Homeowners often ask us how they can save energy. You don't have to go to extremes to reduce your carbon footprint. Some simple lifestyle changes and consumer choices will help you to save money and conserve the environment.

Energy Saving Lifestyle Changes

• Reduce the temperature of your home to 68 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night.
• Use warm or cold water when washing your clothes.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs.  

Energy Saving Products

If you are updating or remodeling your home look for ENERGY STAR-rated products. These products use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models.

According to the National Association of Homebuilders, homeowners can save on their energy costs and protect the environment by making the following changes in their homes:

1. Install maximum insulation. Adding insulation is an effective way to increase energy efficiency. Insulation is rated by its ability to resist heat flow, "R-value." The higher the "R-value" the more effective the product is in resisting heat flow. The advantages of maximizing insulation include more efficient control of temperature and cost savings on utility bills.
2. Install high-efficient windows. ENERGY STAR-rated windows have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the panes and thin layers of metal or metallic oxide deposited on the windows to reduce radiant heat flow.
3. Install low-flow water fixtures. Low-flow fixtures include toilets, faucet aerators and showerheads. By using these products you can save up to 25 percent of the water used by conventional products.

4. Upgrade your hot water tank. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by 80 percent and there are tax incentives to do so. Over 20 years, a solar water heater will prevent more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand rather than storing it and ENERGY STAR-rated tanks will reduce your energy bills. Wrapping insulation around your heater can reduce standby heat loss by 25 to 45 percent.
5. Purchase the most energy efficient HVAC (heat, ventilation and air conditioning) system you can afford. ENERGY STAR HVAC equipment can reduce your heating and cooling costs by 10 to 30 percent over conventional equipment.

What energy saving products have you installed in your home?

The sprawling McMansions of several years ago are no longer so popular. Rising energy costs have increased the consumer's desire for smaller, more energy-efficient homes. Builders and remodelers are carefully taking note of this trend.

According to a recent study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), builders expect new homes to average 2,152 square feet in 2015, 10 percent smaller than the average size of single-family homes built in 2010. In addition to floor plan changes, 68 percent of the builders surveyed said homes in 2015 will include more green features and technology.


One result of the new direction toward smaller homes is that homeowners are re-evaluating how the interior spaces of their homes are organized. Given today's more casual lifestyle, certain rooms -- such as the formal living and dining room -- are only rarely used. In contrast, the kitchen has become the central gathering area for a majority of activities. To make the best use of limited space, a large open area that encompasses a kitchen, dining room, family room and living room is becoming more common. In our hi-tech society, where individual family members tend to keep busy with their own laptops or cell phones, this is a favorable arrangement since it is conducive to bringing families together. Each member may be doing something different, but the fact that everyone is together in that same space creates a welcome sense of family bonding.

Increasingly, homeowners are choosing to stay in their familiar neighborhoods and remodel, rather than build a new home. A professional remodeler can skillfully re-configure existing spaces, safely removing walls to provide the open, airy home environment their client desires. Often, this can be achieved without the necessity of enlarging the home. Remodelers can also help their clients gain energy savings in an older home by, among other things, adding new insulation; upgrading the HVAC system; installing energy-efficient windows; purchasing Energy Star qualified appliances; and replacing outdated incandescent lighting with fluorescent or LED.