With the rising cost of energy, we are always looking for ways to save both energy and money. When purchasing our appliances, central units, and water heaters we look at the energy labels, we add more insulation to our homes during remodels or a new build because every little bit counts. But did you know there are little things that you can do to help reduce your energy bill and save money throughout the year?
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As you build your new home, there are so many decisions you need to make. Location, style, materials…etc. But have you thought of ways you can save money as well as your environment? Adding Green elements can benefit you and your future in so many ways. You can add green materials and products that will help you gain lower energy costs and make the house more viable when it’s time to sell in the future if you wish. Continue reading →
It is never too late or too early to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. The first place to start is with your home and you will be surprised at what you can do to reduce those monthly bills. Here is a short list on the things you can start with to achieve your goals. Once you start seeing your monthly bills go down it will inspire you to look for more, deeper, and bigger ways to reduce those bills.
Change your filters. One of the things we don’t really think about is the filters in our central units. When you turn on your air conditioner, fan or heater you are filtering the air in your house through this filter in your central unit. When you don’t routinely change this filter you are causing your system to work harder, use more electric and pump all the “stuff” you don’t want back into the home. You can purchase filters that are reusable that can be removed washed and replaced. These filters cost a little more but will save you in the end since you will not have to continue purchasing more filters. These filters should be removed cleaned monthly.
Turn off and unplug. Did you know that some things you use daily like a computer, tv or monitor will still draw power even when it is shut off? This little drip of electric going to these items will add up over time. Turning them off is good but turning off the power strip or unplugging them is better. But turning off the units or even unplugging will extend the life of the unit and cutting off the trickle of electricity will help your bills in the long run.
Go tankless. Most homes have a 50 gallon hot water tank; one of the biggest ways to save energy is to switch that tank with a tankless water heater. A standard water heater will have a surge of electricity after every bath, load of laundry and sink of dishes you wash. Every time there is a drain in the tank it takes energy to heat the water to be ready to use. Periodically throughout the day it will also kick in to consistently heat the water to maintain the temperature needed to be ready for you to use. Another great alternative to a tankless water heater is a solar water heater. This consists of a 50 gallon tank connected to a solar panel that heats and maintains the temperature even at night! Also think about replacing that shower head with a shower head or shower systems that saves water.
Insulation is the name of the game. You can never have too much insulation but you can have too little. Let’s look at the biggest bandit of heating and cooling…windows and doors. Check your windows and doors to make sure the seals are tight with no leaking or cracking. Re-caulk, change the weather stripping and door sweeps as needed. If you have blown insulation, how old is it? Did you know that cellulose insulation has a typical lifespan of around 20 to 30 years? How old is your home? How old is your blown insulation? Is it still up to code? To get the best results your attic insulation should he at the least R13 but the best is R19. If you have single pane windows replace them with double pane to get the best results.
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Sustainability is a big buzzword these days, but what exactly does it mean? Sustainability means meeting your current needs without having a negative impact on the needs of future generations. It also requires you to make environmentally-conscious choices about the way you live. It’s not really plausible for most of us to have a completely sustainable home — one that uses only nature’s infinite resources with no affect on the environment around us. But fortunately, there are some measures you can take to make your home more sustainable.
Your choices as a consumer greatly affect the sustainability of your home. Using rechargeable batteries limits the waste of items that often can’t be recycled. Buying paper products made with recycled content continues the chain of sustainability. Better yet, lose the paper towels and use a washable cloth. Biodegradable trash bags and cups are made of corn that dissolves over time, adding one less type of plastic to our landfills. And energy/water saver appliances can all help contribute to a more sustainable way of living.
In this particular blog we are going to highlight a particular brand that we at Plumbtile are proud to provide; California Faucets takes water sustainability very seriously! Read more below.
Do you love decorating and shopping all rolled into one? Well, you probably love to change the style of your home. So, if you are looking at different types of flooring one terrific option to consider is glass tiles.
Now, you maybe wondering, how do you go about choosing glass, tile flooring and for what room? How about starting with your bathroom?
Glass tiles are actually exploding in their market. Since, the interest in glass tiles has grown so, rapidly they are available in many decorating options, including tiles that even change color as the room’s temperature adjusts. Continue reading →
Want to create an eye-catching outdoor kitchen that gathers a crowd? Many people are now taking the kitchen outdoors to enjoy nature while cooking. You can get the same options from your indoor kitchen for your outdoor kitchen. The largest difference between them is the exposure to the elements, so the best option is to go water-proof to avoid loss of durability and damage. An outdoor kitchen should complement the design of the home’s architecture and landscape. Here are some helpful tips in helping you make the best out of your outdoor space in the form of an eye-catching and crowd pleasing outdoor kitchen that is both functional and fun. Continue reading →
If you’re looking to replace your kitchen countertops, there are several things to consider before you get started tearing out the old ones. You can have what would appear to be a simple job go very wrong if a few important things aren’t taken into consideration. Read on to find out how to ensure you have the best possible experience when it comes to updating your countertops. Continue reading →
As more and more people decide not to move and instead remodel their existing homes, they don’t realize that they can start small and add value by simply replacing the faucets in their kitchens and bathrooms. Adding something simple such as a faucet gives the look of a newer kitchen, while at the same time, saving cost and the environment through lower water usage. Most people don’t even realize how easy it is to replace their kitchen faucet. After picking one out, such as these examples from Brizo… Continue reading →
These days, we all know what it means to be green. We have also become familiar with the three R’s…reduce, reuse, and recycle. Most of the opportunity to implement the three R’s is in our kitchen. However, the kitchen is usually the least green room in our home. Not only do our appliances use a considerable amount of energy, but the materials used in building kitchens can be very expensive and wasteful. We might not be able to make our kitchen completely green. However, there are several things we can do to make it greener than it is, and creating a green kitchen is not only better for our planet, it’s better for our wallets.
If you are thinking about laying a stone tile floor, there are a few things to consider before you begin. Naturally, you should have already measured the area where you will be setting the tile, and add 15 percent more to allow for cutting and fitting pieces around the edges. Then, think about whether or not your stone tile floor is going to be in a high-traffic area. Continue reading →