Outbound Continuous Insulation Is Key To Energy Efficiency

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Typical insulation in commercial and residential building over the past 60 years or so has been insulation placed in the wall between studs or in interior cavities. However, studies are now showing that the best insulation strategy is to place it outbound or outside the wall. This design offers a continuous blanket of protection that does not allow energy to be lost at wall and studs joints where interior insulation does not exist.

Currently continuous insulation of the building enclosure is considered to be the best insulation strategy. Continuous Insulation is defined by ASHRAE 90.1-2004 as “insulation that is continuous across all structural members without thermal bridges”” The most commonly used insulation in buildings today is called cavity insulation, which is not considered to be continuous insulation due to the thermal breaks in the insulation caused by the wall studs.
As more focus is put on increasing the energy efficiency of the built environment, many recent updates to the model energy and building codes as well as voluntary sustainable building programs emphasize the need for continuous insulation and high effective R-values across the building envelope as a means to achieving the best insulation strategy for energy efficiency.

Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) are the best continuous insulation systems available today. Introduced in the 1960″s and currently being used worldwide, they have been proven to be both effective and durable. EIFS provide a continuous insulation layer across the exterior wall surface. It is the best insulation as it provides 100% coverage of the walls, eliminating thermal bridging that can occur through the wall studs. Traditional insulation cannot provide continuous insulation as it is between-the-stud insulation, effective only where it is present.

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Interesting Landscaping Techniques To Make Your Home Stand Out

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Landscaping can be something simple; no need for advanced projects.
At other times, however, it can require advanced techniques or ideas to
create a work of art to make the home into a landscape masterpiece.
Whatever type of landscaping interests you, the advice contained in this
article is sure to be of great help.

If you are planning to sell your home in the near
future, it is important that you update your landscaping to add curb
appeal especially to the front of the home. A green, healthy lawn and
some landscaping stones, even something like a birdbath, can bring
prospective buyers more quickly than dead, brown grass and a bleak
landscape!

Talk to a professional prior to starting on a
landscaping project. Although they need not take part in the whole
project, paying a little money up front for their advice may mean the
difference between a stress free project and one that is fraught with
mistakes. This step is especially important if you are not experienced
in landscape design.

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Seattle Data Centers Energy Efficiency Best Practices

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This article will provide a brief overview of the United States Department of Energy’s Best Practices Guide for Energy Efficient Data Centers in Seattle. It will highlight best practices in the categories of Information Technology systems, air management, electrical and cooling systems and other opportunities for energy efficient design of data centers in Seattle.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers in Seattle can consume up to 200 times as much electricity as standard office spaces. Because data centers in Seattle consume so much energy, they are prime targets for energy-efficiency that can reduce electricity and ultimately save money. However, data centers often house mission-critical applications and reliability and high power density capacity are far more important than energy efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Energy created their best practice guide to provide energy efficient alternatives to inefficient data centers in Seattle.

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Advantages Of Installing Prefinished Wood Flooring

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Flooring plays a key role in enhancing the overall look of your place, be it your home or office. Processed in a factory, prefinished flooring is considered the best when it comes to choosing An attractive and durable flooring option for your place. Finishing treatments are applied to prefinished floors in order to make them resistant to stains and discolorations. Prefinished floors are easy to maintain, install and usually come with an extended factory finish warranty. Here is more on the advantages of installing prefinished flooring:

Durability
In the case of prefinished flooring, the factory applies finished treatment to the wood which includes some powerful chemical sealers. These treatments are not available with the on-site installers. These mainly consist of aluminum oxide crystals which are embedded in a UV cured urethane coat. Prefinished Hardwood Flooring offers a warranty of more than 10 years which is more than the other flooring options.

Variety
When it comes to having variety, prefinished flooring is available in a number of options including oak, walnut, maple, white oak and cork. With so much variety in the market, it becomes easier for people to choose the color and design as per their requirements.

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Furnace and Heater Maintenance Maximizing Energy Efficiency

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Most likely the type of heating system you have in your home is a forced air system. This type of system typically will continue to run smoothly with regular maintenance. Without regular maintenance, your furnace can quickly wear out. Maintaining your furnace should cost you around $100 a year, if not less. This is definitely more favorable than replacing the whole system. Proper maintenance will also keep your furnace operating efficiently. Efficiency is key to saving money on heating bills since heating accounts for about one-third of your energy bill. However, the biggest motivation for having your furnace serviced regularly should be safety. Your home furnace could be a source of a carbon monoxide leak if not properly maintained.

The number one thing you can do to keep your furnace in top working order is to clean it regularly! If you hire someone to do the job they will replace the air filter and clean the filter system, motor, and blower. If youre cleaning the furnace yourself, you may use a toothbrush to clean the fan blades and any other small areas accumulating dust. Before providing any maintenance on your heater be sure to switch off the power to the appliance by locating a switch. Also, do not forget to shut off the gas to the furnace by locating the knob near the gas line. The gas line is a black pipe that will be connected to the furnace. Turn the knob so that it sits perpendicular to the line to shut it off. It is now safe to open the furnace door, and vacuum in all the crevices your vacuum attachment can reach. Remember to vacuum out the base and around the base of the furnace. Try to remove as much debris and dust as possible. After cleaning the actual unit, make sure the area around the furnace is clean and clear of clutter as well. Never store any flammable liquids nearby or even in your furnace room.

Once all debris is removed, remove the old filter and replace it with a new one. The filter on your heater should be replaced monthly during the heating season. Continue to check all fan belts. The fan belts help the furnace blower operate. If you ever find that your furnace is running but heat is not being pushed through the vents, check for broken or worn fan belts. Replace any that look frayed, cracked, or worn. Check the tautness of the belts by pushing on the center of the belt. If the belt gives in more then an inch, the belt needs to be tightened by adjusting the the attachment bracket. If at any point you smell a gas leak, this is a serious problem. Do not continue to work on the furnace but leave your home and report the gas leak to your fire department and gas company.

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