5 Ways to Save Energy & Money

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Here are five ways you can save energy and money starting today.

1. For those of us that have dishwashers in Hawaii, don’t rinse your dishes before you place them in the dishwasher. Simply wipe the excess food from the dishes. Pre-washing your dishing can easily waste a lot of water. If the dishes have been burned or stuff is dried on it, then it may need soaking or prewashing. Only run your dishwasher when they are full.

2. Keep your refrigerator coils clean. Every so often clean behind your fridge and underneath. This will help to keep the fridge from over working itself.

2. Reset the temperature of your air conditioner. Whether you have a central ac or a window ac, setting it at a comfortable temperature.

3. Most water heaters have adjustable thermostats. Turn your thermostat between 95 degrees ferinheight and 120 degrees ferinheight, depending on the amount of people in your household.

4. Take shorter showers. Just by shortening your shower time by three minutes can cut your water usage.

5. Switch your lighten to energy-efficient. This is one of the fastest ways to cut your utility bill. 

Upgrading Your Home with Bamboo Floors

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It's time to tear out that old linoleum floor and upgrade with beautiful hardwood! Hardwood floors are so easy to clean and take care of. Plus it comes in a wide variety of different wood, so it can fit in any budget. 

Image credit: Home Depot

Image credit: Home Depot

Bamboo flooring is a popular type that is fairly inexpensive but will still look and feel the way you want. Homeowners enjoy Bamboo because of the durability and it's eco-friendly. It can also add a unique look and adapt to any decorating style. Bamboo flooring can be dyed into a variety of colors or it can come in natural, finished or unfinished. 

When it come to maintenance, Bamboo floors can be fairly easy to maintain. A simple vacuum or sweep regularly will help remove the small debris. Occasionally you can mop or clean it with a hardwood or bamboo floor cleaner. However, it's important to clean up after every spill so the liquid doesn't damage, stain or warp the flooring. 

There are many other types of hardwood floors available. Take a look at these others, Mahogany, Chestnut, Oak, and Maple hardwood.

Tips on Purchasing a New Refrigerator

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It's time to purchase a new refrigerator, whether the reason is because your remodeling and would like to upgrade or your current one stopped working. Take into consideration these tips on what to look for when purchasing a refrigerator today.

 
 

Tip 1: To ensure it's energy efficient look for an Energy Star model.

Tip 2: Look for the yellow EnergyGuide label. This label can be used to determine the model's energy use and you can create an annual estimate of operating costs.  Comparing the energy use to similar models will help determine which model is best for your needs. 

Tip 3: Top-mounted freezers use 10-25% less energy than bottom-mounted or side-by-side models.

Tip 4: Choose the right size refrigerator for your space. Generally, the larger the appliance, the greater the energy consumption. 

Tip 5: Besides being a higher cost, automatic ice-makers and through-the-door ice dispensers can increase energy use by 14-20%.

Image credit: GE Appliances

Image credit: GE Appliances

The Benefits of Switching to LED Lighting

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LED Lighting is energy efficient, durable, long lasting and very versatile. Switching to LEDs can help lower your utility bills and withstand any hard and rough conditions. 

What does LED stand for? 

LED stands for "light-emitting diode." A diode is an electrical element with two terminals which conduct the electricity only in one direction. Previously diodes were used in many technologies such as televisions, radios and computers.

According to LEDLuxour, there are 10 benefits of using LED Lighting.

  1. Long Life - the operational life time expectation is up to 11 years of continuous operation
  2. Energy Efficiency - LEDs help to lower your utility bills
  3. Ecologically Friendly - LEDs contain no toxic materials and are 100% recyclable
  4. Durable Quality - LED lights are resistant to shock, vibrations and external impacts therefore making them a great option for outdoor lighting
  5. Zero UV Emissions
  6. Designs Flexibility - LEDs can easily be formed to fit any shape
  7. Operational in Extremely Cold or Hot Temperatures
  8. Light Dispersement
  9. Instant Lighting and Frequent Switching
  10. Low-Voltage - LEDs power source requires low voltage to operate

LEDs are the most efficient lights available on the market.  For more information on LEDs check out EnergyStar.gov.