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The school cook, professional chef in a five star restaurant, and the large scale caterer understand the importance of water in a kitchen. Water use in a commercial setting accumulates much faster than residential kitchen water use. Water use also effects energy use, as energy is required for water heating. Installing a low flow commercial kitchen sprayer is a simple, cost effective way to decrease the amount of water used as well as the amount of energy necessary for water heating.
 Flow Control Valve Tasks such as washing the dishes and rinsing fruits and vegetables do not require as much water as is typically used. A flow control valve can be used to complete such tasks. The Food Service Technology Center (FSTC) suggests a commercial kitchen sprayer with a flow rate of 1.6 gallons per minute (GPM). This flow rate allows you to reduce the amount of water necessary to complete kitchen tasks.
Water savings, energy savings, and pocket savings result from replacing a high pressure spray valve with a low pressure water control valve. The amount of water saved every day in a kitchen that uses a spray valve for at least 3 hours a day is 180 gallons. This amounts to 1.5 therms/day of savings with gas water heaters. The reduction in water and energy use easily translates to as much as $1,050 of savings every year. Food service institutions can benefit greatly from replacing their current spray rinse valves with a more water-friendly commercial kitchen sprayer. The flow control valve pays for itself many times over with the water and energy savings you quickly accumulate.
How long do you keep the bathroom fan on after taking a shower? If it is on for less than 20 minutes, mold can build up over time, aggravating respiratory problems such as asthma, and creating a displeasing odor. Consider how many times you leave the fan on for more than 20 minutes. While it is important to properly ventilate this area, it is also important to save energy wherever possible. Whether you require a bathroom timer in a home, school, office, or hotel, the fan light switch allows you to do both.
 Fan Light Switch Installing a light and fan switch for the bathroom is as simple as connecting the bathroom light and the exhaust fan to the switch. When flipped on, the switch activates the light and exhaust fan. When flipped to the “timed” position, the light will cut off while the fan remains on. This light fan switch can be adjusted to run the fan for as long as 60 minutes.
Not all bathroom fan timers are made the same. For example, the EFI light fan switch has two positions: on and timed fan, while the MarkTime light fan switch offers three positions: on, timed fan, and off. Flipping the timer to the off position will cut off both the fan and the light. However different they may be, a fan light switch is manufactured for use in a variety of applications, such as with lights, exhaust fans, and heat lamps.
Operating the bathroom exhaust fan allows the room to be clear of moisture, which can cause problems over time. The problem many people run into is that the fan does not run long enough, it runs too long, or the exhaust fan switch is connected to the light switch, cutting both off or keeping both on. A fan light switch which connects to the light switch allows you to properly ventilate the bathroom without wasting energy.
When you consider saving energy, how often do you also factor in the connection between energy consumption and water consumption? If you have never thought about this, then perhaps you were also unaware that 90 percent of the energy consumed by the washing machine goes towards heating water. With a number like this, it is not difficult to see how electric water heaters account for approximately one quarter of the electric bills. A water heater cover, such as the one manufactured by Frost King, is a quick solution to this energy consuming problem.
 Water Heater Cover Water heaters are typically stored in poorly insulated rooms such as garages and basements, or may feel warm upon inspection. In these circumstances, heat is escaping from it. This causes the heating element to turn on occasionally to reheat water even when hot water is not being used, expending more energy. Using a water heater insulation jacket to cover the tank adds a layer of insulation, reducing the standby losses by as much as 45%. Look over the water heater for warnings of the use of a water heater cover, and what measures to take if one can be used.
A water heater insulation jacket is affordable, and can cut the cost of heating by 4-9%. The insulated sleeve pictured above is to be used with water heaters with capabilities of as much as 60 gallons. The R-Value of the Frost King Water Heater Cover is 10.0, and is produced using fiberglass insulation. A hot water heater cover can cut heat loss by as much as 25%, cutting your energy bill in the process as well.
 LintAlert Dryer Indoor Alarm In the United States, of the 95% of single family residences with a clothes washer, 92% of them also have a clothes dryer. As a result, dryer vent problems are a cause of concern for many homeowners. Unless cleaned regularly, the clothes dryer lint trap can become clogged with lint. Installing an indoor alarm, such as the LintAlert Dryer Safety Alarm, allows you to curb dryer vent problems by alerting you when it needs cleaning. Regular clothes dryer duct cleaning allows the dryer to work more efficiently and be much safer to use.
Certain dryer problems can be avoided by cleaning the vent when necessary, but how can you be sure when is necessary? The LintAlert indoor alarm for the dryer has a built-in digital pressure sensor to detect whether or not the dryer is on as well as existing levels of pressure. When the dryer lint trap is unobstructed, a steady blue light will be displayed. The LED lights light up in a slow progression based on the amount of pressure in the clothes dryer lint trap. When that last light is activated, the LED light bar will begin flashing as well as the LintAlert logo, and the alarm will sound with a buzzer beeping.
 Clothes Dryer Lint Trap If clothes dryer duct cleaning is not executed regularly, the dryer can overheat, causing it to take longer than normal to dry clothes. When the dryer takes a longer time to operate, energy is wasted, also resulting in money wasted. A full dryer lint trap also increases the likelihood of experiencing a dryer-related fire. From 2002-2004 the United States Fire Administration reported that clothes dryer machines were part of approximately 15,600 U.S. building fires, 400 injuries, 15 deaths, and property damages totaling $99 million. Install the indoor alarm to protect your home and family while saving energy and money at the same time.
In most homes, attic doors are not constructed to properly insulate the attic, and only deteriorate with age. As a result, a tremendous loss of cool air is experienced during the summer, and heat loss in the attic occurs during winter. In addition to upsetting the balance of the home’s temperature, poor insulation results in more money spent on energy for heating and cooling. Previously we discussed insulating the attic with spray foam insulation kits; however, if that is not an option, consider insulating your attic with an attic insulation cover.
 Attic Tent Perhaps you have already installed fiberglass for attic insulation. Check to see if the fiberglass is dirty. If it is, that tells you it is simply filtering the air as it comes through, not sealing the attic door. The attic insulation cover, which is also referred to as an attic tent, creates an air-tight barrier between your attic and general living space to reduce the amount of air filtering out of the attic. In addition, having an attic door tent raises the air quality in a home, being that the flow of dust and other allergens is also greatly reduced. The attic tent has been proven to decrease the amount of air filtration by at least 71%.
An attic door tent is an easily installed, cost effective tool for insulating the attic. Measure your attic door to choose which attic tent would be the best fit. Once you have the tent, staple the attic door tent to the surface. Then apply a small amount of silicone caulk around the seam to create the airtight seal, and you’re finished! The attic insulation cover will cost approximately $146-$232, depending on the size of the door. While the exact amount of money saved depends largely on your climate, the attic insulation cover should not only have paid for itself by year’s end, but save you at least $145 in energy costs every year after.
Have you noticed during summer the temperatures in the attic and basement areas are hot enough to barbeque in (sans grill!)? Each room in the house should be inviting, but during extreme weather months entering these areas seems more like self-inflicted torture. If you are profusely shaking your head in agreement, may I suggest that now is the time to consider proper insulation? Spray foam insulation kits seal your home from this unwanted air, and with the acquired savings in heating and cooling costs; the kit pays for itself within a year.
 Spray Foam Insulation Kits Weighing in at 120 lbs. and allowing for a tax credit of up to 30% is what we like to call the spray foam insulation kit. Spray foam insulation kits are essentially two tanks of chemicals which expand up to 30 times when applied to walls and floors, which then work to close up tricky air leaks in a home. You may not realize it, but over the course of 5 years these leaks can cost up to $3,400 (Somewhere out there is an endless list of much better ways to spend that money). The spray polyurethane foam kit continues to save you money long after it has paid for itself, as you will no longer need to tamper with the heating and cooling system in your home.
When choosing to insulate a home, tackle the attic and basement areas first. Once you have used a spray foam kitto seal the largest sources of air leaks, the energy spent (and money needed to provide that energy) will noticeably decrease. As if this wasn’t good enough, the spray polyurethane foam kit also prevents molding and helps keep bugs out. The time has come for you to conquer your fear of that blazing hot room. If you feel yourself faltering, just consider how happy your wallet will be once this task is done.
When we turn on the news often we are greeted with images of the immense damage that has been done to our planet. Among the many crises we now face, lack of water conservation is one that has been garnering more and more attention. Here in the United States the amount of water used in the bathroom is more than the amount of water a person in an underdeveloped country has at their disposal for an entire day. Installing the components of a water saving kit in your home will allow you to save water and money at the same time.
 Water Saving Kit A water saving kit includes items to help you start saving water in the kitchen and bathroom. The eco showerhead uses 1.75gpm (gallons per minute), is a great improvement to the standard 2.5gpm showerhead most homes have. The shower timer included can be secured to the bathroom wall, allowing you to watch, and limit, the amount of time spent in the shower. These changes in the shower alone can save a family of four as much as 11,000 gallons of water per year.
Ideal for saving water in homes with older toilets is the toilet tank bank. Fill this displacement bag with water, shut the valve to avoid eventual evaporation, and hang the bag inside the tank of the toilet with the hook that comes on the bag to reduce the water in your tank by approximately 0.8 gallons. The water saving kit also comes with a dual flush converter, which is compatible with most toilets that have at least a 1.6 gallon tank. The dual flush converter provides you with liquid/solid options, and flushes accordingly.
The average kitchen or bathroom faucet aerator uses 2.2 gallons of water per minute. This is almost the amount of water used by the average showerhead. By replacing the faucet aerator with the 1.0gpm aerators you can save approximately 54% more water. This 54% decrease in water usage at the faucet will of course save you money on the water bill. Water saving kits are a great investment, as the items will pay for themselves within a matter of months, but continue to save you water (and money) throughout the entire year.
When weatherizing the home, homeowners often consider sealing outlets, wall switches, windows, and doors. However, an area that is often left out of consideration when weatherizing is the chimney. Many homes have a chimney damper that is made of metal. Over time these can warp and break, allowing heat to get away, and drafts and odors to enter. Installing a chimney balloon is an efficient way to stop the drafts from entering through the chimney during the summer, and heat from escaping the home during the winter. This simple measure allows you to save energy as well as money on heating and cooling bills.
 Chimney Balloon A chimney balloon, also referred to as a chimney pillow, stops debris as well as prevents airflow and odors from coming in through the chimney. It is made from 3-ply poly membrane, and is flexible enough to close up open crevices in the flue while being able to resist the harsh setting it is in. A Chimney pillow is created to react to heat, so they it not interfere if you decide to use the fireplace. In fact, they will safely deflate in a matter of seconds, providing the opportunity for gases and smoke to leave the chimney.
Chimney balloons come in different sizes, so it is important that you measure the depth and length of the area for installation. It is best to choose a chimney damper that is at most 6” larger than each of the measurements you took. This chimney plug is installed by being held into place while inflated. Opening the tap on the chimney balloon will allow you to deflate it. This should be done before starting the next fire in the fireplace. The chimney pillow is flexible, able to sustain the chimney environment, and reusable, making it a very handy weatherization tool.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 95% of single family homes contain a clothes washer, 92% have a clothes dryer, and 74% have a personal computer. Among these people, how many of them do you think know the amount of energy each appliance is using? Do you know how much energy your appliances use, and how much each one is costing you? A power analyzer, also referred to as a power meter, is a tool designed to monitor appliances and provide reports on their energy usage as well as costs.
 Watts Up Pro Power Meter The Watts Up Pro Power Meter is an electricity monitor, watt meter, and power analyzer. Using this device is as simple as plugging it in, plugging an appliance into it, and turning the appliance on. It comes with a USB cable to be hooked up to your computer for analyzing after collecting data. This power meter will work for all electrical appliances that use a lot of energy, such as a microwave, wall air conditioner, or refrigerator.
For an appliance as costly as a refrigerator you may worry that you don’t need a more energy efficient model or that getting one would take too long to “pay for itself.” The power meter also has a payback calculator. This estimates the amount of time it will take for a more energy-efficient model to essentially pay you back, helping you then decide the best move to make regarding that appliance. You may be shocked to discover how much energy you’re using as well as how much you could be saving. A power analyzer is a wonderful tool to help you start saving energy and cutting costs.
 Often people go into a store or online and purchase a showerhead only to realize it is not exactly the best fit for them. Here we have compiled for you a list of customer reviews to assist you in your search for the best showerhead for your home. These customers have given detailed explanations as to how one of the following was the best showerhead for them, and hopefully this will help you decide which is the best showerhead for you.
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