ORANGE, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 9, 2012) - The green movement is here. At a time when homeowners everywhere are trying to find ways to conserve energy and save money, the average Canadian home consumes 29-30,000 kWh or 106 gigajoules per year, according to Statistics Canada. To put this in perspective, using a 60-watt light bulb for 1 thousand hours only consumes 60-kilowatt hours of electricity. It would take over 28 months of continuous light bulb use to match the average Canadian home's electricity usage. Canada is pushing for more energy efficient homes, are you doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint?
Refrigeration -- Refrigerators are a huge energy consumer in the home. Some energy saving tips to remember:
An energy efficient refrigerator can save your family over $100 per year on the utility bill and if you combine an efficient new refrigerator with these tips you can save even more!
Washers and Dryers -- Clothing washers and dryers can take a toll on your household utility bill. To save yourself some money, upgrade to an energy efficient mode and use these tips:
An energy efficient washer can save your family up to $135 per year when combined with these tips.
Home electronics -- This category often goes overlooked as a source of energy consumption by many homeowners. Many think that by switching some of their household products to "off," like a light switch, the item is no longer using energy. This is a common misconception. Devices like a Playstation 3 or Blu-Ray player can still use power when the device is turned off.
Upgrading your TV to an ENERGY STAR qualified television and following these simple steps can help you conserve over 40% less energy.
Water Heating -- Water heating is one of the largest energy consumers in the home because it is necessary for numerous household activities. If you are in the market for a new water heater, you may be able to substantially reduce your energy consumption through water conservation.
Dishwashing -- Models that use less water also use less energy because 60% of the energy used by a dishwasher goes towards heating the water.
Window Coverings -- Energy efficient window treatments are one easy way to conserve energy and reduce your utility bills. To be effective, window treatments must trap air between the shade or blind and the window glass. Window treatments are often overlooked during energy conservation conversations because they rarely consume any energy at all (motorized coverings being the exception). The correct combination of window coverings, like Budget Blinds' Cellular Shades can drastically reduce the amount of heat lost during the cold winter months and can keep your home cooler during the hot summer months. With so many different options to choose from in terms of types of coverings, you can have your window coverings just the way you like. Pleated window blinds and cellular shades are just two of the many options in types of coverings, but you can also choose material, color, texture, and style. Some factors that contribute to energy gained and lost through window treatments:
A home with an average square footage of 1800 can expect to save at least $33 per year when it uses window coverings with double cell construction.
There are many different ways to outfit your home into a well-oiled, energy-efficient machine. From your refrigerator to your water heater and everything in between, your energy consumption is up to you. When you decide that it's time to save money on your utility bills and do the planet a favor, give your local Budget Blinds a call. Windows can be the greatest source of energy waste in your home because heat always moves from warm to cold areas. In winter, warm air from inside your home tries to escape through windows. In summer, the sun heats your home through your windows, straining air conditioners. No matter what the season, you pay for this extra use of energy to heat and cool your home. A white winter in Canada is one of the many beautiful seasons in North America but the cold weather doesn't have to strain your energy bill, help your home and help your wallet by adding window coverings to help insulate your home's heat.
Budget Blinds, a Home Franchise Concepts, Inc.™ brand, is a custom window coverings franchise that offers convenient shop-at-home service for window coverings and home décor accessories.
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Budget Blinds® is the #1 Window Coverings Franchise in North America offering convenient shop-at-home service for custom blinds, shades, shutters, drapes and smart home automation solutions.