STRATEGIES FOR ENERGY EFFCIENCY

WINDOWS

The U.S. Department of Energy says that qualified (dual- or triple-paned) windows can save as much as 15% to 20% on energy bills. If your windows are old and leaky, it may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or boost their efficiency with weather stripping and storm windows. Silverio installs energy efficient new construction & replacement windows from companies such as Harvey Industry, Anderson & Pella.

INSULATION

Effective insulation slows the rate that heat flows out of the house in winter or into the house in summer, so less energy is required to heat or cool the house. If your house has no wall insulation, and it has more-or-less continuous wall cavities (such as conventional stud walls), blown-in insulation can greatly improve your comfort and save enough energy to be very cost-effective. If your attic is unfinished, it often pays to upgrade its insulation.

Your contractor’s expertise is more important than the insulation material you choose. Properly installed fiberglass, cellulose, and most foam insulation materials can all reduce the heat conduction of the completed wall system. The key is “properly installed”. Silverio Construction has the expertise and experience to do the job right.

CONSERVE ENERGY & SAVE MONEY

HEATING SYSTEMS:
If your furnace was installed before 1992 and has a standing pilot, it probably wastes 35% of the fuel it uses, and it is probably near the end of its service life.

FURNACES & CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING:
If your furnace was installed after 1991, it probably has an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 80%, so the savings from replacement is smaller, but would be at least 11% if the unit is working perfectly. Silverio can install central A/C, forced hot air or forced hot water systems from reputable dealers.

IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF YOUR HOT WATER SYSTEM:
First, turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). Second, insulate your hot water lines so they don’t cool off as quickly between uses. Third, use low-flow fixtures for showers and baths. While storage water heater standards were raised in 2001, it was probably not enough to justify throwing out an existing water heater that is working well.

REPLACE INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS WITH COMPACT FLUOESCENT LAMPS (CFLs):
CFLs can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. Most people don’t think about the fact that the electricity to run a light bulb costs much more than the bulb itself. One of the new CFLs costs about two or three dollars, but it lasts 10,000 hours and uses only about 27 watts to generate as much light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX INCENTIVES TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME:
While reduced from previous levels, federal tax incentives are still available for improvements that increase the energy efficiency of your home.