Eco-friendly. Carbon footprint.
Global warming. Energy-efficient.
These catch phrases have become part
of our lexicon as we’ve become more
aware of our impact on the
environment and our role in
protecting it. As a homeowner, there
are some simple, inexpensive steps
you can take to make your home
energy-efficient. Get started on the
road to being “green” with these
five tips:
Change Your Light Bulbs
By replacing just five incandescent
light bulbs with compact fluorescent
(CFL) bulbs, you can save $100 per
year on electric bills while using
up to 75 percent less energy and
removing greenhouse gases from the
environment.
Buy ENERGY STAR® Appliances
ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances,
such as refrigerators, washers and
air conditioners, meet a higher
level of energy efficiency set by
the Environmental Protection Agency
and U.S. Department of Energy than
standard models. According to ENERGY
STAR, if just one in 10 homes used
ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances,
the impact could be compared to
planting 1.7 million new acres of
trees. And, switching to these
appliances is not only good for the
environment, but easy on your
pocketbook. Although these
appliances may costs more, you can
reduce your energy bill by $80 per
year.
Seal Up
Cracks and air leaks represent cash
seeping from your doors and windows.
Get rid of air leaks in doors,
windows and other areas by caulking
gaps and cracks. This will help
decrease your heating and air
conditioning bill. But make sure you
use silicone sealants. Acrylic caulk
tends to shrink, while silicone
sealants are waterproof and won’t
shrink or crack, creating less
waste.
Use Less Water
Did you know that roughly 60 percent
of a home's water consumption takes
place in the bathroom, according to
the California Urban Water
Conservation Council? The largest
culprit is the toilet, which
accounts for 27 percent of your
household supply every year. By
installing low-flow toilets,
showerheads and faucets, you can
save thousands of gallons of water
each year. In addition, replace
leaky fixtures. That slow-dripping
faucet can waste as much as 2,400
gallons of water per year.
Adjust the Thermostat
When adjusting your home’s
thermostat, the rule of thumb should
be: turn up the dial in the summer
and down in the winter. Lowering the
temperature by just one degree will
reduce your electrical costs. And if
you use a programmable thermostat,
you can program your
air-conditioning and heating systems
to reduce output while no one is at
home or at night while you sleep.
Ceiling fans are also helpful in
circulating the air to keep the room
cool in the summer and warm in the
winter.
Going green doesn’t have to be
overwhelming or costly. By making
just a few small changes within your
home, you can help decrease energy
consumption and help make the world
a “greener” place.
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