Waterproof flickering flames without fire. No electrical wires to run. No maintenance. Just stick them in the ground and enjoy the ambiance. Sounds great, right? But do the TomCare Solar Torch Lights really live up to their claims? I purchased a set of four of these for our front yard flower bed and have been …
Efficiency
When I built my current house, I decided to splurge on some smart home devices. I have continously added to my arsenal and am extremely pleased with it’s capabilities. If you are wondering what a smart home can do, then you have come to the right place. I’m going to walk you through the entire …
I receive a lot of questions on air-sealing a home. I’m no expert but I have certainly done my research and invested a lot of sweat equity in rehabbing old houses and building new ones. My insight doesn’t come from a degree in engineering. It comes from countless hours of research and hands-on experience. I’ve …
When building my new home I researched options for making the structure as energy efficient as possible. At the same time, I needed to work within a budget. I considered foam insulation but it wasn’t the right choice for me at the time. I decided to focus on air sealing, blown in insulation, and some …
I had heard about phantom energy, also called vampire energy, for some time but I never really knew if it was a real thing. And even if it was, did it really matter? I mean, how much energy could I really be losing from devices that aren’t even turned on? If you have wondered the …
At this very moment, energy is being lost in your home. Money is literally seeping out through inefficiencies in your home’s thermal envelope and being lost from inefficiency practices and home routines. If you are wanting to learn how energy is wasted and what you can do to stop it, here’s what you need to …
There was a time when a device’s energy consumption was easy to understand and estimate. When you turned a device off, it was truly “off” and no power was drawn until it was turned on again. Today, however, we live in a world of always-on electronics. Even when “turned off” these always-on devices continue to …
I frequently notice standing water in my garage when I pull in during a rainstorm that will sit for a couple of days. The garage also suffers from condensation on the floor at times. I have been wondering if I need to install a dehumidifier in my garage to prevent mold and structural damage. If …
I am in the process of installing radiant barrier foil in my attic and was on the roof getting surface temps for a before and after study. My feet knocked some granules loose and when they fell to the ground my son asked why these granules are on the roofing shingles. That got me to …
Gas bills in an apartment can be very frustrating because you have no control over many of the factors that impact your bill. You can’t, for example, just go out and buy a more efficient water heater or furnace. And you probably can’t shop around for a more competitive gas provider. At the same time, …