According to a famous frog named “Kermit,” it isn’t easy being green. Fortunately for home owners, going green is something different altogether. In fact, with the variety of products and financial incentives available today, going green makes more sense than ever. With that in mind, here are 5 of the best ways it pays to make your home a little greener.
1. Go with the “Low” Flow:
Scientists say that the human body is over 90% water. Maybe that explains why we take water for granted and tend to use so much of it throughout the day. While many wonderful water-saving products await us on the shelves of our local home improvement centers, the first step in reducing home water usage comes with an awareness that water is not an unlimited resource. The bottom line truth is that the more we use, the more it costs. Once we adopt this mindset, simple ways to save water begin to reveal themselves, often in the form of questions such as: Do I really need to leave the faucet running while I brush my teeth? Do I need to rinse the dishes thoroughly before loading them into the dishwasher? Should I be taking shorter showers. Can I water my landscape more efficiently and less often?
Once we are all about saving water and money we are ready for the next step, namely green “gadgeting.” The good news is that water saving devices are inexpensive and can give you the best return on your investment. For example, low flow water fixtures can save you 25-60% on your water bill and cost between $10-$20 each. Installing an aerator on each faucet to insure maximum pressure and minimum water usage can save you even more. Then there’s the low flow toilet which can save the average household an amazing 25 gallons of water per day.
2. Thanks But No Tanks:
Now that we are using less water, the fact remains that a large portion of that water needs to be heated to do the job. Enter the traditional water heater, designed to consume needless amounts of energy during the inefficient process of heating water in a tank. Just as you wanted your “blankie”as a child to keep warm, a water heater blanket, costing anywhere between $10-$20, helps keep heat energy from escaping to the tune of a 4-9% in monthly heating costs. A water heater timer, costing anywhere from $30-$110 depending on whether the heater is electric or gas, can save 30% or more on overall heating costs.
But for true energy efficiency, nothing beats the Tank less Water Heater. Unbiased studies have shown that for a household using 41 gallons or less of heated water daily, the energy savings over a conventional storage tank water heater ranges from 24-34%. For homes that use more hot water, around 86 gallons per day, the expected savings is still a substantial 8-14%. Even greater energy savings of 27-50% may be achieved by installing tank less heating units at each water outlet throughout the home.
3. Lighten Your Light Load:
Like water, we often take lighting our houses for granted. After all, shedding a little light on the subject is as easy as flipping a switch. The trick then is to recognize more efficient ways to keep those switches in the “off” position. If you lived back in the day of candle-lit rooms, and you were leaving a room for an extended length of time, it would be a no-brainer to blow out the candles. Start thinking of light bulbs as candles and you are on your way to saving energy and money, especially if the bulbs are of the CFL or energy saving variety. These bulbs, lasting up to 10 times longer than conventional bulbs, can cut monthly home lighting costs by 75%. As an added bonus, energy saving bulbs give off 75% less heat, which can reduce cooling costs.
4. Film Your House:
No, putting a video of your house on You Tube will not save you money or energy, but applying Energy Films to your windows will, especially if those windows are already double paned. But even single paned windows can yield dramatic benefits, particularly if you live in an area of harsh seasonal exposure. During the summer, a home with Energy Film treated windows can save its occupants up to 30% on their air conditioning bill and up to 10% in the winter. Better still, you may also be eligible for a 30% tax credit for filming your house.
5. Reach For The “Energy Stars”:
Advances in technology have given rise to a whole new generation of energy saving household appliances. Sporting the “Energy Star” logo, these appliances also come with money-saving incentives in the form of rebates or tax breaks. Although these products are a more expensive way to green your home, Energy Star appliances are the clear choice for giving you the greatest return on your investment over time. Compared to your outmoded models, an energy efficient refrigerator can cut your energy usage by 15%, an Energy Star dishwasher by 25%. Most impressive of all, a modern washer and dryer can do the job while expending 50% less energy, which basically amounts to cleaning your pants while putting money in the pockets at the same time.