Tuesday, 29 September 2015

How to Make Your Home Energy Efficient and Save the Environment

Saving the environment has become one of the most important things to do today. With the amount of pollution and greenhouse gasses being emitted it has become the civic duty of every human being to do what they can to protect the environment. One of the ways you can help save and protect the environment is by making sure your home is energy efficient. There are several small things you can do that can make a big difference. Here are a few suggestions.

Insulation
Adding insulation to your walls, attic and ceilings in your home can help in a big way. You can use weather stripping or caulking to make sure the windows and doors are well-sealed to prevent cold drafts from entering in, and to keep the warm air inside the home during winter. The caulking and weather stripping will also help in summer by keeping the cool air inside the house.

Overhaul Your Windows
If you are using aluminum windows, it will allow heat to pass through easily. To stop this from happening, you might want to use vinyl frames instead, as they are more heat resistant. Double-paned argon gas-filled windows are perfect for keeping the cold out and the heat in during winter. You can tint your windows to keep the temperature inside the house stable. Tinting the windows helps make the house look attractive. A simple thing like opening the blinds will allow natural light to fill the room and reduce your energy consumption.

Replace Old Appliances
You might want to replace old appliances with newer ones as they will help in reducing your energy bills. When you are shopping for new appliances, look for Energy Star certified appliances.

Nathan Chesebro of Bristol, Maine is a Lead Certified builder who has a keen interest in energy efficient homes.

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Nathan Chesebro - How to Save Money on Construction Costs?

Whether you are renovating or building a new house, there are several ways to save money on construction costs. Construction is expensive, and if you can save a couple of hundred dollars, you can use it for something else. Here are some tips you can use to save money on construction costs.

Go Over the Project Carefully

When you hire a home builder to construct your home, you will need to sit down together with him and go over the construction project carefully. The project should list the various jobs that need to be done and the costs involved. Check it carefully and see if there is something that has been included in the schedule that is not needed for now. Sometimes contractors can assume you want certain things done when you have not asked for it. Do not hesitate to ask questions if you do not understand something. After all, you are paying for the job. For example, if the schedule lists crown molding, but it’s not something you want, ask him to take it off the project. It will probably save you hundreds of dollars.

Do It Yourself

If you are handy with a paint brush, or if you are a die-hard do-it-yourself person, you might want to take up a couple of odd jobs and work on it. A contractor earns anything between $18 and $25 an hour. If you can step in and take care of a couple of odd jobs for your home, you can save quite a bit of money. If you can work on the plumbing, painting or electrical work, you can handle those jobs instead of leaving it to the contractor. However, you should be realistic about what you can do. If you are not qualified to do the plumbing or electrical work, it would be better to leave it to the professionals.

Nathan Chesebro of Chesebro Construction, Inc. is a skilled home builder in Midcoast, Maine.