The economy has people thinking ‘green.’ It may not seem that you can save the environment AND save your wallet, but opportunities are out there. The Wall Street Journal recently published 10 ways to go green in hard times, save money and see near immediate results. While we’ve already discussed installing CFL bulbs (around $3 per bulb) there are some other great ways to help your home:
Smarter Water Heating.
According to the WSJ article “Drain-water heat-recovery systems warm up water for your shower by capturing the heat from waste water as it travels down your drain. (You can also get the systems for dishwashers and other appliances.)” What does this mean for you? These systems can save 183 cubic meters of natural gas a year (for a standard family of four), which the WSJ estimated could save a New York family $120 a year. It’s a bit more of an investment – $500 to $700, plus $100 or so for installation, but it is surely worth it. Make sure to check with your local utility provider about rebates for installing a system.
Install Low-Flow Fixtures.
By installing low-flow fixtures you can not only save the amount of water you use but also reduce the amount you spend on electricity or gas to heat the water. The WSJ does warn that despite technology advancements with low-flow fixtures you’ll still feel a difference in water pressure.
Attic Insulation.
A lot of older homes have attics with little to no insulation, causing a heating bill hike in the winter that doesn’t need to be there. According to the WSJ, a properly insulated home can save up to 25% on heating and cooling costs. Similar to the Drain-water heat-recovery systems, this is another investment, depending on the cost of instillation, however the return on investment can be seen in as little as a year and a half.
Automate Wherever Possible.
Using gadgets such as electricity timers (to turn off non-essential appliances and electronics when not in use, e.g. overnight), lighting motion sensors (both indoor and outdoor), and programmable thermostats (that can turn down the heat automatically) can help save a ton on electricity and gas bills, especially if you’re forgetful.
Going Solar with SunRun.
There are some companies out there that do solar leasing, as the WSJ article points out, but none of them offer the peace of mind and flexibility of going solar with SunRun.
With SunRun you purchase solar electricity instead of solar panels, so you don’t have to worry if – or even how – your system is making power. Unlike leasing solar panels, with SunRun you only pay for the solar power you get, your solar provider is motivated to offer solar maintenance and repairs, going solar fixes typically high electricity costs and you’re serviced by experts in both solar service and solar installation. To learn more please visit: http://www.sunrunhome.com/sunrun_home_solar/instead_of_a_solar_lease/
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Huh, sounds interesting. Most of that is pretty standard for those of us who try to make smart decisions that are both fiscally and environmentally based, but the drain water thing sounds interesting and the idea of paying for solar power that you get instead of just buying the panels or whatnot sounds good, especially here in sunny southern Nevada. I’ll have to keep it in mind when I buy another home later this year (sold my house a few years ago at the real estate peak. $$).
Decisions for your home that are both fiscally and environmentally smart are certainly the way to go – it’s great you’re thinking about them. Thanks for stopping by Sweet Solar Home and for your comment!
Lot’s of interesting tips here, thanks! I know I can do at least some of these in my house.
These are some great tips. I’m going to start implementing some of these into my house. I’d been contemplating solar power of late, and this just helped me make my decision. Thanks for the info!
I may not be able to save the whales all by myself but I try my best to be green in my every day life. Besides shopping for products containing recycled materials and recycling as much as I can. I have a low fuel consumption Honda CRX and ride my Honda Rebel motorcycle as many days a year as I can. I also live on a boat and instead of using deisel fuel for heat I use my CZ Infrared Heater which saves me a bundle.
It’s great to hear that so many of you are going to try some of these things in addition to the green initiatives you’re already taking! Crystal – we at SunRun would certainly love to help you go solar! We have a lot of information about solar on our website, so it may be a good place to start your research – http://www.sunrunhome.com/learn_about_solar/ – let me know if I can help!
Umm. I dunno – I bought one of those ‘infrared’
heaters. Was not so happy.
This is not the time of year we are thinking about saving money on heat but the time to prepare for next winter. The CZ Infrared heater sounds like a sound investment. Kitty, those heaters are now on sale at http://www.czinfrared.com.
Normally I would respond with ‘Yeah, yeah we’ve heard it all before’, but we have found our CZ Infrared heater to be a good product. It has a 30 day guaranty so you can be sure it is for you.
There is a time for extra sox and there is a time for an extra heater.
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