Building a green home, what not to forget
With gas pump prices continually increasing, it's very wise that most people consider cutting back on unnecessary car trips and flights. Unfortunately, the energy problems aren't just on the road or in the skies but are also found in home energy costs. The continual rising of fuel costs in the wintertime is simply hard on the typical American family's pocketbook. A well insulated home and taking the time to set the thermostat back when you are away this winter can help to significantly cut down on your home energy costs. It's not just about savings. The more energy people use, the more tension there is from fuel industries to explore the possibility even to consider exploring wildlife reserves to find fuel to take care of the population's high demand. Conserving energy is no more complicated than replacing your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones or closing some of the vents in some parts of unused rooms of the house.
To save money on home energy, consider buying energy efficient products or cutting back slowly on the usage of the ones you have now. For example, you can wash your clothes in cool water, take the bus to work, or think about turning down the heat or the air conditioner when away from home. By doing these simple tasks, you can almost see immediate savings that you can use for more savings such as replacing all the light bulbs to fluorescent ones, and installing a programmable thermostat to better control the atmosphere in your home. Moreover, find some time to inspect your whole house. Add insulation to places where needed such as in the attic, the basement and the garage. Seal all the cracks and gaps around the doors and windows by applying caulk and using weather strips. Remember that many energy utilities offer rebates for buying green items like energy efficient washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and so on. These items are guaranteed to save you money and energy usage.
Always keep your eye on heating costs by turning down your thermostat to between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember to close vents and doors of unused rooms. In the summer time, consider hanging your clothes outside whenever you can. Always use cold water to rinse clothes. Turn off your air conditioner whenever possible in the summer and use the fans to keep room temperatures comfortable. Replace or clean your furnace filters monthly.
Some of the energy consumption problems can be improved also with simple conventional house design. The right placement of windows and doors for instance can allow the sun to more evenly illuminate a room, which reduces the need for electrical light during the day. Windows also allow for natural air circulation, which reduces the need for heating and air conditioning. Just as a glass mirror on a wall can make a room seem bigger than it is, which cuts down on the need for building big size rooms and resulting of less amount of building materials required for building the home in the first place. Where you want the most savings for your money are in things like window placement that save energy but don't cost any additional money. If you are considering installing hardwood floors, consider bamboo. Bamboo grows faster than most plants and therefore is more environmentally friendly than the common used of oak or fir.
More and more homeowners and builders are beginning to emphasize green features in their homes, particularly as concerns about the electricity and natural gas cost increase and housing sale decline. If you are considering buying a new home or remodeling your current one, look for green renovations through the savings gained on energy bills.
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Tags: energy gas prices costs savings conserving fluorescent efficient home insulated thermostat green incandescent bulbs insulation weather_strips utilities washers dryers refrigerators furnace air_conditioner electricity natural_gas
