If you?ve been feeling the pinch like we have, you?ve probably learned to shop smarter, pack your own lunch, and cut back on the gourmet coffee, but you might still be missing out on big savings if your home hasn?t been optimized for energy efficiency . The good news is that just a few quick and easy upgrades to your home could equate to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year in savings for you on your energy bill. Since we know getting started on a home energy optimization might sound daunting, we rounded up 10 great green home improvement products that will set you on the path towards a lower energy bill and more moolah in the bank ? read on to get the inside scoop on all of them. COOLING Ceiling Fans If you live anywhere outside of California, you?ve probably noticed how much your electricity bill jumps in the warmer months due to air conditioning, but you may have just resigned yourself to that costly expense because you figured it was either that or sitting in the heat. What you may not have considered is how effective ceiling fans are as an alternative to AC. Unlike regular fans, their raised and central position allows them to circulate air and cool an entire room, and a? typical ceiling fan uses about the same amount of power as a 100 watt incandescent light bulb . Even if you already have an AC for the unbearably hot days, you can also purchase an? Energy Star -rated ceiling fan like the? Hampton Bay one ?you see above, to get you through the late spring and early fall AC-free, for energy savings all year round. Cellular Shades Large windows are usually considered a plus, but they do have one downside ? their tendency to allow heat to enter or escape a room very easily. Installing? Low-e windows ?is a viable option, but if you?re looking for a less resource-intensive fix,? cellular shades ?are relatively inexpensive and you can install them yourself. Many cellular shades are made of soft, double layered fabric that still lets daylight in without raising the temperature of a room drastically. Low-E Windows Low-e or low emissivity windows are windows that have been treated with a special coating that allows them to be more energy-efficient and therefore reduce the amount of work that your air conditioner needs to do. Many low-e windows are Energy Star qualified and can lower your monthly electricity bill up to 15%. Almost every window size and shape today comes in a low-e version and these products can also make your home more comfortable in the winter by keep drafts at bay and keep your furniture from fading due to sunlight since they reflect the long-wave light rays that carry UV. Energy Star Air Conditioners You might think that you?re being eco-friendly by keeping your 20 year old air conditioner in action, but if you haven?t yet switched to an Energy Star-rated model , your AC might be leaking dollars and cents. In fact, if your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star-qualified unit could cut your cooling costs by 30% and prevent 1,600 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year. If you want to see how much you stand to save by swapping out your AC, take the Home Efficiency Audit here. HEATING/COOLING Woman feeling warm in sweater photo ?from Shutterstock A Sweater Here?s one green product on our list that?s 100% free (since you probably own at least one sweater already).? Throwing on a sweater when it?s chilly ?might seem like a no-brainer, but you?d be surprised how many people turn their thermostats up to a balmy 78 degrees in December while they walk around in a tank top. By just wearing a few more layers, you can really chop down your heating bill in the colder months and you can even use the cash you save to buy yourself a cute new sweater! Programmable Thermostat Getting a? programmable thermostat ?for your home?s heating and cooling system is like giving the Scarecrow a brain. These intelligent devices give you much more control over your house?s temperature and energy usage and allow you to easily view or even adjust your thermostat remotely. The customizable setting buttons also allow you to ?set it and forget it,? and? it?s estimated that homeowners can save about $180 a year ?by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings. Dual/Tri-Pane Glass Windows Dual and tri-pane or double and triple-pane windows are insulating windows that have multiple layers of glass instead of just one. The spaces between the glass panes are then filled with air or another gas for further temperature control. INSULATION Spot Infrared Thermometer If you?re looking to find pesky air leaks, this handy spot infrared thermometer will be your new best friend. This handy and relatively inexpensive little gadget can detect hot and cold patches and quickly tell you where to apply extra insulation or caulking. Before these were around, you would have to call a professional to perform an energy audit on your home (which could cost hundreds of dollars), but now you can take matters into your own hands (literally) for about $30. Draft Guards Contrary to what you might think, energy-saving products don?t have to be high-tech or costly. Case in point: these? draft guards ?that are as elementary as they are effective. Draft protectors slip right under your doors and (as their name implies) prevent air from passing under them, ensuring that you?re only paying to heat or cool the rooms that you intend to. Great Stuff Insulating Foam Sealant There?s a reason they call this stuff ?Great Stuff.? It fills gaps and cracks in your home that might be leaking air and causing your heating or cooling bills to increase. You don?t need to be an expert to use it ? just identify cracks or voids (up to 1? wide) that are letting air escape and squeeze some? Great Stuff? right into them. The substance will expand to take the shape of cracks and form an airtight, water-resistant bond. Magnetic Vent Covers Your home?s vents (if you have central air conditioning) carry cool air to your rooms in the summer, but can be an unwanted source of drafts in the winter. A simple, aesthetically pleasing and inexpensive way to close off these openings is to use? magnetic vent covers . They can be cut to size, used and reused infinitely and can reduce the energy you waste trying to keep your home warm. Recycled Insulation Just as you can put on extra layers to stay warm, your home can maintain its temperature with less energy when it?s properly insulated. There are many products available to carry out this job but we recommend staying away from fiberglass and using Ultratouch recycled denim insulation .?We recommend Ultratouch for most spaces but if you?re working in a space that?s a bit difficult to install chunky layers of denim insulation (such as an attic),? blow-in natural insulation ?is a great?fire resistant and formaldehyde-free option as well. LIGHTING LED Light Bulbs Hopefully you watched? our video explaining how LED lights bulbs can help you save money and energy ?in your home, but in case you didn?t, we?ll reiterate our main point ? LED light bulbs can help you save money and energy in your home!? Switching to LED bulbs ?is really a no-brainer when you see how much you can save, and each bulb typically lasts close to 20 years ? it?s an investment worth making, especially since they start at just $22 a bulb . APPLIANCES Energy Star Appliances If you?ve been faithful to your old appliances and kept them in good working condition all these years, we applaud you, but unfortunately they might not be paying you back in kind. Energy Star-rated appliances can be 15-30% (depending on the appliance) more efficient than their less advanced counterparts, which means that with an upgraded product, you could be saving dollars and cents every time you run your dishwasher, open your fridge or do a load of laundry. It?s true that buying new appliances can be costly, but considering the energy savings, it?s an investment that could end up paying for itself, and decrease the strain on our national power grid. For even more energy-saving products, visit Home Depot?s EcoOptions website . + EcoOptions At The Home Depot, we pride ourselves on being sustainability minded. We offer many different Eco Options, including WaterSense? and ENERGY STAR? labeled products, and wood harvested from sustainable forests. Whatever your home improvement project, we?ve got the organic solutions that can help make your home healthier and air cleaner; and products that can help you conserve water, be more energy efficient and save money. Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: ?energy star? , blow in insulation , ceiling fan , cellular shades , draft guard , eco design , eco home , energy saving products , energy star appliances , Energy-Efficient Appliances , go green in your home , great stuff crack sealer , green design , green home tips , insulation , led light bulbs , LEDs , magnetic vent covers , money saving tips , natural insulation , products that help you save energy , programmable thermostat , save energy in your home , save money , save money in your home , sustainable design , ultratouch , ultratouch insulation , vent covers , Ways to Green Your Kitchen
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14 Green Household Products That Can Save You Money And Cut Down Your Energy Bill
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