eHow.com Video: How to Keep Warm Without Raising the Thermostat

It's still winter... and really cold in NYC.  Here are some tips to weatherize your home.  You know, these tips are not just for the winter. These adjustments are just as useful to keep hot air out in the summer. GO GREEN!  save some green... and it's for winter and summertime!

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Video Transcript:

Hi, I'm Anjie Cho and this is how to keep warm without raising the thermostat.

Raising the thermostat not only adds to your utility bills, it uses precious resources. I'll show you some inexpensive and simple weatherization tips for keeping warm and also to keep cool in the summer.

First, be sure to have the air on only in the room that you're occupying. If you have central air, you can close or seal the vents in the room that are not in use.

Next, seal air leaks to increase the energy efficiency of both heating and cooling. You can use a variety of products to seal any gaps to the outside where air can come in. For instance, just painter's caulk will do; go for the lower or no VOC option. This rope caulk is less messy in it because it doesn't need to dry. Foam weather stripping also works; just cut, peel and stick. All of these options are for use with windows, ceiling cracks, filling holes, door perimeters, walls, siding openings and masonry cracks.

Next, let's look at the door. A lot of air gets infiltrated in through doors, even in a closed position. This is a self-stick door strip. It's quick and easy, easy to install, just cut to size and stick it into place.

Finally, let's look at your outlets and switches. Air can come in this way too. So, you can insulate and seal that drafts through a switch and outlet covers with these gaskets. Just unscrew the outlet cover, place the gasket in, screw back on. Keeping warm doesn't have to be expensive with some simple weatherization tips. This upgrades will pay for themselves very quickly because you'll immediately see savings on your utility bills.

by Anjie Cho

Why Switch to CFL Bulbs?

Why NOT switch to CFL Bulbs?

In preparation for this article, I took a survey amongst my friends. I wasn’t sure how relevant the topic was since I personally made the switch to energy efficient lighting years ago.  So, I took a survey and I asked, “Do you think most households have switched to using CFL bulbs?” 

I found out that the topic of CFL bulbs was very controversial!  Here are some of the responses I’ve received:

- Yes, they believe most people have switched to CFL bulbs.  And this is possibly because “most people don’t realize they have switched to CFLS”.  Interesting because the newer CFL bulbs look a lot like incandescents and also people just really don’t pay attention to what they’re buying.

- Yes, “can you even buy incandescent anymore?”  (Note: yes you can, but they will soon be banned and obsolete)

- Another said, “Maybe half of the households in the US, considering that incandescent bulbs are still a fraction of the cost of CFLS”.  True true.

- One response was “I certainly hope not. They're horrible.” In fact this friend then insisted he wanted to write his own competing speech in the “battle of the bulbs”. 

I wholeheartedly believe in switching to energy efficient lighting because not only do incandescent bulbs waste money, they also deplete our precious natural resources.  So here I am, standing on my little soapbox to convince my readers to participate in one small step to green our planet and individual lives.

So why switch to CFL bulbs?  CFLs are the easiest and least expensive way to upgrade to efficient lighting in your home.

First I’ll explain the basic differences between CFL and standard incandescent bulbs.  Standard incandescent bulbs produce light when an electric current passes through a filament and causes it to glow.  This creates heat and light.  But it’s pretty inefficient because you lose a lot of energy to the heat.

CFL stands for compact fluorescent light.  They are those squiggly bulbs.  In comparison to incandescent bulbs, an electric current is driven through the squiggly tube which contains argon and a small amount of mercury to emit a visible light.   By the way, argon is an inert, non-toxic gas and of course we know mercury is a heavy metal.  The mercury is safe as long as the tube does not break and is recycled of properly.  Home Depot and Ikea both have free CFL recycling programs.

More importantly, a CFL bulb uses about 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb.  For instance a 13 watt CFL bulb gives of the same amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent.  So you save a lot of energy. 

Next, what about upfront cost?  A CFL light is just a couple of dollars more and they’re very easy to find at your local hardware store. 

And what about cost over time?  A good CFL will last approximately 10,000 hours, whereas an incandescent lasts only 1,000 hours.  So you save lot of money (and energy) there too.

Finally, Some people are concerned about the look of the bulb as well as the quality of light.  CFLs have a bad rap because they used to give off a very blue, what I like to describe as alien-UFO light.  The technology has improved so much that you can get warmer color temperatures that are flattering and comforting to have in your home.  Make sure to get the warm or soft white bulbs (2700K or 3000k).  They also have bulbs with globes around them so that they look like incandescent bulbs and you don’t see the squiggly tube.

Just screw in the bulbs into your regular fixture and you’re all done!

In conclusion, the next time one of your incandescent bulbs blows out, you should replace it with an energy efficient CFL bulb.  Contrary to what most people believe, CFL bulbs are inexpensive, will save you more money over the long run, and can offer a pleasing and warm atmosphere in your home. 

And!  I’d love to hear from any readers with strong feelings about using CFL bulbs?  

by Anjie Cho

Residency New York: Winter Greening

featured in the Winter 2014 issue of Residency New York this month:  Sales in the City by Kelly Kreth

How to Prepare your Home for the Change in Season:  Winter Greening

by Kelly Kreth

According to Anjie Cho, architect and feng shui interior designer, one should pay close attention to respecting the environment and conserving energy (and money), even before aesthetics.  She suggests removing your air conditioner because air infiltrates through its vents; if it is impossible to remove it or if storage is a big problem, fit the vent with a fabric cover that can easily be found in a hardware store.  Do not use plastic, as it is not breathable and may cause condensation, which can damage your appliance.

"Heavy drapes will also help to keep the cold air out and heat in," Cho advises.  "Weather sealing on doors or getting a door sweep (or even putting a heavy towel at the bottom of the door) will block the gap, preventing cold air from getting in."

"Don't forget about your foliage!" Cho adds.  As it gets colder it is a good time to move plants from window sills or outdoor spaces.  "The extreme difference between temperatures can kill your house plants.  Instead, move greenery a foot or two from the sills or doors, or get an indoor grow light set on a timer for the colder months."

by Anjie Cho