home maintenance

Summer Energy Efficient Windows – Part 5

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Image via Wikipedia Summer Energy Efficient Windows – Part 5 There’s a huge learning curve to energy efficient window expertise. Not that one requires “expertise” in window manufacturing to purchase the best windows. However, you do need a certain knowledge base in order to get the right window for your particular needs. You can’t just [...]

Summer Energy Efficient Windows – Part3

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Summer Energy Efficient Windows – Part3 In the final months or my energy conservation mode, I’m beginning to gear up for the next step – Energy Efficiency. My study now revolves around windows for summer energy efficiency. Today’s window performance rating element is visible transmittance (VT). Visible transmittance tells you the amount of light a [...]

Summer Energy Efficient Windows – Part 2

Friday, June 5th, 2009

Summer Energy Efficient Windows – Part 2 I love windows. They allow light into an otherwise dark spaces. They provide restful views of the green outdoors when work requires you to be indoors. They allow clean air to circulate and freshen up your living spaces. On the other hand, windows usher summer heat inside to [...]

Weather Stripping Repaired

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Image by ihorner via Flickr Weather Stripping Repaired A couple weeks ago I posted  about our worn out weather stripping around our front door. http://simplehomesolarenergy.com/home-energy-use/weather-stripping-wears-out/ . On closer investigation, we found that our front door had a flat jamb, the vertical piece of the doors frame. Attaching more weather stripping was awkward having nothing to [...]

Home Freezer Maintenance for Energy Efficiency

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Home Freezer Maintenance for Energy Efficiency While we’re on the topic of home maintenance, take a look at your freezer. My upright freezer is ancient according to energy efficiency years. Purchased back in the energy efficiency dark ages, this freezer would not pass EnergyStar requirements by any stretch of my imagination. It isn’t even frost-free [...]

Spring Home Maintenance of Your Air Conditioner

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Don’t Forget Spring Maintenance for Your Air Conditioning System As I recently discovered, the best energy conservation strategies wear out. Spring is a good time to do a good home maintenance check-up, no matter what kind of energy your home uses. Here in south Texas we are enjoying a short season I call “free weather.”  [...]