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 Bowling Green, KY

Latitude: 36.981657 -- Longitude: -86.444423

ZIP Codes for Bowling Green, Kentucky	42101 42102 42103 42104
Area Code for Bowling Green, Kentucky	270
Time zone for Bowling Green, Kentucky	CST

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Bowling Green is the fourth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kentucky after Louisville, Lexington and Owensboro, with an estimated population in 2005 of 52,272. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of and is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated population of 110,990 (2005). Bowling Green was founded in 1798 after Robert and George Moore donated 30-40 acres to the Warren County trustees. The land surrounded the 2-acre plot they had previously donated for the construction of public buildings. In 2003, Bowling Green and its surrounding communities were designated as a metropolitan area. General Motors has an assembly plant in Bowling Green in which all Chevrolet Corvettes and Cadillac XLRs have been constructed since 1981 and 2003 respectively. Other significant businesses in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom and Holley Performance Products. -- Source: Wikipedia.com

Kentucky 2000 Census Population Profile Map

	Bowling Green	Kentucky	United States
Population	49,296	4,041,769	281,421,906
Median age	28.6	35.9	35.3
Median age for Male	27.2	34.6	34
Median age for Female	30.4	37.1	36.5
Households	19,277	1,590,647	105,480,101
Household population	43,807	3,926,965	273,643,273
Average household size	2.27	2.47	2.59
Families	10,697	1,104,398	71,787,347
Average family size	2.91	2.97	3.14
Housing units	21,290	1,750,927	115,904,641
Occupied units	19,277	1,590,647	105,480,101
Vacant units	2,013	160,280	10,424,540

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November 20, 2008

Local Information for Bowling Green, KY

Latitude: 36.981657 -- Longitude: -86.444423

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