Going Green – Product Reviews!
Summary: In warm weather or in the deep freeze, these three products can save you money year-round. What $50 investment can you make that can possibly pay you back in one month? Investigate a programmable thermostat! Next, it’s hard to save money on energy costs if you don’t know what appliances cost to run.
Lastly, an effective tool to visualize heat loss (or gain) in your home.
#1 Programable Thermostats
Nothing is flying off the shelves at Home Depot and Lowes this month like thermostats. Not many more home improvements can pay you back the first month that you install it and promise even greater return over the winter (or summer) months.
A programmable thermostat can save you money on your utility bill – up to 30%, if used as directed. You set it up to adjust the desired temperature when you are away from home or asleep – when you don’t necessarily need optimum comfort – and your heater or air conditioner equipment runs less.
Plus, your heating or cooling comes back to a comfort level automatically when you come home or wake up. Many of these units carry the EPA’s EnergyStar? rating and are designed to be very easy to use.
Editor’s Comments: Any medium to large home center store will have two or three models. Lowes and Home Depot have the best selection. The more features it has the more you will spend. If you have a regular household routine, a 5 day/2 day model may work. The 7 day models provide you the most flexibility, the most savings and the highest price, about $79. We have used Hunter Products and they work very well.
ENERGY STAR INFO: How To Select, Install and Understand Thermostats
#2 Black & Decker Power Monitor
Description:
Black & Decker’s Power Monitor is the instant and easy way to help control your energy consumption.
This easy-to-use device tells you – in real time – the amount of electricity you’re using, as you use it!
The Power Monitor consists of two parts – a wireless transmitter that easily attaches to your electric meter, and a wireless hand held device that uses data from your electric meter to display information about your energy consumption.
Using information about your electric rates, you can track minute-by-minute changes in electric consumption as major appliances are turned on and off. Take control of electric bills and save up to 20% a month!*
Who has it… reviews etc…..See results from a Google Search HERE
# 3 Black & Decker Heat Detector
| Description: |
Black & Decker’s Thermal Leak Detector helps reduce energy costs by finding energy leaks in your home. You’ll instantly identify problem areas around drafty windows and doors, and uncover hidden leaks and insulation “soft spots” around electrical outlets, recessed lights, and along floor molding.Shine the light on the wall and set the reference temperature. Reference temperature shows surface deviation from reference temp. Move the light around your house. When the temp changes by 1, 5 or 10 degrees F (user adjustable), the light will change to red or blue to indicate a hot or cold spot. Energy Star states that plugging the leaks and drafts in your home can save up to 20% off your heating and cooling energy costs. |
