Simple home improvements can substantially lower your carbon footprint as well as save you money. The following tips will negate the popular misconception that greening the home costs thousands of dollars.

Lighting

Compact fluorescent light bulbs use less electricity and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. One 100-watt incandescent bulb produces the same amount of light as two 60-watt bulbs and uses less energy. Standard incandescent bulbs use only 5 to 8 percent of their energy to produce light while the rest is dissipated as heat.

A halogen lamp is like an incandescent lamp with a special reflector to improve light focus. Outdoor halogen lighting is great for gardens and pathways, and it uses much less energy than standard incandescent lights. Halogen lighting has light output that is similar to a regular incandescent bulb but uses up to 40 percent less energy.

When improving household lighting efficiency, remember the following useful tips:

• Cleaning light fixtures regularly removes dust buildup and allows for maximum light output.
• Lamps placed where their light can reflect off at least two walls, such as in a corner, provide the most light for your money.
• Many devices can help save energy on lighting. Look for automatic timers, motion sensors and dimmers.

Solar Water heaters

Remarkably, residential water heaters throughout North America produce roughly the same amount of CO2 as all the cars and light trucks on the continent. In other words, if half the households of North America used solar water heaters instead of conventional water heaters, the reduction in CO2 emissions would be equal to doubling the fuel-efficiency of all cars.

Where switching to a high-efficiency water heater could save you up to $100 on your energy bill every year with an installation cost of $150 to $450, residential solar water heater systems cost between $1,500 and $3,500 to install. Similar to conventional water heater systems, solar water heater systems last between 15 and 40 years. But with savings in electricity or natural gas, solar water heaters pay for themselves within four to eight years, so after the initial payback period is up you could enjoy having free hot water for years afterward. More.

Caulking

An important aspect in household energy efficiency is the airtightness of your home. If your house is not airtight you will waste energy and money heating your house. Improving the airtightness of your household through caulking is relatively inexpensive compared with the subsequent savings.

• Silicone caulking is ideal for metal, glass, glazed tile and plastic surfaces because it sticks, flexes, and does not shrink over time.
• Acrylic latex caulking is a general-purpose sealant that sticks best to porous materials like wood and concrete.
• All-purpose caulking is good for both interior and exterior use, including bathrooms and kitchens.
• Polyurethane caulking performs well on both porous and non-porous surfaces, is flexible, paintable, long-lasting and hard as nails.
• A heat-resistant caulking should be used around sources of heat, such as chimneys, light fixtures and fan motors.
• It is wise not to caulk in an area where the temperature is below 5°C (40°F), as the compound will become stiff and difficult to work.
• To make sure caulking sticks well, clean the surface area thoroughly first and allow it to dry before you caulk.

Weather-stripping

Another important aspect in household energy efficiency is weather-stripping. Weather-stripping drastically improves the airtightness of your house by preventing air from leaking through gaps around doors and the moving parts of an operable window. When weather-stripping your house, remember these key tips:

• Weather-stripping should be easy to replace. To be effective, it must close gaps completely.
• Weather-stripping should be flexible and spring back to its original shape. It should allow you to open and close windows and doors easily.
• Weather-stripping can be applied to the tops and sides of any door frame.
• At the bottom of the door, apply weather-stripping to either the sill or the door itself.
• When weather-stripping your door, use a durable material that can withstand traffic but is flexible enough to adapt to changes caused by humidity and temperature.

Toilets and Showers

• Installing a water-saver flush kit in your toilet can save you thousands of litres of water per year.
• Replacing large-volume toilets with 6-litre-per-flush models saves at least 70 percent of the water used.
• An energy-efficient shower head or flow controller conserves energy without affecting water pressure.
• A low-flow shower head can save up to 60 percent of the water used by a conventional fixture.
• Dripping taps can waste 9000 litres of hot water each year.

More simple energy saving tips:

• Set your laundry machine to warm or cold. Washing with hot water costs 80-85 percent more energy than cold, and is often not necessary.
• Air-dry your laundry on a clothing rack or line to minimize running the dryer.
• Run the dishwasher only when it is full.
• Unplug your kitchen appliances (microwave, kettle, toaster etc) when not in use.
• Make sure that the energy saving features are equipped on all your electronic equipment.
• Unplug wall chargers (computer, cell phone, shaver, electric toothbrush, etc) when not in use. Set your computer to sleep or hibernate when not in use. Screen savers do not save energy.
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in the room.

Written by Mandy Nemboware

Edited by Christopher Campbell

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