Futuristic Home Heating and Cooling Technology – Nest Thermostat

According to the EPA, using a programmable thermostat can save homeowners and residents 5% - 15% a year on your heating and cooling bill.  They recommend setting your thermostat at 68°F when you are awake and at home, and programming a 10° to 15° setback for at least 8 hours.  The same strategy would apply for cooling your home in the summer, by keeping the thermostat at 78° when you are home and awake, and using a warmer setting while at work or asleep.

Sounds easy, right?  In a series of surveys done by researchers at University of California, it was discovered that 90% of programmable thermostats are rarely or never programmed.  Photographs of participants’ thermostats that were collected revealed that 50% of the respondents had set their thermostats on “long term hold” and 20% of the units displayed the wrong time.  Since many programmable thermostats don’t seem to be user-friendly, even homeowners who have the opportunity to save on energy bills are not using technology to their advantage.

Startup company Nest Labs wants to change that with their newly unveiled Nest thermostat, which can actually program itself. Users can adjust the thermostat manually as they normally do, and within one week the Nest unit will learn the patterns and program itself to raise and lower temperatures automatically.  It can even recognize that the house is empty during vacation times and go into energy saving mode.  Of course, the Nest can be programmed by the user as well, and if you practice good energy saving habits, Nest will pick up on them.

This year may be the time to take energy savings seriously and get a little help from a smart thermostat.

Retractable Screens - Convenience and Beauty

Arizona sun is a force to be reckoned with – not only does it cause glare, but it can raise energy costs and fade carpets and furnishings.  A great solution for homeowners, especially those who don’t want to sacrifice views, is retractable shades.  They can block up to 98% of solar heat rays, cut energy costs by up to 30% and provide glare-free shade that can be controlled with the touch of a button.  Retractable shades come in a variety of fabric and trim colors to match your home, and are custom-fitted.

There are a variety of retractable shade options for homeowners to choose from.  Interior or exterior clutch shades are easily lowered and raised manually with a chain pull system.  Heavy duty manual shades use a crank operation.  Motorized shades come with a choice of motors, all designed to provide quiet and smooth operation.  The motors can be hardwired and operated from wall switches for the ultimate in convenience.  Some models also come with remote controls and wireless wall switch options.

If you’re a homeowner looking to shade your home or patio in style while lowering energy costs and carbon footprint, consider retractable screens or shades.  You’ll be able to keep the house light and bright in winter, enjoy unrestricted views, and provide protection for your home.

Bathroom Painting - What You Need to Know

Painting a bathroom is a little different from painting other rooms in your home.  Bathrooms are subject to moisture, as well as residue on the walls from soap and products like deodorant, hair spray or perfumes.  Because of the high levels of moisture, specially formulated bathroom paint should be used, but before you get to applying the paint, it’s important to clean the walls to remove any residues that would prevent the paint from adhering properly.

You’ll want to remove switch plates, towel bars, toilet paper holder and spring-fitted shower curtain rod.  It will be easier to paint behind the toilet if you also remove the tank cover.  Next, use a good quality, paintable caulk for bathrooms.  Look for places that could use fresh caulk around the tub or shower enclosure, where the countertop and vanity cabinet meet the wall, and along baseboards.

Darker colors can be intense in bathrooms, since they are generally smaller rooms.  Also, you’ll need to allow darker colors longer to cure, because steam and moisture can cause darker colors to run in spots and create an uneven look.  Look for a durable paint with a satin or gloss finish that can be wiped down and is recommended for bathrooms.

Home Office Tips from Gale Steves

The New Year may bring changes in career or the option of telecommuting, since more and more of us are working from home these days.  Or, if you are already working from home, you may want to reorganize and improve your home office space.  Gale Steves offers the following things to think about as you plan your new space.

You’ll want to give consideration to storage space – Do you need to keep files locked away? Do you need to be able to leave active projects out in the open?  Does your office space do double duty as family or guest room space when not in use?  If you are a neat person you may do fine with using your office space for other functions; otherwise, you may need a space where you can close the door behind you.

Steves suggests that if you are self employed you will need to create space for creativity and have a fashionable office with light and noise control.  If your home office is more of a family communications center for catching up on work, bills or email, it can be more centrally located and not a dedicated space.
The former editor-in-chief of Home magazine, Steves specializes in making homes more livable through her concept of Right-Sizing, which helps make the most of smaller spaces.

What is the NFRC?

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) was formed in 1989 as an independent agency that rates fenestration energy performance.  So what exactly is fenestration?  NFRC defines it as “products that fill openings in a building envelope, including windows, doors, skylights and curtain walls designed to permit the passage of air, light, vehicles or people.”  The agency allows consumers to compare the performance of various products accurately and evaluate their effectiveness for a particular project.

The NFRC has developed a uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, etc.  This allows architects and builders, along with homeowners, to easily compare products and decide which is best for their project.  Through NFRC ratings, building and government officials can determine if products meet building codes. 

Over 500 manufacturers participate in the NFRC rating program, which gives them a consistent and accurate way to show the energy benefits of over 1.67 million products, as well as giving consumers a way to compare products fairly.  So, the next time you are considering using energy efficient fenestration, take a look at the NFRC rating on the products, or visit the NFRC website for a wealth of information.

Hot Water Recirculation Pumps Save Water and Time

Did you know that just waiting for hot water to reach your tap results in gallons of wasted water each day?  In the 60 seconds it takes for hot water to actually come out of the faucet, unused water in the supply line is evacuated and wasted.  In order to save water and save time is a hot water recirculation pump. 

New homes can be constructed with a dedicated return line that is installed between the water heater and the end of the hot water supply line, and a pump that pushes heated water through the supply line from the heater and back through the return line.  Existing homes can be retrofitted with a circulation pump that allows the cold water supply line to act as the return line. 

Water is circulated back into the hot water storage so that it’s always ready when you turn on the tap.  A pump keeps hot water in your supply line, while a valve at the tap creates a by-pass for recirculation.  A timer can be installed to provide increased efficiency during low water use periods of the day or night. With this simple retrofit, you’ll enjoy instant hot water throughout your home while eliminating wasted water on a daily basis.

Take a Look at Your Landscape Needs Now

In today’s housing market selling your home may not be an option, so it might be a great time to take stock of your property and make some improvements that will pay off in the future.  Winter is a great time to evaluate your landscape and plan for anything from some refreshed plantings to masonry, rock installation, a new water feature or an improved irrigation system.  Not only will an improved landscape add value to your property, it is something you and your family can enjoy every day.

Landscape design and installation professionals are accustomed to working with homeowners who may not know exactly what they want –providing creative ideas for your outdoor space based on their own knowledge and experience.  On the other hand, you can spend some time this winter familiarizing yourself with the various types of plants, shrubs and trees that thrive in our desert environment.  Browse through magazines and tear out pictures of backyard landscapes and features that appeal to you.  Now that the weather is gorgeous, get out and walk the neighborhood to look at plantings or visit the Desert Botanical Garden or one of the teaching gardens in the area.  Even if everything you like is not feasible for your space, a good landscape designer should be able to incorporate some key elements into your new design.  You may even come up with your own design to discuss with a landscaper who can add their professional input.  Take a look at your landscape now to enjoy a beautiful yard this spring.