Brian Krause is founder and owner of Woodstar Energy, a provider of construction services, home remodeling and renewable energy serving the Northwest Chicago suburbs. Whether you are looking into going solar, installing energy-efficient windows or doors or simply saving on energy costs, he can tell you everything you need to do.
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is energy that can be naturally replenished. So it covers the energy we get from rain, wind, tides, the sun and more. If you choose to go with renewable energy, you will eventually make a remarkable cost savings, and will also be doing your bit to help the planet.
What is a Home Energy Audit?
Invite Woodstar Energy into your home to do a home energy audit for you, and we can find out where you are losing energy and what you can do to make the best cost savings around. It’s just one way we can help you to make the most of things.
Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Windows
The government has announced a special tax rebate that will apply not only to windows, but to other energy-efficient upgrades you may be making in your home. Act fast, as these rebates will not be around much longer.
How to Reduce Energy Use
There are many ingenious, cheap and easy ways that you can reduce the energy consumption in your home. They include changing furnace filters, replacing light bulbs, turning lights off when not in use, and getting rid of that old fridge lurking in your basement.
Installing Solar Heating System Services
Most people direct the bulk of their natural gas and energy use toward heating. So what better way to save money than to install a solar heating system instead? It will offset your heating needs remarkably, and make a huge difference to your heating bills.
Why to Use Solar Roof Panels
If you are concerned both about the state of your wallet and the state of the environment, then you might consider using a solar roof panel. It can offset the price of heating your home, as well as hot-water costs, and impact your budget.
Solar Swimming Pool Heaters
Often, people are put off installing a swimming pool in their home because they are frightened of the huge overhead costs. But you can keep the cost of heating a pool down if you install a solar swimming pool heater, which is a lot easier to do than you might think.
Economy and Solar Energy
You might think that with a less-than-stellar economy, fewer people are choosing to invest in solar products. Actually, the opposite is true as more and more people are realizing that these types of long-term investments make sense, both for your wallet and the planet.
Fixing Fireplace Leaks
Having a fireplace sounds like a grand idea. But when a fireplace is not in use, it often draws cold air in. Luckily, there are ways to seal these types of air leaks so that you are fireplace is doing the best for you and your family, even when it is not in use.
Signs Your Sump Pump Needs Replacing
If your sump pump is old, has a small leak, or is making a weird noise, that is an obvious sign that trouble is afoot. Keep abreast of what your sump pump is doing to prevent a home flood before the water begins to seep into your basement.
Preventing a Home Flood
Maintaining your sump pump is probably the best way that you can prevent a home flood. Having an automatic alarm dialer, which calls your phone when there is a problem with your sump pump, can give you complete peace of mind.
Installing a Corn-Burning Furnace
How many people knew that you can actually have a furnace that runs on corn? If you live in an area where corn is plentiful, this might be a novel way to heat your home. Don’t worry, it can be fed automatically.
Benefits of Insulated Siding
If your home is more than 20 or 30 years old, chances are the siding is not insulated. This results in a huge amount of energy loss, but luckily there are ways to rectify the situation, as this article points out.
What Are Geothermal Heating Systems?
Digging deep into the ground is one way to harness energy. The temperature beneath the surface of the earth is relatively constant, so it is possible to tap into it and use it to heat your home. This method of heating and hot water is becoming a lot more popular than it used to be, and for many people, it is a viable alternative to traditional HVAC systems.
Using Wind Turbines for Energy
If you are lucky enough to live in an area where there is a constant source of wind, then you may be able to have a wind turbine to produce natural, renewable energy. There are two main types and both are good, but they are not suitable for every area.
What is Enphase Micro-Inverter Technology?
Converting solar DC power into grid-compliant AC power is what these inverters are all about. They will make the solar technology in your home safer and it will be cheaper to use as well.
Whole House Fans
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money next summer running the air conditioner in your home full blast every single day, then installing a whole house fan might be the answer. It will draw the heat up and out of the house, thereby cooling it down and making it more comfortable for everyone.
Upgrading Your Patio Doors
Old patio grades not only look unsightly, but often they were not built in an energy-efficient manner either. That’s why getting new ones, or upgrading the ones that you have, can make a lot of financial sense.
Back-up Power Solutions for Your Home
It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: The power goes out in your home due to an electrical storm, and your sump pump fails. Don’t worry, with a back-up power solution, this nightmare will never become a reality.
Vinyl and Wood Window Installation and Replacement
Vinyl windows may not be as trendy as wooden ones, but they often perform better. Wooden ones might look nicer, but they need more maintenance. Exploring the pros and cons of these two window types, and how to get the most from each, is what this article is all about.
