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How and Why to Stop Wasting Energy With Halloween one week away, it is easier than ever to find vampire costumes or decorations in stores and outside neighborhoods and homes.  But a certain type of vampire can lurk inside the home without anyone knowing: energy vampires!  While not the scary character featured in books or movies, "energy vampires" is a term used to describe appliances or devices that use small amounts of energy even when the appliance is turned off and not used for hours or days at a time.  But what exactly are energy vampires and why and how can they be prevented?  Learn more here: What exactly are energy vampires? An "energy vampire" is any device or appliance that plugs into a wall outlet for an extended period of time when turned off.  Many people believe that appliances only use energy when turned on and in use.  However, small amounts of energy are used when devices are turned off but remain plugged into outlets.  Common energy v...

Saving Energy By Monitoring The Thermostat In many homes, staying comfortable in any season or weather depends greatly on adjusting heat or air flow with the thermostat.  But is there a proper way to utilize the thermostat?  Below are three green ways to use the thermostat and reduce excess energy: 1) Adjust before leaving : Not adjusting the thermostat before leaving the house for a long period of time, for work, trips, or appointments, is one of the easiest ways to waste energy.  Adjust the thermostat to a few degrees higher or lower (depending on the season) when leaving the house or even turn the thermostat off completely. 2) Find a comfortable setting : Instead of cranking up the heat or air conditioning, try to find a setting that is personally comfortable.  For instance, a person may just turn on their air conditioning set at 70 degrees.  However, that same person may still feel comfortable and cool in a home that is 74 degrees.  Finding a comfortabl...

Geothermal Heat Pumps A Guide To Understanding Heat Pumps and Utilizing Heat Pumps More Effectively Last year, a GreenLiving blog post detailed important facts about heat pumps that apartment renters and homeowners alike should know to be better able to understand the heat pump and how the device impacts a home. Essentially, heat pumps are energy efficient devices that pump air from one location to another.  Read below to find out more about how heat pumps work: What Are Heat Pumps? A heat pump is a device that provides heat energy to a specific and desired location.  This procedure is referred to as "heat sink".  In the process, heat pumps absorb heat, or the thermal energy, from a cold location and release that energy to warm space. Air conditioners and freezers are common examples of heat pumps.  A common heat pump is an "air source heat pump" which shifts air from inside to the outside.  Thus, heat pumps are effective in moving hot air in the home ...

Montgomery County Energy Benchmarking Click here to read more about how Grady Management was recognized for energy benchmarking. Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.    Learn more about Grady Management on our  website  or  Facebook  page.

A Green Reminder For The Colder Months The air is turning colder, the days are getting shorter, and people are putting away their Halloween decorations.  That can only mean one thing- winter is right around the corner!  If you are interested in living a green life, you might think that it is tough to conserve energy in the winter.  While it can be a challenge, it is possible!  Below are a few tips to serve as a reminder for staying "green" this winter: 1.  Check your thermostat: No one wants to go through winter cold!  However, there are certain ways to reduce the amount of energy used on heat.  Don't forget to program your thermostat to a reasonable temperature.  While 80 degrees might sound enjoyable on especially frigid days- your home will still be toasty set to 70.  Also, a lot of thermostats now have programmable, energy saving, settings on them; investing in one will ensure that you are living the greenest (and warmest) way possible! 2...