CasaSugar

Do You Use Storm Windows?

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:15:20 -0800

Storm windows were once a common weatherization measure in older homes, but since new windows have super-efficient glass, it's less common. However, older homes that still use single-pane glass can benefit from the use of storm windows. Do you use them in your home?

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Casa Quickie: Reverse Your Ceiling Fan's Direction

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

If you live in the northern hemisphere and haven't yet switched the direction of your ceiling fan's blades, now's the time to do so. You want to make sure that the blades' direction is switched from moving in a counterclockwise direction to a clockwise direction.

To do so, just flip the switch at the base so that the blades rotate clockwise (that's when you're looking up at it from below). By switching your fan's rotation seasonally, you can save 10-15 percent on your heating bill and as much as 40 percent on your cooling bill in the Summer. Plus, it will help to make Winter feel a little bit cozier.

Source: Flickr User Maricel Cruz

Casa Quickie: Shut 'em Down

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:30:31 -0700

If you have a guest bedroom or storage space that you rarely use, keep that room off your Winter heating radar. Do so by closing the heating vents in the room, and closing the door. Use a draft blocker on the door to prevent the room's cold air from seeping into other rooms of your house.

Another good idea? Close closet doors in any room this Winter, since there's no need to heat closet space!

Casa Quickie: Locate Leaks With a Candle

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:30:17 -0700

If you live in an old house, chances are that you might have some drafts coming in through window and door frames. To find out for sure, light a candle, and hold it along the frames (just don't get too close to any curtains). If the candle flame flickers or smokes, there's a leak. To fix, use caulking or weather stripping in that area.

Have you tried this technique before to locate leaks?

Casa Verde: Quaker Oats Fuel This School

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:15:22 -0700

I love to see America's universities taking a lead in environmental awareness and sustainability, so I was thrilled to hear about the University of Iowa's biomass project. For the past few years, the university has worked with a local Quaker Oats plant to replace the burning of coal with the burning of oat hulls, which are a waste product from the Quaker Oats factory.

About 60 tons of discarded oat hulls from Quaker Oats are delivered daily to the UI power plant, and this organic material is burned with coal to produce energy for the school. The oat hulls fuel 15 percent of the school’s total energy, generating nearly nine million kilowatt-hours of biomass power annually. This is equal to the amount of energy needed to power 900 average American homes annually.

Thanks to the use of the oat hulls, the university has reduced its emissions by seven percent already, equalling a reduction of 70,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year and 30,000 tons of coal per year, which isn't burned. Ferman Milster, associate utility director, says that the decision to move to oat hulls was easy. “I immediately recognized that burning biomass material has a very positive environmental impact and I saw an opportunity to reduce the University’s purchased-energy costs. Plus, the money we pay for that fuel material stays in Iowa."

You can watch a video documenting the project, as well as the University of Iowa's other green measures, when you read more.

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How-To: Paint Your Cast-Iron Radiator

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Now that it's Summer, and you're not likely to be heating your home much, it's a good time to make sure your radiator is looking sharp. If you have a cast-iron radiator in an older home, it may be plagued with chipping paint, or maybe you'd like to freshen it up or make it blend into your walls with some color. In any case, it'll take you just a few hours and some elbow grease to give it a paint job that's worthy of your stylish crib. To learn how, read more.

Some of you may have an unpainted radiator or a finish that's in good shape, but if the paint is chipping, you'll need to remove it all before you give it a new finish. Unless you're prepared to remove your hefty radiator to sandblast it (or have it sandblasted professionally), you'll need to sand and scrape it the old-fashioned way: with a piece of sandpaper, a lot of elbow grease, and maybe even a putty knife. If you have an old radiator, the paint may contain lead, in which case, you do not want to sand because this would release lead into the air. Instead, use an eco-friendly paint stripper like SoyGel, 100 percent biodegradable and made from soybeans, which will encapsulate the lead in the gel, preventing airborne lead particles and allowing for safe and easy disposal.
The next step (or first, if you didn't need to sand) is just to clean all of the dust and dirt off of the radiator with a damp cotton rag.
Then, sand the radiator to create a rough surface for the paint to hold onto.
Open your windows and doors and make sure the area is well-ventilated.
Saturate a rag in Wil-Bond Deglosser and wipe down your radiator. This removes oils and cuts gloss so that the new finish will go on smoothly, bond tightly, and last longer.
Now, it's prime time! If your radiator has never been painted, prepare it for painting with a bare metal primer. If not, use an ordinary oil-based primer.
Here comes the fun part. Lay down some newspaper to protect your floors. Paint on your finish top coat, using any oil-based interior paint and a brush meant for oil-based paint. This paint will be heat-resistant and durable. If you choose to, you can also use spray paint, but you'll want a high-temperature aerosol paint and you'll need to mask off the surrounding area to protect your floors and walls.
Let it dry, and if it seems to need a second coat, go ahead. Fini!

Go here to see some creatively painted radiators!
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How-To: Beat the Heat the Eco-Friendly Way

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:36 -0700

San Francisco is in the midst of heat wave, and as much as I love putting on my Summer dresses, I'm not a fan of looking like a stick of melted butter. If the temperature in your 'hood hasn't risen yet, trust me, it will. So, I have a few tips for conquering the heat when it does. Not so fast, they have nothing to do with blasting the a/c: you know that's not eco friendly. To hear my tips, read more.

Prevent phantom loads and the idle emission of heat by plugging your electronic appliances into a power strip, which you can switch on and off when not in use. Use one in your office for gadgets, one in your kitchen, and in any other place your appliances are piling up.
If you haven't already, switch to CFL bulbs, which give off less heat than regular bulbs and use about 70-75 percent less energy.
Ovens give off much more heat than microwaves, so zap your meals instead whenever possible. If you must use your oven, cook consciously by turning off the oven five minutes before the scheduled end time and allow food to finish cooking as the oven slowly cools, and avoiding opening the oven to check on food while it's cooking, which lets heat escape.
Use organic bedding made from breathable fabrics, which will draw the moisture away from your body during those hot Spring and Summer nights.
Plant trees and bushes in front of your windows to block the sun.
Close your blinds or shades on windows that don't face north during the day, to keep out the sun's heat.
Keep your windows closed to keep the daytime heat out.
If you need fresh air, open two windows across from each other to allow a breeze, or even put a fan in each window.

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Top 20 Winter Gas-Saving Ideas For Your Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:00:36 -0800

When the weather outside is frightful, your home's temperature - and your gas bill - shouldn't be. Reducing your gas heating costs isn't as simple as turning down the thermostat; everything from plugging up air leaks to using a broiler can cut your monthly heating costs drastically. So I've compiled the top 20 ways to save cash on gas at home.
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What Temperature Do You Keep Your Thermostat?

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:00:44 -0800

Keeping your thermostat lower certainly can help lower your heating bills, but sometimes it leaves residents too chilly for comfort. Where's your thermostat?

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Cool Idea: Fireplace Substitute

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:30:14 -0800

CasaSugar reader DailyCrush wrote to me with a great tip on a cute space heater. Since everyone's looking for ways to stay cozy this season, I knew you'd appreciate the tip.

DailyCrush says, "I use the Dimplex Compact Electric Stove to heat up the living room in my very tiny house (my living room is only about 10 x 15). It works really well; plus it's just really nice to have the fireplace ambiance in a place I'm renting, since I obviously couldn't install a real fireplace!"

Do you have a space heater that simulates a fireplace? I love the effect, and think it looks great in DailyCrush's cute living room!