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Living A Greener Life On A Shoestring Budget

Author: Calum MacKenzie

It doesn't take a big investment to reduce your impact on the
Earth – just a little bit of forethought and attention to the
choices that you make. Here are fifteen simple things that can
make a major difference in how much energy your family uses
around the house.

1. Find and repair leaks.A single leaky faucet or drip from
your pipes can waste 2,700 gallons of water a year. To make sure
you've got no leaks, check your water meter before and after a
two hour period when there is no water use in the house. If it's
not the exact same, you've got a leak somewhere. Fixing it may
be as simple as replacing a worn washer – and can save you
hundreds of gallons and a lot of money every year.

2. Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. Replace
the incandescent bulbs in lights that are used more than three
hours a day with compact fluorescent lamps. The initial cost may
seem high when you compare the cost – one CFL can cost up to $7
– but they last ten times as long and reduce the energy used in
those lights by 25%. I can tell you from experience that you
WILL see a reduction in your electric bill the very first month.

3. Use weather stripping. Up north when the winters get cold,
homeowners invest in weather stripping to keep the cold drafts
out and the warm air in. Air transfer happens down here in sunny
Florida, too. Cut down on your cooling costs (and energy use) by
making sure that you've got no chinks and gaps that can let the
cool air escape. Check for gaps around and under window frames
and door frames.

4. Unplug it. It may be handy to have your cell phone charger
plugged in, but that charger is drawing energy even when it's
not in use. If you must have the convenience, get a power strip
and plug all chargers into it. That way, you can just turn the
whole strip off when none of them are in use.

5. Keep your lint filter clean. Cutting down the amount of
energy your clothes dryer uses is as easy as making sure that
the lint filter is always kept clean and the exhaust is free to
open and close as needed. Better yet, take advantage of
beautiful days to hang clothes outside to dry.

6. Use awnings and shades. If you have awnings installed on
your house, use them to shade windows on sunny days. Drawing
shades or closing blinds will also help cut down the greenhouse
effect. Even lightweight sheers at your windows will cut down on
the work your cooling system has to do to keep your house
comfortable.

7. Speaking of cooling (and heating) systems…
Keep the temperatures on your thermostats set no lower than 78
in the summer and no higher than 68 in the winter and you'll
make a major dent in your energy expenses and use up far less
energy – up to 20% off your energy bill.

8. Supplement your air conditioning with fans. They use a lot
less energy than air conditioners since they're moving air, not
cooling it. Ceiling fans and other fans can often be the only
cooling you need on many days.

9. Only heat the water that you need. A kettle of water may
seem like an awfully small amount to be worried about, but
you'll be surprised at the difference it makes when you only
fill it with the amount of water that you'll use. Besides the
savings in water, you'll also use less energy to bring it to a
boil. Those things add up over time.

10. And while we're on the subject of heating water… Wrap your
boiler. Insulating your hot water heater will prevent heat loss,
especially if you have an older heater. Again, the savings
compound. Because your water stays hotter, you're using less
fuel to heat it, wasting less water as you run it while waiting
for it to heat up, and spending less time waiting for the water
to come to the temperature you want.

11. And one more thing about water heaters… Turn the
temperature down a few degrees. 120 degrees doesn't feel
appreciably cooler than 125, but those five degrees use up a lot
of energy and fuel.

12. But we're not done with water yet… Swap out your current
shower head with a low-flow water head that will save water.
That means you'll be using less hot water, and that means less
energy used to heat it, so you save twice.

13. Install aerators on all of your home's faucets. The typical
faucet spews three to seven gallons per minute. Aerators can cut
the flow down to two, one and a half or even one gallon per
minute – a hefty savings on water. It gets even better – an
aerator will cost you less than $3 and can save you more than
that every month on your water bill. Best of all, despite the
fact that you're using less water, most of the time you'll have
better water flow and more water pressure.

14. Cool down. Use cold water for washing whenever possible. If
you're not doing food prep or handling meat, washing your hands
with cool water will get them just as clean and germ free.

15. Do you know where that tomato has been? Locally grown
produce is your best bargain. Shop the local farmers' market or
vegetable stand where you'll get fresh produce – often picked
just that morning. You'll be spending dollars in your own
community, which is good for the community. Even better, it
reduces the amount of gasoline and other resources that were
used to transport your food from wherever it was grown.

There are dozens of other tips and hints on ways to save
energy, water and money. Some of them are ingenious, some are
frugal and some, honestly, seem downright silly.

About The Author: Calum MacKenzie is Broker/Owner of Real
Living Southern Homes, a leading residential real estate
brokerage serving the New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Land O'
Lakes real estate markets. http://www.tampahomes24-7.com


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