Guest Blogger: 5 Energy Efficient Ideas to Green your Home this Winter

Guest Blogger #340, Entry #912, January 22, 2012

Most people assume a greener home requires extreme measures like armoring your house with clumsy solar panels and sticking a windmill on your front lawn. However, reducing the amount of electricity you use can be equally as effective as generating new energy. In fact, there are plenty of smaller alterations you can make that have a significant impact on your home’s energy output. By finding green ways to generate energy while limiting waste, you can significantly cut down the cost of your electricity while reducing your carbon footprint. The following are 5 ways to make your home more energy efficient:

Find out how to green your home and save money

1. Change Your Air Conditioning Filter

All the dust and dirt that clogs your filter can obstruct air flow and minimize efficiency. Changing the filter on your heating and cooling vents will help them dispense air smoothly, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the overall unit. Perform this maintenance once a month or when the filters appear clogged

2. Caulk Your Windows

The easier it is for heat to escape and cool air to get in, the more it will cost you to warm your home. Check all windows and door frames to ensure they are airtight. Honeycomb shades can be installed on the interior to help trap heat. Common areas for leaks include door and window frames, cracks along the baseboards, electrical outlets and mounted lights, attic doors and pull down stairs, fireplaces, pipe chases, and laundry chutes. Sealing all of these entry points can reduce the amount of energy waste. Adding plants and other greenery outside your windows can also help by reducing wind and creating a shield against radiation.

Caulk windows to seal out air leaks

3. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

The easiest and most common way to reduce electricity usage is to swap the old inefficient light bulbs for the modern, more energy efficient lights. CFLs are 75% more efficient than there incandescent counterparts. During its lifetime, studies have estimated the newer bulb saves about $20 in electricity. Therefore, while an incandescent light bulb may be cheaper to buy, it ultimately ends up costing a great deal more in energy usage.

4. Programmable Thermostat

Often times, the most culpable party with regard to energy waste is not the home, but the habits of the residents within. Leaving on a heater or air conditioner while away or during sleep represents a substantial amount of wasted electricity. While it is the human condition to forget such things, having a thermostat programmed to your lifestyle can save you the hassle of trying to remember. Simply set the timer according to the season and adjust as necessary.

Invest in energy efficient appliances

5. Replace Older Appliances

Refrigerators have always consumed massive amounts of energy. They operate day and night, and most keep their insides cool regardless of how hot it gets or how much food is contained within. However, in the past 5 years, great strides have been made with regard to energy efficiency in these bulky appliances. According to representatives from Direct Energy, there is a 20 to 40 percent difference in energy efficiency in refrigerators since 2001. The advances in technology apply to all your traditional energy guzzlers, from refrigerators to dishwashers to washers and dryers. Replacing one now will ultimately save you more money on electricity costs in the long term, so long as you resist the temptation to plug the old one in as a backup.

John Hill writes on behalf of PublicLiabilityInsurance.org an online resource for business owners providing builders liability insurance.

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