One of the biggest issues facing the world over is the consumption of energy and how to conserve it in your daily lives. This is not only good for the environment, but can save people a lot of money on their electricity bills every month, which are large as it is. A sustainable lifestyle is discussed in a recent article from the East Valley Tribune out of Arizona:
“… poorly insulated homes and inefficient air conditioning systems mean summer starts a little earlier and sometimes lasts well into the fall. Aging homes not equipped to handle the intense summer heat, including many in the Sun Cities, not only can drain homeowners’ pocketbooks, but also their energy…firsthand experience and independent research have shown the majority of homeowners throughout Arizona could reduce their utility bills between 15 and 30 percent by implementing basic energy conservation strategies.”
The article lists an extensive number of ways that some Arizonians are flunking energy audits, but one really stands out, seeing as this is a blog about carports and their uses. In fact, some of the homeowners in this article have changed the way their carports are being used, which has led to major problems:
“Uniacke said the majority of issues that come up in home audits in the Sun Cities include air quality issues in the home. In addition, many homeowners choose to convert garages or carports into bedrooms, and problems with proper insulation ensue.”
Although I have made the importance of carports quite clear in this blog, I’m not sure using these structures as bedrooms, even if converted correctly according to a home audit group. It is one thing to convert a carport into a garage, which is a transition that makes sense and probably won’t have much effect on your energy bill. However, making a car storage area into a living space probably isn’t the best idea, especially if you want to save money on electricity.