Chinese dama (middle-aged housewives) can become the world's model energy savers if only they spend less time at the kitchen stove.

A survey has found that, on average, Chinese homes spend as much as 4.5 times the amount of energy on cooking meals as German or British homes, or about 2.5 times the amount used in French homes.

Preparing stir-fry dishes with high-temperature oil or boiling meat overnight uses far more energy than merely mixing salads and reheating packaged food in micro-waves, the survey by Beijing's Renmin University of China concluded.

Each stove in the kitchen of a Chinese home is used on average more than two times a day and for 32 minutes on average each time, the survey found.

More than 70 percent of electric cookers and more than half of microwave ovens are used at least once a day in China, according to the survey.

However, in overall terms, homes in developed countries still consume more energy than those in China.

Cooking ranks next to heating in China's home energy use, according to the survey, which was aimed at finding out the amount of energy used in an average home for cooking, heating, cooling and other purposes.

Wang Xiao'ou, 43, a working mother in Beijing, said: "The survey is reasonable. The pace of city life is fast, and we don't have time to spend hours cooking porridge and soup like our mothers did. But I usually still spend an hour on cooking each day."

Chinese homes spent about 327 kilograms of standard coal equivalent on cooking in 2010.

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China's household cooking consumes too much energy

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) February 09, 2015

Bee Safe Storage is a 63,000 sq. ft. multi level commercial self storage building in Raleigh which will bring a valuable commodity to the local community. Self storage buildings have become increasingly popular over the last 15 years. These buildings must provide a secure place for local residents to be able to have short and long term storage. Click here to visit the website.

Metal roofs are clearly the best choice for commercial buildings because they last the lifetime of the building, hold up well to rain, wind, and snow, & they reflect the suns rays effectively which lower heating and cooling costs. Metal roofing is also preferred for companies that want to install solar panels for increased efficiency.

Going Green in this day and age is more important than ever. Using metal roof panels in Raleigh, North Carolina on this project makes a lot of sense. Metal is a recycled product that can be recycled over and over again. Choosing to go with this type of installation saves time and money and is doing the right thing for our planet.

Be sure to check out Bee Safe Storage in Raleigh, North Carolina once the roofing project is completed to see what a quality job the experts at ReRoof USA can provide. ReRoof USA is a metal roofing installation contractor serving businesses in Raleigh, NC and all over the Eastern United States with services for new construction, retrofit roof systems, inspections, storm damage repair, and more. For more information call 770-456-1611 or visit ReRoofUSA.com by clicking here.

Originally posted here:
Metal Roofing Installation Contractor in Raleigh, North Carolina Announces New Self Storage Project - By ReRoof USA

By Kevin Gillies

It seems like winter never really hit the Lower Mainland this year, with all the record-breaking warm temperatures. Yet spring is quickly approaching, and that means preparing your home for a new season.

From spring cleaning to spring maintenance, the busy season is almost upon us.

Planning your spring home chores list is a good way to ensure this spring is a productive one around the house and helps you save money on energy bills this summer, improve your homes appearance and head off big-ticket repairs down the road.

A few tips to help you prepare your home for the warmer months:

Inspecting the air conditioner for about $75-200, a technician will tune up your cooling system to manufacturer-rated efficiency and you wont sweat the first hot weekend with an air conditioner thats out of commission.

Dirty filters make air conditioners work harder, increasing energy costs and possibly damaging equipment.

Check them monthly and replace as needed, or at least every three months.

Technicians will check drains during a tune-up, as well.

Putting temperature on autopilot a programmable thermostat can save about $180 annually on cooling and heating bills, if you can live with higher indoor temperatures in summer and cooler temperatures in winter.

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Homes: Spring tips for the home

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February 4th, 2015 9:08 am by Rick Wagner

KINGSPORT A local school system is looking to cut grid electricity costs at one of its elementary schools to zero.

Sullivan Countys Ketron Elementary School in the Bloomingdale community soon may become energy self-sufficient, thanks to solar power coupled with its existing geothermal heating and cooling system.

If we add solar to that, its about to become utilities neutral for us, Director of Schools Jubal Yennie said.

Based on preliminary figures, the proposal and its local and grant funding of more than $500,000 combined would have a simple payback of 17.5 years into an expected 30-year life of the system.

Kingsports Dobyns-Bennett High School has solar cells atop the school that provide some lighting, and 20 Hawkins County schools have solar panels, but none of those provide all the electricity to operate a school building. In Hawkins, projected revenue from selling solar power over 20 years is $875,000.

At Ketron, a former middle and high school, the solar array would be built on the roof of the school.

The countys Board of Education Monday night voted 6-0 with one absent to approve applying for a Clean Tennessee Energy grant to fund almost half the cost of the Ketron Elementary Solar PV (photovoltaic) Pilot Project.

This proposed project would install a 175 kilowatt solar photovoltaic electrical power generation system at Ketron Elementary School, according to a summary provided to the BOE before its vote.

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Power play: Ketron hopes to use solar, geothermal to go off the grid

There are lots of things to like about Nest, the smart thermostat that learns your habits and regulates your homes temperature based on your schedule. Its easy to use and install, looks attractive, and lowers your heating and cooling bill. At least, that last part was what the Google-owned company always promised. Now it says it has the data to back up the claim.

In a new white paper, Nest said that based on data it gathered from homeowners from before and after they installed the smart thermostat, the savings averaged out to 10 to 12 percent for heating bills and 15 percent for cooling bills. The company estimates customers saved an average of $131 to $145 a year. The device costs $249, so it would pay for itself in about two years, the company says.

Related:Is it drafty in here? The Tempo lets you hunt your house for wasted heat

The data came from 735 homes in 36 states for gas usage and 624 homes in 39 states for electric. Only customers who had enrolled in Nests MyEnergy service, which lets users track and compare their utility bills, were included in the study. (Back when Google first acquired the thermostat maker, Nests CEO had to reassure customersthat both companies would be transparent about how they used users data.) A control group of non-Nest, MyEnergy customers ensured that energy savings werent due to lower energy costs or unseasonably warm weather, for example.

Nest says its internal study is backed up by two independent ones, one from theEnergy Trust of Oregon, which found Nest users had 12-percent reductions in electric heating bills, and the other from Indiana utility company Vectren.

While we always knew that the Nest Learning Thermostat helps people save energy, we now have independent, third-party evidence of how much it can save, says Ben Bixby, Nests general manager of energy services.

Still, the company admits there are lots of factors that will determine how much the device can actually save you. If you live in a temperate climate and already program your thermostat, you probably wont see the same reduction in your utility bill as someone who leaves the heat blasting all day and night because theyre snowed in from a Noreaster.

Continued here:
Nest studying customers heating and cooling savings, and the results are in

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TERRELL (CBSDFW.COM) - In Terrell, the busted heat at the Virginia Anne apartments has become something of a broken record.

Oh, its incredibly frustrating, says Desiree Hollis, when they tell you things are changing, and nothing changes.

For nearly a month now weve been chronicling residents efforts to stay warm as one break after another crippled the aging system. As soon as one break is repaired in the underground boiler pipes, another springs up somewhere else. Bottom line, says Hollis, We still have no heat. Its crazy.

One tenant, who did not want her name used, says the heat in her unit hasnt worked all winter. And shes now resorting to risky measures to stay warm.

I pull the mattress in the living room and we all, my husband and two kids sleep on the mattress with the oven down and a heater in the front. With one and 3 year old sons, she admits that heating the apartment with an open oven is a dangerous move. But, told CBS 11 What else can I do?

A spokesperson for the apartment management company says they, too, are frustrated with the seemingly endless series of temporary repairs and are moving forward with plans to install a new heating and cooling system. However, the upgrades will likely take months to complete. A spokesperson told me that they are offering heaters to tenants that request them, and a break on the rent.

Terrell City officials echo that frustration and say they are monitoring the situation closely and will impose fines for every day that the complex is without heat.

Last month, a CBS 11 viewer stepped in to help the Hollis familydropping off blankets and heaters. The family has since paid that generosity forwardsharing a heater with another family. But, they hope their next step forward will take them to a better place to live.

We are looking, says Hollis. We are actively looking. We are tired.

Read more:
Heat Out Again At Troubled Terrell Apartment Complex

Climate Change in Minnesota: An MPR News special report

A farmer in western Minnesota recently installed a new heating and cooling system to keep nearly a thousand sows eating and gaining weight during summers that have grown warmer.

The Minneapolis Health Department established a comprehensive heat-warning system that kicks in during heat waves to protect the vulnerable.

Leaders on the Fond du Lac Indian reservation near Duluth bought a seamless gutter machine after flooding in 2012 with the aim of directing water away from houses during increasingly heavy rains.

Minnesotans have taken a variety of steps that deal with climate change. But, as in each of these instances, those steps often deal less with reducing carbon emissions than with adapting to change that already has arrived in Minnesota.

That's new.

While the argument rages globally over how to reduce the pollution that has generated climate change, individuals and communities have quietly begun embarking upon the practical business of dealing with it, whether or not they call it climate change.

Minnesota is warming faster than the nation as a whole, according to a recent analysis by the non-profit Climate Central. And the character of the rain it receives has changed - more precipitation falls overall and more of it falls in big storms.

Minnesota lawmakers took note as early as 2007, when they passed the Next Generation Energy Act to set renewable energy and conservation goals. It and many other local efforts around climate change have focused on so-called "mitigation" the reduction of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

Cities and counties across the state have mounted solar panels on public buildings and replaced old, inefficient boilers and lighting systems with new ones. Schools and homeowners have installed efficient doors and windows and sent tons of would-be trash to recycling bins.

Excerpt from:
Living with it: Climate change effort shifts

Bristow, Va (PRWEB) January 31, 2015

Never let the problematic issues with heating and air conditioning systems arise to bring further problems in a home or office. There is always a solution for everything and Local HVAC Pros, one of the top HVAC contractors around, has more to offer than what other heating and air conditioning Bristow, Va companies have to offer.

With just one call, Local HVAC Pros can give the finest services whether it is for long term planning or immediate and emergency needs with cooling and heating services. Their crew has advanced heating and air conditioning knowledge and can get their troubled customers the right solutions after a few routine diagnostics and methods. And thats just the tip of the iceberg. They actually have more to offer by talking to them in person or on the phone.

Another great thing about Local HVAC Pros is that they are reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call them anytime and they will fix problems without delay. Just tell them what the problems are and they will give the finest and long term solutions. They believe that their clients dont have to suffer in the cold of winter and the scorching heat of the summer through the express HVAC service they could provide to all Bristow, Virginia residents.

Whether heat or air conditioning is needed, Local HVAC Pros can balance it all out for their customers comfort. Their expert team is fully certified to fix just about any brand or type of HVAC system. They can even give free estimates as to how much it will cost should a client plan to re-install a new HVAC unit.

Get the finest people to work on heat pump systems with Local HVAC Pros. Again, they are good at what they do and a client in need of immediate assistance surely gets served the right way. To get the best results, choose only the best team for the job. Local HVAC Pros can give that assurance.

They are fully licensed and they have certified technicians who are knowledgeable about the latest in HVAC technology. They also cater financing as well as 24/7emergency services and more. Their prices match the quality of their services so theres no wasting money at all. Call them now at 703-348-9740 for inquiries.

Click on the link below for more information. http://youtu.be/C1Ou4ASbNs0

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Heating and Air Conditioning Repair Bristow VA: New Video Release by LocalHVACPros.info

Forgot to lock a door before going on vacation? No need to call the neighbors: theres an app for that.

In just a few years, home security systems have gone from complicated keypads that might lock the doors to comprehensive systems that monitor all types of functions.

A number of local and national companies in the Topeka area offer home security services, equipment and smartphone apps.

As Kansas Audio Videos Aaron Koker notes, its not just about home security anymore but home automation.

The skys the limit as to what can be monitored, Koker said. Its more than just a burglar system.

Koker says you can put sensors on the liquor cabinet to see if the teenagers are sneaking the scotch. According to Koker, almost any door can be monitored.

Even basements prone to flooding can be monitored, according to Koker.

If thats a risk, youre going to want to know if your gone if theres standing water in your basement, Koker said.

Kansas Audio Videos full cellphone, interactive systems start at $40 a month for coverage of three doors, smoke detection, a main touch screen and about $700 worth of equipment. The owner signs a 36-month contract and pays a $99 activation fee. The system is designed to be modular, which Koker says makes the system future-proof.

Koker says homeowners need to talk about how they live and what they want from a system so it isnt left unused.

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At Home Living: Home security, automation systems offer peace of mind

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (PRWEB) January 30, 2015

Gold Medal Service, an award-winning heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, drain cleaning and waterproofing service company, has announced it now offers Bath Planet bathroom remodels to homeowners throughout the state of New Jersey. Gold Medal joins 100 authorized dealers nationwide to sell Bath Planets quality acrylic bath products.

Bath Planet, which is the fastest growing acrylic bath manufacturer specializing in the one-day bath business, produces high-tech polymer products that are so durable they earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.

Bath Planet is a quick and easy solution for homeowners looking to upgrade their bathroom, without the costly mess of a tear-out remodel, said Mike Agugliaro, co-owner of Gold Medal Service. As a Bath Planet Dealer, Gold Medal Service will install showers and tubs including walk-in tubsto meet our customers home improvement needs. This is a high quality product solution for homeowners who dont want to wait weeks to enjoy a newly remodeled bathroom, and in most cases, are able to enjoy it the same day.

The high quality acrylic bathroom products come in a variety of patterns and styles, and fit seamlessly over existing tubs and showers.

Gold Medal Services commitment to excellence for their customers made them an ideal fit as a Bath Planet Dealer, said Rick Hirschhaut, senior vice president of Bath Planet. Our cost effective and quality bathroom solutions are the perfect complement to Gold Medals highest level of service and products they are renowned for in New Jersey.

For more information about Gold Medal Service and its new Bath Planet services and products, call 800-576-GOLD or visit http://www.goldmedalservice.com.

About Gold Medal Service Gold Medal Service, rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, was founded in New Jersey in 1994 with just two employees. Their vision was to provide homeowners with a reliable and trustworthy home service company customers could count on to fix just about anything that could go wrong in a home. Since then, Gold Medal has grown to include more than 120 employees and technicians solving plumbing, heating, cooling, electric, drain, waterproofing, and sewer issues for homeowners across the state of New Jersey. Gold Medal Service is an Angies List Super Service Award recipient. For more information, call 800-576-GOLD or visit http://www.goldmedalservice.com.

About Bath Planet Based in Palatine, IL, Bath Planet was created by founders Tom Barzantny and Scott Rosenbach who recognized a need for greater consistency between manufacturers and dealers in the tub and shower liner industry. The owners established their one-stop-shop company in 1999. Bath Planet is backed by a privately-held manufacturer with a network of independent dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Bath Planet has earned the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal, recognizing the exceptional quality of its products and services. For more information about Bath Planet, visit our website at http://www.bathplanet.com.

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Gold Medal Introduces Bath Planet to New Jersey Homeowners