February 17, 2009
Making eco-friendly changes where you live will also help lower utility bills, which is a big plus during these tough times. Following are some simple ways to start greening your home and saving money:
- Check your home for proper insulation from the roof to the foundation. Key areas to insulate or check on the effectiveness of existing insulation include attic spaces, cathedral ceilings, exterior walls, basements and crawl spaces.
- Conduct your own home energy audit and locate air leaks, inspect heating and cooling equipment and evaluate your lighting sources.
- According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Web site, insulating your hot water pipes reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature 2ºF–4ºF hotter than uninsulated pipes can deliver. You also won't have to wait as long for hot water when you turn on a faucet or showerhead, which helps conserve water.
- Seal off any unused rooms during the winter time to save on heating costs. Hanging a heavy drape in the entry ways of front porches or foyers can help prevent drafts from overpowering other areas of the house.
- Install a programmable thermostat and learn now to schedule automatic increases and decreases in your home’s temperature. These energy effective devices save money on cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
A lot of other tips can be found on the EERE site. And, if you make energy-based improvements to your home in 2009, you can receive up to $500 in tax credits, making things like insulation tax-free.
Source: BecauseAction.com
