Trying to save energy? The government is trying to help. Since the late 70’s Canada and other countries have implemented EnerGuide labels that are required to go on products, vehicles, and appliances that meet or exceed minimum standards of energy efficiency.

The article below describes these labels and how to understand them. The most important fact from the article is that if you see the EnerGuide or Energy Star label the item that you are using meets or exceeds the minimum standards of energy efficiency. Read the whole article below. (more…)

We are having one of those weeks, the chinook has hit, the snow is melting and we can finally go outside without a fear of severe frostbite. But like every Canadian, especially Calgarians, we know that this is short lived and winter is going to be coming back soon. What can we do to prepare our homes for a few more months of winter?

There are five easy and cost effective ways to lower your heating costs this winter outlined below. These steps are straightforward and not hard to do, steps like properly sealing your windows and doors can reduce your energy loss by up to 40 percent. Other steps such as properly sealing your heating ducts can also have a postive impact on your heating costs this winter. To read the article explaining all five tips, click here, or continue reading.

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Are you taking all of the steps you can to reduce your environmental impact? Are you learning new ways to change your lifestyle to become greener? One of the biggest energy wasters is your home itself.

How much energy is your home wasting? Have you ever taken the time to do any energy efficiency test on your home?

One of the recommendations for checking the energy efficiency of your home is to conduct an energy audit or an insulation check, this is an easy way to determine your homes weak spots. Most homes aren’t constructed using a full panelized system which eliminates these drafts or leaks, so there are likely a lot of areas for potential energy loss. The article below explains different types of testing you can conduct in your home to determine its energy efficiency. (more…)

Would you consider yourself, your business or your child as being dedicated to improving energy efficiency? Taking steps to improve the energy efficiency in your home or selling a product or service to increase energy efficiency may have more rewards than you realized.

The Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards are “recognizing Canadian businesses, innovators, and students dedicated to improving energy efficiency in the home.” The program offers three major awards of $10,000, $15,000 and $50,000. They include a business leadership award, an innovation award, and a student leadership award.

This is yet another reason for all of us to think twice about our environmental actions. We should always consider what products we purchase, what actions we take and what actions we should be taking, as well as the products we use in our home. To learn more about the awards available from this organization, click here.

Looking to save money this winter? How about saving the environment while you’re at it? Reducing your energy usage may be easier than you think. Many of your daily habits can be slightly altered to reduce the amount of energy you use. Some small habits you might not normally think twice about, such as running the dishwasher with a half a load, are wasting energy, causing you to lose money. It’s not difficult to reduce your energy usage, you just have to be aware of what you are doing and ask yourself how it could be done more efficiently. For example, next time you are drying clothes, dry two or three loads in a row, this maximizes the use of the heat generated.

Some more quick tips mentioned in the article “10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill This Winter” include cleaning your furnace filter every two months, only running the dishwasher when it’s full, cleaning the condenser coil on your refrigerator, and installing low flow shower heads.

Simple acts like these are easy to do and don’t take much time. In the long run you will save not only money but also the environment.

(Article Source: Green Living. Lee Schnaiberg)

Christmas is filled with hustle, bustle and holiday cheer, it’s also filled with tons of energy usage. Extra baking, Christmas lights, and electronic gifts all contribute to a huge increase in energy usage during the holidays. There are ways to be festive (and a good host) while being environmentally friendly. To start, next time you leave the house think about what electronics you have on and what you have plugged in or on “stand-by” mode. These all waste energy!

We all love Christmas lights, on the tree, outside, and throughout the house, so we can definitely cut energy usage here by using LED Christmas lights. These use 90% less energy than standard Christmas lights and look just as festive. This small action done by a community will make a significant impact on energy use.

So now the LED lights are glowing, appliances are unplugged and you’re heading to a party, what part can the party host play in energy savings? Christmas parties involve lots of people in one place, this results in heat being generated, which means that the thermostat can go down a few degrees without anybody feeling cold. Yet another effortless step to reduce energy usage!

It’s clear that the steps you can take this holiday season to reduce energy usage aren’t difficult so get started now, try reading the article below and the 14 tips suggested to make your holiday season energy efficient. (more…)

Day after day you hear new ideas and tips on how to save energy and how to reduce your environmental footprint and minimize your home utility bill. There are literally hundreds of ideas floating around on how this can be done; while some are legitimate ideas others are misconceptions that simply haven’t been corrected.

Chances are you have come home after a day at work and ran to the thermostat, cranked it up to 75 and expected it to heat up quickly. Unfortunately this is one of those common misconceptions. No matter what the set temperature is on the thermostat, the furnace will heat the house at a consistent rate. So, setting the thermostat higher not only fails to heat your home up faster but also wastes energy because it will continue heating to try and reach the high temperature you set initially.

Surprised? Don’t be. Many everyday practices to “save” energy don’t work the way you think they do. Need another example? How about having a wood burning fire to warm it up? This article explains that more cold air is sucked in than the fire can possibly distribute into the home. More of the common misconceptions are in the article below. (more…)

If you’re a homeowner or a homebuyer and want to replace your home’s existing exterior windows, consider energy efficiency as a very important factor, because it is. Not only do energy efficient windows conserve a tremendous amount of energy, but they help a homeowner save money and last much longer than other window types.

Upgrading windows in a home is one way to improve comfort and energy efficiency and, to help further add value. Below is a list of six new technologies that are now made available in the replacement window market, and all homeowners should consider.

(Article Source proudgreenhome.com)

1. Low-emissivity (low-E) glass keeps heat inside a home in the winter and out of the home in the summer. This is due to the thin metallic coating that reflects heat back to its source. The low-E coating blocks UV rays but allows 95 percent of the natural light to enter, further reducing energy costs.

2. Homeowners can choose special glass that creates privacy, such as frosted or bubble glass. Glass blocks, which capture light but limit visibility, are ideal for ground-level bathrooms.

3. Casements and awning units that feature fold-down handles provide enough room for blinds, shades and window treatments. These eliminate the need for window cracks that interfere with treatments.

4. Homeowners can choose suspended-particle device technology that can be added to existing windows or a new window replacement. These have a dimmer switch on tinted glass panes that regulate light coming into the house.

5. Professionally applied coatings can cut glare, save on energy costs and block harmful UV rays that cause flooring, fabric and windows to fade.

6. Dual-action coatings can be added to existing and new window pane replacements to keep windows cleaner. This coating breaks down organic matter that collects on the glass to admit more light.

How much life can our planet sustain? This is a question that scientists and environmentalists have struggled with for years, until recently. WWF International, a global environmental research organization, conducted a “Living Planet 2010” report, which measured the health of almost 8,000 populations of more than 2,500 species. According to the report, the human race’s consumption of natural resources is faster than what the planet can handle, especially in Canada.

At Planet Panels consuming less energy while practicing and promoting resource management theories is a constant focus in building and sustaining for a better tomorrow. The following article examines the “Living Planet 2010” report, highlighting the negative consumption patterns citizens have acquired, and the damages the environment has had to undertake due to the lack of economic consciousness.

Article Source (Post Media) – OTTAWA — Humans are consuming natural resources faster than the planet can keep up, led in part by Canadians who have the seventh largest ecological footprint in the world, says a report released on Wednesday. (more…)

According to Thomas Green, senior researcher in the Policy and Research Division of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, if your home faces the south, you could be saving with passive solar design, accounting for up to 40 per cent of a home’s heating needs.

Having a number of windows on the south side of a home, and with the right amount of overhead from the roof, it lets the low-angled winter sunlight in to warm the interior. The following article examines some greenhouse principles, and how they can be applied to homes that are built to optimize the sun’s rays.

Article Source (Cottage Country) -  SOUTH MUSKOKA – We all know how warm the inside of our car can get on a sunny day, even in winter. The same greenhouse principles can be applied to our homes and if built to optimize the sun’s rays, can account for up to 40 per cent of a home’s heating needs, said Thomas Green, senior researcher in the Policy and Research Division of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Green heads up CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing demonstration initiative, which challenged builders to design and construct low environmental impact, net-zero energy houses to demonstrate to industry and consumers that it is possible. Passive solar design, which uses south-facing windows, an energy-efficient building envelope and thermal mass such as ceramic flooring to best capture the heat from the sun, is key to achieving the net-zero goal.

“It’s so critical,” said Green. “For EQuilibrium, we told people the kind of performance they had to achieve. We did not tell builders and developers how to do their business. Every one of them did passive solar design because it was a no-brainer.” (more…)