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Jan 1, 2008 12:00 am US/Central
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21 Ways To Live Green In 2008
Tips and experts from the Dallas Home Show
January 11-13, 2008 at the Dallas Convention Center
1. Start with a professional energy audit to identify where you are wasting energy in your home and to provide solutions to improve your energy usage. (a)
2. Install programmable thermostats and set them higher or lower when you are not at home. Every degree over 78 degrees (cooling) and 68 degrees (heating) can save you up to 3-5 percent on your energy bill. (a)
3. Did you know that your air conditioning/furnace system can account for up to 70 percent of your electric bill? Biannual system tune-ups can help ensure your system is kept running at peak efficiency and lower your electric bill. (a)
4. Consider replacing your air conditioning system with a higher SEER-rated system, especially if it is more than 7 years old. Systems with a higher SEER rating use less energy. (a)
5. Replacing the five most frequently used light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can save you approximately $35 per year. (a)
6. Have you considered installing a renewable energy system in your home? New Point Energy Solutions installs residential solar or wind power systems which can provide 25 – 40 percent of your electricity needs, while protecting you against rising electric rates. (a)
7. Insulation – According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adding additional insulation to your home is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce your energy usage, lower your energy bills and improve the comfort level of your home. (b)
8. Ventilation – An important and often overlooked strategy for making your home more energy efficient. Proper ventilation (specifically in attic spaces) allows built-up heat to escape your home in the summer & vents moist air (condensation) that rises into attic spaces in the winter. Improperly vented homes often suffer serious and costly water damage and provide an environment that can promote the growth and spread of mold in your home. (b)
9. If you plant a new lawn, first put down compost, till it in - then plant your seeds or sod. This will cut your water usage 50%. (source: 2006 Addison Parks and Recreation Department study presented as part of Arbor Day programs.)
10. To reduce run off from your sprinkler system, set your timer to run once a week to give you 1 inch of watering. If you sprinkler produces run off - reduce the time in the areas closest to the street. (c)
11. If you have a slop that runs to the street, add a top dressing of compost, in the fall, to cut run off by 90% (source: UT Southwest Medical School Landscape department and City of Addison Parks.)
12. Plant trees to shade your house from the afternoon sun – a great tree will cut your electric bill an average of $200 per year. Plant trees or bushes to shade your Air Conditioning unit; this will reduce the stress on it when it comes on during the heat of the summer and extend the life of your A/C unit by 2-3 years. Plus, this will lower your bill by 10% - a savings of $10 –$ 20 per month in the summer. (c)
13. Plant more flowers and use compost to prepare the beds. The Dallas area soil is often a heavy clay soil, but it is rich in nutrition. By adding compost you release the nutrition AND you retain the water in the area of the roots of most flowers and small bushes. (c)
14. Add 3-4 inches of mulch to keep flowerbeds cool in the summer and retain water – saving 50% of the water used by not putting down mulch. Plenty of mulch means less weeding and less maintenance of the beds. (c)
15. Leave your grass clippings after you mow the lawn; this is equal to adding one fertilization per year. (c)
16. Look for paints and wall treatments that are formaldehyde free or marked as low/no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds). There are a number of durable paints, and other wall coverings, from which you can choose. Some of the companies offering these products include: Sherwin-Williams, American Clay, Benjamin Moore, Pratt & Lambert, Dutch Boy, Milk Paint and Anna Sova. (d)
17. Incorporate a recycle station into your kitchen. You can add it to cabinetry, purchase attractive secondary cabinets or go with basic bins. (d)
18. Look for cleaners without harsh chemicals. There are a growing number of options on the market to get everything from your dishes to your countertops clean, from Mrs. Meyers to Seventh Generation. (d)
19. Replace your standard toilet with earth-friendly option. There are units on the market that use as little as 1.28 gallons of water. That could mean a savings of more than 7,000 gallons of water a year for the average family. (d)
20. Choose counter top flooring materials that are made from renewable resources, including scrap wood, cork and bamboo. (d)
21. Don't overload the refrigerator; it makes the compressor work harder. Also, vacuum the coils in back every six months to improve the heat transfer. Consider unplugging or getting rid of that extra refrigerator in the garage or basement. (d)
SOURCES/EXPERTS:
(a) Michael Siciliano, Regional Sales Manager, NewPoint Energy Solutions
(b) Al Van Vleck, Efficient Attic Systems
(c) Brad Sandy, Dallas County Master Gardeners
(d) Kimyla Guice Stegall, Editor-in-Chief, Dallas Home Improvement Magazine
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)