10 Tips For Reducing The Energy Costs In Your Prefab Log Home

Having a prefab log home is great. It is a gorgeous home to have, with rich, natural tones. It is environmentally more friendly than many of the non biodegradable materials found in modern houses, and sturdier as well. With greener chemicals for staining and recycled lumber you can lessen your impact while ending up with the perfect dwelling.

But one thing that isn’t so swell with any house, wooden or not, is the cost of energy to power it. Thankfully there are many ways you can reduce those.

• 1. Add a New Damper To Your Chimney - So much air escapes out of your chimney, you would be amazed at how much it is costing you. Blocking it off entirely is the last thing most people want to do, as a roaring fire in a log cabin is a dream of many. Instead you should invest in a new damp that can be open and closed when needed. These cost between $70 and $200, depending on how functional they are and the size. A good dampener will seal tight but be easy enough to open when the right time of year comes along and you feel like lighting a few logs.

• 2. Look For Leaks In Your Logs - Prefab log cabin are beautiful but they require maintenance. Over time the wood can shrink or weaken, warping at points. Staining every few years and selecting a more durable wood will help with this. But air leaks can still happen and leave drafts in your prefab log home, letting out the heat or cold you are paying for. Regularly look for cold/hot spots where leaks are happening and fix those gaps. You may also want to consider sealing around windows and doors.

• 3. Get Heavy Curtains - A nice set of light blocking curtains are an excellent way to save on power. They keep in the heat very effectively, so you don’t have to use as much energy to keep your home toasty. They are also nice in the morning before you are ready to be blinded by the sunlight, or giving you an option of closing them off for mid-morning naps. Look for curtains made of thick material, or double up your curtains with a second layer that sits closer to the window.

• 4. Change Your Air Filters Regularly - A dirty air filter makes your furnace and vents have to work harder in order to operate at full capacity. You should be changing your air filters about every six months, but every three if you have a particularly dusty home, a lot of pet dander, or if you have allergies. Luckily, air filters are very inexpensive so that won’t set you back much at all. Plus, you will have a healthier prefab log home with cleaner air and lower energy costs to boot.

• 5. Wash Your Clothes In Cold Water - It was once true that washing clothes in hot or warm water was absolutely necessary in order to get them truly clean. With advances in detergents it is no longer a requirement. You can wash your clothes in cold water and they will get just as clean as if you had done them in the standard warm. Even whites don’t need heat anymore. If you are worried about heavier items like blankets you can add a bit of baking soda into the wash and occasionally run an empty load (once every three - five months) with a cup of vinegar for additional help. But for most of us, cold water is just fine without any further intervention.

• 6. Consider Hang Drying - I used to think I would never give up my dryer, and for the most part I haven’t. But I have started hanging sheets, blankets and some other miscellaneous items out in the backyard on an old fashioned line and it has made a surprising difference in my energy usage. It is also a relaxing activity that I have come to enjoy. It might sound crazy, but lessening dryer use and hanging some things up can be a great way to save on energy costs and is less hassle than you may imagine.

• 7. Add Some Insulation - Areas like attics can become incredibly drafty and be a definite energy sink. Some people are choosing to add additional insulation in order to keep leaks from happening or the top of prefab log home from drawing out the heat or cool air and pushing it outside again. Because energy tends to rise you are losing a lot out of your roof. A bit of extra padding will be a big factor in taking control of that problem. You can add insulation elsewhere when it is needed, but your attic is going to be the best area to focus on.

• 8. Get a Smart Thermostat - Smart thermostats are an awesome investment. They allow you to monitor and control your prefab log home’s climate from anywhere, right from your computer or smartphone. You can turn the heat on and off, switch on the air conditioning at will or set limits of highs or lows for it to monitor itself. You can also watch how much energy it is using in real time so you always known where your heating or cooling bill is gonna be. Best of all they are becoming cheaper and cheaper by the year as more smarthome technology hits the market.

• 9. Learn The Non-Peak Hours - There is a good chance your electric company has non-peak hours or discount hours programs. These are times of the day where the energy costs a lot less to run. That is why so many people choose to run air conditioning only at night, or do laundry once the sun goes down. Check your local company’s peak hours and whether it is automatically discounted, or you have to sign up.

• 10. Wash Your Dishes By Hand - Dishwashers use up so many resources and for very little benefit. You can save a lot by simply washing dishes by hand, especially if you do them as you use them.