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7 Small Ideas to Greening your Home

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Associated Real Estate DRE# 01809660

Tehachapi Real Estate

A budget of $300 can get big results

Here are a few steps to start with!

1. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
What it costs: $1-$20 each (quantity discounts available)
Why do it: CFLs use 70% less energy

2. Install an Energy Star-rated programmable thermostat
What it costs: $29-$100
Why do it: Save up to 15% on heating and cooling bills

3. Employ "smart" power strips that use motion or power sensors
What it costs: $35-$50 each
Why do it: "Idle current" can account for 1%-2% of energy bills

4. Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioning filters
What it costs: $2-$20 each
Why do it: Clean filters can reduce heating/cooling costs by 1%-2%

5. Caulk and seal walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, and duct work
What it costs: $10-$40 for caulking, weather-stripping, or mastic
Why do it: Eliminating drafts can save 5%-30% on heating costs

6. Insulate older water heaters and pipes
What it costs: $30-$45 for thermal blanket, pipe insulation, and tape
Why do it: Preventing heat loss can save 4%-9% on water-heating costs

7. Audit your home energy use with a DIY guide (energystar.gov or hes.lbl.gov)
What it costs: $0

The Benefit from making changes to your home will not only benefit you but Our World!

• Replaced 1 incandescent lightbulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), we'd save 2 million pounds of CO2 per day

• Reduced their driving by 1 mile every day, we'd save 4.8 million pounds of CO2 per day

• Washed their clothes in cold water, we'd save 2.4 billion pounds of CO2 per year

• Line-dried 1 load of laundry once a week, we'd save 836 million pounds of CO2 per year

• Turned down the thermostat 2° (to 68°) in winter and up 2° (to 78°) in summer, we'd save 26 million pounds of CO2 per day

• Unplugged their electronics when not in use, we'd save at least 13 million pounds of CO2 per day

We'd save 20 billion pounds of CO2 per year, the equivalent of 2 million fewer cars on the road for 1 year. Based on 4.8 million Sunset readers

 

Call me today for all advise on your Real Estate Needs!

DeVerie Riley~661-833-3500~ Associated Real Estate

TeamRiley@ARErealestate.com

WWW.ARErealestate.com

Our Company loves to work with other Realtors! 

Comments (3)

Bill C. Merrell
Merrell Institute ~ Appraisal Education Network - Bohemia, NY
Ph.D. - Merrell Institue

Go Green can be an inexpensive and good for the environment as ell.

All the best- Keep on blogging.

Bill

Jul 07, 2008 06:00 AM
Gretchen Faber
The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek - Denver, CO
LifeStyleDenver

I like the idea of a smart power strip.  I've been thinking about how to get all of the appliances off during the day other than having to run around the house and unplug them.  When we remodel next year, I'm going to ask the contractor if there's such a thing as an on/off switch on outlets.

Jul 07, 2008 06:04 AM
Randall Schrader
Competitive Insurance of Dundee - Dundee, FL

Those compact bulbs save, but the light is off color and they need to warm up.  They also seem to die around 6 months to a year.

Jul 07, 2008 06:05 AM