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 Fond du lac, WI

Latitude: 43.775139 -- Longitude: -88.444907

ZIP Codes for Fond du Lac, Wisconsin	54935 54936 54937
Area Code for Fond du Lac, Wisconsin	920
Time zone for Fond du Lac, Wisconsin	CST

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Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom (or foot) of the lake, for it is located at the bottom (south end) of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census. The city borders the Town of Fond du Lac, although a small portion borders other adjacent towns. Together with surrounding communities, the Fond du Lac metropolitan area was, according to the 2000 census, home to 57,479 people. The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Fond du Lac Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Fond du Lac County (2000 population: 97,296), and which, when combined with the 'Beaver Dam (city), WI Micropolitan Statistical Area', form the larger 'Fond du Lac-Beaver Dam, WI Combined Statistical Area'. It was named the safest metropolitan area in the United States in the 2006 edition of City Crime Rankings by Quinto Press. -- Source: Wikipedia.com

Wisconsin 2000 Census Population Profile Map

	Fond du Lac	Wisconsin	United States
Population	42,203	5,363,675	281,421,906
Median age	35.7	36	35.3
Median age for Male	33.7	35	34
Median age for Female	37.3	37.1	36.5
Households	16,638	2,084,544	105,480,101
Household population	39,517	5,207,717	273,643,273
Average household size	2.38	2.5	2.59
Families	10,285	1,386,815	71,787,347
Average family size	3	3.05	3.14
Housing units	17,519	2,321,144	115,904,641
Occupied units	16,638	2,084,544	105,480,101
Vacant units	881	236,600	10,424,540

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November 20, 2008

Local Information for Fond du lac, WI

Latitude: 43.775139 -- Longitude: -88.444907

Enter our Photo Sweepstakes and Win $200 for your Fond du Lac photos!

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