RETURN NEWS

One step at a time

by Keith Vaughan

By making your home greener, more sustainable, you're doing something which benefits your family, our environment, and your wallet. Homeowners need not do everything at once. Pick one or two from the list below, and make those your projects for the year.

• Switch to curly-cues (CFL light bulbs). By changing just five or six incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs may save a homeowner as much as $100 per year in electric usage. As with any electrical appliance or device, when you're finished with it, turn it off.
• Swap out your thermostat. A programmable thermostat, under $100 and easy to install and program, offers a number of programming options: �Daily programming for the same schedule to be used every day.
  �Weekday/Weekend (5/2) allows for weekdays and weekends.
  �Seven-day programming allows schedules for each day of the week.
• Plug the holes! Air leaks are the biggest energy waster in the home. By spending a few dollars on weather stripping, caulking, a little time and a couple of tools, most homeowners can plug expensive drafts around doors, windows, electrical outlets, and places where plubming extends through the house's envelop.
• Tune up plumbing with low-flow fixtures and decices, no tools required! Low-flow showerheads and facuet aerators save resources without sacrificing water pressure. A family of four saves up to $285 per year.
• Plant a shade tree. As they mature, shade trees lower cooling costs and makes your home more comfortable, and increases your property value. Shielding your home from chilling winter winds reduces heating costs by as much as 20 percent.