March 4, 2015

Clothes Dryers Now Certified by Energy Star

If you are part of the 80% of Americans who own a clothes dryer in your home – take a look at this. Energy Star, the most widely recognized champion for energy efficient appliances in the world, just announced the release of over 40 new models of energy efficient, certified clothes dryers. The U.S. Department of Energy, washer/dryer manufacturers, retail stores, and environmental groups all throughout the U.S. collaborated in...

View Article

Continue Reading
January 16, 2015

Benefits of Smart Light Bulbs

Light bulbs aren’t exactly what they used to be. In the last few years, they have gone from your standard bulb to being a lot more efficient. Now, you can control your lights – even their color – from anywhere with your smartphone. While you might not need all of the 16 million colors available from some of these bulbs, there are definitely some other benefits to having smart light...

View Article

Continue Reading
January 8, 2015

Three Reasons to Make Your House More Energy Efficient

Here at Alps, we talk a lot about reducing your energy use. However, we wanted to take the time to explain how reducing your energy use affects you and those around you. Although there are a lot of secondary benefits of reducing your energy use, there are three primary reasons to make your house more efficient. Reduce Your Bills Let’s be honest for a minute. If reducing your energy meant...

View Article

Continue Reading
December 10, 2014

Energy Saving Benefits of Hang Drying Laundry

In a study conducted in 2013, hanging laundry was America’s least popular way to lower utility costs. Approximately 85% of American households own tumble dryers, and those who do own one burn through two or more loads a week. Dryers are one of the top energy consuming appliances, using about 12% of a typical household’s electricity! This is a surprising contrast to the 95% of Italians who hang dry their...

View Article

Continue Reading
November 20, 2014

Energy Efficient Fireplaces

With cooler weather upon us, it makes us want to turn on the thermostat and huddle under a blanket. For families with fireplaces, ‘tis the season to light it up and make s’mores. However, many fireplaces are not energy efficient, and much of the potential heating benefits are lost. Here’s a few tips for upgrading your fireplace to achieve maximum efficiency! The Right Kind of Wood If you happen to have...

View Article

Continue Reading
October 27, 2014

Cool Roofs – Lower Your Energy Bill Naturally

In Southern California, it can get hot any time of the year. It’s not unusual to have a few days each month, even in the winter, where temperatures warm up to the point of needing to turn on your air conditioner. Because of that, there are many unique ways to combat the heat and keep your home cool. One of those is a reflective roof. Reflective or “Cool” roofs reduce...

View Article

Continue Reading
October 16, 2014

Ways to Make Your Home More Green

When it comes to your home, saving energy can seem like a big task.  Fortunately, there are a lot of little things you can do to be more green.  Additionally, if you make smart decisions when it counts (like when you purchase appliances), it can save more for years to come. Here are a few ways to save energy around your home. Minimize Washer and Dryer Use Be sure to...

View Article

Continue Reading
September 2, 2014

4 Useful Outlet Covers

Electrical outlets are pretty standard, right?  A couple places to plug things in and you’re set.  Well, the world of electrical outlets has been changing recently, and for the better.  There are a lot of different outlets and outlet covers you can now purchase to make your life easier.  Here are four that you should know about. USB Outlet Cover If you are like most people, you have a particular...

View Article

Continue Reading
August 28, 2014

Three Things to Teach your Children About Being Green

Conserving energy goes far beyond your HVAC system.  Although your HVAC system consumes a great deal of energy in your home, there are many, many other ways to conserve energy and help keep our environment sustainable for years and generations to come.  It’s important to teach our children about this at a young age.  The sooner it becomes a habit for them, the easier it will be for them to...

View Article

Continue Reading
August 21, 2014

3 Smartphone Apps to Help you Save Energy

Here at Alps, we are always looking for ways to help our customers save money by saving energy. One of the newest ways to monitor your energy usage is through mobile apps that connect directly to your thermostat. There are also many apps that will monitor energy usage on appliances. These apps allow you to see how much energy is being used and adjust accordingly. You no longer have to...

View Article

Continue Reading