Give Your Home an Energy Efficiency Makeover
by GLI Editors in Home Energy Usage
Have you given your home an energy efficiency makeover recently?
Given rising electricity, oil and natural gas prices, a home energy efficiency makeover is highly recommended to help manage your pocketbook while keeping your home at the right temperature in all seasons.
An energy-efficient home is a strong defense against winter winds, rain, sleet, snow, and chill. But it also protects the environment by cutting wasteful energy use. So what can you do at home to help turn down your thermostat and keep it down?
• Plug air leaks. Save up to 10% on your heating bill by weather-stripping your doors and windows. Weather stripping and caulking your home will not only keep the elements out, but it will help reduce your energy costs. DIY network provides easy to follow instructions on how to weather-strip your doors and windows. Check http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/diy_kits/article/0,2019,DIY_13787_2274860,00.html for details.
• "Insulate" yourself from price shocks by sealing up open air pockets between walls or in crawl spaces. Heat passes through ceilings, walls, and floors from the warm areas to cooler areas. By insulating your home, you help slow down this transfer of heat out of a heated house in winter and into a cooled one in summer. A well-insulated house requires less heating and cooling to maintain a comfortable indoor climate, and that translates directly into smaller energy bills. Lowe’s (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/InsulHome2.html) provides useful information with regard to insulating your home.
• Clean air filters. Air filters clogged with dust trap heat in the air ducts. So give your air filters a through cleaning. Once they are free from dust, they will begin to release heat once again, allowing it to flow freely into the rooms where you need warmth.
Article Contributors: Reenita Malhotra
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Posted on Feb 20, 2009
energy bills, energy costs, energy efficiency makeover, energy efficient home, Given rising electricity, home energy efficiency makeover, html, natural gas prices, oil, wasteful energy use
About the Author
GLI Editors
Green Living Ideas provides ideas, tips, and information to help you improve the environmental sustainability of every aspect of your life: home energy, green building and remodeling, cars, food, waste recycling—and everything in between. GLI's editorial voice is driven by founder Sean Daily and Editor-In-Chief Adam Shake, and written by an amazing staff of author and interns.2 Responses to “Give Your Home an Energy Efficiency Makeover”
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Margaret Howe
Jul 09, 2009
We plugged up all the drafts last fall & it made a huge difference this winter compared to the last winter.
Brooks
Nov 05, 2009
Hot water pipes are also a major source of energy loss. Use pipe wrap Insulation to save your hot water.