High utility bills are a common issue for many households. When people get high electricity bills for a couple of months in a row, they usually think that it’s due to inefficient appliances, lighting fixtures, or boilers, or poor insulation, which is true, in most cases, but many fail to take the their garage into consideration, which can have a great impact on a home’s energy efficiency.

Garages are often overlooked when thinking about energy efficiency, but they actually drain a lot of energy, mostly because a garage’s door is opened and closed numerous times over the course of each day, and because homeowners fail to insulate their garages properly, so they are oftentimes the main reason for rising energy costs. But, the following tips might help you improve your garage’s energy efficiency and lower your electric bills.

Insulate Your Garage Door

Poorly insulated garage doors are among the main causes of low efficiency. If you feel that you are spending too much money on electricity, one of the first things you should do is check your garage’s door and see if it’s insulated well. If it’s not insulated correctly, you can either buy a new door that is insulated properly, which is obviously the easier, but a considerably more expensive solution, or you can insulate your current door on your own, which costs much less. All you have to do is buy an insulation kit, that you can get for as little as $50 – $60, and apply the radiant barrier sheets on the inside of your door. Also, look for air leaks around the door, and if you find some, seal them with some weatherstripping.

Insulate the Walls

To do this, you will need an R-value insulation, which should be put between a garage’s joists, or blown into the drywall. This will provide great thermal insulation, which many garage walls, especially in homes that were built a couple of decades ago, don’t have.

Check the Windows

Another thing that can affect the energy efficiency of your garage is old windows that don’t provide any insulation whatsoever. That’s why you should either replace your old windows with ones that are Energy Star certified, but they can be a bit expensive, and if you want a cheaper solution, you can apply insulation strips to the existing windows, which can do a good job of keeping the cold air out and the warm air in.

Get More Efficient Light Bulbs

Garage lighting is another huge energy drainer. Most homeowners don’t think that the light bulbs in their garage consume a lot of energy, but regular bulbs are pretty inefficient and may increase your energy bill significantly. That’s why you should replace your old bulbs with LED or CFL lights, that need much less electricity than incandescent bulbs.

Install Solar Panels

This is arguably the most expensive solution for making your garage more energy efficient, but it’s definitely the most effective one. If you install solar panels, you won’t depend on electricity to warm up your garage, and you will save a lot of money in the long run.

List made by:

Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and “car tech” expert. He is full-time contributor to DMV.com, a collaborative community for US drivers.

Do you have infestation problems in your business?

As a business owner you can thank Amicus Environmental for the very helpful information contained within this article, if you have environmental issues within your business premises their team are the experts you should really speak to.

Introduction

One of the most common peeves that people have today is when visitors linger too long and don’t leave. When you’re tired, or you’ve had a long day at work, the last thing you want is to have them overstay their welcome. Unfortunately, some guests just don’t take hints as well as others. And unless your last name is ‘Do-little’, you won’t be able to ask the mice to politely vacate your premises, or tell the insects and ants that you don’t like it when they join you for breakfast.

If you want to keep your place yours, don’t put out the welcome mat for unwanted guests. Here’s how you avoid animal infestation in your premises.

1. Pet Hate

Flea infestations are surprisingly common. You won’t often hear about them though, because nobody wants to tell you that last Sunday they had you round for flea and cakes, do they? As embarrassing as it may seem, it’s a regular issue, so don’t panic if it happens to you! You do, however, need to make sure a few things are in place to reduce the likelihood of it happening in your building or home.

There are plenty of natural and chemical treatments for your furniture, rooms and pets that can be applied regularly to stop fleas. Get covers for your seats and sofas too; this will stop the little delights from hiding in your furniture! Fleas don’t survive well in cold either, so make sure that you don’t have the heating on if you’re not home. Open your windows and let cool fresh air in whenever you can handle the breeze! Make sure your cats, dogs or other furry pets have regular checkups, and keep an eye on any itching or patchy fur. Job done!

Getting rid of fleas is an important job.

Image source: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5306/5565793725_d11f43e748.jpg

2. Oh Crumbs!

The next major cause behind infestation is food. Rodents and pests seem to find their way in somehow, especially in adjoined buildings with wall cavities and cellars. It’s rare that they’ll be sticking around though if they don’t have anything to sustain them. As simple as tidying up your food waste seems, it’s common to leave crumbs and store dry/open food at floor level, which is easy access for animals. Animals are smarter and more resourceful than you think. If you’re not ready to hear the patter of little feet then mop, sweep and vac your floors regularly, and keep easy-to-reach snacks in sealable containers. Rodents will chew through cling-film and cardboard like a knife through butter.

Leaving out rotten food attracts pests.

Image source: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6188/6091872749_6708a2d07c.jpg

3. Burn Your Bridges

Houses with a cellar and older ventilation or drainage systems are particularly vulnerable, as are semidetached or terraced housing. Mice, rats and other animals can scale a street with ease if everywhere is well connected. Even if you keep the model home, your neighbour may not. Make sure that your house is well sealed; calling on specialist companies for advice and services is a great way to get the job done right the first time, and peace of mind along with it. They’ll also offer other preventative measures, and can take a look at any cavities or potential access/infestation points in the premises.

Conclusion

There are all simple things you can do to help avoid animal infestation in your premises. Plenty of practical tips will make sure you don’t get unwanted visitors that aren’t paying board for their food or accommodation! Depending on the area and the type of building you’re in, you might need a little more than just a regular sweep so, don’t be afraid to call in the experts. Don’t fight a losing battle; win the war before it starts. Avoid unwanted invaders, and keep them out for good!

Image credits: dluogs and APM Alex