Since there are many different sizes, styles, and types of architecture that we habitat, I can only tell you where, within your home, is the best place to install a thermostat that will then properly regulate the temperature, and maybe save you a whole lot of money.

First of all, the equipment that produces heat and/or cools your home must be in complete harmony with the thermostat that measures the indoor temperature. So too, that thermostat activates the heating or cooling equipment until the desired temperature within the area where your thermostat is located is achieved. As a result, the temperature within your dining room could be several degrees higher or less than the temperature within your bedroom or any other room in your home.

Do you have multi-zone temperature regulation for your home? If not, you have only one thermostat, so you must regulate the amount of heat or cold that is sent to or produced within each room in order to properly balance the temperature within the entire space of your home. That can be accomplished by increasing or reducing the amount of hot or cold air that enters each room. For a hot water system, you must reduce or increase the flow of hot water that flows through the radiators within your home.

The truth is, the rooms next to the exterior walls of your home usually cool faster or warm faster than any of the interior rooms of your home. As an example, during the winter it can be 20 degrees outside and, in spite of the best insulation available, that cold will be transmitted to the interior room directly behind that wall. That is known as an exterior wall. All of the other walls within your home are known as interior walls.

If you haven’t already guessed, your thermostat should be mounted on an interior wall that will be as far away from an exterior wall as possible. That being, the only influence that will cause your thermostat to activate your heating and/or cooling equipment will mainly be determined by the current air temperature, rather than the temperature of the wall.

With the above in mind, if your utility bill is higher than expected after doing all of the above you must seek the services of a professional who might discover the problem that you didn’t discover. So too, I sincerely hope that your efforts prove to be successful.

Article by Joseph Malek. For more articles by this author, visit Helium.

If you made home improvements in 2009, make sure that you have what you need to claim the credits on your 2009 taxes. If you missed out in 2009, these credits still apply for 2010. Start planning now so that you can take advantage!

Here are some of the basics; for detailed information go to EnergyStar.Gov.
1. The eligible improvement must be placed in service or work must be completed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.
2. A maximum of $1,500 can be claimed for qualifying products.
3. You must have a Manufacturer Certification Statement for the product in order to qualify. Save receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement; for new windows, keep the Energy Star label.
4. Improvements must be made to your principal residence. However, certain products also qualify for second homes.
5. Claim improvements made in 2009 on your 2009 taxes using IRS Tax Form 5695.
6. Tax credits for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters are not available for new homes. Certain other improvements do qualify for new homes.

Items that are eligible for the tax credits include:
1. Exterior windows, skylights, storm windows, and doors that have a U factor below 0.30 and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC, of less than 0.30.
2. Certain types of insulation – specific lifespan and warranty requirements apply.
3. Energy Star brand metal or asphalt roofing – specific lifespan and warranty requirements apply.
4. Central air conditioning
5. Furnaces – either natural gas or propane
6. Heat pumps
7. Hot water boilers
8. Hot water heaters – either gas, oil, or propane
9. Biomass stoves
10. Photovoltaic solar panels
11. Wind energy systems
12. Residential fuel cells and micro-turbine systems

All qualifying products must meet certain energy-efficiency levels; thus, not all products qualify for the tax break. Only those with higher energy efficiency ratings are eligible, and these products typically cost more than standard products. Also remember that the $1,500 maximum (as a percentage up to 30% of the cost of the upgrade) is cumulative for ALL improvements.

If you’re thinking about making home improvements this year, the time is definitely now! Your home improvement professional can provide you with additional information on qualifying products and exceptions.

Most people prefer to make use of salt to de-ice their driveway. Salt, or sodium chloride as it is also known, has been used for many years, and is often just sprinkled over the driveway to remove ice. There is though a cost involved, despite it being one of the cheapest options. Salt will work fairly fast in removing ice, but can cause damage to the driveway, as well as to the metal of any car that drives over it. Additionally salt will harm plants as it prevents them absorbing nutrients and moisture. Salt will only work when the temperature is in excess of 18 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are other chemicals available which will do a similar job to salt. Of these others the most common are Potassium Chloride, though this will also harm plants and is slower working that salt. Additionally Potassium Chloride only works when the temperature is above 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Faster working is Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride. Calcium Chloride will harm concrete and plants alike, whilst Magnesium Chloride will also harm plant life. All of the chemicals do remove ice from driveways, but there is a cost often to the driveway and the environment, and ice can reform fairly quickly if temperatures continue to rise and fall.

The old methods are still the best and shoveling snow and ice is the best for the environment and the driveway surface. If thick ice has been allowed to build u,p then a shovel is not the best tool to break it up. Many stores now sell ice chippers, tools which will break up ice, allowing them to be shoveled away. Care needs to be taken when using shovels and ice chippers, as too much force could see the driveway damaged.

Having cleared away the ice, then it is best to add some sand to the driveway. Sand itself will not do anything to the ice but will aide traction for both cars and pedestrians.

Removing ice from driveways is a chore but it is a necessity come wintertime. There are a number of options available to remove the build-up of ice but there is a price with each.

Written by Tim Harry. Find more articles by this author at Helium.

Benefits of Electrical Underfloor Heating
The principle advantage of electrical underfloor heating is that it is energy efficient. If installed in a room with adequate insulation, an electrical underfloor heating system can provide the same level of comfort as a traditional radiator system, but at an air temperature 3 or 5 degrees F lower. Traditional radiator systems heat the surrounding air, which rises to heat the space below the ceiling of a room first, whereas electrical underfloor heating systems heat the entire surface of the floor first. This creates a more comfortable temperature gradient, with an even distribution of heat and no hot or cold spots.

Not only that, but the increased efficiency of underfloor heating means that you can save anything up to 20% on your domestic fuel bills and, in turn, reduce your carbon footprint. Traditional radiator systems can also create convection currents in the air, which circulate dust and other allergens, so underfloor heating can be beneficial to sufferers of asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Of course, underfloor heating is also effectively invisible, so there are no unsightly radiators or pipes to interfere with the interior design of a room. Electrical underfloor heating is also cost effective and can be installed by a reasonably competent DIY enthusiast.

Floor Coverings
Underfloor heating obviously relies on thermal conduction, so materials with high thermal conductivity, such as natural stone, ceramic, etc. are ideal for use as floor coverings. That said, however, electrical underfloor heating cables, mats and films are available in a range of output wattages, to suit a range of environments and floor coverings. An area of high heat loss such as a conservatory may require an output of 150 or 200 W/m2 (”Watts per square meter”), but underfloor heating elements with lower outputs, suitable for installation beneath laminated wood, vinyl, carpet, etc., are also available. It is, of course, important to abide by manufacturers’ guidelines with regard to both heating elements and floor coverings.

For more information on heated under floors, please go to Hot Floors.

I know we posted this last year, but the program is still up and running, and we thought this is such a great cause and a great way to recycle. If you are interested in sending cards, please read below for more information on how these cards will be used.

“Over thirty years ago, wishing to show our donors appreciation for making St. Jude’s Ranch for Children possible, the idea was conceived for turning the previous year’s Christmas cards into “new” cards for the coming season. The recipients were so delighted with their unique “thank you,” they requested the children sell them the special cards. And so, the St. Jude’s Ranch Recycled Card Program was born. “

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children are now accepting used card fronts from Christmas cards and any other occasion from now until February 28, 2010. In the past, St. Jude’s temporarily suspended the accepting of cards because they were overwhelmed with the response from many caring donors that they needed to take time and reorganize the program. Now, they are accepting cards again. If you happen to read this after February 28th, you can still donate, but you will need to visit the St. Jude’s website first for different instructions at http://www.stjudesranch.org/

St. Jude’s has been collecting old cards and making new ones for over 30 years, which gives the children an opportunity to make “green Christmas” cards, learn about recycling, and raise money for St. Jude’s. Recycling our old cards also gives us a chance to be “green”, offer supplies to a great organization, and be able to support a worthy cause.

If you would like to donate your used card (fronts only), please send to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

For more information and to keep updated on this program, please visit St. Jude’s website often. http://www.stjudesranch.org/

You can also purchase these “green cards” by contacting St. Jude’s Ranch:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
ATTN: Donor Office
P.O. Box 60100
Boulder City, NV 89006-0100
Phone: 1(877) 977-SJRC