Five Ways to Make Your Home Green in 2009 

Green living is catching on. Home builders are building energy efficient homes and green communities, and individuals across the nation are taking steps to make their homes conserve more. Knowing your energy and water conservation options is half the battle, below are five things you can do to make your home greener in 2009.

1.    CFL Light Bulbs – Compact florescent light bulbs.  Probably the most popular (and easy) thing to do in your home TODAY. By replacing five of the most frequently used incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs you could save about $100 a year on your electric bill. And going for Energy Star qualified CFL bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than regular bulbs and use 75% less energy. This means that just one bulb can save you $30 or more in electricity costs in its lifetime. 

2.    High Efficiency Toilets – Toilets make up about 30% of your home’s indoor water usage. Advancements in technology have helped produce toilets using 20% less water than standard and past models. Models like those found at Kohler and TOTO offer both high water efficiency and high performance. 

3.    Water Efficient Faucets – Using water efficient faucets throughout your home can save about 3-5% of your indoor water usage. Doesn’t sound like much, but energy savings though reduced hot-water use will repay the cost of the faucet within the year. According to the EPA, if every American home used a WaterSense faucet, we would save 60 billion Gallons of water annually.

4.    Energy Star Appliances – From the water heater and fridge to the DVD player and computer you use every day, even the smallest plug-in appliances waste energy and electricity. Using Energy Star certified appliances guarantees the appliance is as energy efficient as possible. Energy Star certified computers can use 70% less energy than one that is not certified. Certified televisions can use about 25% less. When making a new purchase, check for the Energy Star label/certification. 

5.    Efficient Washing Machines – Washing machines can be big water wasters. Replacing your old washer with a newer, more efficient model can decrease your water usage by up to 60%, saving your family about 7,000 gallons of water each year. You will also save on detergent and energy. In addition to saving water, the newer front load washers get clothes cleaner than the standard washers.