Who isn’t searching for ways to save money today? I know I am. So, I did a little research on how to make my Utah home greener to save some greenbacks. Here’s some things I found that you can try too:
1. Install more energy efficient lighting. This is probably the easiest way to go green. Take all of those crappy incandescent light bulbs and replace them with CFL’s (compact fluorescent bulbs). Doing this can save you $20-$30 over the life of the bulb. Be sure to get the energy star certified bulbs, these are warranted for up to 2 years.
2. Play the thermostat game. You could save up to 10% on your heating and cooling costs if you kept your AC at 78 degrees when you weren’t home, and your heating in the winter at 63 degrees. If you have one of those smart thermostats, you should be able to program it to do it automatically. You won’t even know what’s going on until you see the reduction in your energy bills at the end of the month.
3. Plug any air leaks. One of the easiest ways to make your home greener is to do a little caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows. It’s so cheap and easy that anyone could do it. Stop by your local hardware store on your way home from work one day and stock up on some caulk and stripping. :)
4. Replace filters and tune up your HVAC. Changing filters is super easy. If you don’t know how to, just ask a manly man. That’s what they’re for right? J/K! Also, you should have a professional perform routine maintenance once every 2-3 years. It will save you money, so it’s worth the $100 or so.
5. Install low flow faucets and showerheads. I know how much you love your elephant shower head, but it’s in your pocket books best interest to replace it with the kitty flow. With a family of four, you could save over $250 a year, and they are super easy to install. Just unscrew the old ones and screw in the new ones.
6. Throw some insulation on your water heater and pipes. If you don’t have your water heater and pipes insulated with a jacket, now is the time to get it done. Their really cheap, somewhere around 10-20 dollars, and can save you some money on your water bill. Keep the temperature on your water heater at 120 degrees or below to increase your savings.
7. Plant some more trees around your home. Who doesn’t love a good tree? The shade provided by trees can keep your home cool in the summer so much so that it could reduce your cooling costs by 25%. Great tree placement can also stop the cold wind from hitting your house in the winter reducing your heating costs by up to 20%.
8. Buy energy star when you can. If you need to replace any appliances around the house, always go for the energy star products. If they cost a little more, remember that over the long term, they will save you money.
These are all very simple steps you can take to make your Utah home greener, save some money, and do your part to keep our environment in better shape for the future.
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Aloha Lisa, this is great (and timely) information for home owners. With more and more emphasis being put on a home’s ‘green’ status, it’d benefit sellers to take advantage of these tips in order to make their homes more marketable.
Hi Alex! Aloha to you too! I have been slacking in the green department, and I did some research today so I could step up my game at my own house. I agree, green is in, and people love to save money so this is a great way to market a home to stand out from the crowd.