In this second episode Larry Janesky from Dr. Energy Saver shows different insulation options to treat different areas of a newly built home. There are many insulation materials available to custom design a cost effective solution to fit the building’s insulation needs and budget.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
New Construction: Air Sealing for Energy Savings
Larry Janesky from Dr. Energy Saver walk us through a new construction to show us how to air seal the gaps and openings commonly left around windows and doors. Air sealing these gaps will prevent air leakages, which are usually responsible for a lot of energy waste. The energy loss through air leakages in an average U.S. home is the equivalent to leaving a window open all winter long, 24/7.
Energy Efficient Retrofits on Existing Homes
Posted on October 24, 2011
No home is beyound help when it comes to saving energy and helping the environment.
Dr Energy Saver of CT helps a homeowner in Groton, CT save a lot of money by performing some much needed energy efficient retrofits, including attic and basement insulation. The wall cavities of the finished basement were insulated with injection foam.
Insulating Wall Cavities in Existing Homes.
Every home can be made air tight and energy efficient, and perform as well as a newly built “green” home.
Here’s a video on how Injection Foam Insulation can help insulate wall cavities in existing homes.
Unlike regular spray foam, injection foam does not expand and is not sticky allowing for easy and almost mess free application in existing buildings.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Insulating Wall Cavities in Existing Homes.
Every home can be made air tight and energy efficient, and perform as well as a newly built "green" home.
Here's a video on how Injection Foam Insulation can help insulate wall cavities in existing homes.
Unlike regular spray foam, injection foam does not expand and is not sticky allowing for easy and almost mess free application in existing buildings.
Energy Efficient Retrofits on Existing Homes
No home is beyound help when it comes to saving energy and helping the environment.
Dr Energy Saver of CT helps a homeowner in Groton, CT save a lot of money by performing some much needed energy efficient retrofits, including attic and basement insulation. The wall cavities of the finished basement were insulated with injection foam.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Best Winter Energy Saving Tip Ever
If you are concerned about how you are going to pay for heat this winter, you are not alone. Millions of homeowners in the U.S. are worried about the impact that this winter's heating bills will have in their budgets.
Understandably so.
We are looking into some pretty dire predictions from the U. S. Energy Information Administration.
The agency "projects average household heating expenditures for natural gas, propane, and heating oil will increase by 3 percent, 7 percent, and 8 percent, respectively, this winter (October 1 to March 31) compared with last winter,… Average expenditures for households that heat with oil are forecast to be higher than in any previous winter."
If there was ever a good time to start getting serious about greening up your home and save energy, the time is now. Investing in the right energy saving improvements, will help you save money and make your home more comfortable this winter and for many years to come.
While some upgrades like new HVAC systems and Solas Panels can be very expensive, some of the most cost effective improvements, the ones that will bring the most savings per dollar invested, sometimes are very affordable too. Air sealing and insulation for example, can help you lower your heating bills by up to 40%!
Combine that with several Federal and Local Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs, that will help you pay for the cost of the improvements and you have a win-win situation.
But you need to start acting now, before winter strikes and the heating bills begin to take a bite out of the money that could be better spent in energy saving improvements.
Start by following this most important energy saving tip.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Dr. Energy Saver Featured on “Dream Room Makeover”
When the Fox 61 show “Dream Room Makeover” sent out a call for the worst living room in Connecticut, no one could have expected an almost completely bare space in South Windsor with just one broken chair and some old pink drapes.The show immediately enlisted the help of local contractors to change the appearance of the drab and empty room, but Larry Janesky’s Seymour-based company Dr. Energy Saver stepped in to save the room in a way that wasn’t immediately visible: attic insulation. And, the work his crews performed benefitted the entire house!
Click here to watch the episode! http://bit.ly/roj0rD
Friday, October 14, 2011
Energy Tip of the Week: Furnace Filters
Replace your furnace filters regularly. By keeping your furnace filter clean you will reduce the amount of energy your fan uses to circulate the air in your home. In addition to reducing the amount of energy you use it will keep the air in your home much cleaner. To learn more about saving energy or making your home more comfortable contact us today to set up a free home energy analysis.
The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
A tankless water heater, or on-demand water heater as they are sometimes called, only heats water when a demand is made by turning on a dishwasher, operating a washing machine, or opening a hot water tap. Since a water tank doesn't exist, the water is heated en route to its destination. The flow of water triggers the heating mechanism inside the unit, resulting in the production of hot water.
A tankless water heater, or on-demand water heater as they are sometimes called, only heats water when a demand is made by turning on a dishwasher, operating a washing machine, or opening a hot water tap. Since a water tank doesn't exist, the water is heated en route to its destination. The flow of water triggers the heating mechanism inside the unit, resulting in the production of hot water.While there are many advantages to Tankless water heaters, there are a few things that need to be considered before you decide to invest in one.
This article The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters by Dr. Energy Saver Cleveland, will help you decide.
Dr. Energy Saver Delaware and Extreme Makeover Home Edition Retrofit Mardela Springs Home
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has recently aired the story of thousands of volunteers, donations, and the help of local Delmarva based Dr. Energy Saver ® and Dryzone, LLC—to bring to life one family’s dream home. The new home was revealed on October 4, 2011.
80 years ago the foundation of the Johnson-Goslee family home was laid for generations to enjoy. It was nearing its last days just before being chosen by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and the Fusion Companies as their next redesign.
Thousands of volunteers and donations aided the week-long project to repair the settling foundation, structural problems, plumbing, and other difficulties. Dr. Energy Saver Delaware and DryZone, LLC, local Delmarva contractors, provided all the materials and manpower to install more than 3,000 square/feet of the CleanSpace® system complete with Drainage Matting, the SaniDry® CX, and a condensate pump. All of which was completed in less than three hours only with the help from the contractor’s employees who volunteered their time to complete this gift to the Johnson-Goslee family.
The Johnson-Goslee family endured their home’s shortcomings proudly and unashamedly. Even after 16-year-old Whyzir lost his hand while helping his grandfather repair the home last Christmas Eve.
It will take more than losing a hand to deter this teen from helping his family and bettering his community, “It's not what I wanted to hear, but I know it was in God's plan for me,” Whyzir said.
For a young man who understands and contributes to giving and serving the community, it became time he and his family received a gift and enjoy a safer and healthier home.
Wyzhir lives with his mother, sister and Aunt.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Are you worried about this winter's heating bills?
With the soaring fuel prices, are you worried about paying for heat this winter?
Dr. Energy Saver, a nationwide franchise of energy conservation experts want to know.
Participate in their Facebook poll and, while there, "Like"Dr. Energy Saver's Facebook Page for some great tips on how to save energy and money year round!
http://on.fb.me/n1SlgB
Monday, October 3, 2011
Attic Insulation: Not Just for Colder Climates.
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There is a common misconception concerning attic insulation across the US. People tend to think that beefing up attic insulation only makes sense in colder climates. Yet, the vast majority of homes in the US, even those in colder areas of the country, have poor attic insulation. Usually less than half of the Department of Energy's recommended R-Value for attic insulation in any given area. In South Carolina, mild winters and hot summers lead people to think that they hardly need any at all, often forfeiting that important step when investing in green home improvements.
The role of insulation is to prevent thermal losses by slowing down conductive heat transfers. The attic is the one area of the house where the most drastic temperature changes occur year round. During the summer, the sun heat is transferred from the roof to the attic, resulting in scorching temperatures. A heated attic makes your whole house hot, and your HVAC will have to work much harder to keep you comfortable. The process is reversed in the cold days of winter. Because temperatures migrate from high to low, the heat in the living area will be transferred to an insulated attic at a greater rate, through the ceiling, and put an extra burden on your heating system. The energy penalties can be even more significant if you have ducts or your HVAC unit running in the attic. In addition, improper air sealing of the attic will also increase energy losses through leakage. The heated air in the house will rise, escape through the openings in the attic, causing unconditioned air from the outside to be consistently sucked in from the lower levels of the building, and making your HVAC work harder to keep up with heating and cooling all that new supply of air. In building science, that phenomenon is know as the "stack effect". Poor attic insulation and air sealing can also be responsible for moisture buildup in the attic, mold, dry rot and ice damming in the roof. And the pretty icicles we see dangling down the roofs when it snows are a tell tale sign of an energy wasting attic. If you are serious about making your Columbia, SC home more comfortable and saving money in your energy bills, give Dr. Energy Saver Columbia a call. Schedule a free attic insulation estimate, or ask for a full home energy audit. Let them show you how you create a green, healthy and energy efficient home. |
The truth is that a properly insulated and air sealed attic is the single most important element of a green energy efficient home, regardless of where the home is located.Tankless Water Heater: Is it Right for You?
When compared to conventional storage tank water heaters, they are much more energy efficient, more compact and provide, an endless supply of hot water, shower after shower, load after load of dishes, because they heat water as it is used.
They aren't however, a "new" thing. Tankless water heaters have been used successfully overseas for many years. The technology was being overlooked in the U.S. in times where energy prices were lower and more stable than they are now, the demand wasn't as high, and the resources weren't so scarce.
Now that we are faced with dwindling fossil fuel supplies and able to measure the impact that our energy consumption has in the environment, the tankless water heater re-emerges as a viable way to get much needed hot water and waste less energy.
If you need to replace your old water heater, and want to know if a tankless water heater is the right choice for you, here are some facts that you should consider.
Energy Efficiency
In terms of energy consumption, a tankless water heater performs much better than a storage tank unit. With a tankless model you can cut your water heating bill by as much as 45%.
In a storage tank, there is what we call a "standby heat loss". The water in the tank cools down and needs to be reheated several times a day, in order for you to have hot water whenever you need. That happens several times a day, 24/7, 365 days a year, regardless of whether you are awake or asleep, at home or away.
A tankless will only heat water when it is needed.
Upfront Cost
While tankless water heaters are becoming more affordable, the price for a tankless unit is still a bit higher than the price of a storage tank unit. Installation can also add up if you are replacing an old tank by a tankless, or an electric for natural gas model, as the work may involve making some adaptations.
The good news is that until the end of December 2011, natural gas powered, ENERGY STAR qualified tankless units qualify for a federal tax credit.
Tankless units may also qualify for many other incentives available at a local level in many states, including South Carolina
Tankless units also last much longer than storage units. Expected life of tankless water heaters is 20 years, compared to 10 to 15 years for tank-type water heaters.
Installation
As we said before, if you are replacing an old tank unit by a tankless, there might be the need to adapt some of the existing pipes. On the bright side, tankless units are compact and much smaller than bulky storage tanks, and can fit is small spaces. They are also less susceptible to corrosion than tank units and not as likely to leak and flood the area.
Performance
A tankless water heater significantly reduces energy consumption. Natural gas powered units are also more energy efficient than electricity powered models.
Best results, not only in term of savings but overall performance, are obtained when the model is made to fit the household size, schedules, needs and profile.
Some of the common complaints associated with the use of tankless are usually related to the type and capacity of the system being used.
One of the common complaints is that tankless units can't handle multiple simultaneous uses, such as showering and running the dishwasher at the same time.
Truth is that some models have the ability to modulate capacity to match usage, and operate at the most efficient setting according to how much water is needed. Some models lack that ability.
For homes with many bathrooms, larger families and busy schedules, sometimes it makes sense to install two or more smaller units, to handle different needs.
In addition, let's face it, can you really wash your dishes and shower at the same time with a tank-type model, without quickly running out of hot water?
Another common complaint regarding tankless water heaters is the so called "cold water sandwich". Cold water standing along the pipes than may cause a sudden burst to come out a few seconds after you turn on the hot water. That can be unpleasant if you are in the the shower, but it can be solved if you wait a few seconds before getting in. It usually takes less time than it would normally take for hot water to come out of a tank-type unit.
If you live in Columbia, SC and nearby areas, and you are considering a tankless water heater, let Dr. Energy Saver Columbia help you chose and install a system than fits your family's needs, schedules and demand. Call them for a free no obligation Tankless water heater estimate, and save money by making sure you get the right model with the right capacity to handle the job!
Not ready for the switch yet? Dr. Energy Saver Columbia can evaluate your current water heating system, and with small and affordable improvements, make it work at top performance and save you money in water heating bills!
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