer applied on one or more panes of glass. There are different kinds of low-E coatings developed for high solar gain, moderate solar gain, and low solar gain depending on the climate you live in and the direction your windows are facing. For example for hot climates and east- and west-facing windows you should choose low-e windows where the coating is applied to the outside pane of the glass as this will keep the sun’s heat out of the house. When you are buying new windows look for ENERGY STAR label. Always work with reputable and knowledgeable installers to make sure your windows are installed and sealed properly to avoid any air leaks.

Energy Saving Tip of the Week: Fire up that Grill!

Using your outdoor grill saves you cooling dollars on hot summer days. Cooking inside in the oven or on stove top will warm up your house making your air conditioner work harder. The microwave is another good alternative for energy efficient cooking. Microwave ovens use around 50% less energy than conventional ones.

NJ Clean Energy Cash Rebate Update

THE NJ CLEAN ENERGY/HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR PROGRAM IS NOW OFFERING CASH REBATES UP TO $3,000.00 IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL TAX CREDITS UP TO $1,500.00 TOWARDS GREEN FIXES AND HOME IMPROVEMENTS! CALL GREEN DOMAIN TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR RESIDENTIAL AND/OR COMMERCIAL ENERGY AUDIT AND BE THE FIRST TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE SAVINGS!!! 

 

CONTACT YOUR GREEN DOMAIN SPECIALIST TO LEARN MORE 908 534 6464 

OR VISIT WWW.GREENDOMAINUSA.COM

 

Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting can be a key element in both the function and the style of any space. Offering a sleek, streamlined look; increasing the amount of light in a room; highlighting the artwork and other special features of a house are a few of many advantages of recessed lights. There are hundreds of options and products available to create the look you are looking for in recessed lighting.

However if not installed properly, they can certainly make your house less energy efficient. Installed on the second floor of a house recessed lights are holes open into your attic that allow unwanted air flow between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. If there is not proper sealing, they can cause a room to be warmer in summer. Humidity is another problem caused by improper sealing of these fixtures. When the moisture-laden warm air leaks into the ceiling cavity and comes in touch with a cold surface condensation and mold-growth may occur. To make matters worse, when the light is on, the heat from the lamp accelerates the air flow (stack effect) through the fixture, increasing the energy loss.

These potential problems can be avoided if recessed lighting is installed and sealed by certified professionals. You should also use Energy Star qualified lighting fixtures to reduce your energy costs. One of the many advantages of having a home energy audit is to determine whether or not the recessed cans in your house are causing any air leaks. A certified consultant would test the sealing around these fixtures for any leaks that may cause energy loss as well as moisture and mold problems.

Homes With CFL Bulbs Are Cool!

Did you know that Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs produce 75% less heat than standard bulbs thus cutting down home cooling costs? They also use 75% less energy than ordinary bulbs even though they provide the same amount of light. By installing CFLs in your home’s six most frequently used light fixtures you could save $30 or more per year on energy costs. To gain the most financial benefit from your CFL, leave it on for more than 15 minutes at a time. Frequent switching on and off will shorten the bulb’s life. You can buy CFLs at discounted prices at NJ Clean Energy’s online store. At the end of its useful life, dispose them carefully and safely. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that consumers take advantage of local recycling options for disposal of CFLs.