Daily Home Renovation Tips每日家裝修秘訣

Our local utility announced that they are running a contest for all homes in the region based on total electricity reduction.本地公用事業宣布，它們正在執行的競賽，所有的家園在該地區的基礎上總電力減少。

The contest is based on comparing total electricity usage from May 1st to August 31st this year to last year.競賽是基於比較，總電力的使用，從5月1日至8月31日，今年與去年。 There is one level of possible ‘prizes’ for those who show a reduction in electrical usage.有一個水平的可能'獎品'對於誰顯示，在減少使用電器。 There is a second level of possible prizes to be awarded to those homes who achieve 10% or greater electricity reduction.有一個第二個層次可能的獎品將頒發給那些家園誰達到10 ％或更大的電力減少。

This is a great idea.這是一個偉大的想法。 It can be something the entire family can become involved in, and a way to make even the youngest of family members feel that they are contributing.可一些整個家庭可以成為所涉及的，一種方式，使即使最年輕的家庭成員感到他們的貢獻。 It is a great opportunity to teach children on energy conservation and get them into the habit of turning the lights off in their rooms when they are not there, etc.這是一個巨大的機會，教導兒童對節約能源，並讓他們成為習慣把燈關閉，在他們的房間，當他們不存在，等等。

If your local utility does not have such a program, call them to ask why?如果您的本地實用工具不有這樣的計劃，呼籲他們要問，為什麼呢？ And, better yes, start one for your own home.和，更好的是，一開始為自己的主頁。 You can even have prizes for the kids if your home reach certain energy reduction milestones.你甚至可以有獎品為孩子們，如果您的家庭達到某些能源減少的里程碑。 Yes, you can even factor in the difference in this vs last summer temperatures to make it fair.是的，你甚至可以在因素的差異，這與去年夏天的溫度，使其公平的。

We thought that it would be interesting to itemize those items that we have introduced into our own home in the past year that will positively impact reduced electricity use in our own home. Which of these can you honestly say you have as well ?我們認為這將是令人感興趣的項，這些項目我們已引入到我們自己的家園在過去的一年裡將產生積極的影響，減少用電量在我們自己的家園。 哪些這些你能誠實地說，你有作為呢 ？

We will not list having a home energy audit as this provides information, data, and so on.我們不會名單有一個家庭的能源審計，因為這提供的資料，數據，等等。 A home energy audit by itself will not reduce a home’s energy consumption; the home owner actually has to take action.一個家能源審計本身並不會減少家庭的能源消耗量;在家的業主實際上已採取行動。

We will list any action related to reducing air leakage in our home as reduced air leakage means reduction in cooled air leaving the house and hot outside air entering the house causing the air conditioner to work more often and longer.我們將列出相關的任何行動，以減少漏風，在我們的家園，作為減少漏風手段，減少在冷空氣離開眾議院和熱室外空氣進入眾議院，導致空調工作更經常地和更長的時間。

OK, here is the list of electricity reduction actions we have taken in the past year in approximate order of what we think will be the greatest electricity reduction:確定，這裡是名單上的電力減少行動我們已採取在過去的一年裡，在近似為了什麼，我們認為將成為最大的電力減少：

1. exterior solar blinds 外部太陽能百葉窗
2. CFL lights CFL的燈
3. ENERGY STAR windows 能源之星標準的Windows
4. replacement front door 更換前門
5. solar charged lawn mower 太陽能被控草坪割草機
6. retractable screen doors 可伸縮的幕門
7. bathroom (spring based) fan timers 浴室（春季基於）風扇定時器
8. attic insulation 閣樓絕緣
9. weather stripping 天氣剝離
10. wind turbine attic vent 風力發電機組的閣樓發洩
11. basement vent cover covers 地下室通風口涵蓋範圍

We did not include in the new air conditioner which replaced the 20 year old one that came with the house because we purchased this in early summer so there likely will be no positive impact year over year.我們並沒有包括在新的空調取代了20歲的一個附帶的內務，因為我們購買的，這在初夏，所以可能會沒有積極的影響，比去年同期。

We also did not include the new programmable thermostat that was installed in the early summer for the same reason.我們還沒有包括新的可編程恆溫器是安裝在初夏出於同樣的原因。

As well, during the major renovation last summer, there were many weeks when the air conditioner was not even on during June and July.以及，在大型翻新去年夏天，有很多週時，空調甚至沒有就在6月和7月。 Therefore it would not surprise me if our house actually consumed more, not less electricity this summer vs last summer.因此，它不會感到驚訝我，如果我們的房子，實際上消耗的更多，而不是更少的電力在今年夏天與去年夏天。

The attic insulation is down the list of impact because we had this done in late summer, so it’s impact during the May to August comparative period will be minor.閣樓的絕緣下降名單的影響，因為我們在做這個夏末，因此它的影響在五月至八月期間，將比較輕微。

So, is it hot enough for you yet?因此，它的熱點是不夠的，但你呢？ What have you done in the past year, or even in the past few weeks, to reduce your electricity consumption?你做了些在過去的一年，或什至在過去數星期，以減少您的電力消耗？ What would your number one electricity conservation action so far in 2008?什麼會您的電話號碼之一，節約用電行動，到目前為止，在2008年？

Take action now.現在就採取行動。 You have the entire summer ahead of you.你有整個夏天提前你。

We will report back in the fall on how we did in our local utility’s electricity reduction contest.我們會報到，將在今年秋季就如何我們並在我們的本地公用事業的電力減少競賽。 Who knows?誰知道？ We may even have reduced enough electricity usage to win the solar water heater prize that is available!我們甚至可以減少足夠的用電，以贏得太陽能熱水器獎，是可用的！ Now, wouldn’t that be nice!現在，不會是這樣的美好！