Green Expert: Energy Efficient Policies for your Home

The most extreme weather conditions, in the dead of winter and the sweltering heat of summer, can be unbearable to withstand.Your home can be a retreat from these conditions if it is energy efficient. There are ways to make your home greener, saving you money on your utility bills, and making it more energy efficient all at once. These methods are all do-it-yourself projects that can be completed in an hour or two.  Some of these things might even help you save on your home insurance too.

One of the best methods to make your home greener is to install timers on your indoor and outdoor lights to reduce your energy output and costs. The timers make sure the lights only run for a specified time, not staying on all day long. Another method is to use CFL lightbulbs instead of regular lightbulbs. CFL lightbulbs can save a homeowner over $40 in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb, which lasts roughly ten times longer than a regular bulb and uses 75 percent less energy than regular bulbs. This guide will explore the various ways homeowners can make their homes more energy efficient.

Estimating and Lowering Energy Use

• Effects of Climate Change on Energy Production and Use in the United States: An excellent pamphlet detailing how scientists have been studying how climate change has impacted energy use in the United States.
• Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use: This website, offered by the U.S. Department of Energy, outlines different wattage and formulas to determine how much wattage your home uses. 
• Home Energy Saver: Also offered by the U.S. Department of Energy, this site allows you to enter your zip code, describe your energy use, compare it to others in your area and then upgrade your use.
• Estimating Water Use and Savings in Your Home: From Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, this PDF file provides information on water used by toilets, shower heads, faucets, dishwashers and washing machines from pre-1950 to today. 
• How to Reduce Your Energy Consumption: This website, from the National Resources Defense Council, offers tips and suggestions for lowering energy consumption at home, which will lower your utility bills as well. 

 

Energy Efficient Appliances and Electronics

• Energy Star Qualified Products: The Energy Star website, which provides detailed information on all of the appliances for the home that it has approved as energy savers. 
• Minnesota Home Energy Guide: A PDF file offered up by the state of Minnesota that details how appliances affect your home energy use. 
• Environment DEC: This is a detailed article that discusses the law that went into effect making appliances more energy efficient.
• Federal Trade Commission: This article outlines how to purchase an energy efficient appliance.

 

Remodeling For Energy Efficiency (Solar panels, "cool roofs", log homes, earth sheltered homes etc)

 

• FAQ about Cool Roofing: This Frequently Asked Questions page details the energy standards for cool roofing in the state of California.
• Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs: A PDF file from the U.S. Department of Energy detailing how homeowners can select a cool roof for their home. 

 

Insulation and Air Sealing Tips

• Air Sealing Tips from State of Illinois: This detailed PDF file shows homeowners where to look for air leaks in their home and how to clog them. 
• Insulation Fact Sheet: This fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Energy has contact information for various departments and corporations across the country.
• Save Money, Reduce Energy Bills: This two page document full of tips on saving money is provided by the Alliance to Save Energy.

 

Lighting (Types of Lighting, Natural Light, Artificial Light)

• Human Health Effects of Artificial Light: This study examines how artificial light harms the health of human beings. 
• The Blue Light Hazard: Another article discussing the harm from artificial lighting such as the blue light hazard. 

 

Choosing Energy Efficient Windows and Doors

• Selecting Windows for Energy Efficiency: This 16 page pamphlet from the Department of Energy offers up all the information on energy saving windows. 
• Energy Efficient Windows: This article answers the most commonly questions about energy efficient windows and also tells consumers what to look for. 
• Understanding Energy Efficient Performance: From UMass Amherst, the article tells customers how the windows operate and what to look for. 

 

Landscaping For Energy Efficiency

• Landscaping: This article from the Department of Energy outlines what is needed for energy efficiency landscaping.
• Landscaping for Energy Efficiency: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory provides information on how to landscape for a cleaner environment.
• Landscaping for Energy Conservation: From the Texas A&M System, this article covers how landscaping can protect your home from the sun in the summer but keep it warm in the winter.