Home Energy Saving Projects for Every Budget

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Home Energy Saving Projects for Every Budget

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Think "going green" must break the bank? Think again. Here are a few things you can do to improve your home's energy usage that cost absolutely nothing.

No cost

Think "going green" must break the bank? Think again. Here are a few things you can do to improve your home's energy usage that cost absolutely nothing.

· Close doors to unused rooms when heating or cooling your house.

· Pull blinds down during the summer and up in the winter to minimize or maximize solar gain.

· Turn off heating and cooling when you're not at home.

· Turn down the thermostat.

· Dress appropriately: Don't wear summer clothes during winter and crank up the heat to compensate.

· Line dry your clothes.

· Unplug unused appliances -- (Beware the vampire!)

Less than $100

No need to break the bank to make your home more energy efficient. Here are some low-cost tasks and helpful tools.

· Use a TED device to measure and track your energy consumption.

· Plant a tree to shade your air conditioning unit so that it will work more efficiently.

· Install window film, such as Energy-Film, to prevent solar gain during the summer and energy loss during the winter.

· Caulk or seal drafty areas in your home, such as around windows.

· Use door snakes, chimney balloons and clotheslines to reduce energy use.

$2$$200-$1,500

Consider the appliances in your kitchen or laundry room. Replacing outdated ones with Energy Star appliances reduces your energy usage and gives you a great excuse to freshen up a room's appearance at the same time. Less-flashy upgrades in this price range include installing a tankless water heater or adding additional insulation to your attic.

$1,500 and up

Yes, some home energy efficiency improvements are expensive. However, they typically pay for themselves very quickly in the form of reduced utility bills and/or tax rebates and incentives. These include: solar panels, solar water heaters and geothermal solutions. Making 10 of these types of changes saves a typical homeowner $600 or more per year and posts an impressive 16% return on your money. Energy-efficient improvements may also increase your home's market value when you sell.

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Posted by dawnmitchell at 12/12/2011 7:52 AM

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