Much of this site is dedicated towards more responsible practices when building a new home. However there are many changes that can be made to your current dwelling to make it more energy efficient. Listed below are some of the easiest changes that can be made to save you serious energy.

 

The building envelope is the barrier between the conditioned and unconditioned space of your home. The easiest way to strengthen the envelope is by sealing any cracks or openings to the outside.   Weather stripping around exterior doors, using expandable foam to seal around conduit and pipes running out of the home (check the attic), and insulating your HVAC ducts are good ways to prevent heat from leaving your home.   Installing a storm door can also significantly cut down the amount of heat leaving your home in the winter months.

 

If you are down for a large project make sure to increase the quality and thickness of your insulation. Installing great insulation will pay dividends for years!

 

Here's a surprising stat: Nearly 50% of the energy used in a home goes towards heating and cooling.   If you can make a few small changes in the internal temperature of you home it can amount to large changes in your energy consumption.   Try lowering your heat a couple degrees in the cooler months and raising the A/C temperature in the warmer months.   Adding ceiling fans in room without them can help to circulate the air and make it feel more comfortable at all times of the year. Also, if you can handle it, turn down the temperature of your hot water heater a couple degrees.

 

Water isn't the most expensive of utilities, but it is a precious resource and its consumption can easily be curbed. One of the main ways water is wasted is by running the water while waiting for it to get hot or cold. Installing a tankless water heater can cut the time down dramatically between when you turn the sink on and when you get hot water. Also, try changing to a shower head that uses less water or making the change to lower capacity toilets (or dual flushers). 

 

Essentially a really smart power strip that senses when you have turned off your major electronics and it turns off associated electronics to curb "phantom" energy consumption. Think of turning off you computer, and having the power strip turn off your monitor and printer automatically. These are cheap and easy to install and can save you a lot of money over time.

 

Compact florescent bulbs are a super easy way to cut your energy consumption by 2/3 for lighting and they last about 10 times longer. Easy Peasy.  

 

 

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