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 Idaho Falls, ID

Latitude: 43.491775 -- Longitude: -112.032509

ZIP Codes for Idaho Falls, Idaho	83401 83402 83403 83404 83405 83406 83415
Area Code for Idaho Falls, Idaho	208
Time zone for Idaho Falls, Idaho	MST

Other Area Cities: Idaho Falls, ID Rexburg, ID

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Idaho Falls is the county seat and largest city of Bonneville County, Idaho, USA.GR6 As of the 2000 census Idaho Falls population was 50,730 (2003 estimate: 51,507).[1][2] Idaho Falls routinely switches places with Pocatello as the third largest city in the state and the largest city in the Eastern Idaho region. Idaho Falls is the principal city of and is included in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Idaho Falls-Blackfoot, Idaho Combined Statistical Area. The city is served by the Idaho Falls Regional Airport and is home to the Idaho Falls Chukars minor league baseball team. Its sister city is the town of Tokai-Mura, Japan. Idaho Falls borders on Ammon, Idaho. -- Source: Wikipedia.com

Idaho 2000 Census Population Profile Map

	Idaho Falls	Idaho	United States
Population	50,730	1,293,953	281,421,906
Median age	32.3	33.2	35.3
Median age for Male	31.2	32.2	34
Median age for Female	33.6	34.2	36.5
Households	18,793	469,645	105,480,101
Household population	49,784	1,262,457	273,643,273
Average household size	2.65	2.69	2.59
Families	13,173	335,588	71,787,347
Average family size	3.21	3.17	3.14
Housing units	19,771	527,824	115,904,641
Occupied units	18,793	469,645	105,480,101
Vacant units	978	58,179	10,424,540

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November 20, 2008

Local Information for Idaho Falls, ID

Latitude: 43.491775 -- Longitude: -112.032509

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