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 Big Spring, TX

Latitude: 32.243198 -- Longitude: -101.475231

ZIP Codes for Big Spring, Texas	79720 79721
Area Code for Big Spring, Texas	432
Time zone for Big Spring, Texas	CST

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Big Spring is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 87 and Interstate 20; its population of 25,233 (2000 Census) makes it the largest city between Midland to the west, Abilene to the east, Lubbock to the north, and San Angelo to the south. Big Spring was established as the county seat of Howard County in 1882 and is also the largest city in that county. The city got its name from the single, large spring that issued into a small gorge from between the base of Scenic Mountain and a neighboring hill, in the SW part of the city limits. The Spring, now dry, was of major importance to all life in the surrounding area. In the early 1840s, it was the center of a territorial dispute between Comanche and Pawnee tribes, and has been a major watering hole for wildlife and prehistoric man in this semi-arid area. (G. Brune, 'Springs of Texas', 1981). -- Source: Wikipedia.com

Texas 2000 Census Population Profile Map

	Big Spring	Texas	United States
Population	25,233	20,851,820	281,421,906
Median age	35.1	32.3	35.3
Median age for Male	34	31.3	34
Median age for Female	37.5	33.4	36.5
Households	8,155	7,393,354	105,480,101
Household population	20,447	20,290,711	273,643,273
Average household size	2.51	2.74	2.59
Families	5,463	5,247,794	71,787,347
Average family size	3.1	3.28	3.14
Housing units	9,865	8,157,575	115,904,641
Occupied units	8,155	7,393,354	105,480,101
Vacant units	1,710	764,221	10,424,540

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November 20, 2008

Local Information for Big Spring, TX

Latitude: 32.243198 -- Longitude: -101.475231

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