Glacial Energy Blog

How to conserve energy around your bathroom

In winter we all want out bathrooms to be warm and cozy. A warm bathroom provides us an incentive to get out of that comfy bed and it also gives us a boost in getting ready for work. But keeping your bathroom comfortable also requires a shocking amount of electricity. Hot water, ventilation fans, light fixtures and leaky plumbing are just a few sources of how energy is consumed in our bathrooms. Just what material you use and how you use them can cost you much more than what you expected.

Heating water can add up to a quarter of your energy bill, so conserving your hot water will help you save money. Adjust the temperature of the hot water so it is warm and not scalding hot. This can decrease your energy bill substantially. Another tip is to insulate your water heater and pipes so they heat water faster. Placing foam insulation on your water pipes will go a long way in cutting your hot water cost. Flow-restricting shower heads also save you money as they tend to reduce the amount of water used. Taking short showers instead of long baths also helps save some cash.

During the summer it is crucial to use the bathroom’s ventilation fan and to bring fresh air back in, but in winter it is better that the steam and moisture flows around the house. It is advisable to keep a small fan by your bathroom door to drive the hot air from the bathroom and in to the rest of your home.

Using proper lights in your bathroom is also very important. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs) use only 25 percent of the power incandescent light bulbs use and provide the same amount of light. Not only do they use less electricity but they also have a longer life span. It is also important to use energy star hair dryers and hair straighteners because they consume less energy. Ceramic hair dryers are also more energy efficient than rickety old hair dryers, so investing in an eco friendly hair dryer can help you save money.

Leaky faucets and toilets not only add to your water bill but also to your energy bill. When you have leaking hot water your heater has to heat more water and thus it wastes energy. So it is better to get your leaky faucets fixed quickly because it will save you money on your next utility bill.

Source: Home Energy Team

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

Teach kids saving energy is fun

I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up my parents never missed a chance to lecture about wasting energy. As often as elders lecture, children don’t always pick up on their key points. Kids like to have fun, so why not make saving energy a game? Here are a few ideas you can use with your children to help them understand how to conserve power.

I spy ghost electronics: Instead of a regular “I Spy” game, in which your child tries to guess what you see, why not ask them to help you find all the ghost electronics in the house that suck power even when they are not in use. This way they will also understand to unplug their games and electronics when finished.

Planned power outages: Have a planned power outage in your house to make your children understand and realize what the effects of power failure are and why it is so important to conserve energy. This activity can be made fun by having candle light dinners and game nights. This can also include some family time because all the electronics such as TV, video games and computers will not be on. This will also make them realize that life can also exist without technology.

The jar game: Many parents use a “curse jar” that family members add to whenever they use a bad word. You could try using the same technique for members who waste energy and forget to turn off the lights or television. After a couple of offenses, not only will your children become more careful in conserving electricity, but so will you. This will also have a positive effect on your next energy bill.

Online games: As crazy as it sounds there are many educational games out there that teach your kids how to conserve energy. These games are not only fun but also are very educational. Some examples of these websites include energyhog.org, eere.energy.gov/kids or eia.doe.gov/kids.

Source:  http://www.ehow.com/way_5246719_fun-ways-kids-save-energy.html

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

TV fan- You can save energy while watching your favorite shows.

We are American and we love to watch TV. Two, three or four hours of TV is the norm for many. Weekends often mean a television and video game marathon. Here are a couple of ways to still enjoy TV while reducing energy consumption.

1. Invite some friends over when you want to watch TV. Why watch television alone? The more the merrier. This way you will save energy because only one TV will be on. Pop some popcorn and make an evening of it.
2. Check the brightness of your TV. The brighter your TV the more energy it consumes. Each TV has a brightness setting so check yours and if you think it’s not bright enough just turn off one of your lights and it will look better.
3. Check the volume of your TV. The louder the volume is, the more energy is consumed. Also check the mega sound system. You really may not need it unless you are watching a big production movie.
4. Turn off all the other perihelia you are not using, such as your DVD player, Blu-Ray or Wii. They don’t need to be on constantly. DVD players and game systems are notorious energy hogs, often sucking power out of the wall even when they are in standby mode.
5. Turn off the TV when you leave the room. You don’t need the TV on when you want to use the restroom or make yourself a sandwich. It’s ok to let the TV rest for a while. You can turn it back on later. You also shouldn’t sleep with the television on because not only does it disturb your sleep, but it also wastes loads of energy.
6. Use a power strip and plug all your TV accessories in it. This way you will only need to turn off one switch, which is a lot easier to remember.
7. Read a book instead. Yes I know a book cannot replace a TV show but many shows are based on books, so why not read the original version instead.

Source: http://www.greenhandsusa.com/tips/page:10237

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

Gas standby Generators- Is it for you?

We’ve come across a number of storms that have caused power outages—Sandy, Isaac, Ike, Rita and Katrina caused billions of dollars in damage and left entire cities without powers for days or weeks on end. Living without power during (or after) a hurricane is the norm. Those who have suffered a blackout realize what convenience electricity is and how difficult it is to live without power. A standby gas generator might seem to be too farfetched, but if you have suffered a blackout recently, you know how important it is to have an emergency generator to power your home. People are now installing home standby generators in record numbers to protect their families and investments.

Selecting a home standby generator system is simple. You pick a standby generator and an automatic transfer switch in a bundled package. Standby generators are rated by kilowatts, which basically measures the machine’s strength and endurance.

When you are looking to buy a generator, you need to decide what strength it should have. In order to decide which one will be more suitable for you, first think if you will require air conditioning during the blackout. If you live in a southern state like Texas, living without air conditioning during the sweltering months of summer is next to impossible. If you living in the north you might want to skip the air conditioning and save some cash. If you want to run your central air conditioner, you need a strong generator capable of turning over a high-powered motor. If you skimp on strength, don’t expect it to start. The basic rule of thumb when looking for a generator is to buy based on the amount of electricity you expect to use, with or without using the air conditioning.

The next item you need to check before buying a generator is endurance. You are buying a standby generator to replace the electricity lost from the utility company. If your electric panel has a 200-amp main breaker, the maximum amount of electricity your home can consume is 200 amps. If you have 100-amp service, it’s 100-amps. Now we know that no one ever uses the maximum amount of electricity. Your consumption will be somewhere between 0 and your maximum. Finding a generator is easy,  it is a must that you read the installation and safety manual in detail. It is recommended that you have the generator professionally installed if you are not tech savvy. If you are going to have a transfer switch, you need a licensed electrician to install it.

So you probably don’t need a 200-amp generator and you don’t use that amount of energy anyways. Instead, determine how much of your electric panel you want to energize.

You may be one of many running out to buy a generator, but remember to keep these key tips in mind so that your purchase is a wise one.

Source: http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/stories/36-How-to-Pick-the-Perfect-Home-Standby-Generator.html

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

From stovetops to central heating systems- what do you know about your home’s natural gas?

Natural gas is one of the most important sources of fuel, and can be seen in our homes on a gas range stovetop, and can generate heat up to 2000°F (1093°C) making it a powerful domestic cooking and heating fuel. In the United States it is supplied to homes via pipes where it is used for many purposes, including natural gas-powered ranges and ovens, natural gas-heated dryers, heating/cooling and central heating. Home or other building heating purposes may include boilers, furnaces, and water heaters.  Natural gas is also supplied by independent natural gas suppliers through Natural Gas Choice programs throughout the United States.

Natural gas is one of the most affordable forms of energy available to a consumer. The Department of Energy estimated in 2011, natural gas was the lowest cost conventional energy source available for residential use. This is the reason why people prefer having some appliances in their home that consume natural gas rather than their electric counterparts.

Natural gas offers residential consumers a great value through its varied uses. The best known use for natural gas around the home is natural gas based heating and cooking. Cooking with a natural gas range or oven can provide many benefits, including easy temperature control and easy cleaning, as well as being approximately one-half the cost of cooking with an electric range. Many of the top chefs prefer natural gas ranges for their quick heating ability and temperature control. Newer generations of natural gas ranges allow for some of the most efficient, economical and responsive cooking appliances in existence.

Natural gas is one of the most popular fuels for residential heating. According to the American Gas Association, 62 million homes in the U.S are heated using natural gas. Being a cheap source of fuel, natural gas is also one of the primary reasons the electricity bill is reduced during winters as heating is usually provided through natural gas and is cheaper than electricity.

After the deregulation of energy in the United States, people now have the power to choose their own natural gas provider giving them the freedom to buy their natural gas from the cheapest and best natural gas provider in their region. If you are looking for natural gas for your home, try Glacial Energy and you will get low natural gas rates.

Source: http://www.naturalgas.org/overview/uses_residential.asp

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

Electric circuits 101

Here’s a little recap of high school chemistry for you: Electricity is formed by charged particles that originate in atoms. An atom consists of protons, electrons and neutrons. Protons are positively charged while electrons are negatively charged. The flow of electrons between two points is known as electricity.

In order for us to safely consume electricity, we need to find a way to safely contain and control the flow of charged particles. This is what we see in a battery cell. A battery cell is a chemical device capable of storing chemical energy and converting it to electric energy. A wire is capable of transferring the electrons from the negative end of the battery to the positive end of the battery. Most metals are good conductors of electricity, but copper is usually used to create wires. When a wire is connected between the negative end to the positive end of a battery, it is called as a circuit. While it is easier to see a circuit on a battery cell, the same idea and theory is used in our homes on a much larger scale.

When a light bulb is connected to a battery wires enable electrons to move from the negative end of the battery to the light bulb and then flow back to the positive end of the battery. This circuit flows the current from the battery to the light bulb, which lights up the bulb as the light bulb converts electric energy into light energy and also creates some resistance. A switch is a device present inside a circuit to turn it off and on. This is done by creating an opening in the circuit and thus we can stop the flow of electrons at our will without breaking the circuit. This is the same mechanism used in a home switch to turn a light off and on.

There are two kinds of circuits most commonly used in our daily lives.

1. Series Circuit: In a series circuit all the devices are connected on the same path through the same wire. A common example of such a circuit is your Christmas lights. A negative effect of this circuit is when one resistor or bulb fails, the entire circuit collapses.
2. Parallel Circuit: A Parallel circuit is created by using two different paths for the electrons to light up two separate light bulbs. This is the same kind of circuit commonly used in home fixtures. A benefit of this circuit is when one bulb fuses the other bulb remains lit.

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

You can prevent electrical fires

Christmas is around the corner and now is the perfect time to calculate your electrical usage before plugging in your Christmas lights. It’s also important to take safety precautions to avoid a disastrous electrical fire. Things like faulty wiring, dry winter weather and bad electronic product choices can all act as contributing factors in a holiday fire.

Every year before the holiday season thousands of counterfeit electrical products end up in the stores across the United States. Most of these products are unable to withstand the electric power voltage demands of the extra holiday decorations. Usually, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission gets its hands on these p­roducts they are recalled, but that is not always the case.

Here are some ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from a holiday fire.

1. Do not buy extension cords and circuit breakers from deep discount stores.
2. Underwriters Laboratories and Factory Mutual are both certifying bodies that independently test electric products to determine if they flame up when plugged in. If you see their certification on the label, it’s usually a safe bet to buy.
3. Look for name brands while buying a product. If it’s one you recognize then go for it. Checking labels can also help. Look for spelling errors and bad grammar as it is a sure sign that the product you’re considering to buy was produced by a disreputable company.
4. Take it easy on your home power supply and do not over crowd the outlet. Devices like space heaters consume much more power than Christmas lights so it is better to use within 80 percent of your amperage safety limit.
5. Be sure to unplug all your Christmas lights before you go to bed.
6. If your devices have frayed or worn wiring, it’s time to replace the device and the wiring.
7. Look for old plugs that don’t fit snugly into an outlet. These can also cause sparking.
8. Be sure the product cords have proper rubber insulation as it is meant to cut down on heat output and eliminate current arcing, and when it’s missing, the risk of fire increases greatly.
9. If you feel that any outlet is over loaded, simply unplug one device and plug it into another outlet to reduce the risk of an electrical fire.
10. Even certified products can cause an overload, so always be careful while using appliances such as hair dryers and space heaters as they tend to use more power than other devices.

Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/fire/outlet-overload1.htm

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

Protection 101: How to detect and conquer a gas leak

As useful as natural gas is in our daily lives, it can also create a gas hazard. You might be using gas in your home through the gas stove, dryer, central heater or even space heater. Here are 3Rs to help you detect and conquer a gas leak in your home.

Recognize:

• If you see discolored vegetation around your home in an otherwise green area or bubbles in standing water, it might be due to a gas leak.
• You may hear a hissing, blowing or roaring sound inside your home or a building.
• You may smell the scent of a rotten egg or any strange or unusual order like the smell of petroleum products.
• Sometimes the smell can cause irritation or trigger allergies.
•  Dust or dirt blowing from a hole in the ground may indicate a leak.
• While cooking the flame should always be blue. If the flame is yellow or red you might have a possible gas leak.

Respond

• Leave the area immediately on foot
• Make sure there is no one in the building, including pets
• Do not use any electronic appliances or products that can create a spark. This includes your cell phone.
• Do not touch any electrical outlets, switches or the doorbell.
• Do not start your vehicle or even use your garage door opener.
• Do not try and find the source of the leak.
• Do not light a match or a lighter.
• Inform your neighbors and stay away from the building.
• Do not re-enter the building.
• If the gas ignites, do not try to put out the fire.
• Do not smoke a cigarette or any other substance.

React

• Call 911 and your local utility. Remember DO NOT email. Instead, make a call.
• Remember Glacial Energy does not own the power lines so you need to call your local utility to help you in this crisis.
• Stay in a safe location until the issue is sorted out and there is no longer a danger to enter the building.

Source: http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/index.cfm/consumer-information/consumer-topics/natural-gas-safety/

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

Kitchen fires —be prepared to strike back

If you ever are faced with a kitchen fire, you need to strike back quickly and take control before the fire gets out of hand. We all know the drop and roll rule if our clothes are on fire, but many of us might not be prepared to tackle a fire before it spreads. Have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen handy and learn to use it beforehand so you are prepared if a kitchen fire strikes. Here are some basic tips to conquer a small kitchen fire.

• If the fire takes place in the oven or the microwave, close the door or keep it closed. Turn off the oven or remove the plug if it is the microwave. Don’t open the door! The lack of oxygen will suffocate the flames.
• If your oven still continues to smoke after a few minutes like a fire is going on in there, call 911.
• If there is a fire in a frying pan or a cooking pot, use an oven mitt to cover the pan with a lid and move the pan. Then turn off the stove. The lack of oxygen will stop the flames in the pot.
• If you can’t safely put the lid on a flaming pan or you don’t have a lid for the pan, use your fire extinguisher. Do not aim at the flames, instead aim at the base of the fire.
• Never try to put out grease fires using water. Water repels grease and can spread the fire by splattering the grease.
• Throw lots of baking soda or salt on it. Do not use flour as it can explode or make the fire worse.
• Be careful not to get hurt if you plan smother the fire with a wet towel or other large wet cloth.
• Do not smack at the fire with a towel, apron, or other clothing. This act can fan the flames and spread the fire.
• For electrical fires, throw baking soda over the flames
• If the fire reaches out of a contained area, call 911
• If fat or grease in a pan starts burning, turn off the heat and quickly slide a lid over the pan to cover it completely and cut off the oxygen supply.
• To prevent future fires, always keep your stove, oven and hood clean, and avoid overloading outlets or circuits with too many appliances.

Source: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-put-out-kitchen-fires.html

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com

Electricity Generation 101 Part 2

Here’s a little recap from an earlier post: Energy is generated from a renewable or non-renewable source mined, harvested or collected from the earth. For every energy source, a chemical or mechanical process is required to turn it into electrical energy. The energy source then heats up water in the turbines, which makes the propellers spin and create mechanical energy. It is the generator inside these turbines that converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy or electricity. Transporting electricity to your home is an entirely different process and we will elaborate on this topic today.

Current technology cannot store large amount of electricity, and as a result significant challenges occur transporting energy across long distances. Just enough energy has to be generated to meet the current demand and to be transmitted across the power lines to your home and to your switches. Too much or too little power can crash the transmission system and create a blackout. A proper combination of logistics, management and infrastructure is required to make sure there is a smooth process of electricity generation from power generators and safe delivery to the consumer.

If you have ever driven across the U.S. or even across some state boundaries you may have spotted some electricity grids. The U.S. is divided into four large grid systems—the Eastern Grid, The Western Grid, the Texas Grid and a Grid covering the Canadian Province Quebec. You may be surprised to learn that Texas accounts for 10 percent of the nation’s energy usage, and has its own grid to produce and consume that energy.

The independent regional networks of power plants and transmission lines carry electric energy at high voltage to local utilities. From there, electricity first enters your local power substation where the voltage is reduced through transformers. There are more transformers on the power lines on your street near your home that also reduce the high voltage to 110 volts, which you use in your home. From the power lines the electricity enters your home’s breaker box from where it is distributed to the light sockets and switches. Now, if you flip a light switch, a bulb lights up.

Here is a helpful video that talks about electricity generation

About Glacial Energy- Glacial Energy is one of the fastest growing national retail energy suppliers selling electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in deregulated markets across the country. Glacial Energy has the resources and market knowledge to provide customized quotes for your business or cost-saving opportunities for your home. Learn more about Glacial Energy by visiting: www.GlacialEnergy.com