The Best Part of going green is we get to save money in the process!

Some Simple Ideas:

• Have us install Compact Florescent light bulbs in your whole house.  Although they do cost more to buy, they last on average 8 times longer, and are 8 times less expensive to operate.  CFL also produce less heat than incandescent lamps so summer heating is also easier on the budget.  CFL come in many sizes and shapes. 
• We can install a programmable thermostat.  From the simple one that cuts back on heating and cooling when the house in not occupied to the very sophisticated one that plugs into a computer via a USB port and can have up to 516 different events.
• We can replace outdoor lighting with HID or CFL.  High Intensity Discharge fixtures offer much more light for less electricity.  They have a special lamp that is metal halide, high pressure sodium,  or mercury vapor.  CFL are now available for outdoor applications as well.  These use even less power and give off a much more "white" color of light.
• A whole house vent fan can make the difference between turning on the air, or just opening some windows.  A large quiet fan draws hot air from your house and pushes it out through the attic space.  This cools the whole house as well as cools the attic space offering a much more pleasant temperature.  Customers who have had this service have commented that their AC usage was cut in half.  This works best on two story homes with large attic space.

Some Not-So-Simple Ideas:

• We can install "Smart Home" products in your house.  These can be as simple as turning on a light or outlet at a particular time to as sophisticated as automatically unlocking the door, turning up the AC, turning on the radio, turning on the lights to 75% in the kitchen and 100% in the garage.  Smart houses can open windows until a set temperature in reached when all the windows close automatically and the air comes on.  The possibilities are endless.  I have a smart house and I don't think I could ever go back to a dumb house.  I have 5 children, and considering their Dad is an electrician, they still can't turn off a light.  The house turns off all lights at 8:10 am when the kids are at school, locks the door, and turns on the internet camera.  At 3:15 pm the door unlocks.  When the kids get home from school, the house sends me an email that motion has been detected.  I can log on to the internet and "peek in" on whether chores and homework is being done, or if popcorn and video games are the star attraction.  If a child comes home during the day, I know about it.  Please call me for a free evaluation on what you want your house to do,  and we can work out a step by step process so your house gets smarter each year.
• Solar power is the future!  From solar panels on the roof to shingles with photo-cells built in, you could be getting a check from the utility company instead of a bill.  There are so many opportunities for solar power these days, it is impossible to list them.  Please email me with your application and I will send some recommendations and pricing information.
• Wind power is real.  It does not have to be the huge tower in your front yard.  A small wind generator, 4' in diameter is available for the "average" residential customer.  E-mail me for details.