Cutting winter energy costs

January 18, 2011

Here are some great suggestions from http://www.hwahomewarranty.com.

Save Energy This Winter
11 Ways to Cut Energy Costs in 2011

1. Turn down the dial.
Set your thermostat to 68 degrees. With each degree you lower, you can save 2-5% on heating costs. Layer warm weather clothing while at home and you won’t even notice the difference. At night or when leaving the home for an extended period of time, lower the thermostat to 55-60 degrees. An automatic thermostat will make this even easier! Just program the temperatures based on your daily schedule. Doing this will knock off 5-20% on your heating bill.

2. Don’t overreact to a cold home.
When you come home after a day of work to a frigid home, or are home in the middle of the day when your thermostat is programmed to 55, don’t overreact and crank the heat up to 75. You only need to heat to 68 degrees and setting the thermostat to 75 won’t heat the home any faster than if it’s set to 68. If you are home before the furnace has turned on, you can simply override your thermostat to 68. Be patient and throw on a sweater. You may not realize when the thermostat reaches 68, and before you know it you’ve been heating your house at 7 degrees higher than you need – or want – to pay for!

3. A clean furnace is an efficient furnace.
Replace or clean furnace filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict air flow and increase energy use.

4. Hot water can still be hot and save you money!
Set your water heater to the normal setting or 120 degrees. You can save up to 11% on heating costs!

5. Go green with ENERGY STAR®.
Consider replacing old gas appliances with ENERGY STAR® qualified products or add HWA’s GreenPlus to your plan. If your appliances are more than 12 years old, you should consider the upgrade. The Consumer Energy Center recommends replacing your old gas appliances with ENERGY STAR® qualified products. Gas water heaters are labeled with an EF number the higher the EF, the more energy efficient the appliance will be.

6. Beat the cold weather dryness.
Use a humidifier to add moisture to the dry winter air in your home. Moister air feels warmer, so by using a humidifier, you will be more comfortable in your home even when the thermostat is set to a lower temperature.

7. If you don’t use it, don’t heat it.
Close off unused rooms such as spare bedrooms. When the room is not in use, close the floor or wall registers and keep the doors closed. If you have guests coming to visit, you can re-open everything and the room will warm up in just a couple hours.

8. Let the sunshine in.
Open south or east facing window curtains and blinds in the morning and during the day to take advantage of sunny days. At night, close window coverings to keep the heat in.

9. Let your radiators and heating vents do their job.
Don’t block your radiators or vents with furniture or draperies. Keep them free of dirt and dust and position your furniture so the heat can fill the room.

10. Cold water can do it better.
Cold water does more for your disposal. Run cold water when you are using your garbage disposal and it will work even better. Hot water uses energy to warm the water. Cold water saves energy, plus it solidifies grease, moving it more easily through the garbage disposal and pipes.

11. Cook small.
Prepare meals with small appliances rather than firing up the range. A microwave, toaster oven, electric skillet and slow cooker use much less energy than the range. Plus, the smaller appliances heat up much quicker. You can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80% when using your microwave for small portions. So when you’re preparing smaller recipes or just need a quick warm-up, the smaller appliances are perfect!

Inspectrum Home Inspection Interview – by Ryan Parks

April 28, 2010

During a recent home inspection performed for one of my clients in Bucktown, I interviewed home inspector Mike Jakubec of Inspectrum Home Inspections to discuss the importance of home inspections for all home buyers. Inspecting a home prior to purchase is a critical step that should not be overlooked by any potential home buyer.

Please click the video below to hear what he has to say on the subject.

If you would like to use or contact Inspectrum Home Inspections, which is based out of Chicago, IL, please feel free to visit their site http://www.inspectrum.com.

For more information regarding the Chicago Home Buying or Selling process, please contact Ryan Parks of @properties at ryanparks@atproperties.com or www.thechicagorealestatemarket.com

Invest a Tax Refund in Your Home: $2,500 Projects

March 30, 2010

As we’re quickly approaching the end of tax season, it’s likely you’ve recently gotten, or will soon be getting, your tax refund if applicable. A great way to invest this money so it continues to grow for you is to invest it into your home. This great article is courtesy of HouseLogic, and offers 5  projects for about $2500 – the cost of the average tax return. Why not put that money to good use and invest it in your Chicago home?

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By: Mike DeSenne
Published: March 4, 2010

If you want to invest a tax refund in your home this year, consider these five great projects that cost around $2,500.

In recent years, the average tax refund has totaled about $2,500. If you’re fortunate enough to get back that much from the IRS, then consider investing your tax refund in your home. These five great projects cost around $2,500, and four of them are eligible for a federal energy tax credit.

Why invest a tax refund in your home instead of, say, a tropical getaway? Because your home is probably your biggest asset, so it pays to take care of it—literally. Home improvements ranging from storm windows to tankless water heaters can increase your comfort and enjoyment, and add to your home’s value.

1. A tankless task
If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t care how your water gets heated, so long as it’s hot when you turn on the shower. Fair enough. But your water heater deserves closer attention, especially if it’s more than a decade old. That’s when conventional storage-tank water heaters tend to fail, leaving you with a wet mess.

You can replace your water heater with another storage-tank model for between $500 and $1,500 installed. Better yet, spend between $1,500 and $2,500, including installation, on a gas tankless water heater. It takes up half the space, lasts twice as long, and will save the typical homeowner about $115 a year on water-heating costs. Buy one in 2010 to take advantage of a federal energy tax credit that’ll reimburse you for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500.

2. Think pink
A few rolls of that familiar pink fiberglass insulation could save you a lot of green. In cold climates like the Northeast, getting an attic up to recommended insulation levels could lower energy bills by $600 a year. Blown-in cellulose or fiberglass insulation can work equally well, depending on your attic. Consult a qualified contractor.

Figure you’ll pay a contractor between $1,000 and $2,500 to insulate your attic. Costs vary based on square footage, attic accessibility, where you live, and insulation type. Add insulation in 2010 and qualify for a federal energy tax credit worth up to $1,500. The tax credit excludes installation, so ask your contractor to separate materials cost and labor cost on your invoice.

3. No pane, no gain
Replacement windows offer a lot to homeowners: energy efficiency, aesthetic appeal, low maintenance, and high resale value. Unfortunately, those benefits come with a steep price tag. High-efficiency replacement windows that qualify for a federal energy tax credit cost between $500 and $1,000 apiece installed, so you’re looking at spending $10,000 or more to outfit a typical home.

Budget-minded homeowners can get similar energy savings—15% to 40% off heating and cooling bills—at a much lower price by opting instead for tax-credit-eligible storm windows. Storm windows, which work in conjunction with existing windows to lower energy consumption, cost between $100 and $300 each installed. Adding storm windows to a typical house takes a day or two, vs. two to three days for replacement windows.

4. Give your garage a facelift
Homes with prominent garages can benefit greatly from a curb-appeal standpoint from the addition of new garage doors. Standard doors usually come in wood or steel. It costs between $550 and $1,650, including installation, for a single door. A double door runs between $800 and $2,500. Custom garage doors cost more, as do heavy-duty aluminum doors.

Act fast. Certain garage doors installed in your principal residence during 2010 may be eligible for a federal energy tax credit of as much as $1,500. The door must meet efficiency standards and the garage must be insulated. The tax credit applies to 30% of the cost of the garage door, excluding installation charges.

5. Emergency power to the people
A blizzard sweeps in, the lights go out, and you’re left with no heat until the utility company can fix downed power lines. Estimated wait time for repairs: two days. What’s a resourceful homeowner to do? Crank up the portable generator, that’s what.

Portable generators cost between $500 for a 3-kilowatt model to $2,000 for a 10-kilowatt model. Larger units should be able to power a heater, some lights, the refrigerator, and a few other essentials for as long as you can keep the generator supplied with gasoline. A pricier alternative is a permanent standby generator that’s hard-wired to your home’s electric grid. Standby generators start at around $4,000 to $5,000, though prices can escalate quickly.

Mike DeSenne is Online Managing Editor for taxes, finances, and insurance at HouseLogic.com, and the former Executive Editor of SmartMoney.com. He likes to do his taxes by hand, much to the dismay of his accountant.

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®