Programmable thermostats make it easy for homeowners to save energy and still come home (or wake up) to a comfortable house.

Following  our "House Posts", enjoy it.


Another effect that we should discuss is how your furnace or boiler delivers heat to your house. Most furnaces and boilers run either at full fire or off. When the combustion cycle starts, a certain amount of heat is used to warm up the heat exchanger and the duct or pipes. When the furnace or boiler shuts off, much of this heat will be lost.
(Having your ducts taped and insulated will help minimize this.) Any energy-saving strategy should also try to minimize the cycling of your heating system.

The most energy-saving alternative is to let your house become as cold as possible while you’re not home. What’s “as cold as possible”?
Don’t allow anything fragile (water pipes, for example) to freeze.
Allow just enough time for your heating system to bring the house temperature to its set point the moment you walk in the door.

But wait, there’s another complication. Even though the air temperature in your house may be at the perfect set point, you may feel less comfortable under these conditions. That’s because the surfaces in your house will probably be colder than if you had left the temperature set point higher. Cold surfaces will make you feel colder—not just because of touch (conduction), but also because of radiation.

The strategy of saving energy by allowing your house to drop in temperature while it’s unoccupied makes perfect sense. Programmable thermostats can “learn” how fast your house heats up and bring the temperature to the set point with little cycling. Also: Web-enabled thermostats, where you can access your home system from any Internet-connected computer, offer even more convenience for people with varying schedules.

Your Walls (House Painting)

(Thanks to How-To Magazine)

Painting your home inside or out requires careful planning and choosing how your paint finish is going to look is one of the key fundamentals of any painting project.

Gloss paint
Gloss paints have a highly reflective smooth surface and can help to reflect light and add a touch of class to surfaces. Solvent borne gloss paints are generally the toughest, most durable and most stain-resistant type of paint meaning you will benefit from a high polish finish that will last.
Gloss paints are easier to clean than paints with less surface smoothness making them ideal for areas exposed to heavy traffic or heavy use, especially where fingerprints, grease or grime are common.
Some areas where gloss paints are useful include kitchen, bathroom and laundry room walls; cabinets; banisters; doorways; windowsills and frames; and interior trim. Certain gloss paints can also be used on furniture.
The highly reflective appearance of gloss paints tend to highlight surface imperfections, making it essential to have a well prepared surface prior to applying. If walls or woodwork are either marred or irregular, it may be best to select paint with less sheen.

Semi-gloss paint
Semi-gloss paints, as the name suggests, have a slightly glossy appearance that is not as highly reflective as that of gloss paints. These types of finishes offer good stain resistance and are easy to clean, so they are especially popular among families with young children.
Paints with a semi-gloss appearance are excellent for use on many of the same areas as gloss paints. They are ideal for walls and woodwork which are subject to wear, including: kitchens and bathrooms; hallways; foyers and bathrooms; children’s rooms; playrooms; doors and doorways; windows and trim.
Eggshell, satin or low sheen paint
Paint manufacturers use various names for finishes whose sheen levels are lower than semi-gloss, yet more lustrous than flat paints. Among the terms commonly used are “eggshell”, “satin” and “low sheen”. (Satin or
low sheen paints sometimes have a slightly higher sheen than those with eggshell finishes).
Paints in this category tend to impart more warmth and depth to surfaces than flat paints. They resist stains better than flat paints, although not as well as semi-gloss and gloss paint. Eggshell, satin or low sheen paints are a good choice for rooms or areas where some sheen is desired and good cleaning properties are necessary.
Examples include: hallways, bathrooms, children’s rooms and playrooms. Occasionally, these types of paints are used for ceilings. However, their slight sheen will tend to highlight surface imperfections more so than flat paints.

Flat paint
Flat paints diffuse light, so they tend to conceal surface imperfections better than paints with higher sheen levels. As a result, they are a good choice for general use on walls and ceilings, especially those that are dented or rough.