The new R-Plus Insulation from Terminix is like the kid in high school who did everything well. As most plodded along pulling B's and girls' braids, this Renaissance Man hit home runs for the baseball team, played drums for the popular high school rock band and wrote brilliant plays in rhyming iambic pentameter. So does Terminix's new insulation relegate all others to the realm of mediocrity. What, your insulation only keeps out the cold? Boooooring.
Here's a bulleted list of what R-Plus has going for it:
- Saves the environment. R-Plus is made from 87% recycled materials, like old newspapers.
- Kills termites. The insulation is bonded in a patented process with boric acid, which controls pests like termites, cockroaches, ants and silverfish.
- Qualifies for Federal Tax Credit. You could save up to $1500 by purchasing R-Plus.
- Saves up to 20% in heating and cooling costs. R-Plus is Energy Star-rated. Ever heard of it?
It's quite a resume. Sadly, R-Plus could not be reached for comment. It was volunteering at the local soup kitchen before heading off to a Chemistry study group.
Would you consider R-Plus for your insulation needs? How about for Homecoming King?
Most window blinds are used to keep the sun -- and heat -- out of the home. These SolarChoice blinds do the exact opposite -- they increase the heat in the home. The "Heaters", as they are called, are winter window treatments that purportedly reduce heating costs up to 35%. How does it work? Each plastic vane has a hollow channel running its length. Cold air enters the channel at the bottom of the blind, warms up through passive solar heating, and exits out the top of the vane -- at temperatures as high as 140 degrees.
The website has a video to teach homeowners how to install the product, as well as measuring guides for ordering. Installation looks pretty straight-forward: Drill a few holes, fasten a few clips, hang the header and blinds, and presto! Thousands of BTU's of heat are exhaled into the room with zero emissions, zero operating cost and zero maintenance needs.
As if that wasn't enough to pique your interest, the Heaters qualify for Federal Solar Energy tax incentives.
The design isn't fancy -- a brushed aluminum-style finish faces the interior of the room -- and you'll probably want to be removing them during the warmer summer months, which is a slight bother. Oh, and the blinds aren't cheap -- one 6'x8' treatment sells for close to $1500. That certainly had me whipping the calculator out to determine how quickly the Heaters would pay for themselves, given a 35% savings in heating cost.
Here's one last consideration: there's really no point in having them installed on windows that don't see the sun, so your home decor may suffer from a slight imbalance, at least as window treatments are concerned. If you can get beyond that, I'd say the Heaters are worth taking a look at.
Would you consider the SolarChoice Heaters for your home this winter?
When dealing with a carbon footprint as large as the Big Apple's, replacing residential conventional heating oil with biofuel to reduce the city's emissions seems like bailing out the Titanic with a Dixie Cup.
Still, that's what Brooklyn-based Boro Fuel is doing, by introducing BioGreen™, an alternative heating fuel for residences. Available on the market November 1, BioGreen™ is a blend of traditional heating oil and 10% soybean oil. With only traces of sulfur, the green fuel's emissions are reduced; BioGreen™ also lubricates the home's heating system parts, which may reduce the number of service needs even as it adds to the heating system's lifespan. According to Boro Fuel's new website, BioGreenNY.com, the alternative fuel costs the same as traditional heating oil, and New Yorkers will actually earn a 10 cent tax credit for every gallon purchased through 2011. Even better: Your home's heating system doesn't need any alterations to run on the stuff.
It sounds like Brooklyn residents don't have a reason not to try it. Personally, I think every little bit helps. And last time I checked, Brooklyn had a population of about 2.5 million. That's a lot of Dixie Cups...
Do you know the difference between "geothermal energy" and a "ground source heat pump"? All I know is they both run into the ground. But as this article from Green Building Elements explains how together they can more efficiently heat and cool your home at a dramatically reduced price.
Simply stated, a geothermal energy system uses heat from below the surface of the Earth as an energy source (think: tapping into a geyser or a volcano for power).
A "ground source heat pump," also known as a "geoexchange system," uses the ground's stable year-round temperature to more efficiently heat or cool your home. How it does this is best explained by this video. Interested? Do a search on this site to find qualified geoexchange contractors in your area.
No doubt, the folks over at the Department of Energy have red faces right now. A recent audit found the government agency advising Americans on conserving energy, has wasted $11.5 million by not using programmable thermostats in their buildings.
"They've actually invested taxpayer money to be more efficient, and then failed to use it," said Lane Burt of The National Resources Defense Council. "It’s like a double penalty. But the good news is that because many of the systems are installed and ready, the savings can begin immediately."
Programmable thermostats are a great way to save money by turning down the heat when people are not in buildings. You can read more about installing your own here.
It is the season for air conditioners! With that in mind, RepairClinic.com has released a list of maintenance tips for keeping your air conditioner in good working order. The list includes the recommendation to clean the filter once a month and to check the cooling coils for frost or ice build up if the outside temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Give it read to make sure you keep cool this summer, whenever it arrives here in the northeast.
Is there a link between air conditioning and asthma? This report in the April 2009 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives suggests there might be. Over a thirty year period, the number of homes with air conditioning went from 15 percent in 1972 to over 60 percent in 2002. Over the same period the nation has witnessed a doubling of the number of asthma cases, from 3.4 percent to 7.8 percent. The authors concede they cannot tell if air conditioning directly causes asthma or if other factors, such as the more indoor-based, sedentary lifestyle that may go along with it, are to blame. But they do assert that reduced fresh air infiltration and increased exposure to airborne particulate matter (dust, etc.) may negatively impact indoor air quality. For tips on how to counteract this, read our article "Is Your Home's Air Safe" and this one on cleaning air ducts.
