My mother and step dad, with my help have decided to upgrade our propane to electric so they have been out looking at tank less water heaters, stoves and furnaces for the last 2 weeks. Monday they finally bought the tank less and are working on getting it put in. I still think that is the best way to go as it really can cut down on your electric bill.
The good news is they also don’t have to buy a stove as a friend of mine has one she is giving us. upgrading to either electric or just getting new appliances can be expensive at first, but if you can find some cheep or free things it helps, also once you do get everything upgraded the savings will start. I recommend getting new appliances if yours are more then 15 years old or are not an energy star product. In this economy saving money is a big deal and think about it this way, if you are buying new appliances to save you money your also helping the economy buy buying something.
If you are looking to either save money on your bills this winter or are looking to help increase the value of your home you should really take a look at Tankless Water Heaters. These water heaters work just like a regular water heater except it only turns on when you need the water, this cuts down on energy use as the heater is not running all of the time trying to keep your water warm.
Tankless Water Heaters can save you up to 30% of your energy bill and they come in both electric and gas. You can choose which one you would like or what would work better for you. If your looking at getting one of these energy saving devices I would recommend you talk to someone who can figure out what size you need and if you should invest in more then one. My mother is looking into them and I would recommend she get a large one for most of the house and two small Tankless Water Heaters for her bathtub and the kitchen sink as they are on the other side of the house from the water heater. This also will save you money and time as the water will heat much faster. If your paying for that water you should see a savings there too.
If you are someone who really looks at the new upcoming things for your home or entertainment you may be interested in the Wired Next Fest that takes place in the big design center of Chicago September 27th though October 12. This event showcases many of the new innovations that will be coming soon to your home. Some of the products involved include sustainable design, health care innovations and robotics.
One of the companies that will be there is Hoverit a furniture design company with a very interesting concept. They have a new line of magnetic hover furniture that may actually help to relieve muscle problems and headaches. I’m not sure how comfortable it would be but if it helps with muscle problems I would be willing to try it. According to the company it’s like floating not the same experience as you would have with normal plastic chair.
Wired Next Fest is a free event and will be held at Chicago’s Millennium Park. It is closed on Monday and only open from noon to 8pm on Thursday, The rest of the week it is open from 11am to 7pm. So make sure to plan your trip accordingly.
I love finding new places to by any type of furniture. It’s nice to have choices and when it comes to modern design it’s really nice to have choices. If your looking for something that is a little different from the modern furniture your friend has you should check out www.temahome.com. There selection of modern decor is very unique and stylish.
Tema home is a company out of Portugal and is very eco friendly in fact they are members of the EU’s green dot society. The company was created in 1981 and produced furniture for some of the most well known and largest companies in the world. In 2006 the Terma Home concept of unique personal style was born and handpicked designers were found to help create that uniqueness.
One of my favorite pieces is this shelf unit called Ivy, I’m sure it is named that because it looks like ivy climbing up a wall. It can be used not only against a wall as a shelf, but as you can see from the picture it can also be used as a room divider and can create a great focal point in a room that may be without one. This shelf comes in White, wenge and chocolate colors.
Another nice piece that Tema Home has in this modern Sono Queen bed. It’s simple and elegant and is very useful. It is only available in the wenge color but does have matching dressers and nightstands. This is the perfect bed for anyone who is into simple modern design. It has such clean lines and really works well in a modern style home.
Tema home has it’s heart in the right place when it comes to green design and is now looking at the US market. They are not cheep but if you are looking to splurge on style and have a unique look in your home, they are the company to go to.
Next fall I will be taking a lighting class, at least I hope to be there are a few complications I have to get though first. I am though, looking forward to this class. Lighting is so much more then just having a light in the room so you can see. Lighting can make things pop out at you, it can set the mood by making it brighter or darker in a room and it can keep you safe.
There are many types of lighting you can buy. I recommend going green and buying compact florescent lighting or LED lights. LED’s take some getting use to as their light tends to have more of a blue tint then other types of lighting, but they last forever. Think of a child’s toy that has the small lights on it. Those lights hardly ever die and that is because most of them are LED’s. Both compact florescent and LED’s are great for the environment and your pocketbook. Yes they may cost more in the long run, but with energy prices going up they will really help save you money in the long run.
If your looking to switch but are not sure where to start here are a few tips.
1. change all of your night lights to LED lights. I got 2 LED bulbs for around $2 at walmart. Shop around though you may find a better deal
2. Figure out which lights you use most during the day and evening. Switch those first.
3. If you can replace all of you bulbs at once, if not do one room at a time.
4. Don’t forget about your outdoor lights
5. Buy all new holiday decorations made with LED’s. Sometimes trying things that are not permanent can help you see what you would get out of switching everything. Christmas lights are a great way to do this.
There are many ways to cool your home where you can save energy and money. One way is to just open the windows. Of course many of us don’t like do this anyway so there are other options. One idea I really like is using window tinting. This can dramatically help to improve your homes energy efficiency and save you money.
I’m sure you are wondering where you can get this tint for your windows. Well Snap Tint has a great selection of not only Solar window tint, but decorative film and car tint. Most people I think will really like the Symphony Neutral tint that doesn’t look like a tint at all, but still reflects the sun away. This is a wonderful product for anyone who has large windows with a great view.
Stepping away from the solar tint we have decorative window film. This is not an energy saver, but for a feng shui tip, use it in your bedroom if you have closet mirrors facing the bed. This helps to stop the reflection and helps create a good balance in your bedroom. Decorative film can also be used in a bathroom, kitchen or along any glass surface.
Window tint is easy to install and does not cost much compared to the savings you will get. Warm sunlight though a window can raise the temperature of a home by 10 degrees or more. If you can block that sunlight your energy saves will cover much more then the cost of the window tint.
Many people right now are trying to find ways to save energy and still keep their homes warm and livable. I have a great new product for you to try called Radiant glass. This glass is made in Colorado by a company called Radiant Glass industries. The product is called Power*e Glass and it is very easy to use and install.
The glass uses a save low voltage current that would be the equivalent of running 2 light bulbs. The current heats the window and allows that heat into your home. Many people who have used it claim that there heaters hardly ever run after adding just a few of these windows. This is a great product for anyone who has a lot of windows in their home. I would recommend having a separate thermostat installed for any interior rooms that have no windows though. These windows will also help keep your home cool in the summer by blocking the heat from outside.
Besides helping with energy cost these windows also will stop condensation and fogging of windows. That way you will always have a clear view outside. This type of window would work well in a bathroom where you may use a shower or tub that could cause fogging and block a view.
Power*e windows can be made any way you would like. They work in most types of frames and can even be tinted. Check out this new unique product and see if if will work for you.
This blog is for information on interior design and decoration. You will find many reviews on products and services as well as tips and tricks to make your home look and feel better.
lights. LED’s take some getting use to as their light tends to have more of a blue tint then other types of lighting, but they last forever. Think of a child’s toy that has the small lights on it. Those lights hardly ever die and that is because most of them are LED’s. Both compact florescent and LED’s are great for the environment and your pocketbook. Yes they may cost more in the long run, but with energy prices going up they will really help save you money in the long run. 
decorative film and 
