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Upgrades Can Save Energy And Lower Utility Bills

Updated: Tuesday, May 22 2012, 09:10 AM CDT
Summer is almost here and we're already sweating the huge utility bills that will follow.  But there are some upgrades you could add to your home to save energy and cut those bills.

Homes in the “Las Casas Verdes” subdivision come standard with all kinds of features to save energy and water.  But these features can also be added to your home to reduce your utility bills.  Architect David Martin says, “If you're going to doing things like upgrading your window of course go with a smart glass type insulated window. Caulking and sealing the joints... If you're going to be re-roofing the house you might consider doing the thermal type detail on your home."

The thermal detail Martin mentioned is a layering where the external roof is separated from a sub-roof by a layer of slotted 2x4 lumber.  The 2x4's let air and moisture escape and keep the sun's heat away from your attic.  The results are pretty dramatic.  The sun can be beating down on the roof but the inside of the roof is still cool to the touch.

Martin says his home’s electric bill last Summer topped off at $75 while similar size homes were paying an average of $350 per month.

Link:
Las Casas Verdes   http://www.lascasasverdes.com


Upgrades Can Save Energy And Lower Utility Bills