6 Ways to Get Your “Green” Card
In a recent study of builders in the U.S. it was discovered that 7 out of 10 people who want homes built ask about both energy-efficient homes and using environmentally-friendly materials. That’s gigantic leap from only 5 years ago. As well, there is a marked jump of homeowners who are looking for ways reduce energy while using materials that won’t harm the environment.
Here are the top 5 requests from 2007:
1) Tankless Water Heater: This machine costs 3-4 times as much as a normal water heater but it is easy to install and takes up minimal space. It is an on-demand system which fires up when needed so there is no need to heat up a tank of cold water so it can cut your water heating bill by about 12-20%. That’s pretty good long term savings when the average household spends around 15% of its total energy requirements to heat water. In addition the heater can be used for hydronic floor heating.
2) Natural Landscape: Do you ever go outside the city and see the plants and trees that grow there without need for sprinklers and fertilizing? Well, a new trend in landscaping is to put the “nature” back into natural by ridding the yard of grass and using creative ways to define this space. Some homeowners are planting wild blueberry bushes and saskatoon berry shrubs amongst patios and pathways of natural stone. It just takes imagination and pretty soon you find yourself avoiding the pesticide and fertilizer aisle in the hardware store.
3) Insulation: There is a saying that, “You can never get enough insulation.” One way to find out for yourself is to get a home inspection from a government agency promoting energy savings. Almost all the states have them. They will check your windows, doors and attics for “energy sucks,” places where cold air comes in (Traditional fireplaces are notorious for drawing your costly hot air outside). Also, many will come back on a cold day and, using an infrared scanner, see where the insulation could be improved. This also works for hot areas to save on air conditioning. Even without this test spending about $500 adding insulation in the attic will pay for itself in saved energy in less than 5 years.
4) Programmable Thermostats: The old mercury switch thermostats were fine in their time but with crude oil prices and electrical generating costs going through the roof you need a more efficient way to control this precious commodity called heat. The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program estimates the average household will save $150 per year just by changing to these thermostats. That’s approximately what three (3) would cost.
5) CFL Bulbs: Just by changing to compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFL’s, you are instantly saving electricity because they use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. Because they last up to 10 times longer you can save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb’s lifetime.
6) Windows: These are the ports of the highest energy loss for the home, especially if you have single-paned windows - which the vast majority do not have anymore. Double and triple-seal windows are the norm but you can never get a great R-value from glass - and they are very expensive. if you live in a cold area you will save in a big way by covering the larger windows with a transparent plastic seal. It will take time to apply them and you can store them on old wrapping paper rolls for use again.
Let’s face it, the price of electricity and fossil fuels will never go down. But by making inexpensive changes here and there you can freeze and even drop the costs. besides, you will be helping cut down on greenhouse gases.
2 comments February 21, 2008
