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Draft Stoppers Help Conserve Energy And Save Money

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This entry was posted on 9/18/2007 1:06 PM and is filed under Draft Stoppers .

 "How Consumers Can Save Energy and Money with Draft Stoppers" 


The oil prices are on the boil, and with their stockpiles being low, energy costs have been increasing dramatically over the past couple of years. To know how much of a dent energy costs can make on the household budget, one needs to calculate energy costs over the years and then plan on how best to save on them.

Calculating Energy Cost Impact

1) During the years 2004 and 2005, the heating bill per household in the winter season averaged to $786 for the commonly used heating methods, namely, heating oil, natural gas, electricity and propane.

2) One year later, in 2006, the same heating bill per household leapfrogged by almost 33%, touching $1,044!

When energy costs shot up dramatically in a period of just one year, it upset a whole lot of household calculations. Energy saving experts opined that regular windows are often drafty and they allow the heat to escape out. It was estimated that this heat loss from the windows could account for 10–25% of the heating bill.

To top it, energy costs are rising due to rise in oil and gas prices and making quite a dent in every household's monthly income. It is also no secret that every homeowner wants to bring down his energy costs. One way to reduce energy costs would be to consume less energy, but that is not possible during the cold winter nights, or hot and humid summer days.

So, the best option to reduce the energy bills is to insulate the house in such a way that heat does not escape through weak window seals, through cracks in the windows, or through drafty doors. The same goes for the hot summer months, when the cool air from the air-conditioning unit escapes from these faultily insulated doors and windows, and causes the energy bills to escalate.
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However, there is good, in fact, excellent, news at hand for all those people who are keen on cutting down on their energy bills, but do not want to spend a whole lot of cash while going about their economy drive. And the solution comes in the form of the very economical Draft Stopper.

Draft Stopper Helps Save On Energy Bills

The Draft Stopper is a very tough, versatile and rugged piece of equipment designed primarily to cut down on energy costs.  Basically, it consists of a flexible nylon tube filled inside with polypropylene and can fit in easily at any place that is prone to leakage, be it the garage door, basement door, attic door, or windows. The best thing is that it is amazingly simple to use – all one needs to do is to push it close to the doors and window seals and the result is a thermally insulated environment that lasts for many, many months.
 
The Draft Stopper being tough is not easily prone to wear and tear. Even if cars pass over it daily, it can firmly stand its ground. Being plastic, it is waterproof and can take the rain or humidity easily. Homeowners can also use it to seal off basement/attic doors and unoccupied rooms to conserve energy and save money.

Installing Draft Stoppers makes a lot of sense. And they are quite affordable too. Purchasing Draft stoppers in bulk can turn out to be even more economical – two stoppers cost around $12.99, four will come for $19.99, and the cost of ten will come to as low as $29.99. Just imagine – for just $29.99, the American homeowner can energy-proof his entire house!

For further information, visit
http://www.cleanupstuff.com/door-draft-stopper-s/25.htm and start conserving energy and saving money on energy bills!


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    • 2/24/2008 7:40 AM Mark D. Tyrol wrote:
      How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home

      Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.

      These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause heat to pour out and the cold outside air to rush in -- costing you higher heating bills.

      Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits caulk and weatherstripping provide to minimize heat loss and cold drafts.

      But what can you do about the four largest “holes” in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan or AC return, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.

      Attic Stairs

      An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.

      Whole House Fans and AC Returns

      An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan cover. Installed from the attic side, the whole house fan cover is invisible. Cover the fan to reduce heating and air-conditioning loss, remove it when use of the fan is desired.

      Fireplaces

      A recent study showed that for many consumers, their heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the air leakage and wasted energy caused by fireplaces.

      An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a fireplace draftstopper. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, a fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.

      Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts

      An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted air infiltration, and keep out pests, bees and rodents as well. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.

      If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan, an AC return, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, you can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.

      Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover, an attic access door, and is the U.S. distributor of the fireplace draftstopper. To learn more visit www.batticdoor.com
      Reply to this
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