Professional installation of insulation and drywall is essential for a polished look and quality thermal control. Keep your home cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and always looking sharp.

In the 1930s and ’40s, people used horsehair as insulation. We’ve sure come a long way! Nowadays, home and business owners have more insulation options than ever. Insulation isn’t a standard topic of conversation, but we rely on it more than we realize. Insulation helps keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer, helps reduce energy costs by approximately 30%, and even deadens exterior sound.

Your local insulation contractor can educate you on the best insulation choice for your particular space and demands. The insulation company will perform installations on new construction, remodels, and restorations in the aftermath of fire or flood. Some of the modern insulation materials and methods include:

• Spray foam insulation – This choice is great for filling in areas that are awkwardly shaped or riddled with nooks and crannies due to piping and other obstacles. Ideal for insulating around ceiling joists and in between wall frames, spray foam insulation comes in two types: closed cell and open cell. Your insulation contractor can recommend which will be a better choice. After installation, the liquid insulation hardens and expands to fill the space. Then, once it has dried completely, the excess is cut away to leave the insulation flush and neat.
• Soundproofing insulation – This is an excellent investment if you have noisy neighbors or a fledgling teenage garage band based at your address. Contractors will typically use the “drill and fill” method of soundproofing, which involves drilling holes in your walls, filling them with high density insulation (often spray foam) and then expertly patching the holes.
• Batt insulation – You’ve probably see these long pink strips of insulation before, as they are the classic insulation choice. Unlike older versions of this product, the more modern batt insulation features increased R-values (a measure of insulation’s efficiency), vapor barrier backings, and foil barriers to reflect heat.
• Blown insulation – Blown insulation, like spray foam insulation, fills the entirety of the area in which it is installed. Great for dampening sound and for increased thermal efficiency, this loose fiberglass insulation is installed behind a special containment netting and will never settle. It is also resistant to water, fire, and insects and other pests.

Insulation is an important element to any construction, but no one needs—or wants—to see it.  Your local drywall contractors are available to cover up your insulated areas with attractive walls that will aid in thermal efficiency. Your drywall contractor will do more than just slap up the drywall and call it a day. They will be responsible for all of the steps of drywall installation, including
taping, mudding, sanding, priming, and
painting.

Professional drywall painting and priming is essential for a smooth, even look, as the drywall surface and the mudded sections absorb paint at different rates. Only a professional priming job can ensure that your painted walls will look flawless. Your local drywall company should also be able to perform drywall repair to cover holes, dings, and seams.

For a professional look and a serious boost in energy-efficiency, call your local drywall and insulation contractors today!

If you think solar power is just about electricity, think again! The Sun’s energy can be harnessed to do much more than just generate electricity for your home. Solar power installation is effective for keeping the lights on, but it can also provide your home, and even your pool, with an ample supply of hot water. You can use the power of the Sun to make an eco-friendly choice for many of your energy needs, so what are you waiting for? Contact your area solar power contractors to learn more today.

Solar Panel Installation

When most people think of solar power, photovoltaic cells are the image that comes to mind. This type of solar panel converts the Sun’s energy into electricity that can be used to power lights, appliances, and any other part of your home. Solar panel installation can be used as your building’s sole source of electricity or can work to supplement the power you use from the municipal grid. Either way, your reliance on polluting fossil fuels will decrease as you generate your own electricity efficiently, cleanly, and effectively with your very own home solar panels.

Solar Water Heater Installation

What most people don’t realize is that the Sun’s energy can also be used for your water heating needs. From solar pool heaters to solar water heaters for your home, solar power is also an effective tool for all of your hot water. And because heating water accounts for up to 25% of the energy used in your home, switching to renewable, efficient solar power to heat your water can make a huge difference in your energy bills and your impact on the environment.

So if you’re ready to learn more about how solar power can help meet your energy needs, it’s time to call your local solar panel company for additional information!

Everyone can have an impact on the environment! Just by switching to more efficient energy sources and performing routine maintenance and upgrades, you can go green and save green all at the same time!

Endangered species. Global warming. Greenhouse gases. Carbon footprint. There are so many different phrases used to talk about environmental issues these days that it can be hard to understand where you fit into the puzzle and what you can do to help. It seems like green is the hip, responsible way to go, but you’re not a biologist or a celebrity. What kind of impact could you possibly have on the melting Arctic ice caps and adorably helpless koalas from your comfortable home in Suburbansburg?

The answer: a huge difference. Just by contacting or paying a visit to your local professional plumbers or electricians, you can have a equipment installed or repairs performed that will make your home so green, you might be tempted to call it a plant. Give your local plumbers a call today to learn more about geothermal heating and cooling, a method of controlling the air temperature in your home using the natural heat that is stored in the ground around your very own property! But that’s not all you can do. Ask your local plumber how a tankless water heater, an appliance that heats water as needed without wasting energy to keep it warm all day like traditional water heaters, can help reduce your energy usage and your energy bill.

Need a little bit of time to research and understand the economic and ecological benefits of these green systems before you commit to the change? Not a problem. In the meantime, there are plenty of small repairs that your local plumber can perform to increase your plumbing system’s efficiency and cut waste. Got a leaking faucet? Don’t let those pennies slide down the drain any longer–or waste precious fresh water. Call your local plumber today to set up an appointment for faucet repair, house repiping, and other great services!

Going green extends beyond plumbing. If you own an older house, it is likely that your electrical panel is not properly equipped to handle the amount of energy that modern life demands. Call your local electricians today to find out if you require an electrical panel upgrade. An archaic, practically prehistoric electrical panel is not only grossly inefficient, but it can also be dangerous! The residential electricians who come to your home will not only be able to switch out your panels so you can enjoy a safer home, lower energy bills, and better service, but they can also help with services like energy-efficient lighting installation. Your older lights can be using more energy and money than is truly necessary, but switching to CFL bulbs or even LED lighting can help eliminate inefficiencies. That’s a waste that neither you– nor the Earth–can afford!

It takes time to switch to a green lifestyle. But like everything that’s worth doing, the hardships and adjustments pay off in the end. Call your local electricians and plumbers today to see the impact that you, John and Jane Q. Homeowner, can have on the world around you!

Lower your energy bills by starting with an energy audit. The pros can help you learn how to best protect your home from energy leakage!

Opening your energy bills can be nerve-racking–that “amount due” number crawls higher and higher in tandem with the intense heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. But you don’t have to keep experiencing fear for your bank account every time a bill arrives. When you call your local energy savings professionals, you can take charge of your energy costs and make sure you don’t pay a single cent beyond what you should be paying. Call your local home energy efficiency experts today to ask about having an energy audit performed on your home.

An energy audit helps identify the location and severity of energy leaks in your home. Common places where energy leaks out include crawl spaces, vents, windows, and doors. During your energy audit, your local professional will use state-of-the-art tools such as a thermographic camera and a blower door to determine the specifics of your home energy-efficiency enhancement needs and help you develop an energy improvement plan that will help maintain your home’s temperature and keep your wallet fat!

Typically, an energy improvement plan includes replacing inefficient household components. This can include:

Siding – Siding contractors can help reduce your energy costs by helping you pick which siding will work best for your home. Choices such as insulated vinyl siding, steel siding, or vinyl siding all look great, but insulated vinyl siding can also help make your home more energy efficient. With all the benefits of traditional vinyl siding–the ability to maintain color, long-term durability, and attractive looks–plus added insulation, insulated vinyl siding can help keep your house toasty-warm in winter and cooler during the summer. Give your home a clean, sophisticated new look that will have your neighbors’ heads turning and your energy bills dropping!

Replacement Windows and Exterior Doors – Older, inefficient doors and windows can be drafty, ill-fitting, and unattractive. Window and door contractors can ensure expert installation of windows and doors of all shapes, types, and sizes. From half-circle windows and bay windows to fiberglass doors and ornate entrance doors, your local energy-saver professionals can lower your energy bills and make your home look classy, all at the same time!

For more information on energy audits, contact your local home energy savings professionals today!

Heat pump installation can help you cut your energy usage and costs. A practical way to reduce your impact on the environment as well as your energy bills, putting in a heat pump just makes sense!

With the growing concern about environmentally conscious energy, it seems like everyone is talking about how to go green for their own homes. A fantastic way to dramatically reduce your energy usage–and subsequently your reliance on fossil fuels–as well as save on energy costs, installing a heat pump is the smart way to keep your home comfortable year-round.

Unlike furnaces or boilers that make heat by burning fuel, heat pumps work by moving heat from one space to another. Utilizing indoor and outdoor temperature differentials, a heat pump can move warm air out of your home in summer and into your home in winter. Depending on your climate and property, your furnace service contractor may suggest either an air conditioner heat pump or a ground source heat pump. Ground source heat pumps use the relatively constant temperature of the soil to heat and cool your home, making them extremely efficient, while air conditioner heat pumps rely on outside air temperature to keep your home comfortable and can be less efficient, especially in colder climates. Regardless of what type of heat pump you have installed, you’ll see substantial savings over traditional furnace or boiler installation!

So what are you waiting for? Do something great for your wallet and the environment at the same time. And with federal Energy-Star tax credits on heat pump installation through at least December 31, 2010, your savings will really add up. Installing solar panels or wind turbines simply isn’t practical or affordable for all homeowners. But putting in an energy-efficient heat pump system is! Contact your local air conditioning contractor today for more information about heat pumps, your home, and how you can benefit both your budget and our planet with a more eco-friendly heating and cooling system. Call now to learn more.

Changing your furnace from oil burning to gas burning is a smart investment in your home–and in the planet. A more affordable fuel source for residential heating, natural gas is also the cleanest of the fossil fuels. That means you can cut your energy bills and polluting emissions all at once. If you’re ready to upgrade your home heating system, contact your local furnace company. These professionals can help with all of your oil to gas conversion needs.

With today’s high fuel costs, a gas furnace can help you save some serious cash. Did you realize it costs around one dollar less to produce 100,000 Btus with a gas furnace than with an oil furnace? It may not sound like much at first, but over the course of the entire fall and winter, that will really add up. In fact, oil to gas conversion can help you save hundreds of dollars in just one year.

But that’s not all you’ll be saving! Gas furnaces can also help you go green. As the cleanest-burning of all the fossil fuels, natural gas creates very little pollution. When you switch from burning oil to burning gas for your residential heating needs, you’ll be greatly reducing the amount of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides your home emits. That means cleaner air and even a cleaner furnace (and no build-up means no need for annual furnace cleanings). For a cleaner, greener home, gas furnaces are the way to go.

Oil to gas conversion is a relatively simple, easy process. Your furnace repair contractor should be able to help with oil furnace to gas furnace conversion from running the necessary plumbing to ensuring your chimney is safe for use with gas. You can either replace the oil burner in your existing furnace with a gas burner, or get an entirely new, energy-efficient gas furnace. But no matter which oil to gas conversion option you choose, you’re sure to save money and help the planet at the same time. Contact your HVAC contractor today to get started!

If your home has been impacted by flooding, chances are your heating equipment has been impacted too. Water heaters, boilers, and furnaces are important appliances to have checked after a flood. However, you can turn your disaster into a great opportunity!

Just when we thought the rain had passed, it turns around and hammers us again. And climate authorities in Boston, Mass. don’t suspect that we’ve seen the end. With the climate rapidly changing, it is suspected that flooding will only increase as the years advance. So where does that leave us? With a lot of water damage!

While people are throwing their saturated sofas and waterlogged wood to the curb, some smart people are calling to get their water heaters, furnaces, and boilers repaired. Furnaces and boilers are especially susceptible to water damage for two reasons: often located in basements and crawl spaces, these appliances are simply more likely to be affected by flood waters. Also, because they have complicated electric and gas valves/controls water can create major issues. Even if the system looks unaffected by water damage, it is vital to have a professional verify that it is in good condition. Often times, corrosion can build up on the valves and controls, which can be hazardous to your furnace and your family. A furnace or boiler with corrosion problems will not run properly, leading to major reliability issues. If the problem is left unchecked, it could even catch fire or explode! If your house has experienced recent flooding, call a licensed furnace company for boiler, water heater, and furnace repairs today. A qualified professional will clean, dry, and service your system, ensuring it will work properly and keep your home safe.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute recommends playing it safe by replacing your system, rather than repairing it. A professional water heater, boiler, or furnace repair specialist will be able to make the call for your individual case. If the repairman tells you that you need a new system, it is not necessarily bad news. New boiler installation, water heater installation, or furnace installation can provide you with opportunities to go green and save money on future heating bills. If 10% of the population switched to energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, the result would be the equivalent of taking 1.3 million cars off the road. Help prevent global warming and improve air quality all while maximizing your home’s energy potential and saving money at the same time! Not only will your furnace turn a profit, but the federal government is also offering a tax credit to anyone who installs an eligible energy-efficient product in their home.

If your home has been the victim of flooding, contact a licensed heating professional today for repairs or replacement furnaces and boilers.