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  • Importance of Saving Electric Energy

    Currently the use of electricity is essential to carry out a large part of our activities, thanks to this type of energy we have a better quality of life.

    With just pressing buttons we get light, heat, cold, image or sound. Its use is essential and we hardly stop to think about its importance and the benefits of using it efficiently.

    Saving electrical energy is a fundamental element for the use of energy resources; saving is equivalent to reducing fuel consumption in the generation of electricity, also avoiding the emission of polluting gases into the atmosphere.

    Our country has a large number of energy sources. Most of the electricity generation is carried out through oil, coal and natural gas, significantly impacting the environment by relying on non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels. When using them, a large amount of greenhouse gases is emitted into the atmosphere, which cause global warming of the earth, whose effects are manifesting and are devastating.

    How to save energy from my workplace?

    Saving and using electricity efficiently as well as caring for the environment, are not synonymous with sacrificing or reducing our level of well-being or the degree of satisfaction of our daily needs, on the contrary, a change in habits and attitudes can favor a greater efficiency in the use of electricity, the rational use of energy resources, the protection of the family economy and the preservation of our natural environment.

    The Jalisco Ministry of Education presents tips that are easy to apply in schools and offices, which allow children to be trained in the education of saving electricity and modify bad habits in offices, reducing the environmental impact generated from our workplace.

    Below, you will find a list of tips that you can apply in your school or office.

    Turn off electrical equipment

    Establish as a rule that computers, printers, fans, water heater / cooler and even coffee makers are turned off and if possible disconnected at the end of the workday.

    Clean air conditioning filters frequently

    Permanently establish maintenance and cleaning program for electrical equipment for example, lamps and air conditioners.

    Turn off equipment when not in use

    Computers and other equipment (photocopiers, printers and lighting system) are usually on all day and even at night. Turn them off at the end of the workday.

    Turn off computer monitors

    You can save a lot of electrical energy by turning off the monitor it uses a high consumption of electricity.

    Take advantage of solar energy

    Allow the sun to filter into the offices by raising curtains and or blinds.

    Do not allow energy to be wasted through windows

    If the office has air conditioning make sure the windows are closed tightly.

    Turn off the lights

    Turn off lights whenever offices are unoccupied.

    Reminder to turn off equipment

    Posting reminders helps to acquire this important habit. Make new reminders every so often  to get the user’s attention again.

    Turn on only what is necessary

    If you work at night, illuminate only the areas you need and turn off equipment you are not using.

    Use technology that saves electricity

    A company should always choose a server with the highest energy efficiency available.

    Optimize apps

    Inefficient software, even software that generates little business value, will need to be refined  optimized or discontinued.

    Computer center maintenance

    Data center managers must improve the efficiency of their facilities to ensure that all equipment is operating optimally and reduce cooling requirements.

    Presence detectors

    Use presence sensors. They turn off the lamps automatically when no one is around.

    Power-on verification

    Asking the last people to leave the office to turn off the lights or give notice to turn off.

    Avoid electricity consumption in standby

    . Disconnect the load, removing the plug from the contact.

    . Use a manual switch or a multi-contact from which the supply current can be cut off.

    . Use a more sophisticated element, such as regulators, to completely turn off the equipment without DE configuring its functions.

  • 6 Green Living Trends to Expect in 2021 – Solar Home Guide

    As the planet’s wellbeing becomes progressively critical, you can see a growing sense of awareness and increasing attention to conservation. Efforts to any degree can be credited to the push for change by society, and are notably reflected not only in daily behaviors but also in government policies as well as business operations.

    In 2021, there is more responsibility on the individual than ever before to make strides toward a greener lifestyle. If you’re ready to take the initiative but you’re not sure where to start, learn about some of these green living trends that will shape the environment and the way we live in 2021.

     

    1. Remote work

    The pandemic has created an overwhelming demand for organizations to accommodate remote workforces. How is this sustainable, you may ask? Well, more people working from home means less commuting and less travel in general, resulting in fewer carbon emissions, less usage of fossil fuels, and less overall strain on our environment. With 71% of people working from home and 54% still planning on working remotely when the pandemic subsides, we can expect to observe these eco-improvements into 2021.

    1. Migrating to the suburbs

    Work-from-home standards also have people reconsidering where they live and the types of homes that they want to live in. Some are flocking from densely populated areas in hopes to avoid pandemic repercussions, while others don’t have enough space in their current homes. Most importantly, many now have the flexibility in their careers to migrate to more affordable locations and search for houses on the market that better suit their new, greener lifestyle.

    1. Sustainable cities

    As people sell their homes and consider moving to cities all across the country, sustainability will be a top consideration when deciding on where to buy a home and start their career. Large numbers of Millennials and Gen Z, who are known to be some of the biggest advocates for environmental change, will make up for a large portion of homebuyers in the next decade. This will in turn reinforce the importance of establishing sustainable cities in terms of business, infrastructure, transportation, and more.

    1. Eco-friendly design

    Heavier emphasis on sustainability is also evident inside homes and offices, as homeowners and business owners alike make better use of renewed and recycled materials. From taking advantage of secondhand furniture to utilizing energy-efficient tools like solar panels, there are plenty of eco-friendly systems that will impact interior design trends in 2021. It’s likely that we’ll see green features in how infrastructure is built as well — designers and builders will push to replace synthetic building materials with natural ones, such as vinyl flooring rather than linoleum.

    1. Zero-waste commitments

    With more people spending time at home, the more obvious the overwhelming amount of waste that we all produce becomes. Limiting the use of plastic, growing your own food, and composting are becoming more popular in reducing waste at home. Businesses, alongside households, have also made commitments to reduce their overall waste production with strategies such as reusable packaging, designing reusable products, and reducing the company’s overall emissions and carbon footprint.

    1. Smart home technology

    An increased desire for health and safety paired with more time inside the house will push more people toward incorporating smart technologies into their lifestyles and homes in 2021. Smart security systems will give families at home peace of mind, while smart thermostats and smart lighting control will keep tight control over the amount of energy a household is using. The opportunities for conserving energy and water are seemingly endless when it comes to smart technologies — smart utilities, blinds, entertainment systems, locks, can all be environmentally conscious solutions for reducing your personal carbon footprint.

    While federal and organizational environmental policies can be a groundbreaking step toward zero waste and zero emission, true sustainability begins inside the home. The everyday household can take the first steps by making changes to their habits — no matter how small or how large — by keeping up-to-date with current trends and being more conscious of their individual impact on the earth.

  • What Is The Standard Shower Head Height?

    What Is The Standard Shower Head Height?

    The question of standard shower head height for a home is one aspect that may seem minor when constructing or remodeling a home. However, this is very important considering you will have to shower daily or perhaps frequently. You also want your family and visiting friends to have a comfortable shower.

    Now that compromising with your shower head’s height will greatly impact your daily routine, what is the ideal height? According to industrial standards, 80 inches is the perfect height for the average person. This is because it accommodates people of different heights. Despite 80 inches being the standard shower head height, there will always be exceptional situations. With these exceptions, different showerhead types come in since the standard inches may not be comfortable for people taller than that or those significantly short.

    Types of Shower Heads

    Shower places are magical; besides cleaning up and rejuvenation, brilliant ideas have come up from such. A comfortable shower head will give you ample time to kickstart your day or relax after a long day at work. Therefore, chose a shower head type that will provide the best shower experience. Below are some types of shower heads you can choose from. But before you choose a shower head, consider your house’s heating system, water type, and pressure. Your budget and the size of your bathroom are also important.

    Rain Shower Heads

    This type of shower head mimics the rain. The water from such showers spread out in vast areas. Before you choose this type of shower, consider your bathroom’s size and water pressure in your establishment. You can opt to mount them on the wall or ceiling. During mounting or hanging them from the top, be cautious to ensure they hang precisely 80 inches from the floor. This shower head size ranges between 6 and 12 inches, which gives the luxurious rainfall feeling as you shower.

    Wall Mount

    It’s a common type of shower head because it’s cheap and has low maintenance costs. The spare parts are also easily available in case it fails to work. It is also among the most comfortable shower heads, even though once you fix it, it’s difficult to adjust the height.

    It has a maximum head size of 5 inches, and there are those with multifunction options. You can therefore change the water spray patterns using the available options.

    Handheld Heads

    Handheld shower heads provide flexibility in terms of use. This makes them easy to use for kids because they are still growing. They are also cheap and easy to install. When shopping for a handheld shower, a flexible hose with a minimum length of 60 inches is ideal. The hose length and flexibility enables use by people with different heights, including children.

    Pressure Shower Heads

    There are both low and high-pressure shower heads. Some models, however, have both functions, which allows you to change the pattern. Their initial costs, including installation, is high and the latter model is very expensive. Low-pressure shower heads give spa-like experiences in areas with water that has low pressure. This, however, doesn’t increase your monthly water bill like the high-pressure shower head types.

    Dual Shower Heads

    Dual shower heads are a combination of handheld and fixed rain shower heads. They offer two different experiences at the same time. This type of shower head caters to all the height requirements for different people. In conclusion, the standard shower head height of 80 inches is adjustable to ensure a user-friendly experience for different users. Different accessories such as the S-style, adjustable shower arms, among others, are useful in lowering and raising the height for convenient use.

  • 5 Signs Your Home Is Using Too Much Energy

    5 Signs Your Home Is Using Too Much Energy

    Have you ever experienced walking out to your mailbox, opening up your electricity bill and saying to yourself “OK, how did it get to be this high?” If so, you’re certainly not alone. Lots of people have times when they feel like they are doing all that they can to keep their energy costs down and yet, it only seems to go up in the process.

    That’s why we wanted to take out a moment to provide you with a few signs of how you can know if your home is using too much energy, contact Corporate Electric Company LLC to learn more about how to become energy efficient. If you pay attention to these five things, we’re pretty confident that by the time you get your next energy bill, you’ll start to see a noticeable difference—for the better.

    Your energy audit is telling you so. A simple thing that all homeowners should to do to see if they are wasting energy anywhere in their home is to have an energy audit conducted. Although you can hire a professional to come in a thoroughly inspect your home, there are also websites that will walk you through how to do it yourself. One site that we recommend is Energy.gov. (Just put “DIY energy audits” in the search field.)

    You leave your doors and windows open. If you’re someone who sometimes opens up your windows to let in a cool breeze but you forget to shut them when you turn your HVAC unit on, or you have a habit of talking to a neighbor while standing in your front or back doorway, you are wasting energy. Remember that air is going to go out of whatever crack, crevice or hole there is and so you want to make sure that you do whatever you can to keep them shut.

    You keep things plugged in (unnecessarily so). Did you know that there are some household items that drain a lot of your electricity simply by you keeping them plugged in when you’re not using them? Reportedly, plasma televisions waste around 1,400 kilowatts each year, game consoles waste about 230 kilowatts, and even DVD players can waste close to 78—all because they are plugged in when they’re not in use. It would a shame to spend money on something just because it’s connected to an outlet even when you don’t need it. Take the extra step and unplug it.

    You don’t have Energy Star appliances. The great thing about Energy Star appliances is that they’re designed to save energy by as much as 30-40 percent each year. So, if you don’t own an Energy Star refrigerator, dishwasher or a service technician just told you that you need to explore some R-22 replacement options for your air conditioner, you might want to consider swapping out what you currently have and getting an Energy star item instead.

    You don’t have a low-flow showerhead and toilet. Although most of this article addresses signs that you’re wasting electricity, water use within the home also requires energy. By adding a low-flow showerhead and toilet, you also can save about 30 percent in annual energy costs. You can get both things for around $250-300 and it’s well worth the investment, so consider putting in on your to-do list and getting them soon.

  • 5 Cities that are Mostly Run on Solar Power

    5 Cities that are Mostly Run on Solar Power

    Overview 

    Over the years people all over the world have had to deal with the hefty recurrent bills that come as a result of power consumption by means of electricity. This trend has from time to time puzzled the minds of many and as a result led to the discovery of solar powerful energy systems by engineers from various nations across the world. The following cities across the world have greatly reaped the benefits of this wonderful discovery.

    Freiburg City in Germany

    This world class city is one of the sunniest cities in Germany with more than 1800-hours of sunshine each year and a radiation intensity of 1117 kilowatts per square-meter annually. The city of Freiburg is not only renowned for its success in renewable energy, but for the citizen’s high standards of environmental awareness and strategic political interventions that have immensely contributed to the city’s economic development hence elevating it to become a solar capital as well. Solar panels in this city are evidently found almost on the roofs of all buildings from schools to private houses, City hall, churches and the list goes on. Major advantages that the city has benefitted from the use of solar energy involve economic growth and climate protection.

    The City of Lancaster in the US

    Lancaster city is ranked a fast growing solar city in California. The city has made drastic and fruitful developments in the conservation of energy; hence these developments have made it possible to significantly reduce the level of carbon emissions, pollution and the increasing budget constraints by means of renewable energy production.

    The city has gone a long way in benefiting by these solar energy installations as business people, homeowners, schools, and stadiums among others have significantly improved and remained much healthier. The companies and government too have had their fair share in these remarkable developments due to the installation of large scale commercial solar power systems that have not only enabled the them to meet their sustainability but also financial goals.

    San Diego

    San Diego a famous City for its magnificent coastline and sunny weather is ranked as the second largest solar city in the United States. The city of San Diego is known for its push in renewable energy initiatives. The city makes one of the sunniest cities in the United States leading the way to solar energy. San Diego has a rank for having 107-megawatts of solar energy installed. This has gone a long way in earning it a solar energy capital title. Businesses, private homes, companies and schools have been on the list of beneficiaries of this great and clean energy.

    Los Angeles

    The city has a name for its clean streets, wonderful landscaping and it magnificent structures all over. The city has the largest school districts installed with clean power solar systems totaling to about 4.5MW across 17 school sites. The installation of solar energy systems in the City of Los Angeles has kept it ahead of things creating showing great improvements from to the private sector, government and many other institutions. School districts in Los Angeles have seen installations of solar shade structures that offset between 25% to 100% electricity usage in the schools. Los Angeles is the leading solar energy producer in the United States.

    New York City

    New York City, diverse and famous for its mega buildings and skyscrapers. People who live in New York and those who come as tourists cannot afford not to love Big Apple all the way to Niagara Falls. New York has it all and even more, solar power systems have made the New Yorkers have another reason for a radiant smile. New York City having gone solar made it possible to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and save lots of money which can be put to better use. Homeowners, business community, schools and buildings across the wonderful City of New York know what it means to have clean solar energy. It saves not just your electricity bills but gives the people a clean environment.

    Summary

    Cities that run on solar energy reap a lot from it and save a lot thereby creating good avenues for economic growth and healthy living for its people.

  • 5 ways to save energy to make you money

    5 ways to save energy to make you money

    People these days are suffering from the latest round of gas and electricity price increases, especially at the outset of winter. In these difficult economic times, wages and salaries are nowhere near keeping up with fuel rises and more and more people are entering what is known as ‘fuel poverty’.

    However, there are a few inexpensive things you can do to reduce those horrendously expensive fuel bills. The following are 5 ways to save energy to make you money.

    1. Tools and gadgets to help save money
    • Plug in thermostat – if your heating system is not thermostatically controlled, you will continue to use fuel after the desired heat is reached. A plug in thermostat can be used to set the temperature and will switch off once this is attained.
    • Electric blanket – these can be used to warm beds in cold bedrooms. Once in bed and warm, you can choose to switch it off or keep it running in ‘sleep’ mode.
    • Radiator shelves – a shelf above a radiator bounces the heat forward into the room rather than going upwards like most hot air.
    • A radiator key – used to ‘bleed’ radiators. Bleeding releases gases which cause the top of the radiator to be cold and allows the radiator to heat up properly, increasing energy efficiency.
    • Radiator reflector panels – these can be made of aluminium foil stretched over a piece of cardboard or can be bought already made.
    • Sealant – this can be used to fill in small gaps and holes which cause draughts such as window frames and skirting boards. Draught seals and strips are also effective.
    • Internal letterbox flap – an inexpensive way to stop draughts from your letterbox.
    • Thick and heavy curtains – these can eliminate heat loss through windows, especially if closed when it gets dark.
    1. TVs, computers, laptops etc.

    All electrical appliances use energy when not in use, if not switched off. TVs are often put into standby mode when not in use and computers, laptops and printers are often left on all day. Most laptops etc have a ‘hibernate’ facility which will switch the appliance off after a certain time of inactivity. When buying a new TV, consider choosing a medium sized  LCD model rather than a large plasma. Generally, the smaller the TV, the cheaper it is to run. There are TVs with optimised energy saving features on the market (look for the Trust label).

    1. Home Insulation

    This will protect your home against the cold in winter and heat in summer. It can also provide a certain amount of sound-proofing, useful in high traffic areas or airport flight-paths. New homes are now built with good insulation, but older properties can be a real problem to insulate. There are five ways that heat can escape from your home:

    • Conduction
    • Radiation
    • Convection
    • Air movement
    • Evaporation

    You must aim to eliminate heat escaping through walls, roof, floors, windows and doors. You may be able to qualify for a grant towards the cost of home insulation.

    1. Think about switching to cheaper energy suppliers

    You can easily access details about energy suppliers and their tariff charges via the internet. The government are encouraging gas and electricity suppliers to inform their customers about their lowest tariff. Many people are being overcharged for their energy because they have been put on an expensive tariff. It is fairly easy to switch suppliers nowadays, and you could save £££s.

    1. A few energy saving tips you can do yourself
    • Try turning down your thermostat by one degree. If you do not notice much difference, turn it down again. Each degree can save you money. It is more cost efficient to keep the heating on low all day during really cold weather. Turning it on and off during the day costs more.
    • Wear layers of clothes, eg vest, t-shirt, sweater, thermal socks to keep you warm. Put an extra blanket on the bed.
    • When cooking, double up with bakery, while the oven is on, eg savoury and sweet pies while cooking the Sunday lunch. Leave the cooker door open to allow the heat to circulate round the kitchen when finished.
    • Put dirty crockery and cutlery straight into the dishwasher rather than pre-washing in hot water.
    • Keep freezers full as this will eliminate gaps which require more electricity use.
    • Do not use large cooker rings for small pans.
  • 8 ways to make your kitchen eco friendly

    8 ways to make your kitchen eco friendly

    More and more people are making their kitchen ‘the heart of the home’.  Kitchens tend to be bigger – some including dining space, sofas and play areas for the children. Many people, both men and women, are keen on cooking and want to be able to socialise while they are doing so. Whatever the size and style of your kitchen, it can contain environmentally beneficial appliances and features. The following are 8 ways to make your kitchen eco friendly.

    Buy local produce if possible

    The supermarkets are full of foods which look fresh and tempting, but realistically they will be far from where they originated and packaged to within an inch of their lives. Wherever you live in the UK, you will never be far from local food suppliers. Many towns have regular Farmers’ Markets where local growers offer their produce for sale. Apart from the freshness of these foods, it is good to support your local community. Here home remodeling sacramento will be a great one for your home appliance.

    Of course, there is also the option to grow your own fruit and vegetables, either in your own garden or a local allotment.

    Fish

    If you live near the coast, you should be able to buy freshly caught fish, either from the sea or from fish farms. The seas have been overfished in many areas and some once common fish are now endangered. Try and buy sustainable seafood.

    Recycle leftover food

    Think twice before binning leftover food. Meat and bones can be boiled to extract the stock to make into delicious soups. Leftover vegetables can be mashed and fried as ‘bubble and squeak’. Other vegetable scraps can be composted using odourless compost pots.

    Energy efficient appliances

    Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and cookers are now produced and marked with their energy efficiency rating. This can save you money and be eco friendly.

    Lighting

    This is not just a change to the kitchen. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient ones all over the house can save you money. They are slightly more expensive, but last significantly longer. If your kitchen is north-facing and dark, you could consider installing a skylight. These can transform dark kitchens into light and airy ones.

    Cooker hoods

    If your cooker has a hood, ensure it is cleaned frequently and the filter changed as necessary. This will ensure it works to its optimum efficiency.

    Remodelling your kitchen

    If you want to remodel your kitchen, there are many things you can do to make it energy efficient. There are many beautiful recycled materials on the market from timber and stone to countertops, cabinets and flooring. Bamboo is a sustainable material harvested from plantations which is great for flooring and cabinets. When buying a new cooker or range, buy saucepans and frying pans which fit the burners. Putting a small pan on a large burner obviously wastes a lot of electricity or gas. Kitchen remodeling sacramento could be your best choice for local service.

    Other energy efficient items for your kitchen

    You can gradually introduce energy efficient items to your kitchen when required. Some of these include:

    • Eco electric toasters feature an auto-close lid which enables the bread to remain close to the heat source, thus reducing toasting time.
    • Stainless steel recycled cutlery is now available. It looks classy and is manufactured from around 80% recycled metal.
    • A 3 litre compost crock pot can be kept in the kitchen and filled with scraps. The supplied carbon filter will eliminate any odours.
    • Energy efficient dishwashers which use only 12 litres of water per wash are another good investment.
    • A retro styled fridge freezer can be another great addition to your eco kitchen. Its environmentally friendly reputation is growing fast.
    • Normal kettles are extremely high on energy. There is now an eco kettle available. which uses 30% less energy. It features a measuring button to allow exactly the right amount of water to be boiled – from one cupful to maximum capacity.
    • There are green pan sets available which are manufactured using 50% less energy than normal pans. Their non-stick coating is completely free from chemicals.
    • The Green Bible is full of recipes and practical tips to help you keep on the eco-friendly road.
  • 5 Benefits of An Energy Retrofit for Your Home

    5 Benefits of An Energy Retrofit for Your Home

    We all have times when we look around our homes and say to ourselves “It’s time that we do a bit of renovating.” This can be even more of an issue for those us of who are concerned about upgrading our homes in a way that will make them more energy efficient. And one of the ways to do that is by retrofitting.

    If you’re not familiar with what that term means, basically retrofitting is about taking something that you already have and adding something newer to it so that it works more effectively. For instance, some people retrofit their homes by adding new insulation or purchasing some new appliances.

    Of course, making these kinds of “green upgrades” do come with a price and so if you’re wondering what some of the benefits are that come with making an energy retrofit for your home, we’ve including five definite ones below:

    It saves you money (each month). When you do things like install a low-flow showerhead or add a ceiling fan to one of the rooms in your house, because they require less electricity, as a direct result, your energy bills decrease each month. And saving money is always a great thing.

    It raises your property value. If you speak with a real estate agent about the advantages that come with retrofitting your home with new roofing from Allstate Roofing or floors, one of the main things that they’ll probably mention is that the property value of your home will go up due to these kinds of additions. That’s because as more people are becoming environmentally aware, with that comes the desire to live in a home that is designed in an eco-friendly way.

    It makes your home more durable. There are a lot of people who tend to overlook just how much damage things like water leaks and moisture can do to a home but the truth is that overtime, it can lead to rotted floors, caving roofs and mold and mildew infestation. But, when you put forth the concerted effort to add some air sealing and controlled ventilation, not only does it reduce the chances of these things occurring but it can also make your home more durable too.

    It improves the air quality of the home. Did you know that putting exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom, changing the filters in your HVAC unit every three months, installing a carbon monoxide and radon detector are all things that you can do to achieve excellent indoor air quality in your home? And the cleaner the air is that you breathe, the better it is for your family’s health and the health of your pets because it reduces the amount of dust and dander that are within your home.

    It can make your home more comfortable. For a lot of us, our favorite place to be is home because it’s the place that houses and protects so many of the things that we love. Well, by making sure that you insulate and seal your house, that prevents air from escaping; that keeps your home at your preferred temperature. And perhaps that’s the best thing about retrofitting your house. It helps to make it a comfy place to come home to—always.