Bordner is committed to sustainable living. It is for this reason that we try to suggest eco-friendly products and practices to our clients and blog readers whenever we can. Whether you live here in Kansas or elsewhere in the world, here are 3 important tips, as presented by GreenHomeGuide.Com, that will help your home become a little more energy efficient. Take a look below to learn more!
1. UPGRADE OR REPLACE WINDOWS.
If your windows are old and leaky, it may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or boost their efficiency with weather-stripping and storm windows. According to EnergyStar.gov, replacing windows will save 7 to 24 percent of your heating and air-conditioning bills, but the larger savings would be associated with replacing single-glazed windows.
2. PLANT SHADE TREES AND SHRUBS AROUND YOUR HOUSE.
If your house is older, with relatively poor insulation and windows, good landscaping (particularly deciduous trees) can save energy, especially if planted on the house’s west side. In summer, the foliage blocks infrared radiation that would warm the house, while in winter the bare branches let this radiation come through.
3. IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF YOUR HOT WATER SYSTEM.
First, turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). Second, insulate your hot water lines so they don’t cool off as quickly between uses. Third, use low-flow fixtures for showers and baths. While storage water heater standards were raised in 2001, it was probably not enough to justify throwing out an existing water heater that is working well.
Visit GreenHomeGuide.Com ‘s to read the rest of their energy-saving tips.
