Strategic Planning: Greening a Home

Strategic planning: Greening a home

Not every family is willing or able to move to a new, totally 'green home.' But simply shifting from standard to energy-efficient appliances, also known as ENERGY STAR-approved appliances, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can result in considerable savings for a family over time, as well as make the family feel better about doing its part to reduce its carbon footprint and save the planet. Doing an 'audit' of the home for the most often utilized and the oldest household appliances is a good start. For example, given the average household does four hundred loads of laundry a year, replacing a ten-year-old washer with a new ENERGY STAR-qualified washer can result in a savings of over $145 each year on utility bills (Residential clothes washers, 2009, EPA). Using the washer less frequently, using cold water, doing larger loads, and air-drying clothing when possible also translates into energy savings. When a dryer is used to dry clothing, make sure it is properly ventilated to the outside. To reduce energy costs when warm water is required, hot water heaters should be turned no higher than 120F and ideally, an energy-efficient model should be used, and the unit should be replaced for safety as well as energy savings if the water heater is more than ten years old. Wrapping hot water heaters can also result in energy efficiency improvements.

Heating and cooling are important ways to improve energy costs. ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners use at least 10% less energy than conventional models and "often include timers for better temperature control, allowing you to use the minimum amount of energy you need to cool your room"(Room air conditioners, 2009, EPA). "For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE. Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators" (Heating and Cooling, 2009, U.S. Department of Energy)

Simply replacing incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) is an easy way to incur cost savings and to be 'green.' The bulbs will pay for themselves in about six months and use 75% less energy and the light bulb lasts ten times longer than a standard bulb (CFL, 2009, EPA). Replacing windows and doors with energy-insulating models, although initially expensive, can result in savings over time, especially in areas that are very cold very warm or both.

Other types of upgrading cost next to nothing at all -- turning off appliances, unplugging rarely-used appliances and using 'sleep mode' for computers. Programmable thermostats and changing air filters on heating and cooling devices can also make these devices more efficient, even if it is not possible to replace the unit entirely. Using 'sleep mode' for office appliances that automatically turn off when the unit is not in use is helpful as well, given the ubiquity of computers in homes and offices today. Reducing the thermostat a few degrees, especially when people are not in the home or sleeping is also a source of savings.