How to Increase Energy Efficiency in Your Home

The design and orientation of a home is crucial in creating a comfortable living space. Homes that are designed around conditions in which they are built use less energy and are more comfortable. Here are some design principles to keep in mind for being green and energy efficient.

Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest ways to save money. They can heat and cool your home only when it is truly needed. This could save you about 200 dollars per year. Energy star makes a thermostat that offers four pre programmable settings to control the temperature of your home. For more information you can visit www.energystar.gov and in the search box type in programmable thermostats.

Double and triple pane windows with low emissivity coatings can reduce the amount of heat that passes through the glass. If you are renovating an old home or building a new one this would be a good investment. However, these windows can be expensive. If you can't afford to buy these an alternative might be to apply a low E film to your existing windows. It reflects unwanted heat in the summer and retains heat in the winter. Solar screens are another good choice and will work more efficiently in large scenic windows.

Sealing and insulating remain the most important when improving home efficiency. Use weather stripping around doors and windows. Caulk and spray foam can be used around pipes, windows, fixtures and other gaps. Seal and insulate duct work by using sealants that are low in volatile organic compound. They also should be free of formaldehyde.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's) are proficient energy saving bulbs. Try using 2700 Kelvin lights for interiors to match the warmth of incandescent bulbs. An estimate of 25 to 45 dollars can be saved per CFL over its lifetime.

Direct vent sealed combustion stoves reach about 90 percent efficiency. They are vented directly to the outside through a hole in an exterior wall. They are available as inserts for existing fireplaces and can be fueled by gas,
wood, or pellets.

One future item to look for is an advanced meter device. Many co-ops use digital meters already. These record electricity use and locate problem lines. In the near future these electronic meters will determine when customers use the most electricity. Another thing to expect is products that use photovoltaic technology or PV's. PV's convert sunlight into electricity. They are very similar to the conventional PV's. They are lightweight, flexible, and are cheaper in cost to produce. The results of these products doubles the efficiency of up to 65 percent.
Home improvements that reduce your bills are a great long-term investment.

Sources:

Programmable Thermostats

Ehow/Energy Efficiency

Photovoltaic Technology