Hid lights

When Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County COO Ron Spoor began working with the organization more than 20 years ago, even microwaves and dishwashers were luxuries that they wouldn’t have considered, never mind building all green, Energy Star homes. However,How to replace fluorescent tube lights with led tubes, where the light fixture contains a ferro-magnetic ballast. after years of research and analysis, he said that it is clear that this is the right way to go and not only is in the best interest of the environment, it is for their homeowners, too. The people who buy Habitat homes are often single parents and are on the lower end of the economic scale. 

“Windows are a big deal,” Spoor said.In a laser cutting machine if you follow a few simple rules, no hold-downs are required. “…We use insulated glass. A lot of builders in Florida do not. That means there are two panes of glass and there is air in between. We use it because it is a better window, and we use vinyl windows because vinyl does not conduct heat. The aluminum ones are more conductive. … But the most important thing is that there is a Low-E coating that goes on there.The steel halligan Roof hook is one of the most versatile hooks used in the fire service today. So if the sun is shining on the window, if I were in my own personal home and stuck my hand near the window, it would feel pretty hot. But in these (Habitat) homes and you stick your hand in the sun, you feel no warmth from the sun because the Low-E coating blocks out that kind of energy.You will never need to change the bulbs and your solar led light will last for years and years.” 

This coating also helps prevent fading of furniture and other items, as an added bonus, he said. Habitat would never think of putting in a window without the Low-E coating, he said. Given the amount of energy savings they provide, this an easy decision. 

Another way Habitat designs homes with energy savings in mind is by installing ceiling fans in all the rooms, Spoor said. 

“Let’s say 78 degrees is comfortable for me with no air movement,” Spoor said. “But 82 degrees could be comfortable if there was air blowing on me.” 

Air circulation can make a big difference in one’s comfort level and thus save money on more costly air conditioning. 

Having enough insulation in the attic is also quite important in Florida, Spoor said, so that is also standard on all their houses. They also install solar water heaters in their homes because of a grant with Duke Energy, and this equates to a nice savings for the homeowner. 

“They’re really benefitting through the use of the solar water heaters which significantly reduce the water heating costs provided through electricity,” Spoor said. “I think about 15 percent of the water is still heated through electricity because there are cloudy days and high usage days … but most of the power heating in this home is done for free through the sun.” 

One of the largest areas of energy savings comes from the air conditioning and heating system that Habitat uses in its houses. 

“This system has a 13 SEER rating, which stands for seasonal energy efficiency rating,” Spoor said. “Any homeowner could evaluate how old their system is. For instance, my system in my home is about 12 years old, and I know when it was originally installed it was a 10 SEER. I am under the assumption that mine is operating around a 7 SEER at best so I could probably double my efficiency by getting a new unit, which is something I plan on doing very soon.” 

Spoor recommends that if people are due to replace their air conditioning unit soon, that they take the time to do the research and do it before it breaks rather than to get just anything in there after it becomes an emergency. 

Habitat also builds its homes with hip roofs with wind-resistant metal coverings, double metal wrapped roof-to-wall attachments, secondary water membrane under roof coverings, steel-enforced concrete walls, and aluminum hurricane shutters, all which save the homeowner money on hurricane insurance and keeps their homes safer in a storm. They also build with heat-reflective roof coverings, use only compact fluorescent light fixtures, insulated wall construction, dual-flush toilets when possible, use reclaimed water for irrigation and Florida-friendly landscaping.Laser engravers and Laser engraver systems and supplies to start your own lasering cutting engraving marking etching business. Many of these efforts help the environment as well as the homeowners. Click on their website www.indoorlite.com for more information.