Home Energy Savings

  • If you are building a new home, site your house so that the long axis runs from east to west. This allows for passive solar and passive cooling to function more effectively.

  • Buy energy efficient windows with a proven track record. The better windows will block excess transfer of heat. Also, consider minimizing windows to the west, as they may cause overheating.

  • Enhance passive heating and cooling by adding overhangs and porches. For both new and already existing homes, plant trees and other energy efficient landscaping to provide consistent shade and lower cooling costs.

  • Use enough insulation. This will keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Attics especially can overheat, so consider extra attic insulation or even a radiant barrier. Also, a light colored shingle will reflect heat and keep your attic cooler.

  • Buy a tankless (such as Rinnai) water heater - they don’t waste energy heating water you are not using. A gas-powered tankless heater may be more efficient than an electric one.

  • Consider a solar hot water heating system for your home. You may even qualify for a government rebate on one of these systems.

  • Buy energy efficient appliances. A high efficiency heat pump is likely more energy conserving than a furnace and a separate air conditioning unit.

  • Unplug appliances that are not in use - or at least connect them to a power strip so you can turn off the power. Even chargers guzzle energy when they are connected to the outlet - whether you have that cell phone plugged into it or not.

  • Use solar lighting outdoors. Not only will you increase your safety when walking to and from the house at night, but your ‘automatic friends’ will operate with only the kiss of the sun for energy!

  • Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. You will be amazed at how much heat those incandescent bulbs put off! You’ll pay more for a compact fluorescent bulb comparable to a 60-watt incandescent, but it will use 1/3 as much energy to operate, last 10 times as long as your old bulbs, and produce 75% less heat!

  • Use “space heating” when possible. We tried an experiment this past winter - we used primarily oil-filled radiator heaters in the rooms we used the most during the day, and then put small heaters in rooms at night as needed. The winter electricity bills plummeted!

~Fight back against the high cost of fuel with these home energy saving ideas - you’ll conserve energy, money, and hassle when you do!

Li Thomas wants to help save you money, time, and energy while building or remodeling your home!

Check out tips and techniques for energy efficient home design and living at http://www.building-your-green-home.com/how-to-save-energy.html

Get the bottom line info on green building from a home owner’s perspective when you visit http://www.building-your-green-home.com

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