Tag: electric

by James Adam

5 Winter Hacks for a Lower Electric Bill


Homes

On average, Americans spend anywhere between $1,000 to over $2,000 for winter energy bills. If you’re on a budget, then you’ll know just how painful that hit is to your wallet.

So are you looking for ways to make that number as low as possible? Then you’re in the right place.

Here are 5 ways you can get a lower electric bill this winter.

  1. Open Your Curtains During the Day

Open your curtains during the day to get all the sunlight you can into your home. Not only will you get better lighting, but it’ll also heat up your home.

Once the sun goes down, pull your curtains shut again. This should help keep the heat in and the cold out.

  1. Put Your Thermostat on a Lower Temperature

Just lowering your thermostat temperature 7 to 10 degrees can save you a good chunk of change. For many, they can’t even feel a difference, so that’s a great benefit.

Otherwise, if it gets too cold for you, at least set the thermostat lower when you’re sleeping or away on vacation. Even the littlest change can help.

  1. Wear More Clothing

Setting your thermostat lower will save you money, but what if your teeth are clattering as a result? An excellent way to stay warm during the winter is to bundle up!

Put on cozy sweatpants, sweaters, and thick socks. When sitting around, put a blanket over your lap to keep in your body heat. You should also drink more hot drinks and soup to keep warm as well.

  1. Seal Windows and Doors

Windows and doors that aren’t properly sealed will let in cold air. In turn, this will force your HVAC system to work harder, which will drive up your bills.

Go around your house, testing each window and door to see if there are drafts coming in. To fix any leaks, you can replace seals and do weather stripping.

  1. Change Your Fan Direction

Your fan is usually used to cool you down in the summer. But did you know it can also be used to circulate hot air and keep you warmer in the winter?

You can do this by changing the direction your fan blades rotate in. Changing fan direction is very simple; just flip a switch that’s either on the fan itself or the wall control. This will draw up the cold air in the room and put the hot air down so you can feel it better.

Get a Lower Electric Bill This Winter

After reading this article, you now have several ways you can enjoy a lower electric bill. The best thing is, you won’t have to compromise much on comfort either!

So put these tips to good use and make your bank account happy.

Did this article on how to lower your electric bill in the winter help you out? Then make sure you get other pro tips by reading the rest of our blog!


Weekly newsletter

Recent Posts

Visit us on YouTube

Visit us on Google Plus

Visit us on Instagram

Visit us on Pinterest

Visit us on Reddit

Popular Posts

Categories

by Incredible Planet Staff

Electric Bikes: Are They Really Going to Catch On?


Lifestyle

Have you seen someone whizzing down the road on an electric bike? Been reading about electric bikes in the news and wondering what all the fuss is about?

For some, an electric bike means the daily commuter can get to work without finding themselves dripping with sweat once they arrive. For others, it means they can keep up with their all-too-energetic partner while they’re hitting the latest bike trail.

Like it or not, electric bikes look like they’re catching on – and we’ll explore why below:

You Can Still Get Fit

The world we live in is alarmingly sedentary, which is why we’re constantly being warned that we need to get up and get active.

Cycling is one of the ways we can do this, while completing a journey in the process.

But how do you get fit when you’re sat on a bike with a motor?

Well, many electric bikes still have pedals. So even though you’re getting a little extra help while you’re peddling around, just keeping your feet on the pedals will mean your legs are moving, your joints are mobilized and you’re burning more calories than if you were driving a car.

And if you do suffer from painful or stiff joints in your legs, you’ll no doubt find this gentle exercise gets things moving without working you too hard.

You’ll Save Money on Commuting

Public transport is becoming increasingly expensive, whereas cycling remains a cost-effective way of getting around. In the UK, a study found that it can cost up to £1.70 per mile to run a car, but just 4.2 pence per mile to run a push bike and as little as 5 pence to keep an electric bike going.

You Can Travel Further – Quickly

Even if someone’s a keen cyclist, an electric bike can help them make that extra-long journey. This means more people may hop on and off their bike to do various chores, which they maybe wouldn’t have done before.

For example, have you always wanted to bike to work when it’s nice and sunny but don’t want to arrive in a puddle of sweat? Well, an electric bike allows you to make the trip without putting as much effort in. And compared to buses or cars, this may be an even quicker way of getting there because you can take cycle routes and short cuts, eradicating all that wasted time you spend in traffic jams.

You Can Become “Green”

Finally, there’s the overwhelming benefit of doing your bit for the environment.

But these bikes use electricity, we hear you cry!

Well, yes, they do, but when you factor in how much electricity you’re using to charge the bike compared to what it would take to charge an electric car or motorbike – this is far less. Plus you’re not emitting any harmful fumes into the atmosphere, and there are sustainable companies you could try and get your electricity from.

And if you really want to go the extra mile, you could even generate electricity using your own wind turbine or solar panels.

Ultimately, electric bikes are transforming the way we get around and do our bit for the planet. And with technology continuing to advance at an exponential rate, who knows what’s next for the world of transport?

 

by Hermann Buchberger

5 Reasons Why You Should Use a Permanent Onsite Crane


Business

Congratulations! Your business is thriving, your inventory is rising, and client requests are skyrocketing. As a result, your firm has had to utilize forklifts and conveyor belts — however, both need too much floor space, so the time has come for you to contemplate investing in a crane for flexibility.

However, expanded floor space is not the sole reason you should be renting or purchasing a crane. You should additionally be putting your employees’ safety and operational efficiency at the forefront of your decisions.

Here are five more reasons why you should use a permanent onsite crane.

1. It brings efficiency to your material handling.

In utilizing a permanent onsite self-erecting crane or tower crane, you are one-step closer to ensuring complete efficiency in regards to all of your material handling.

As material handling is a critical process in the building and construction industry and a significant cost factor, cranes have a substantial bearing on the momentum of construction and, consequently, on the decrease of material handling costs.

Reflect on the financial benefit at the conclusion of a building project if you are able to reduce the construction time by a minimum of 25% when employing a permanent onsite crane.

2. It will help keep your site organized.

As cranes are responsible for all the heavy lifting on your building site, they significantly lessen the chance of injury to personnel connected with the heavy lifting. A permanent onsite crane additionally aids in keeping the building site clean and orderly, and decreases the risks of people tumbling or falling.

3. It motivates onsite staff.

By presenting a permanent onsite crane, your employees and building personnel can reach a new level of motivation. This is due to the fact that they can primarily focus on the actual construction work, as they are no longer profoundly engaged in the physical task of lifting materials.

Not surprisingly, this propels the momentum of building activity and decreases the threat of physical burnout among your onsite team members.

4. It benefits the neighborhood.

Thanks to noise, traffic congestion and dust, you are probably massively aware of the fact that construction activity can have an adverse impact on the inhabitants of the immediate community.

Narrowing the timeframe of construction also means reducing the length of the nuisance.

Having a crane posted on site rather than have one passing on the street (no matter how infrequently) also lessens traffic congestion and, consequently, the frustration of homeowners. To go one step further, consider opting for electric and emission-free cranes, as these are perfect for keeping the construction noise and pollution to a minimum.

5. It is reasonably priced.

Understandably, the cost will be one of the principal things that you will have to consider before committing to purchasing a permanent on-site crane, or asking yourself “how much does it cost to rent a tower crane?”

Luckily, here is some good news! On average, a self-erecting crane hire can cost as little as the cost of one laborer per week. If you add in the cost of another person (the crane operator), then you have the entire budget for material handling.

Not to state the obvious or anything, but the combination of crane and operator is remarkably fruitful as the lifting crane never gets lethargic and can lift pallets of bricks, reo, sand, formwork (or whatever else you need it to), all day long! Now, that is certainly a beneficial investment!

When appointing a crane supplier, ensure that you are working with a firm that:

  • Provides a broad range of services in-house, including initial consultation
  • Concentrates on customer satisfaction and the delivery of quality products
  • Maintains their core business principles
  • Keeps a lean management structure and a multi-skilled workforce
  • Offers customers a fast backup service and short response time
  • Invests in new products to maintain their technological advantage
  • Prioritizes training the workforce and providing them with a high-quality workplace
  • Has a clear focus on workplace health and safety

Has your firm ever purchased or rented a crane? How did it affect the project you were working on? Let us know in the comments!