What Features Should I Look for When Buying an Air Conditioner?

Air conditioners have changed a lot over the years. Some models do a lot more than just cool the air. Figuring out the features of the various types and styles of air conditioners available on the market can be very difficult when you are looking to buy one.

There are a lot of decisions that should be made before buying an air conditioner. The most important is to make sure that the air conditioning unit that you purchase will be the appropriate size for the space that you are trying to cool. So, what are the features that you should look for when buying an air conditioning unit? Here are just a few that you might like to review before purchasing a unit.

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Having an energy efficient air conditioning unit will lessen your cooling costs. The more energy efficient your air conditioner is the less your energy bill will be. It’s as simple as that. That is why when you evaluate each of the cooling devices you need to always remember although you may have to spend more on an energy efficient unit to begin with, it will save you money in the long run. By considering this factor you will also be doing your part to help the environment.

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With just about every air conditioning unit controlling humidity is a very important addition to cooling. The humidification capabilities of every model are different. Some units have separate humidification settings for those days that are more humid than hot. Even when you need both, controlling the cooling and humidification capabilities independently is always better.

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The capability to be able to switch an air conditioning on and off at different times can also be a factor that can provide you with convenience while at the same time save you money. Leaving your air conditioning unit running all day when you are no wastes energy and money. Have a programmable thermostat can allow you to be able to adjust the temperature when you are away or at home.

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Air conditioning units come in different shapes and sizes. So you need to make sure that the unit you decide on will work best in your home. Do your research well in advance and you will be glad that you did.

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Simple Energy Saving Strategies For Your Home

To save more money you generally have two choices: make more money (if only it were as easy as deciding that you want to make more money) or reduce expenses. Reducing expenses often means making sacrifices. Fortunately there are some simple changes most people can make around their home or apartment that drastically alter their daily routine yet will still produce a noticeable cost savings.

Where most people go wrong when looking for ways to save money is they try to find ways they can save big chunks of money quickly. Unless you have an excessive lifestyle it is pretty tough to find these types of savings. A better way to cut costs is to make several smaller changes that can add up to big savings. The cost cuttings suggestions below will go largely unnoticed except in your bank account and they are good for the environment.

Light colored floors and walls reflect more light than dark colors meaning you won’t need to use as many lights to keep your home just as bright. So opt for light colors instead of dark colors and reduce your electricity usage and make your home more cheerful at the same time.

Speaking of lights, consider switching from regular, incandescent bulbs, to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. Changing to CFL bulbs can result in as much as a $50 savings over their life. Less power is needed to produce light from a fluorescent light bulb so you save money.

A 23 watt fluorescent light bulb creates an identical level of light as a one-hundred watt regular light bulb. CFL bulbs produce less heat which means your home stays cooler in the summer and they are expected to last on average 10 times longer compared to ordinary light bulbs.

Chill out – altering your thermostat as little as one degree can reduce your utility bill by as much as five percent. Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to easily raise and lower the temperature of your home while you are at work or sleeping, which is probably two-thirds of the day. No use heating or cooling an empty house. With a programmable thermostat you can set it so your house is at your favorite temperature when you wake up or come home from work.

Why stop at a 1 degree change in temperature? In the winter you can use an electric blanket and reduce it 5 to 10 degrees and still sleep toasty warm. Additional tricks to remain comfortable with a higher or lower thermostat setting are to utilize a space heater or fans.

Power strips where initially offered as a technique to protect electronics and appliances from power surges. They can also be used save money. Many electronics use electricity even when they are turned off. Power strips help cut costs by turning electronics completely off.

The electrical power used by household electronics when they are turned off can be as high as 30% of the total electricity used by the appliance. The alternative to a power strip is unplugging electronics.

Unless you already have double pane windows, the windows in your home can be a major cause of heat loss and gain. It is estimated that one-third of the energy used to heat and cool a home is lost through the windows. Energy efficient windows also make your house quieter and they protect your home from ultraviolet rays which fades carpet, furniture and art work.

Further methods to minimize the amount of energy lost due to windows include installing drapes and planting a deciduous tree in front of the it. Because deciduous trees loose their leaves in the winter they offer warmth from the sun during the wintertime and cool shade in the summer.

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Learning More About ICF Construction

By now, many people of heard of and are intrigued by green building techniques. Vertical ICF construction is one green building method that has seen resurgence thanks to its energy efficiency and environmentally friendly construction and installation process. Traditionally used in commercial building construction, ICF construction is as popular as ever in providing energy-maximizing savings and structural integrity to residential consumers. ICF, or Insulated Concrete Forms, are a type of wall that is generally made from cement-bonded wood fiber (usually made from recycled wood and cement) and polystyrene.

The strength of a building constructed with ICF technology will be unmatched in terms of strength, energy efficiency, noise reduction and comfort when compared to a structure built with typical wood frame construction. Termites and other pests and insects will not be attracted to insulated concrete forms, therefore eliminated the risk of having structural integrity compromised. ICF walls are mold, mildew and allergen resistant as well, so you can rest assured that your home would be a comfortable environment for you and your family.

Vertical ICF walls are ultra efficient when it comes to energy savings. Concrete and foam is the best insulator available for your home. You can save as much as 50% to 80% on your heating and cooling bills when comparing to energy costs of a traditional wood frame house. The high insulation value also makes it an ideal sound barrier, keeping exterior noises out of your home and interior sounds from escaping, allowing for better security and privacy.

Insulated concrete forms can withstand the highest winds that you would encounter with severe weather including hurricanes and tornados. Winds of up to 200mph are no match for ICF construction, and neither is fire. Insulated concrete forms are able to resist fire for up to 3.5 hours. Furthermore, ICF walls will resist mold and will not rot due to excess moisture, so your maintenance and general upkeep will be virtually non-existent.

Installation of insulated concrete forms is relatively easy and can be done quickly with an experienced green building contractor. Many ICF walls are made with recycled and environmentally friendly materials, non-toxic and not manufactured with any harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde. Installation is easy and even the waste products are kept to a minimum. Cleanup will be quick and easy, and the leftover waste products from the construction can be recycled.

It is easy to see why Vertical ICF construction techniques are gaining popularity, especially within residential buildings. The energy efficient, reinforced concrete walls have an unmatched fire tolerance, a high resistance to termites and pests, resistance to mold and mildew, and will result in the maximum amount of energy savings possible. The structural integrity of a home or building constructed with Vertical ICF walls will be much more enhanced to those constructed with traditional wood frames.

Green Building – Sustainable, Energy Efficient, Quality Construction Under Threat

In the midst of our recent economic crisis, the US federal government’s interventionist policies have again redeployed finite resources in contravention to market forces. Consumers and many custom builders have been pushing for better quality, sustainable, energy efficient construction. Unfortunately these market forces have been overcome by government intervention. The government has incentives for first time homebuyers who typically purchase cheaper starter homes. As a result almost all new construction is being undertaken by large tract builders who specialize in cheap housing. This end of the market is very price sensitive leading these builders to continued with larger designs that sacrifice quality for size.

Contrary to the belief of the US Congress, capital cannot be created by printing money or authorizing programs intended to create jobs. In a free market capital is deployed efficiently to areas with the best returns. When the government intervenes, it may skew the use of resources to less efficient enterprises. History provides us with numerous examples, but we do not have to look far back to see one of the best.

The deep recession we are experiencing resulted in large part from government interference in the housing market. The American dream has become the American nightmare. Successive governments, both Democrat and Republican, since the Great Depression have done everything they can to encourage privately owned housing. Government bureaucracies like the Federal Housing Administration and government sponsored, now government owned, entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac artificially created a market for low interest loans to high risk customers. In a perfect storm, the Federal Reserve artificially depressed interest rates for a short-term economic boost.

Without artificially low rates and low credit standards, it is unlikely that the production of homes would have risen from 1.6M in 2001 to almost 2.1M by 2005. Post deflation the housing starts fell to 554,000 in 2009. At the beginning of the expansion, the Federal Funds Rate in January 2001 stood at 6%. When housing peaked the rate had been lowered to 1%. Not only did the volume of construction increase during that time, but the size of homes increase dramatically as did the price. Consumers were encouraged by lenders to purchase the largest home they could afford to take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity. Capital that might otherwise have been used in other areas of the economy was deployed in housing at artificially low rates. The result was catastrophic.

The same government is again intervening through first-time homebuyer tax credits. Coupled with low interest FHA loans having 3% down payments, they are creating some of the previously existing conditions. In addition to risking another bubble, the tax credits funded by all taxpaying Americans are being funneled to large corporate builders that specialize in low-end housing. This is evidenced by the fall in the median sales price in 2009 to $209,000 from a high of $262,000 in 2007.

Some of the larger builders have developed smaller plans, but they have mostly done so to meet the lower price points that the government influenced market demanded. They are not increasing the quality, sustainability or energy efficiency of their new homes. Though not all large home construction has stopped, only the truly wealthy, who tend to build better constructed homes, are still building. Homes of this quality usually include energy efficient systems and last much longer; both qualities of sustainable construction. Much has been written about “McMansion” homes, but generally homes in this market are not included. That is discussion for another day.

While tract home builders dominate the starter home segment, custom builders control the large home market. The real battle will be for the “move up market”. This market will determine the character of American housing for the foreseeable future. Move up consumers will chose between low quality, lower-cost homes built by large corporate builders and high quality, higher-cost homes built by small custom builders. Given the same available dollar for construction, the tradeoff is size for quality.

Assuming market forces determine lending limits, the average price of homes in the move up segment will likely remain much lower than previously experienced. At the peak the move up segment ranged easily into the $1M plus range. Those who grew accustom to the quality of higher priced homes will not likely abandon their affinity for hardwood floors, commercial-grade appliances, custom cabinets and granite tops. To match those features with a lower total budget, consumers will need to build smaller, high quality homes. The skill set to build these homes lies with the custom builder.

If Americans are truly interested reducing dependence on foreign energy and increasing sustainability in the housing market, we will need to decide to build smaller homes to offset the higher cost of quality construction. While it is possible that tract builders may chose to build smaller, their main advantage currently is delivering large size for a low price. Their organizations are not set up to deal with the custom aspects that would make their housing sustainable or more energy efficient. Through builder association programs custom builders have become much more educated in energy efficient, sustainable building to go along with their inherent quality.

The question now is whether the government will continue to incent consumers to continue a behavior pattern contrary to free market forces. If all new construction continues in the low end of the market, it will drive many of the remaining custom builders from the market. Already the number of builders belonging to professional organizations like the National Association of Home Builders has been drastically reduced. Most small custom builders are surviving only through remodel work, but if the market continues much longer many will likely move to other work. Rebuilding the knowledge base and expertise may take years and impact the overall quality negatively for year to come.

Getting in on Green Real Estate

If you need to sell your home but are having difficulty interesting buyers, there is an alternative available. The green real estate market has skyrocketed in the past five years, thanks to new interest in sustainable living and the passing of eco-friendly legislature. Here are some tips for transforming your home from dull listing clutter to green real estate commodity.

Invest in Making Green Real Estate

If you are truly committed turning your home into a green paradise, and thus make it more marketable, you may have to make a large investment. Map out the types of changes you want to accomplish, such as adding solar panels and water efficiency kits. Determine how much each project would cost, whether you can do it yourself or have to hire someone to do it for you, and how long the project will take.

With all of this in mind, research the kinds of houses that have made these adjustments and how much they have sold for. Contact a selling agent to ask questions. Get a home appraisal prior to these green projects, and also ask them their opinion on how much your home would be worth after the projects were completed.

Small Ways to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly

If you simply cannot afford the investment, or you don’t think the investment will yield greater returns, there are small things you can do to make your home more marketable as green real estate.

Check your home’s energy efficiency. Replace any insulation that may be allowing heat to escape. Check doors and windows for cracks in panes, sealant fails, or even holes. These small repairs will all save big on heating and air conditioning costs.

Replace your regular light bulbs with energy efficient CFL, or compact florescent lights. Also, install new showerheads and faucets, replacing them with low-flow technology. This will save water. Installing an insulating jacket around your water heater saves money and energy.

Plant a Tree

One of the simplest and best ways to make your home green is to actually surround it with green! Planting a tree outside will produce shade in the summer, and can reduce cooling costs by up to twenty-five percent. Trees and shrubs can also block strong winds from your home, which prevent them from coming in through compromised windows or leaks in your doors. This can save on your heating costs by up to twenty percent.

In the summer time, your home will be more attractive to potential green buyers if it is surrounded by plants and flowers. You can purchase cheap flowers ready for planting from a local greenhouse. Ask the greenhouse attendant for how to plant and care for the flowers if you are not sure.

It is also easy to make your home appear greener during the winter time. Keep plants and flowers indoors. Be sure to water them as needed, and consult online manuals for how to care for particularly tricky plants. As soon as a potential buyer walks in and sees that your house is a great place to have plants, the chances are that they will be more interested.

Promoting your house as a piece of green real estate can make it much more marketable. Decide whether you can make big investments like solar panels or replacing appliances with energy efficient ones. If not, there are many small things you can do to make your home more eco-friendly and attract those green buyers.