Tips from the Builder!

Here are 4 easy and inexpensive ways to Increase the energy efficiency of your current home for Winter 2013/2014:

1. Air Seal Your Home by Adding Insulation.

2. Seal Your Ducts By Using Sealant such as DOW, 3.0 window, door, and trim High Performance Sealant. Today's homeowners lose 20% of heating costs on poorly sealed and connected ducts.

3. Inspect your roof, check for loose shingles that could lead to water damage, leaks, & rotting wood. Use the extra sealant to seal any gaps around gables and chimneys.

4. Seal rim joists in your Basement and Attic access doors. Use a foam sealant such as, DAPtex Plus Multi-Purpose Foam Sealant to fill in any gaps or voids that may allow your heat to escape to.

 

          Are you updating your current home to sell?

Natale Builders shares a few simple ways to make your current home more Eco-friendly  and appealing to current homebuyers:

1. Painting: Choose Eco-friendly paints that are less toxic and better for your environment by purchasing Low or No VOC paints. Many traditional paints contain "Volatile Organic Compounds" that can cause negative health affects such as dizziness and eye irritation. NO VOC paint are naturally made with materials derived from citrus and balsams making them healthy for you and the environment.

2. Replacing Lighting: When choosing new light fixtures to spruce up your home, check to see if your light bulbs are CFL Energy Star Qualified or  LED Green Certified. According to NYSERDA, using these types of light bulbs can save you hundreds per year on electric costs and are proven to last at least 6,000 hours. Save the Environment and Money!

3. Replacing Appliances: NYS has recently initiated a "Buy Green Save Green" program that provides purchasers cash rebates of up to $350.00 on high efficiency refrigerators and up to $250.00 on a high efficiency clothes washer. For More Info: Visit www.nyserda.ny.gov 

Geothermal Systems

Geothermal heating and cooling uses a renewable energy resource available from your own property. Geothermal heating is flame-less, therefore producing no health and safety concerns as associated with fossil fuels. Natale has had 26 geothermal units installed in our homes and we have 26 very satisfied Geothermal customers! 

How it Works:

The earth absorbs almost 50% of all solar energy and remains a nearly constant temperature of 50°F to 70°F depending on geographic location. Working with an underground loop system, geothermal heating and cooling systems utilize this constant temperature to exchange energy between your home and the earth as needed for heating and cooling.

In winter, water circulating inside a sealed underground loop system absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the geothermal unit. Here it is compressed to a higher temperature and sent as warm air to your indoor system for circulation throughout your home.

In the summer, the system reverses and expels heat from your home into the cooler earth via the loop system. This heat exchange process is not only natural, but is a natural and highly efficient way to create a comfortable climate in your home.

Horizontal Loops

Used where adequate land space is available, horizontal loops involve one or more trenches that are dug using a backhoe or excavator. High Density Green Geothermal Pipe is inserted, and the trenches are back filled. Each trench ranges in length up to 300'.

Vertical Loops

The ideal choice for a geothermal heat pump when available land surface is limited. Well drilling equipment is used to bore small-diameter holes from 100 to 500 feet deep. After the pipes are inserted, the borehole(s) are filled with thermally enhanced grout.

Pond Loops

Gaining popularity in "Cottage Country", Pond or Lake Loops are a great choice if an adequately sized body of water is close to your home. This is an affordable alternative as excavation costs can be virtually eliminated. A series of High Density Green Geothermal closed loops can be extended and sunk to the bottom of the water body. A 1/2-acre, 8-foot-deep pond is usually sufficient for the average home.

Open Loops

An open loop is used where there is an abundant supply of quality well water. The well must have enough capacity to provide adequate flow for both domestic use and the energy unit. Discharge water should be sent directly to a second recharge well.

Learn More!