Showing posts with label energy star. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy star. Show all posts

Monday, February 2, 2015

HOME TIPS! : Seal Your Walls!


A simple home tip that may save you money and energy this winter.

We're all looking for ways to improve the energy-efficiency of our homes to help the environment and lower our utility bills in the process. Thankfully in Texas, basements are rare, so it's one less place you have to expect drafts to emanate. However, your home may have spots where air penetrates through the walls causing a draft and a change in temperature inside your home. This will likely occur in the areas where holes have been cut out of the walls to install plugs, switches, and canned lights. If you have ever removed these during cold weather, you have probably noticed some cold air pouring out.

You may reduce air leakage by using a tube of high quality caulk or a spray foam can to seal around the area where the electrical box meets the drywall. There are also alternative recessed lighting cans or fixtures that you can install which provide a tighter seal to keep the cool (or hot) temperatures out. This simple process will potentially save you energy this winter season!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

TAX FREE APPLIANCE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

ENERGY STAR logoFrom May 29th to 31st, 2010 Energy Star rated appliances will be sales tax free! If you are in the market for a new refrigerator, dishwasher, or other appliance this weekend is the time to go. There is NO LIMIT on the number of qualifying items you can purchase and no exemption certificate is needed. The 2010 Energy Star sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 31st (Memorial Day). 

The appliance purchased must be an appliance that has received an Energy Star rating. This is almost always advertised along with the product. Energy Star products not only reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, they also will reduce the amount of money leaving your wallet over time. Energy Star is a joint program between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. If an appliance is given the Energy Star rating it means the product meets strict energy efficient guidelines laid out by the agencies.

Examples of some sales tax-free items:
- Air conditioners priced under $6,000
- Refrigerators priced under $2,000
- Programmable thermostats
- Ceiling fans
- Dehumidifiers
- Dishwashers
- Incandescent & fluorescent light bulbs
- Clothes washers (but not clothes dryers)

Go here for more information on this tax-free holiday: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx96_1331/