Share your Joy

I can’t believe it is 2015 already, can you?  This is the time of year when we reflect on what we have experienced the past year individually, nationally, and even globally.  One of my favorite videos to watch at the end of the year is TED Talks recap of ideas.  It’s fascinating to watch the discoveries, the ideas and just the passion each individual shows with what they present.  Here’s a spoiler alert, but the video ends with a quote by Andrew Solomon, “Forge meaning.  Build identity.  And then invite the world to share your joy.”

Here at GreenHomes we like that quote a lot, especially the last part.  A big part of our work is inviting each of you into our joy; helping America to become more energy efficient.  Doing this extends the life of our resources for the generations to come and, well, extends the life of our pocketbooks, too.  Our joy is helping families all over America live comfortably and affordably.  This year, as we go into 2015, we are looking forward to continue to do that and we ask that you join us.  Let’s all share the joy!

Thanks for stopping by!

-April

A Worldwide Energy Transition

Last month, as we celebrated Energy Action month, we took a look at the Residential Energy Consumption Survey.  It showed that we are using more energy than ever before.  Efforts are being made not only nationwide, but worldwide to improve that number.  The Energiewende is what they are calling it and Germany is leading the push.  The New York Times writes, “Germany will soon be getting 30 percent of their power from renewable energy sources.  Many smaller countries are beating that, but Germany is by far the largest industrial power to reach that level in the modern era.  It is more than twice the percentage in the United States.”

It sounds like we have some catching up to do and we, at GreenHomes, couldn’t agree more.  There’s no better place to start saving energy than our homes.  Making your home more energy efficient whether that’s through proper air sealing and insulation, a right-sized AC or furnace, or even solar panels, can all help decrease our energy consumption.  And, if it helps, saving energy in your home will leave you more comfortable and lower your utility bills.

Read the full New York Times article referenced above, here:  http://goo.gl/5wYV37

Thanks for stopping by!

-April

Energy Action Month, our favorite!

Every October, we celebrate, along with the nation, Energy Action Month.  Its call on us is simple, take action.  With all the energy we use on a daily basis, it’s a good idea to step back from time to time and see where we can save energy for future generations.  We don’t want to use up all of our resources before our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids get to enjoy them.  From what the Residential Energy Consumption Survey tells us, we are using more energy than we ever have before!  Here at GreenHomes America, we focus primarily on home energy.  Each homeowner has an opportunity to not only save energy, but also save money.  For example, if you use a programmable thermostat, you will save energy and  an estimated $180 a year.  There are more examples like this one on our Energy Action Month fact sheet.

The first step, though, is to find out where your home is using and losing energy with a home energy audit.  From there, you can join the forces in saving energy and save money while you’re at it.

Share this post with anyone who owns a home.  Help save energy and help them save money.

Thanks for stopping by!

-April

It’s Baby Safety Month

The  Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) calls September Baby Safety Month.  Their tagline this year is Making Baby Safer, Room By Room.  Safety is something we hold as high regard at GreenHomes America.  In fact, during our home energy audit, we do a list of health and safety tests while in your home so that you can have the peace of mind knowing that the systems in your home are functioning correctly.  When we learned about Baby Safety Month we couldn’t help, but jump on board.  Below are some helpful links to baby safety information for different rooms in your house.

• Garage
• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Nursery
• Living Room

Thank you to JPMA for raising awareness to the importance of educated consumers, retailers and manufactures to help protect the little ones of America.  After all they are our future and the ones we are working to conserve energy for.

Share this post with any parents you might know and help them be safe.

Thanks for stopping by!

-April

Go ahead…Relax

Last Friday was National Relaxation Day, a day devoted to simply taking it easy.  I like whoever came up with this one.  We all desire a break from time to time so why not make a day for it?  Oftentimes, we think of our home when it comes to relaxing.  We all have a favorite spot on the couch or a favorite room in the house to unwind.  I know I do, I have a chair in my bedroom by a big window where I sit and read.  If the window is open, a slight breeze carries in the sound of birds singing just outside.  It’s peaceful and it’s comfortable.

What if every room in our house could be that comfortable?  Every room where the temperature is just right, no change of clothes needed or an extra blanket.  I’m not dreaming.  I know this is possible.  Home Performance and a home energy audit are foreign terms to many, but they are terms that encompass making your home more comfortable and efficient.  This means even temperatures from room to room, lower utility bills every month, and no wasted energy.

So, go ahead, relax.  And if you’d like, improve the comfort in the rest of your home.  You never know, you might find a new favorite spot to unwind.  Share this post with a neighbor or friend, comfort is something we all deserve.

Thanks for stopping by!

-April

Back to School, Back to Learn

As summer winds down, the school year is right around the corner.  With that of course comes back to school shopping for supplies and new clothes as well as the anxiety of starting a new school year.  Here are some tips to pass along to your student to help them excel in the classroom.

• Eat breakfast. It’s true, when you’ve eaten a good breakfast you are more alert and perform better in class.
• Put the phone down and sleep.  Teens need at least 8.5 hours of sleep to feel rested.
• Use your study hall. Doing more work during the school day while not in class can reduce the work you will have to do at home.  You’ll be more focused, too.
• Make friends. Join school clubs or teams and get to know people.

I’ll end with our favorite tip to give students before the school year.   “When you know better, you do better.” This quote is by Maya Angelou.  It’s true, as we continue to learn, we continue to improve.  Education doesn’t stop after high school or even college, it continues into the workforce and into your life.  At GreenHomes we are constantly in the classroom learning more about homes and how they work.  We are keeping up with the latest building codes, tools, products, and services so that we can do better.

We continue to learn and for good reason, the more we know the better we can serve you.

Share this post and encourage someone to keep learning.  Best of luck this school year and thanks for stopping by!

-April

Fans Only Cool People… what?

In these hot summer months we love our fans of all kinds, desk fans, ceiling fans, clip on fans, the list goes on.  Naturally, if we are in a warm room we turn on the ceiling fan to help cool the room.  When we leave the room, we leave the fan on so it can continue cooling.  If it cools us, it will cool the room, right?  Wrong.  Fans have fooled us all.  The U.S. Department of Energy reminds us that fans cool people, not rooms.  How?  They create a wind chill effect by moving air over our skin.  As far as the room goes, the fan will actually create more heat in the room because of its motor.  Not only that, but by leaving it on, you are increasing your electric bill.  Sounds pretty counterproductive, doesn’t it?

You aren’t without options though.  Sure, cool off with a fan while you are in the room and turn it off when you leave.  That would be using fans efficiently.  Or, get an energy audit to see why that room is so warm in the first place.  This would help you to use your home more efficiently.

Feel free to share with your fellow homeowners, we can’t let anyone else get fooled by the fan.

Thanks for stopping by!
-April

 

Picture Source:  “My House – New Orleans – Kitchen 2010” by Alex Castro – Flickr: My House – New Orleans – 2010. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Summer is here. Be safe!

Safety is a top priority for us in the work we do in your home. We stress it every day.  In fact an energy audit is only partially about saving you money.  It is also about keeping you and your family safe.  As part of our audit, we check for gas leaks on the combustion equipment in your home like your furnace or gas stove.

While we keep you safe inside, here are a few tips to keep you safe outside as summer closes in:

• Watch out for Bugs!  Mosquitoes and ticks are the most common.  Repellants are helpful for both.  If ticks are an issue in your area there are some simple landscaping efforts you can do to help deter them.
• Enjoy the sunshine, but cover up! Hats, sunscreen and shade are encouraged.
• If it gets too hot inside your home and even hotter oustide, maybe energy efficiency improvements are what you need for safety’s sake!

 

Thanks,

Jason

 

Photo by Steffen Flor  from wikimedia commons

Here’s to Celebrating the Red White and Blue on Independence Day! (and maybe a little Green!)

Stay Safe, Stay Cool and Enjoy! From all of us at GreenHomes America!

 

Better Resale value from “Green” Homes

A recent study this summer from UC Berkeley and UCLA looked at homes that were certified as green from a few different organizations.  Although the certification standards varied, the homes needed to have details such as well-insulated ceilings and walls and energy-efficient lighting.  These are just some of the basics of making a home “green”, as well as efficient appliances, proper HVAC equipment and good indoor air quality.  These things unfortunately don’t always happen in new homes, even those with the green label.  However, they can and should happen in every home, and that’s why we do what we do.

This study comes from a state with a very nice incentive system in place for energy efficiency retrofits.  Energy upgrade California is a good place to start if you are a resident of CA.  For residents of other states, you can find some incentive programs from DSIRE.  The full study can be found here.

You can also contact one of our locations to learn more about how you can make your home safer, energy efficient, more valuable, and of course, green!

 

Thanks,

Jason