November 20, 2008

This year’s energy scare is a taste of what will come. Experts all agree that our use of energy in this country has to change. So if you’re looking to buy a home, how do you choose a home that has a moderate appetite for energy? Although “green” homes are becoming more popular, they come at a price. But there are alternative choices that will provide savings if you are aware when you go looking.

The first thing to look at is the orientation of the home. Passive solar homes are designed to work with the sun. The ideal home is one with most windows facing the south. During the hot summer months, the sun moves over your house but will not directly shine into the south facing windows. During the winter months, the sun is lower and will shine into your south facing windows, providing solar warmth to your home. A home with a lot of west facing windows will have much higher cooling bills as the hot afternoon summer sun will penetrate even double glazed windows.

Next take a look at how the house conserves energy. The existing homeowner may be able to tell you what the energy efficiency rating is on the house. Are the windows double or tripple glazed? Is there insulation in the attic and under the floors (not all areas of the country need insulation under the floors). Do the built-in appliances have an ENERGY STAR rating? Is the home leaking energy? Sealing air leaks is the quickest and cheapest energy improvement you can make. Actual savings vary for each home, but it is possible to reduce energy costs by one-third. Sealing air leaks can save money in other ways, because a tighter home envelop allows for smaller-capacity heating and cooling equipment. The best way to reduce air leaks and implement the right ventilation strategy is to hire an energy analyst to run a blower door test.

Bear in mind that once you buy a home you there are other things you can easily do to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Unplug appliances when not in use, especially chargers. Switch to using energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Look for ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs by choosing the right lumens (not watts). Use cold water to wash clothes, line dry items, use air dry instead of heated dry on your dishwasher. Invest in thermal shades or drapes.

So with a little forethought, your next home could be a partner in your effort to save both money and the earth’s natural resources!

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Local Information for Columbus, GA

ZIP Codes for Columbus, Georgia	31829 31901 31902 31903 31904 31905 31906 31907 31908 31909 31914 31917 31993 31994 31995 31997 31998 31999
Area Code for Columbus, Georgia	706
Time zone for Columbus, Georgia	EST

Other Area Cities: Phenix City, AL Columbus, GA Fortson, GA

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As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 186,291 people, 69,819 households, and 47,686 families residing in the city. The population density was 332.6/km² (861.4/mi²). There were 76,182 housing units at an average density of 136.0/km² (352.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.42% White, 43.74% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.54% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.49% of the population.Columbus is home to many exciting cultural, artistic, and athletic venues. The Springer Opera House, state theatre of Georgia, the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, the Bradley Theatre, Port Columbus Civil War Naval Museum, the Columbus Museum, and the Columbus Civic Center. Columbus is also the home of Historic Columbus Foundation's Riverfest Weekend [1], a major Georgia festival and a Top Twenty Event in the Southeast. Riverfest Weekend is always the last full weekend in April. -- Source: Wikipedia.com

Georgia 2000 Census Population Profile Map

	Columbus	Georgia	United States
Population	185,781	8,186,453	281,421,906
Median age	32.6	33.4	35.3
Median age for Male	29.8	32.1	34
Median age for Female	35.3	34.6	36.5
Households	69,599	3,006,369	105,480,101
Household population	176,674	7,952,631	273,643,273
Average household size	2.54	2.65	2.59
Families	47,560	2,111,647	71,787,347
Average family size	3.08	3.14	3.14
Housing units	75,940	3,281,737	115,904,641
Occupied units	69,599	3,006,369	105,480,101
Vacant units	6,341	275,368	10,424,540

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November 20, 2008

Local Information for Columbus, GA

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