Putting a green face on your home could save you money while you help save the earth
There may come a day in the not-so-distant future when the incandescent lightbulb —with its pear shape and piggish energy appetite — will be as retro as the typewriter. The compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) is here, and if these corkscrew-like bulbs aren’t sticking out of your home’s light sockets yet, you’ll probably want to consider making the change. They use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescents and save about $30 or more per bulb over their lifetime.
Judith and Tim Vanderver made the switch to CFLs soon after they moved into their 1950s-era four-bedroom ranch in Atlanta, in 2000. But after Judith became pregnant, the couple got serious about more significant green retrofitting.
“Becoming a mom changed my whole outlook,” Judith explains. “I started worrying about the air I was breathing, the toxins I was putting in my body, and the world around us. Beyond that, though, it really came down to saving money.”
Over a five-year period, incremental upgrades — including low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilets, and an on-demand water heater — have saved the couple 80 percent on their water bills and 30 to 40 percent on energy bills. For those who are just starting to go green, here are five retrofits that can help replicate the Vandervers’ success — both environmentally and economically. And the places where you’ll save the most money are also the ones where your carbon footprint will be reduced by the greatest amount.
Put Air in Your Water
Some experts suggest water may be the biggest environmental challenge of the future. If your faucets are less than 20 years old, chances are they already have aerators installed, but they could still be flowing at up to five gallons per minute (gpm) for a variety of reasons. Alex Wilson, author of Your Green Home and president of Brattleboro, Vt.–based BuildingGreen Inc., says a better maximum flow level is two gpm in the kitchen and one gpm in the bathroom. Checking the flow is as simple as opening the tap for 15 seconds, measuring it, and multiplying by four. And installing a new aerator is as easy as screwing on a faucet head. But don’t stop there — some of your home’s biggest savings in water and energy can come from using low-flow showerheads. Equally easy to install, they can save as much as 50 percent off your water bill and up to 20 percent in hot-water costs. Wilson says it’s worth it to splurge $30 to $50 on a quality model, like Gaiam’s Ultra Oxygenic.
Close the Envelop
When GreenHomeGuide.com publisher Willem Maas talks about retrofitting your home, the first step, he says, is “sealing the envelope,” or closing off air leaks in your home so energy can’t escape. After all, heating and cooling account for up to 50 percent of home energy usage per year, so sealing leaks translates into a reduction of thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The simplest approach to finding leaks is to walk around your house with a feather on a cold, windy day, looking for air disturbances. Typically you’ll find them around doors, windows, and in the attic, and some basic caulk, insulation, and weather stripping will help. For a comprehensive checkup, get a home energy audit, which many power companies and even general audit outfits offer for free. Check the yellow pages.
Look Beyond the Star
We’ve been trained to look for the Energy Star label when buying appliances, and for good reason: the U.S. Green Building Council estimates you’ll reduce your annual energy bill by $50 or more per appliance with Energy Star. And over time, if just one home in 10 used qualified appliances, the ecological impact would equate to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees. But beware: it’s possible to get Energy Star–rated items — side-by-side fridges, for example — that use more electricity than certain basic models. So make sure you look at each appliance’s yellow EnergyGuide label as well.
Warm the Water
The water heater may be the single item in your house that lets your green side shine brightest. The simplest step: give your standard model a jacket of insulation. At a cost of $10–$20, this can save you up to 10 percent per year on hot water costs and reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1,000 pounds of CO2.
For more dramatic results, an on-demand heater will wait for you to turn on the faucet before heating the water; this prevents your system from continuing to use energy while you’re on vacation. Also, there are a slew of solar water heater options, with various configurations suitable for different regions. Visit the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy site at eere.energy.gov, or read Bob Ramlow and Benjamin Nusz’s book, Solar Water Heating, for more information.
Take It Outside
While it’s easy to keep in mind the influence your house has on the environment, your property outside makes an impact too. Planting deciduous trees on the south and west side of your house will provide shade during summer and warmth during winter. Use native species when possible — they’re accustomed to the climate, and outdoor plants need to receive the appropriate amount of water.
Sherri Osaka, owner of San Jose, Calif.–based Sustainable Landscape Design, says not to forget your lawn. “A lawn is the best play surface in the world, but if you don’t have kids or just want a low, flat, green area, there are native grasses and shrubs that use 30 percent to 50 percent less water and don’t need mowing, edging, and blowing every week,” she says. Find out more through your regional Native Plant Society — chapters are scattered across the United States. All told, the Department of Energy estimates energy-efficient landscaping will pay for itself in less than eight years.
— Ryan Brandt
