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.
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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.
$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 Replacing outdated ones with Energy Star appliances reduces your energy usage and gives you a great excuse to freshen up a room's appearance at the same time.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.