Jan.31, 2012, in Articles
We’d like to thank Our Homes Magazine Oakville/Burlington for their charasmatic blog post about Krumpers Solar Solutions.
“The reality is there are great options available that can make a big difference and negate the draw backs associated with big beautiful windows. Suprisingly, insulating window blinds and can halt up to 86% of heat gain and 80% of heat loss. Add to that they are now constructed of material that still allows you a clear view out of the window.
I do have good energy efficient windows, so would solar blinds really make a difference? Apparently low-E still allows for 60% heat transfer rate through the glass in summer and winter, but Krumpers Solar Blinds reduces this to less than 20%. In the winter they can reduce winter heat loss by 45%.”
Click here to read the full article: http://homesweethomeoakvilleburlington.blogspot.com/2012/01/sunglasses-for-your-windows.html
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Jan.26, 2012, in Articles, Tips & Resources
If your home could talk, its walls would tell you much more then just the history of the people whom inhabited its premise; it would ask, beg and nag for the attention it deserves.
It would tell you “I am envious of you”. You go to the doctor, you heal yourself with medicine, but you neglect me. Perhaps you give me a quick cosmetic overhauls to keep my age a well kept secret, but I too need a physical. How grateful I would be to have new windows to keep me warm, or to just have a taste of the latest technology in efficiency. Your home is your castle, but how do you treat it? When you are cold you dress warmly and how do you dress me for those chilly days? Yes, you turn up the furnace but that’s just hard on me. I start to cost you more and all you think is that you might have to get rid of me.
Thus, I finally have a voice and on behalf of all homes I would like to beg and plead with you to take action. We homes will serve you better, cradle you in comfort and save you thousand of dollars if you the homeowner will just do a few of the measures we homes are asking. We can only respectfully request, as we have no unions or pension plans, and are at the mercy of your kindness. But believe us when we say, we shall pay you back in more ways that you could fathom, not only directly but indirectly, as we are all participants of this planet.
You have me inspected before you buy me, to quote Mike Holmes “Most Homes are NOT Inspected Properly” in the first place. Then you forget that I too age, and have issues and wants, or rather needs. You are lucky you get a physical every year; you brag that you are fortunate enough to have your own family doctor. As I age, my issues might be easily remedied if only caught early enough. A good inspection including an infra red scan (this scan will only run you between $150-$300) will be like an MRI for me and thus you can heal quickly and inexpensively.
We homes have all sorts of small deficiencies that are quickly and easily rectified. For instance, make sure my vents are actually vented to the outside, as prior to 1975 the building code did not require it. See how smart you have become over the years. Please have my chimney cleaned as I not only worry about you but I am petrified of burning down.
We also like to let you know that we love the view we have through the windows, but as soon as you are cold or hot you cover them up. Please get the latest technology. Get Krumpers Solar Blinds, we all get to enjoy the view and you get to save 40% off your heating and cooling costs. Krumpers Solar Blinds are the “Apple” of blinds, and we homes want to have a taste of the high tech toys you have had for years.
I know, I know as soon as I start to cost you money you just want to get rid of me. But if you click on http://krumperssolarsolutions.ca/news/ you will find all sorts of ways to save money and enjoy me for years to come.
I bow my head to you and await a promising future.
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Jan.20, 2012, in Articles
Have you ever given any thought to the history of what you put on your windows? The quest for light and comfort in the home has been a preoccupation of civilizations for centuries.
Even before the Egyptians, it seems that desert civilizations had methods for creating blinds that inspired many of today’s options. Many of these pre- Egyptian civilizations are believed to have simply used wetted cloth to cover their windows. By soaking the cloth, cool air was allowed in while heat and sand were kept out. The cloth concept was eventually adopted by the Romans, who wove slats into fabric sheets to give us Roman blinds. Thousands of years later, we still rely on these blinds to create a Mediterranean feel in our homes.
Window blinds are often referred to as “Venetian blinds”. However, the Venetians, who were once great traders, are thought to have imported the idea from Persia. Once the shipboard slaves were freed, they brought the blinds with them to France, where they are known to this day as les persiennes.
In 1769, British designer Edward Beran patented Venetian blinds in London and they began popping up everywhere. The St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia was fitted with Venetian blinds in 1761 and later that decade, in 1767, thanks to clever advertising by craftsman John Webster of London, their popularity soared in the US. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Venetian blinds were widely adopted for use in ever-higher office buildings to regulate light and air.
In 1946, however, home decorating took a major turn when mass-made aluminum Venetian-style blinds hit the market. These early blinds incorporated fabric strips to control the raising, lowering, and tilting of the metal vanes. In 1985, honeycomb or cellular shades were developed, largely in response to a demand for more energy efficiency. No longer were window coverings simply a stylish addition to a room. They became a practicality that would not only provide privacy but promised to reduce that energy bill.
The evolution of space age technology allowed for the introduction and implementation of the smart home. It is this advancement in technology that propelled the static window blinds to the cutting edge.
For the past 5 years, Krumpers Solar Blinds has been a leader in the window covering industry, earning the “Best Blinds of 2010” award. The uniquely engineered blinds are reversible for summer/winter applications. Although both sides allow for a clear, unobstructed view, each side has a distinctive function. The summer side is solar reflective, and 72 per cent of the heat is reflected back outside.
Krumpers has also been keeping abreast of innovation and architectural trends in trapezoidal windows, skylights and odd shapes and has developed a patented in-house solution to address such variances.
It seems that the evolution of the window blind just reached a new level that is worthy of a smart home. Krumpers is keeping in mind why blinds came to be in the first place – “Covering windows to let the cool air and heat out”
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Jan.18, 2012, in Articles
Twitter is a great place to find eco tips and articles. Browsing this morning, there was a great article by apartmenttherapy.com titled “10 Ways to Save Energy in the Laundry Room”
As heating costs continue to rise, we will do anything to try to cut our heating bill. In the laundry room you most often hear advice to “wash in cold water” and “dry clothes on a rack”. It is helpful to listen to these old “wives-tails” on how to do your laundry the “green way” but there is also new technology that will help reduce energy use.
10 Ways to Save Energy in the Laundry Room (view full article)
1. Move the dryer closer to an outside wall
2. Use smooth ducts for exhaust
3. Air dry clothes when possible
4. 8 Tips to Optimize Your Dryer. “Learn how to separate clothes and select cycles that optimize drying time. You can dry full loads, but don’t overfill the dryer, stop over-drying your clothes, and separate heavy from light fabrics among other tips.”
5. Recover greywater from the washing machine. “Over the last two years, that simple switch has sent 9,720 gallons to passion fruit vines instead of the sewer, and it required only one change to her usual routine.”
6. Use an electricity free technique. “Wonderwash Portable Washing Machine & Mini Spin Dryer, “is small enough for countertop use, is easy and safe to use, and will cut down on water and electricity usage as well as save money”
7. Hot, warm or cold cycles? “Not all laundry needs to be washed in hot, or even warm water. Separate loads and be selective about which fabrics get to be washed in heated water.”
8. Wash clothes less frequently
9. Heat and moisture energy exchange. “An air to air heat and moisture exchange system could allow you to save energy on heating or cooling your home by recycling the energy you used to heat or cool it in the first place.”
10. Stop shipping water when you buy liquid detergents
#11 that is not on this list would be doing your laundry during off-peak hours. In Ontario the winter hydro off-peak hours are from 7 pm to 7 am. Rather than paying over 10 cents per kWh you are paying just over 6 cents per kWh. Just be sure that if you are doing your laundry in the evening, be sure not to leave your wet laundry in the machine. This will lead to the development of bed bugs and bacteria build-up.
Washing your clothes the “eco-way” is not only positive for the environment but your clothes will last longer! Enjoy clothes with a fresh smell and long lasting colour.
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Jan.16, 2012, in Tips & Resources
Scotiabank created an excellent resource for homeowners and contractors alike to calculate renovation energy rebates available to homeowners in Canada.
At http://ecoliving.scotiabank.com/rebates, consumers are able to find energy rebates available in their province.
See the average cost to complete the renovation, average savings, environmental impact and rebate amount. In this rebate list, the majority of items are related to improving your insulation (walls, windows and doors). Something that is not on the list is “insulating your windows“! With Krumpers Solar Blinds reduce winter heat loss by up to 45% and stops more than 92% of the U.V. rays. The heat control benefits are more than a rebate can ever offer.
“People think they’re being environmentally responsible by doing small things, like turning off the lights, but they forget about the big-ticket items like the cost of running an old furnace,” says Shaun Loney, executive director of BUILD.
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Jan.11, 2012, in Tips & Resources
Kaz Flinn, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Scotiabank shared his insight with Home BUILDER Canada on how to continue encouraging Canadians to adopt energy efficient updates. Educating homeowners about green renovation ideas will further increase their interest to make these changes.
“A June 2011 special report from Scotiabank found that while substantial progress has been made in improving household energy efficiency, more needs to be done, especially with energy usage and pricing on the upswing. “
“Canadians are increasingly adopting energy-efficient and environmentally friendly practices in their homes, and with the breadth and depth of knowledge available to builders and renovators, there is a distinct opportunity to inform even more Canadians of their green options. “
“As experts in their field, builders and renovators can educate clients about the benefits of using sustainable materials, appliances and lighting when completing a renovation. By demonstrating the savings on household electricity and water bills, these experts can show Canadians how simple changes are smart for both the planet and the wallet. “
“Additionally, government rebates available to Canadians at the regional and federal levels are excellent incentives to choose sustainable renovation options. The comprehensive rebate guide on Scotiabank’s EcoLiving website, www.ecoliving.scotiabank.com, shows the user rebates available by city and province and by renovation project.”
Energy efficient renovations don’t need to be major. Small energy efficient updates can add to be to great savings.
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Jan.10, 2012, in Articles, Press
Ottawa Life Magazine published our article “Cutting Edge Technology in Window Blinds will Help You Outsmart the Smart Meter” on Friday.
We all love the sun streaming through the windows especially this time of year, when every second of sunshine is worth its bandwidth in gold. However, windows are the weakest element in any building structure and the only element that has very little insulating value. Even the best windows on the market (3 pane, with argon and crypton gas) still allow for 50% of heat to travel through them.
Here is a simple experiment touch your wall and then touch the glass of your windows, the temperature differential will be staggering. The solution is actually very simple and has been around for the past 28 years, however only the fortunate few have been aware.
Home owners, condominium dwellers and commercial building owners have all benefited from Krumpers technology. Krumpers blinds is a gift that will give back year after year not only to your pocketbook but also to the environment.
Read the full article >>
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Jan.09, 2012, in Tips & Resources
A great article was posted by Home BUILDER Canada’s website. This article was written by Mike Martin, owner of Michael J. Martin Luxury Renovations in Ottawa.
“Provincial and municipal agencies are also offering home renovation incentives and awareness campaigns to help industry growth with such incentives toward home efficiency and environmental stewardship.”
“The demographic is changing with 1,000 retirees a day in Canada. Therefore, renovators should gear themselves toward barrier-free renovation projects. Automation and efficiency is a primary concern for this demographic, and renovators should try and educate themselves with these elements to tap into this huge market.”
“Green renovations will continue to be an important facet of any project. Demands for “Green homes” include everything from HVAC systems to building materials to product finishes. Tying in energy efficient renovations to an existing house requires much up-to-date knowledge and technical know-how to make it “one” with a home.”
It is true that retired homeowners would appreciate the benefits of energy efficient renovations.
- Many are now on a fixed income so would appreciate a reduced energy bill
- Making updates to the home before selling to increase the value
- Reducing allergens in the air and thus reducing illness
- Increasing the warmth of the house, again reducing illness
As mentioned in Mike’s statement the aging demographic is most interested in ”barrier-free renovation projects” so they can remain in the comfort of their home during renovations. Krumpers Solar Blinds is one energy efficient update that doesn’t alter your lifestyle. Toxic-free, allergen-free, and affordable!
Article Source: ArcticFoam blog (permission granted)
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Jan.05, 2012, in Shows & Events
There are several benefits for attending and exhibiting at a home show for both the home owner as well as suppliers of products and services for the industry.
Homeowner Benefits:
- See first-hand the latest trends, ideas and innovations for the modern Canadian home;
- Meet face-to-face with leading suppliers of products and services for the industry;
- Personally test out certain products and services of interest before you buy;
- Attending a local home show shows support for your community and the local businesses in your area;
- Bring along the family or a friend and make it a fun outing.
Exhibitor Benefits:
- Face-to-face discussions with past, existing and prospective customers;
- Opportunity to display your products and services in front of a “live” audience;
- Homeowner attendees will tell their friends and families about unique products and services they saw at the home show which can lead to a referral for your business;
- An excellent opportunity for your employees to attend, work the booth and learn more about the industry;
- By participating as an exhibitor at a local home show identifies your business as one that supports the community as well as the local industry.
The Ottawa Home Renovation Show is fully booked this year with exhibitors to fill the entire space at the show! Homeowners and contractors visiting the show will be getting the best “bang for their buck” by meeting a variety of product and service suppliers in the area. You can now buy tickets to the event online for $8 (save $2).
Hope to see you there!
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Dec.16, 2011, in Shows & Events
Krumpers Solar Solutions is going to be at the Home Renovations Show in Ottawa from January 20-22, 2012.
The Home Renovations Show is a one-stop shop for homeowners who are renovating, updating or designing their home. Consumers have a chance to meet with business owners, designers and local building experts while browsing hundreds of products and services.
Visit our booth to see a live demo of how Krumpers Solar Blinds improve the energy efficiency of your home. We will have a special offer for guests who would like to fit their home with Krumpers. See you in the New Year!
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