Did you know that one of the main reasons for your inflated electricity bills is the hidden waste of energy in your home? Wasted energy amounts to throwing your hard-earned money down the drain. Fortunately, you can easily save money by making some smart choices and implementing energy efficiency methods at home.

Many people now understand that improvements in energy conservation can yield substantial savings for home and business owners. The best course of action is typically an energy audit with a blower door test to see where the most cost effective improvements can be made. Improvements, such as sealing and insulation, can even be performed by the homeowner under the direction of an energy efficiency professional.

When thinking about the U.S. military the words green, eco friendly, and sustainability rarely come to mind. However, the Department of Defense has been on a mission for many years to create a greener military. The variety of strategies are quite surprising as well as the scale at which the strategies are being implemented. This begs the question … why?

Many types of specialized heat reflective paints are on the market today. These coatings are very popular in hot climates like the southwestern U.S. as well as Australia, Dubai and China. When properly applied, these coatings can reduce the amount of heat that penetrates the building. By reducing the amount of heat that enters the building, the load on the air conditioner is reduced thereby increasing the energy efficiency of a building. So here's an overview of the basics behind this technology.

Why oh why does the air conditioner always quit on the hottest day of the summer? It just so happens to be the most common time because that’s when an air conditioner is working the hardest. It’s due to the heat that is created by the unit added to the heat of the day which equals a great amount of stress for an air conditioner. And good luck finding an air conditioning technician during the summer. If one is available, getting a good deal is unlikely.

The sun gives life to this planet and, if properly harnessed, it can provide plenty of energy and light. Unfortunately, using sunshine effectively is not as simple as just letting the sun shine. In the winter, we want more when there is less and in the summer we want less when there is more. It seems that these two goals are constantly reversed. Natural sunlight and solar heat gain used to be one of the most underused methods of heating a home, but that is changing.

Many forces are at work against and within a building. Some include wind, stack effect, duct leakage and even exhaust fans. These forces cause changes that create positive and negative pressures inside and outside of a building. An air boundary, or air barrier, is used to control airflow and control the loss of conditioned air. Conditioned air is air that has been heated or cooled by a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system and is used for temperature control of a living space.

Due to the continuing rise in electricity costs, energy reduction and consumption have become a top concern for homeowners today. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) showed that 49% of homeowners and businesses were considering installing solar panels now as a way of taking control of their energy costs. While most basic solar electric (PV) systems are good, homeowners and businesses can now consider more complete solar solutions. A new innovation in solar technology permits a solar system to generate not only electricity, but also heating, cooling and fresh air ventilation.

Many people think the only way to boost wall insulation in an existing building is with an invasive procedure. It requires drilling holes between the wall studs and fire breaks and then filling the voids with insulation. These holes are patched and painted but often leaving traces of rework behind. Another approach is available from the vinyl siding industry that can work independently or in conjunction with upgraded wall insulation.

Many homes and office buildings are built to take advantage of a view. Naturally these structures offer multiple windows to enjoy it. These windows permit brilliant natural light to shine in which adds life to the space. The real issue arises from the low insulation value of windows and is multiplied by the solar heat gain. Therefore many of the new windows have incorporated Low-E coatings to help deal with the heat gained through them.