Energy Reduction, Energy Efficiency, Saving Energy... these are all terms that go hand in hand towards reducing energy costs, reducing our carbon footprint, creating affordable green living and moving towards Net Zero Energy.

Behavioral Changes for Energy Use Reduction

Beginning to live a more sustainable lifestyle can be as simple as turning off lights when they are not in use. This is one of the easiest, no cost solutions to eliminate unnecessary energy usage. We think of energy reduction as a marathon; each time a light that is not in use is turned off,  you are taking one more step to reduce home energy use. Each one of us decides how long our marathon is dependent on our time and budget. Every step is important, and every step helps towards a far larger goal. We have found that getting started with that first step is the hardest part. Once one sees results, it becomes much easier to continue down the path. Behavioral Changes (like turning off lights), can be done by anyone anywhere. This makes them the most accessible option for most people who do not have the extra money to invest in new products. Creating new habits can be challenging, so don't worry if you forget to turn off the lights one day! Use it as motivation to remember tomorrow and gradually it will be part of your routine.Try some of these other changes in your home or business to start saving energy.

Energy Use Reduction Products

Another way to reduce energy consumption is to purchase products which help you toward the goal of reducing household energy use and the cost it incurs. Simple and affordable meters can help you discover where you are using electricity and make better-informed choices about future purchases. Also, relatively inexpensive home modifications, such as attic radiant barrier and whole house fans, can significantly increase energy efficiency, keeping down costs and helping control pollution.

Energy Usage Meters

Using meters to measure how much electricity is used helps us make better informed decisions about the energy we consume and pay for. Identifying opportunities to make simple changes in life can result in significant energy savings. Better choices on larger measures, such as appliance purchases should also be considered. Whether choosing a simple plug in voltage meter to measure one load at a time or installing a whole house meter to track all of your electricity usage, meters can quickly pay for themselves by helping you buy less energy.

Radiant Barrier Foil

Installing radiant barrier foil is a great way to lower the summer air conditioning bill by reducing the amount of heat that enters the house through the attic. As a home sits in the sun, it continues to absorb heat through the roof and transfers that heat into the attic. The resulting heat can significantly contribute to the overall “thermal gain” of your home. While you cannot change the temperatures outside of a home; improvements to the attic can reduce the heat gain in the home. Radiant barrier foil reflects heat away, preventing it from coming in through the roof, saving energy and money by reducing the need to run your air conditioning.

During the winter, it will also help to prevent heat loss by insulating the roof from cold air.

• 99% pure aluminum foil with woven polyethylene scrim.
• Double-Sided, no top or bottom. Both sides are the SAME.
• Perforated to allow moisture vapor to pass through and eliminate any moisture build-up/condensation.
• 5 millimeters thick.

Whole House Fans

Whole house fans are powerful fans that draw fresh air in through open windows throughout the entire house while exhausting warm, stale air out attic vents. Depending on the local climate, whole house attic fans can dramatically reduce or eliminate the need for air conditioning while greatly enhancing the comfort of a home. A whole house fan can reduce home cooling costs by as much as 90%, potentially making it one of the most significant energy-saving opportunities for your home. And modern whole house fans are relatively easy to install and run quietly and reliably.