A fabric mesh is used to make the screen. Depending on the density of the mesh, the screen will have a certain amount of light control and view through abilities. The official term for this variability of screen density is described as openness. A percentage of openness is calculated for each degree of change in light control and visibility. So basically, the higher the percentage of openness the more light you will allow in to your room and the more you will be able to see out. The openness factor is the most crucial element in choosing your solar screen. If you have great views you will want to have a high percentage of openness like a 10 or 12 %. For rooms that do not have great views and are only concerned with light control should choose a 3 or 4% openness factor. This will reduce glare, reduce solar heat gain, and block harmful UV Rays.

By blocking UV Rays and reducing solar heat gain, solar screens improve the energy efficiency of your home. These solar shades will significantly lower your need for central air conditioning therefore making your home more energy efficient. They will also prevent the UV rays from damaging your skin and your home furniture.

Some optional upgrades include cordless loop and motorization. Both of these features improve the child safety of your home by eliminating long dangling cords. The cordless loop features a looped cord that never changes in length regardless of whether the screen is open or closed. If your window is hard to reach or very large consider adding motorization to your solar shade for convenient operation. This screen will be adjusted with the use of a remote control from any room in the house.

Available in a wide range of colors and styles, solar screens are just as stylish and appealing as they are functional. Fabric patterns include solids, stripes, and weaves to match any type of home decor all the way from traditional to contemporary. By using solar screens you will be adding a lovely finishing touch and accenting the other elements of your room very nicely.

Overall, solar screens, often referred to as solar shades, are the recommended window shades for your living room, family room, and media/entertainment rooms. These screens will keep the room at a comfortable temperature, block damaging UV rays, reduce glare, improve energy efficiency and provide appealing looks all while still allowing you to maintain your view. Solar screens are offered from all the leading industry brands at very affordable prices.

This is a guest post written by Michael Callicotte, who works for Blinds Galore.

Photo Credits: tom.arthur

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Originally posted 2010-04-05 19:53:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Top Five Ways To Increase the Value of Your Home If you are looking for new ways to increase the overall value of your home, there are numerous projects that you can tackle on your own. Whether you are an experienced DIY’er, or just starting out, these projects are fun and add more than just monetary value to your home.......
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The first step is to determine how energy efficient your appliances are. Examine the major electrical devices in every room and write down a list of the big devices. This include the refrigerator, washer, dryer, television, your iron or any device that creates a lot of heat or an AC unit. Once you have identified every appliance in your home, examine them to determine their age. Older appliances, especially those older than 4 or 5 years, were not created with energy efficiency in mind. Note those appliances as such and consider the cost to replace them if they are continuously on, such as for a refrigerator, or if they are only used intermittently like a heater, consider other alternatives to their use.

You should also take the time to identify those items which are continuously drawing power. The refrigerator can be the single most wasteful energy sink in the kitchen. In the living room and office, the television and computer can still be drawing a significant amount of power if they are in standby, especially newer flat panel televisions. If there is a light on, then the device is still drawing power. Make note of these devices as well on your list.

Once you identified the more obvious energy hogs, take the time to identify the less obvious by reading the labeling on the device. Energy Star devices, and most other devices produced in the past decade, come labeled with their power ratings, typically in watts. Watts is a measure of the electrical energy used by the device, so the lower the rating, the better. Record the wattage of all of the devices which you can easily identify.

At this point, you have gathered all of the information which can be gathered right away. There is more you can do to measure the energy usage of your products, however. That is to use a energy meter device which sits between the appliance and the wall socket. This device will measure in exact terms the wattage and energy use of an appliance. Use this device on all appliances for which you do not know the exact wattage for. Most devices are better measured over a week or so of normal use, since the meters will average the results over the time period of use. Take these numbers down as well.

Now that you have identified the major energy usages around the home, what can you do to lower the electric bill? While there are countless ideas out there, there are a couple simple things you can do. Continuous duty items, such as the refrigerator, can be adjusted to use less power by setting the thermostats to a little warmer that the absolute maximum (making sure the fridge is still below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freeze below 32 degrees). Devices which are intermittent in use, such as a television or computer, should be plugged into a power strip or surge protector. Not only will these devices protect your electronics, but when your electronics are not in use, you can switch the surge protector to ensure that they are not drawing electricity. When it comes time and the money is available, take you list and replace your appliances with ones with lower energy. It doesn't need to be difficult to make your home more energy efficient.

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-29 05:41:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Review: Welcome Home: A Home Improvement and Decorating Organizer by Christina Poggi and Nick Beilenson Welcome Home: A Home Improvement and Decorating Organizer is released as a three ring binder, with each of its many pages ready to store information about your home. Included are pages for placing contact information for your realtor, repair people, utilities, and other important contact information. It will also help......
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1. Install a solar power water heater.

This is a very easy fix that just about any homeowner can try. A single panel is used that will be hooked directly into the water heater. You'll be able to harness the power of the sun to help you heat your house's water and you may be surprised at just how much money you can save.

2. Wash your clothes in cold water.

If you're not quite ready to convert your water heater over to solar power, you can still save money by washing your clothes in cold water. On average, this can save a household more than $60 a year, which may not sound like much, but when added to other solutions, it can make a difference.

3. Install Solar Air Heating Panels.

This is a great idea, especially if you are using a furnace that requires either propane or heating oil. The basic concept is that you are using solar power to run your forced air furnace and the savings can be significant. While you don't have to re-fit your entire house, you may need to get an electric furnace, and of course, the panels to run it. However, this is a relatively small investment that will more than pay for itself in a short time, especially considering how high the prices have gone for propane and heating oil this year.

4. Line dry your clothes.

It's funny, but a lot of our energy consumption has to do with laundry. We've already covered two tips on how to save big by using cold water, or changing how you power your water heater, but line drying your clothes can also save a significant amount of money. This is of course a little difficult in winter, but if you use this technique during the summer months, you can save quite a bit of money. You may need to use fabric softener for some clothes, but overall, this is a very easy and cheap way to get your clothes done.

The best way to save money on your energy costs is by watching your overall consumption. Consider installing new light bulbs that are more energy efficient, turn your heat down and your air conditioning up, and watch the length of your showers. By combining many different techniques, you can easily save money and you'll only have to invest a small amount of money to get started. In fact, many of these options are absolutely free. Over a few weeks, you should start to see a big difference in your power and gas bills.

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2008-11-03 05:07:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Natural Gas / Propane – Plusses

This is considered to be a clean burning fuel by many and although prices are nearing $3.00 a gallon in many parts of the country, it is still cheaper than home heating oil, which is now closer to $6. With the right furnace or appliance, propane and natural gas can be very efficient.

In areas of the country where power outages are frequent, having a gas appliance or furnace may mean the difference between staying warm and having food to eat, or freezing in the depths of winter. For those that are out in the country or in areas where these power outages do occur on a frequent basis, this is a very sound solution.

Natural Gas / Propane – Downsides

The main downside at this point is of course the overall cost. If you have older appliances or an old furnace, it may not be very efficient and you can easily spend thousands just trying to keep your house warm. The other major downside is the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you do have natural gas or propane appliances or a furnace, it is vital to keep them serviced, check the pilot lights and take precautions to keep everything running smoothly.

Electric – Plusses

When it comes to convenience, electricity is usually the best. You don’t have to wait for it to be delivered, and if you keep paying your bill, it’s always on. Many consider electric appliances to be safer, and they are also generally a little bit cheaper to purchase upfront.

Depending on the part of the country where you live, the cost for electricity is generally much less than it is for natural gas and propane. The western states may be an exception to this, but generally, you can count on the price per kilowatt to be much lower and more affordable than gas.

Electric – Downsides

When the power goes out, so does your furnace and appliances. This can be a major problem, especially in winter. If you do have an electric furnace, consider getting a generator if you do have problems with outages. It may mean the difference between staying cozy and risking freezing to death.

Inefficient electric appliances however can end up costing you quite a bit more, and it definitely pays to upgrade older models to Energy Star models. Many of these appliances can be run for an entire year on less than $50.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-29 05:19:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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One of the most common alternative energy solutions for homeowners are solar panels. This are relatively easy to buy and install, and will not take up much space. Most can be placed either on the roof, or on the side of the house where the most sun reaches. They will need to be hooked into the home’s electrical system through a small panel where the electricity that is generated will be stored. It is highly recommended to have a professional electrician set up solar panels, especially if they will be tied into the main home’s electrical system.

The next most popular source of alternative energy that is quickly gaining more users are personal wind turbines. You may have seen the larger versions up and down the coasts, or at wind farms. The home sized models are quite a bit smaller, but can usually provide more than enough electricity for one home. As the name suggests, the wind turns the interior mechanism, which in turn generates electricity.

This is then stored and can be used to run the whole house in an emergency, or as a complete alternative solution. The main downside to home sized wind turbines is their cost, which can be in excess of $3000. However, when you add up what you would be saving in electricity, this can easily be recouped. They may not be appropriate however for some neighborhoods, since they do make a little bit of noise. For areas that do not have a lot of wind on a regular basis, they may also not be quite as functional as they could be in other areas.

For those that are looking for a simple heating solution, corn pellet stoves are another popular alternative source of energy. These work like a traditional wood stove, but instead of wood, they use actual corn. The high price of corn this year however may affect those that switched to this mode of heating, and the other main downside is that they can produce quite a bit of dust and can be hard to keep clean.

Whether it is adding a simple wood stove, using solar panels or getting your own wind turbine, there are many different ways that homeowners can save money on electricity and heating by turning to alternative energy. As the costs for regular means of powering homes go up, more solutions will undoubtedly be made available. In the meantime, simply turning your heat down, sealing your home in the winter and relying on less power can have a big impact on your overall energy costs.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-28 05:12:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Solar Power Your Home For Dummies By Rik DeGunther As energy prices keep going up, many homeowners are starting to investigate cheaper alternative energies that can be easily installed, and run on a daily basis. Whether you’re trying to cut costs, or you just want to go green, solar power is often the first choice of many homeowners. The......
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