Energy audits
If you want to make sure the impact on
your savings is as large as the impact
on the planet, an energy audit (offered
through utility companies and private
companies) can help you find the places
you're losing the most energy, and where
you can make changes that will give you
the most bang for your buck. The audits,
which can last up to a few hours, may
be just an expert with a clipboard or
may include high-tech tools like blower
doors (a fan that measures air leakage
in doors), duct blasters (a machine that
measures duct leaks) and infrared cameras
(a device that can show damaged insulation,
improper caulking, and gaps). Cash strapped?
You can find a do-it-yourself audit at
the Department
of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Website.
Costs:
$0 to $700.
Idea 2:
Compact fluorescent light bulbs
You've likely heard this tip before, but it can't be emphasized enough: For just a few dollars' investment, you can reap significant returns by replacing your old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. Though you'll pay a bit of a premium, you'll more than offset the costs with life expectancy and energy savings. The bulbs usually use less than a third of the energy of a typical bulb while producing the same amount of light, and they'll last up to 10 times longer. They also don't give off as much heat as incandescent bulbs, which helps keep rooms cool.
Costs:
$2 to $5 a bulb, but you can reap from $10 to $75 in energy savings over the life
of the each bulb.
Idea 3:
Programmable thermostats
Having a thermostat that automatically adjusts to a few degrees cooler (or warmer, depending on the season) while you're out of the house can mean big savings on your energy bill. While it's not necessary to have one -- you can adjust a traditional thermostat easily on your own -- it's just one less detail you have to worry about.
Costs:
Programmable thermostats start as low as $30 and can result in savings of about $150 annually. Visit WarmAir.net to calculate savings.
Idea 4:
Low or no-VOC paints
Many paints and varnishes release volatile
organic compounds, or VOCs, which are
dangerous not only to the environment,
but to your health. Whenever possible,
look for low- or no-VOC products. Though
some brands tout their low-VOC status
in large print on the packaging (Sherwin
Williams offers a Harmony line of zero-VOC
paints and Benjamin Moore has the Pristine
EcoSpec offerings), you may have to read
the fine print. To meet EPA standards,
low-VOC paints must have less than 200
grams of VOCs per liter and varnishes
less than 300 grams per liter; many have
far less.
Costs:
$27 to $45 a gallon.
Idea 5:
Insulation
A poorly insulated house -- particularly
in attic spaces -- can mean that you're
spending lots of money cooling (and heating)
the sky. Up to a third of all of a home's
heating and cooling is lost through the
attic and another quarter through the
walls. Though all properly installed insulation
will improve your energy efficiency, consider
recycled cotton insulation as a green
option.
Costs:
The costs vary, of course, depending on the type of insulation and the size of
your home. But the savings can be significant.
If, for example, you had no insulation
in your home and improved to insulation
rated at R-22, you would retain about
seven times as much heat that would be
lost through your ceiling.
Idea 6:
Windows
New windows can get pricey, but a combination
of tax credits and energy savings can
help offset the cost. Double- or even
triple-paned windows will do a great job
preventing drafts and reducing your energy
costs. While the energy savings alone
might not make it a sure bet, if you'd
like a different look for your windows
anyway, the upgrade will be worthwhile.
If you opt against new windows, be sure
to make sure your current windows are
well sealed; this alone will make a difference
in energy loss.
Costs:
Double-paned vinyl windows start at about $150; wooden windows are substantially
higher. Triple-paned windows and glazed
windows add significantly to the cost.
Savings, however, can run 25 percent to
50 percent on heating and cooling costs.
Entire home
