It’s important to remember your current location and the design and layout of your home. This plays a major role on the style and selection of energy-efficient windows you select for your home.

A family living in the northern region will need different windows than a family living in the southern region. The environment and climate conditions are entirely different, and windows will need to serve each purpose.

The windows you select should be purchased by the design of your home. The direction and size of the windows are more important than one would think.

In hot or heat dominated regions, windows facing south should be heavily glazed. This is done to make efficient use of solar heat during the cold and bitter winter months. The windows should also possess a solar heat gain co-efficient of more than .6 but a U-factor of less than .35 to assure heat transfer is reduced during the hot and humid summer months.

Those who live in cooling dominated regions should focus on the north-facing windows. It is a good idea to have the windows facing the south shaded by trees, bushes and porches to minimize the sunlight and heat. Tinted or reflective windows are not suggested for these climates. It has been suggested they reduce the SHGC and allow more heat in during the spring and summer months.

In the regions where temperature fluctuates higher, wooden frames should be avoided. This has been suggested because the materials have been known to expand and contract. Wood laminate window frames are a better option and maintain the same aesthetic appeal.

If you live in heat-dominated regions, glass-filled windows are the best choice. They provide better insulation and considerably reduce the U-factor. Tinted glass is popular and a good choice. The only downside to tinted glass is it can cause indoor plants to die due to the lack of sunlight.

Glaze glass is another good choice. They have multiple panes of glass. Such types of glass are recommended for cooler climate regions. However, the cost of double-pane or triple-pane windows is much higher than single-pain windows, but they last indefinitely and dramatically reduce cooling costs in the hot summer months.

Before making any quick decisions you should consider the variety of glass before buying energy efficient windows. This is what will determine the amount of energy you conserve. Whatever your choice may be, remember to always take into consideration the available options and select one that best fits your needs.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/36-windows-doors/140-tips-for-purchasing-energyefficient-windows.htm

However, forfeiting some renovation projects and important repairs might not be the smartest choice. That outdated HVAC system, the old windows, and cold basement might be costing you big bucks. The next rainstorm may flood your basement. In other words, the money you’re trying to save in repairs might be being spent instead in utility bills or depleted in bigger repairs later on due to the lack of proper preventive measures.
Even in tough times, there are some improvements that actually pay off, lowering your energy consumption, preserving or increasing the property value, and giving you much-needed peace of mind.
Below is a list of the five of the most cost-effective home improvements and the best investments you can ever make in your home.

Basement Finishing
Finishing your basement will do more that just add living space to your home. It will actually pay you back and eventually, even prove itself profitable! To sweeten the deal, it can be done at half the cost of building an addition.

Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report lists basement finishing as one of the few investments in which you will be recovering most of your money right away in added property value. You can recover an average of 75% of the cost if you sell the property immediately.

However, the most significant benefit of a finished basement is the ability to improve the home’s energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that an average 1,500 square-foot home that has a finished basement with R-10 insulation, and is heated by natural gas (at $0.72/therm) can save anywhere between $200 to $400 a year.

Add to that the fact that, even considering ups and downs in the housing market, the U.S. Census Bureau shows home prices tend to increase in average 251.69% every 20 years interval. Therefore, in 20 years, the added value to your property will not only fully cover the remodeling costs; it will prove profitable!

Crawl Space Encapsulation
That moldy, filthy, rotten crawl space is more than just unsightly and unpleasant. It’s a black hole in which not only your money disappears, but also your home’s value, structural integrity, indoor air quality, and your family’s health.

Because of the way the air moves inside buildings, everything that goes on in the crawl space has significant impact on how structurally sound, comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient your home is.

As the air in the house is heated, it rises and escapes through any openings in the upper floors. To replenish the air supply, new air is sucked from the lower levels, mainly from your basement or crawl space. That is called the “stack-effect” and because of it, everything that is in that filthy crawl space air, including mold spores and dust mites, is consistently entering your home.

It is estimated that 1/3 of the air you breathe inside the home is crawl space air. In addition, the typical crawl space moisture that is also being carried in with the air makes your home harder to cool and heat. During the winter, cold air is also sucked in through the floor. If air ducts run through the crawl space, energy losses can amount to as high as 50% – half of the money you pay in to heat and cool your home is literally wasted.

Crawl space encapsulation is a relatively inexpensive new technology that can control moisture and prevent moisture-related problems in this space. It protects your floor joists and wooden structures from mold and rot, and keep dust mites and other moisture loving pests at bay. Furthermore, according to studies conducted by Advanced Energy and Habitat for Humanity, sealing and conditioning a crawl space can make your home an average of 18% more energy efficient.

Battery Operated Backup Sump Pump
Say that you have a very good drainage system and a quality sump pump, which is well maintained and in great condition. Nevertheless, one morning, after a big storm, you wake up to a flooded basement and thousand of dollars in damaged property. The storm knocked down the power, and with it, the sump pump was rendered useless.

There is no way to fully protect your basement from flooding without a backup sump pump system, preferably one that does not run on electricity or depend on a generator.
During a long-lasting power outage, you will want the generator to spend its energy keeping your refrigerator, appliances and lights running.

A battery-operated backup sump pump is, in that case, your best option. If you have a finished basement, or you store anything of value in your basement, a battery-operated backup pump is a must. It saves you a lot of money and lets you sleep better, knowing that your basement is protected.

Replacement Windows
Replacing your old, obsolete windows with new Energy Star rated windows can help save a lot of money in energy bills.
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders, installing energy-efficient replacement windows can reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 30 percent! New double-hung, wood-clad windows with double-pane low-E glass, can reduce drastically your heating and cooling costs, besides improving significantly the looks of your home and adding value to the property.

HVAC Upgrades
Replacing obsolete furnaces, which usually operate at only 60 percent efficiency or worse for a new, high-efficiency two-stage unit, that rates at least 90% efficiency, can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Likewise, replacing your old A/C system with a new unit that achieves a minimum of 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) can save you big bucks in cooling costs during summer. In addition, most new models use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants, making them more environmentally-friendly than older units.

In addition to all the benefits, some of these improvements, such as basement insulation and HVAC upgrades, may qualify for loans, grants and tax incentives under different local, state, and federal government energy efficiency programs.

In conclusion, a good assessment of your home’s overall condition is fundamental in times like these. You can’t afford to let your property, which is probably your most valuable asset, lose value. Sometimes, the best way to save money is to invest in technologies and repairs that will keep you from wasting it.

Paint
Paint is a simple and inexpensive product that can go a long way.  Are the bathroom or kitchen cabinets too expensive to replace?  Sand and paint them.  Is the floor etched and dull?  Most flooring material can be painted.  With all the colors on the market, you can get creative, even on a tight budget.  Consider stencil patterns.  Maybe you want a ski or fir tree pattern in a lodge-like living room, or a comforting foliage design in a country kitchen.  The possibilities are endless in a child’s room—rainbows, baseballs, clouds, dolls and animals.  If you are artistically inclined, paint a mural on the wall.  Before painting anything, however, make sure the paint you have purchased is compatible with the intended surface.

Fabric
Instead of buying new furniture, invest in a slipcover for that aging sofa.  Cover-ups are similar to paint in that they’re an inexpensive and quick way to an entirely new look.  Are the wood kitchen chairs nicked and stained?  Cover them with handsome, durable fabric.  Does your bed need an extra something?  Go with new throw pillows with a fun pattern.  Curtains add charm, and there are all kinds available that are very inexpensive.  It’s amazing what a difference some new fabric can make in a room.

Mirrors
Budget-friendly wall mirrors can be purchased to really open up a space.  Think about a pattern of small mirrors for a geometric affect.  Or frame a single mirror for a “mock window.”  Place a mirror behind a collection of stones or a houseplant.  Mirrors add light and seem to give a room greater size and dimension.

Light
It’s stunning what replacing a lampshade or lighting fixture can do for a room.  Fabulously original fixtures are often available at discount stores.  Funky, simple, or chic, lighting matters perhaps more than anything else, yet often its importance is often overlooked.  After all, the lighting is what will illuminate your vision.

When redecorating on a budget, stick to your priorities but always leave room for spontaneous buys.  Little purchases can become large style accents in your space.  Interior design is an art in itself—one that doesn’t have to cost you a ton of money to make a bold, new statement.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/12-designer-decorators/89-interior-design-on-a-budget.htm

Energy Efficient Homes

Can you imagine a house that is able to warm itself without the need of a furnace or any separated heat contraption?  Paying less for your monthly electricity than you pay for a pizza?

The creators of German Passive Houses Project go beyond imagining it. They actually made it a reality and proved it is indeed  possible to have a home that is so energy efficient that you need no separate heating system to keep the house warm and there is no loss of comfort.

The Passive House is the world’s leading standard in energy efficient construction: Energy saved on heating is 80% compared to conventional standards of new buildings. The energy requirement for heating is lower than 10 to 20 kWh/(m²a) (depending on climate), adding up to a low cost of 10 to 25 € ($15 to $36 USD) per month.

For you to have an idea on how energy efficient those houses are, keep in mind that the average home in ths U.S. spends 40 kWh a day. Almost twice of what a passive house spends in a month!

According to the website, such efficiency is achieved through a combination of the following:

• Proper insulation methods
• Design without thermal bridges
• Air tightness
• Ventilation with heat recovery
• Proper comfort windows
• Innovative Heating Technology

This technology can be easily applied in new construction as well as existing buildings.

The next step? The Self-Sufficient Solar House, conceived by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy in Freiburg, Germany.

The wrong contractor, a bad weather spell, an unclear contract clause or last minute changes can all can contribute to turn a dream project into a  homeowner’s worst nightmare.

As more homeowners prepare to tackle home improvement projects this year, Consumer Reports, which recently conducted a poll on Home Remodeling, points to the 5 most common mistakes homeowners make when dealing with contractors and conducting the project:

1. Don’t rush in. Make sure you carefully plan the whole project, and are 100% sure that you will be satisfied with the final result. Making changes to the project “on-the-fly” is the costliest mistake homeowners make. It can add in average of $1,500 to kitchen projects and $650 to bath remodels.
2. Prepare for the unexpected. As the work begins some new problems might be uncovered. When walls are stripped, things like water damage, mold or pest infestation may surface.  Good contractors are able to anticipate some of the problems and allow the homeowner to adjust the budget. Consumer Reports reveals that water damage was an issue with 17 percent of bathroom remodels, and structural problems delayed 10 percent of kitchen projects.
3. Don’t chase the lowballs. What seems to be cheap initially may end up costing more. To compete in a tight market contractors lower their profit margin, but will make up their costs in labor or other areas. According to the Consumer Report poll, readers who went for the lowball spent in average $1,500 extra on their kitchens and $1,000 extra on their bathrooms. Make sure the contract specifies amounts for products and materials before you sign. Avoid signing contracts with too many  “allowances”.
4. Get the paperwork in order. Have the contractor attach copies of his up-to-date license, insurance and workers’ compensation policies to the written contract. He also should get permits and provide a lien waiver when the job is done; this will keep suppliers from contacting the homeowner for unpaid bills.
5. Focus on the boring bits. The tedious details no one wants to think about are the ones that will usually make a difference between a successful remodeling experience and a tragic one. Things like the proper placement of outlets for appliances and electronics,  task lighting, the proper fan for a bathroom, or even determining a place for the garbage can are usually overlooked in projects but will prove to be fundamental later on. Changes made after the remodeling job is concluded are usually a costly hassle.

Sources:

• Shop Smart: Top five remodeling headaches.
• http://www.consumerreports.org/

This Bob Vila article explains the ins and outs of tree landscaping. They write that carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling. The U.S. Department of Energy also reported that the proper placement of just three trees will save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually! A well-planned landscape can reduce an unshaded home’s summer air-conditioning costs by 15% to 50%.  Trees help during the winter, too, by acting as windbreaks to protect your house from bitter, low-wind chill breezes.

This is also great for the environment.  Bob Vila writes, “Trees and vegetation control erosion, protect water supplies, provide food, create habitat for wildlife, and clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.”

Planting trees is a relatively affordable and easy way to gain long-term protection of your house.  Not only do trees provide privacy, but they can save you some money on your energy bills!

Painting is a quick and budget-friendly home improvement

Painting is a good way to spruce up a room without breaking your budget or taking up too much time. When it comes to painting, there’s nearly an endless array of types, colors, styles and techniques to use. There are paint types that work best for certain rooms in your home, and a professional painting contractor can help you figure out what options will work best for you.

Specialists will be able to tell you exactly which types of paint and painting techniques are right for your bathroom, bedroom, living room, kitchen or any other room in the house. Professionals know that rooms like bathrooms or kitchens typically get moisture buildup, so a mildew-resistant satin or semigloss paint is the best choice and makes walls easy to clean.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Painters can take care of the steps needed to prepare walls for painting. They can take on large or small, interior and exterior paint jobs, as well as helping you with color selection and using environmentally friendly coatings.

They also know certain painting techniques to add some style and sophistication to your walls. Whether you’d like to have a brightly colored accent wall in your living room or a checkerboard print in your kitchen, there’s a paint color or technique you help you do it.  Get creative!

Saving money

The Baltimore Sun’s Home and Garden session this week brings us a nice article, listing some easy (and fairly inexpensive) home improvements that will help you save a lot of money in utilities, cut energy use, and make the house more energy efficient.

Cut energy use, make your home efficient with easy steps — baltimoresun.com.

There is, however, a single great improvement the article fails to mention: crawl space encapsulation.

For homes with dirt or concrete crawl spaces, this process is proven to make the whole house on average 18% more energy efficient and improve indoor air quality by protecing the crawl space against moisture and related problems such as mold, rot, dust mites and structural decay.

Like New
One thrifty home remodeling technique is to reuse and recycle materials. Reuse old fabric and material from clothing or blankets to make pillows or lamp shades. You can also take old furniture and redecorate it to make it more modern or to match the current theme or color scheme of your room. You can paint a new finish onto a wood chair, or reupholster an old sofa with new material to make it seem like it was just brought home from the store.

Keep it Simple
For even easier affordable decorating, iVillage has a number of speedy tips that anyone can do. First, if you’re tired with how a room looks, rearrange the furniture! Simply altering the room’s appearance can make it feel almost new. iVillage also recommends adding some paint, some plants (real or fake will do), and even new lamps to brighten up the room. Want to soften a room or add a burst of color and texture? Add an area rug in the center of the room under a coffee table or dining table.

Don’t Waste your Money
Once you’ve finished your home decorating, don’t let all that time and money go to waste due to a poor environment in your home. Air rises through your house, so the condition of your basement can affect your whole home. Moldy, musty air and dampness can wreck havoc on furniture and other parts of your home.

Article originally published here: http://www.totalbasementfinishing.com/basement-finishing/basement-finishing-ideas/articles/affordable-decorating%3A-ideas-for-your-basement-to-your-bedroom

Begin at Home
Money saving tips can be utilized all over your home. The Simple Dollar has a number of great tips to help you stick to your budget. Want to save money on weekends? Invite friends over rather than going out all the time. For the amount of money it would cost to get food and drinks at a restaurant or bar, you could serve a group of friends at your home for much less!

Do you collect something? If your collection has become something that is more out of habit than something that brings you joy, a good money saving tip might be to ease up on it. Maybe put this hobby on hold temporarily until your financial situation has more wiggle room, or even just limit yourself to how much you collect. However, the Simple Dollar warns against cutting out things that you feel strongly about and have a lot of meaning to you, as you’ll have a greater chance of relapsing.

Change Shopping Habits
Oftentimes, a trip to the mall can be viewed as a form of entertainment. However, if every time you leave the mall you’re carrying several shopping bags, it may be time to find some other way to pass the time.

There are few greater temptations then walking through a shopping mall with plastic in your wallet. To keep yourself from spending more than you should, Simple Dollar recommends leaving the credit cards at home and only bringing enough cash as you’ll need. When you’re going shopping, make a list and stick to it. You’ll be less likely to splurge on other items that way. Also, if you’re questioning whether you should make a purchase, use the 30-day rule. Typically, the urge to buy something passes after 30 days.

Article originally published here: http://www.totalbasementfinishing.com/basement-finishing/basement-finishing-ideas/articles/money-saving-tips%3A-make-the-most-of-what%27s-in-your-home