Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/54597
4B Daily News – Saturday, February 4, 2012 Country Life & garden The truth about those energy-saving tips (MCT) — You've read the energy-saving tips. You've armed yourself with caulk. You're ready to do some serious damage to your gas and electric bills. Not so fast. Some common recom- mendations for cutting ener- gy use don't save as much as we're led to believe, said Michael Blasnik, a build- ing-science consultant from the Boston area. Blasnik analyzes and evaluates ener- gy efficiency claims, and he's found that some widely cited savings don't hold up to scrutiny. "A lot of things have really not been evaluated. ... It's remarkable how little research has been done on what really saves energy," Blasnik said. He's out to change that. In an effort to figure out what really works, he's done analysis that includes study- ing the utility bills of home- owners who participate in home weatherization pro- grams and comparing their savings to the expectations offered by such sources as government agencies, utility companies and, yes, news- paper articles. In the process, he's bust- ing some energy-saving myths. That's not to say those things aren't worth doing. Some might make your home cleaner or more com- fortable, or they may be important to maintaining what you own. And there's an argument to be made that even tiny savings add up for the greater good. What's more, Blasnik is quick to note that variables such as how we live, how our homes are built and the climates we live in make it impossible to come up with exact numbers across the board. But the bottom line is if you undertake some ener- gy-saving measures with expectations of slashing your energy bills, you may be disappointed, Blasnik said. Here are what he consid- ers some of the least effec- ters that trap allergens, he'd follow the directions on the filter. And he points out that it's important to start air conditioning season with a clean filter because air con- ditioners need adequate air flow. But otherwise, he thinks changing the furnace filter once a season is enough. tive recommendations. • Replacing windows. A lot of good arguments can be made for replacing old, leaky windows. They'll make your home more comfortable. They can solve condensation prob- lems and prevent moisture damage. They might boost your home's resale value. But they won't pay for themselves in energy sav- ings, Blasnik said. In a study he completed for Concord Municipal Light in the Boston area, he determined that replacing 15 old windows would save $42 to $112 per year. Even at that higher number, it would take more than 62 years' worth of energy sav- ings to pay for $7,000 worth of windows. • Weather-sealing win- dows and doors. Caulking and weather- stripping windows and doors is a better idea for increasing comfort than saving energy, Blasnik said. Maybe 20 percent of the air leakage in a house is through the windows and doors — even less in a newer, tighter home, he said. Blasnik said the bulk of the leakage in a typical home is from air coming into the basement, traveling up through wall cavities and escaping through the attic. In his research, caulking and weatherstripping doors and windows saved $7 to $28 a year. • Closing the refrigerator door quickly. Despite the harping of moms everywhere, standing in front of an open refriger- ator while you ponder its contents will not drive up your electricity bill, Blasnik said. The moment you open the door, the cooled air rush- es out, and it's a fairly trivial loss, he said. Most of the refrigerator's coldness is held not by the air but by the contents, and those contents won't warm up significantly in the time it takes you to decide between the leftover pizza and last night's meat- loaf. You could open the refrigerator door hundreds of times before you'd waste the energy you do by putting a pot of hot soup into the refrigerator, he said. • Cleaning refrigerator coils. Dirty coils, the reasoning goes, make your refrigerator work harder. Cleaning them may have been good ener- gy-saving advice back when refrigerators gobbled electricity, but Blasnik said that's no longer generally true. Most refrigerators built in the last 15 years use far less power than older mod- els. So say your fridge uses $70 in electricity in a year. Cleaning your coils might make the refrigerator oper- ate 10 percent more effi- ciently, but that's an annual saving of just $7, he pointed out. "I wouldn't say, 'Don't clean your refrigerator coils,'" Blasnik said. But don't expect to see a big dif- ference in your electricity bill. • Changing the furnace filter monthly. The main reason fur- naces have filters is to keep dirt in the air from fouling up the furnace. But at least in the case of inexpensive, standard furnace filters, they do a better job of filtering the air when they're a little dirty, Blasnik said. For high-efficiency fil- That doesn't mean you never have to change the fil- ter. A filter that becomes clogged with dirt will restrict air flow, and that will make your furnace run less efficiently, Blasnik said. • Unplugging cell phone chargers. You've probably heard about vampire power, which is the standby elec- tricity that's used even when devices are turned off or aren't actively operating. That was a problem five or 10 years ago and still is with some devices, Blasnik said, but in many cases manufac- turers have greatly reduced that power use. That's the case with cell phone chargers. Blasnik said today's chargers use an unmeasur- ably small amount of elec- tricity when they're not charging phones _ "in the cents per year," he said. So leaving yours plugged in when it's not in use won't break your energy budget. • Closing drapes at night. Closing window treat- ments such as draperies, shades and blinds at night may make you more com- fortable because they divert the flow of cold air. But Blasnik said that with stan- dard window treatments, that air still gets in. On the other hand, open- ing window treatments on sunny days does save some energy, he said. The heat from the sun offsets heat loss through the window. •Tuning up a furnace yearly. The annual energy sav- ing from tuning up a gas furnace is minimal — any- where from nothing at all to $42, according to Blasnik's research. By NORMAN WINTER McClatchy-Tribune News Service The gazania has to rank near the top of those daisy-like flowers that are so beautiful, everyone longs to have them in the garden. If you find yourself in that category then remem- ber the name Sunbathers. This is a relatively new series that has garnered attention with its riveting colors and ease of growing. The Sunbathers flowers are huge and semi-double reach- ing almost 6 inches in width. This semi-double habit means the flowers will not close at night as is typical with most other varieties. They are available in four colors with my favorite being the Gold Coast a deep yellow gold, and Sun- set a fiery orange with hints of bronze. The other colors are Moonlight, a pale yellow, and Malibu a stunning golden orange that ranks high among many gardeners. The Sunbathers has a remarkable heat tolerance that has been lacking for gardeners in the south. It is perennial in zones 8-10 and a terrific annual in colder regions. The foliage has a thick, almost succulent, feel to the touch giving you indication of its toughness. The durability however relies on your soil preparation. Soggy soil simply will not do. This is equally critical during the winter when you are planning on a spring return. So choose a site a full sun and incorporate 3 to 4 inches of organic matter. These are vegetatively propagated plants so you will be buying nursery grown transplants. Space your transplants about 12 to 15 inches apart. The mature plants will reach about 12 inches tall and form a rosette of thick foliage reaching 15 inches in width. Add a layer of much after planting but know these are drought tolerant low water use plants. The Sunbathers gazanias are also well-suited to growing in containers. In fact if you doubt your garden soil is fertile or lacks good drainage then this is the way to go for you. The brilliant colors will thrill just as much in a mixed con- tainer on the porch patio or deck as it will in the garden. Your choices for companion plants are almost unlimited. Try violet or purple flowers like trailing petunias with the Gold Coast gazania for a show-stopping complementary partnership. I like scaevola or blue fan flower for a dazzling trailing combination with the Sunset. For a spiky flowered partner look no further than the mealy cup sage or Salvia farinacea like Victoria blue, Cathedral Deep Blue or Evolu- tion. There is very little maintenance required. Deadheading or removing spent flowers will keep the plant tidy and keep the blooms in production. Feed your Sunbathers with a light application of a controlled released fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks or per formula recommendations. The gazania is back in town, it is bigger, bolder and eas- ier to grow thanks to the new Sunbathers series. Spring is not here so talk to your nurseryman about getting a supply of these hot new plants for your garden. HOME SERVICES DIRECTORY $9900 Blinds Need Blinds? C A L L P A U L Blinds & Draperies www.nsbd.biz Lic.#906022 Landscape/Fence Tractor & Landscape Service Steve's • Fence Building • Landscaping • Trenching • Rototilling • Disking • Mowing • Ridging • Post Hole Digging • Blade Work • Sprinkler Installation • Concrete Work Cont. Lic. #703511 Steve Dyke 385-1783 527-0842 North State Paul Stubbs On-Line No early cancellation, non-refundable Residential • Commerical PATIOS • DECKS Construction Remodel, Construction Burrows New Additions, Siding Repair and Replacement, Water and Dryrot Damage Specialist, New Construction Foundation to Finish FREE ESTIMATES & REFRENCES Lic#824770 Ph: (530) 515-9779 Plumbing/Handyman Jim the Plumber and Handyman Services 25 years experience Free Estimates Free Travel Time See Angie's List No Job to small Quality work ...cheaper! Local References (530)366-6033 24 hour service Lic#11003 528-1456 530-736-7079 Grandpa's Clocks 20910 Pebblestone Dr. Red Bluff Jim Paul Electrical clocks Call for appt. Member NAWCC Storage BAKER ROAD STORAGE Call for Manager's Special Mechanical, Battery and le Print and On-Line runs 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at www.redbluffdailynews.com in the Tehama Country Real Estate section Print Runs Every Monday - Wednesday- Friday Clock Repair Construction Your Clock Repair Shop Alns Construcin to • Plumbing • Drywall Repairs • Fences • Decks • Concrete • Garages Quality at a reasonable price FREE ESTIMATES 530 949-6162 CA LIC#914460 Contractor HIRE A LICENSED CONTRACTOR! Complete directory of Tehama County contractors online, listed by specialty on 2011 Contractors Guide under "Special Sections" www.RedBluffDailyNews.com Click on House Remodel / Specialist Rental Turnovers / Repairs Bathroom Remodels / Tile Painting • Electrical Construction FREMONT ABLE CONSTRUCTION Service • Installation All types of Additions, Remodels & Repairs Fast Reliable Work FREE Estimates Harry Vossoughi (530) 528-0723 (530) 526-4777 CA Lic #751534 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERICAL Heating & Cooling upholsterer, 30+ years of experience ALL HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE Specializing in Antiques (Non-Smoking Shop) Call Patricia 527-9557 Whole House Fans When you want it done right ... Whole House Fans Top of the Line Product by TRIANGLE ENGINEERING Radiant Barrier We also install the Best • Installed at the Lowest Prices Around! WHOLE HOUSE FANS Your Whole House Fan Low Price Leader NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (916) 484-0302 • toll free (866) 688-0302 WholeHouseFans.us • Norcalwhf@aol.com • Lic#842818 With this coupon. Limited time offer. $100 OFF Insulation • Designed by NASA Certified Furniture Upholstery home Sunbathers gazania is nothing short of sizzling P.J.'s Custom Upholstery