In these days of rising energy costs, it’s easy to see why so many homeowners have developed an interest in improving the efficiency and environmental friendliness of their homes. Whether the focus is on lowering monthly utility bills or reducing the family’s carbon footprint, many people are embracing new methods and technologies that are making their houses healthier, safer and more fuel efficient. Here are some simple steps you can take to turn your house into a green home in a matter of months.
The Place to Start: A Whole House Audit
The first step in establishing a green improvement priority list is to contact an energy auditor in your area. These trained professionals determine the overall performance of the home from an energy consumption standpoint and identify specific areas where your energy efficiency could be improved. Many auditors also have the capability to test for indoor air quality contaminants and can help locate the source of indoor pollutants and other VOCs.
Once the home’s deficiencies have been identified, the auditor will outline specific solutions that the homeowner can implement to eliminate the problems. Many local utilities promote energy audits with rebates, while some offer it as a free service to their customers. If your utility company does not offer this service you can contact an Energy Star-certified Home Energy Rater in your local area.
Greening Your Heating and Air Conditioning System
There is no component in a home that has a larger effect on both the environment and energy consumption than the HVAC system. According to the Department of Energy, 44 percent of a typical monthly utility bill goes toward heating and cooling a home. Many inexpensive new products and services have been introduced that will raise efficiencies, lower utility costs, and remove substantial contaminants from the environment. There are three things that all homeowners concerned about saving energy need to consider:
- Duct Sealing: Most homes that were constructed prior to 2005 have ductwork systems that are poorly insulated and have multiple leaks. Conditioned air that is blown into an attic or crawl space can waste up to 40 percent of the consumed energy. Inexpensive duct sealing can be completed by a licensed HVAC contractor and will result in immediate savings and better comfort.
Programmable Thermostat: If you are not already using a programmable thermostat you may be missing out on considerable energy savings. These thermostats reduce the amount of heating and cooling during times of the day when no one is likely to be home. Total savings can be as much as $200 per year when properly set up.
- A/C Compressor Controller: Compressor controllers are wired between the thermostat and compressor on an air conditioning system. They use smart technology to determine when the air is saturated with cooling energy and will then turn off the compressor to save electricity. Annual savings can be as high as 30% of the cooling portion of a utility bill.
Efficient Household Devices
Inexpensive and easily accessible energy saving devices are constantly evolving and improving. Many green innovations are simple to install and actually have no little to associated cost.
ShowerStart Technology: Rather than saving water through restriction, advanced showerheads slow the flow to a trickle after the water heats up. When the bather enters the shower and pulls a cord, the normal flow immediately resumes with hot water. Annual savings can be as much as $75 per showerhead and over 2700 gallons of water per year.
- Smart Power Strips: Some homeowners may not realize this but an idle current is consumed 24/7 by devices that use external transformers or remain in “standby mode.” This can account for as much as 12 percent of an annual utility bill. Smart power strips operate on a master/slave principle where a controlling device (such as a TV or computer) determines whether peripheral devices remain on or off. These power strips are much more convenient than constantly unplugging your unused appliances and can be found at electronics retailers for $50 or less.
- Toilet Tank Water Reduction: Here is a simple technique to save a half gallon of water on every flush. Fill a half gallon plastic jug with sand or pebbles and seal it well. Place the bottle inside the toilet tank (the top section of the toilet). Doing this will displace 1/2 gallon of water on each flush. With this method a family of five can save about 400 gallons of water over the course of a year. For an even easier solution, have your plumber install a new low-flush toilet. Low-flush toilets have gotten a bit of a bad rap, but today’s toilets work much better than those installed a decade ago and use just 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
Future Green Alternatives
The introduction of new products and services is advancing at an extraordinary pace. While there are many available upgrades that promote healthy living, the most effective investments will result in an improvement in energy efficiency as well.
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