Tips, Tricks and Ideas from This Old House


22 Little Ways to Go Green (page 4)

Take these low-stress steps to reduce your carbon footprint, create a healthier home, and lower your monthly bills to boot.

By JEANNE HUBER


man screwing in light bulb
Illustrations: Nick Dewar

BASEMENT/LAUNDRY

19. Reach behind your clothes washer.
Turn down the hot water tap for the washing machine so less goes into the warm-water cycle. Perspiration and most other dirt dislodge best at body temperature, so you don't need water that's warmer than 100 degrees. Since most washers simply open both the hot and cold taps to make "warm" water, it may take longer to fill the machine. But you'll save about $40 annually on your water-heating bill.

20. Spend more time in the basement
Make sure furnace filters in forced-air systems are clean. Dirty furnace filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Cleaning them, or swapping them out each month during the winter, can save you up to 5 percent on your heating costs. Also schedule an annual checkup before the heat comes on to see that the furnace is properly calibrated.

LIVING AREAS

21. Listen to your mother
And put on a sweater. That way you can turn down your thermostat this winter. Adjust it by just one degree for eight hours a day, and you could save 1 percent on your monthly heating bills. Do it for 24 hours and save 3 percent. Try setting the temp at 70 degrees during the day and 62 at night during winter (and 78 or higher come summer). Heating and air-conditioning account for nearly half the energy used in our homes, so every little bit less you use makes a dent.

22. Worship the sun
Or at least use it to your advantage. Open blinds or drapes to let in natural solar heat on cold days, then close them once the sun sets, and you can reduce your heating bills by 10 percent. You can also cut your cooling costs by up to 33 percent in the summer by blocking out sunlight with exterior blinds, shutters, or awnings. To keep rooms bright, paint or paper with light or reflective colors.

BACK

More Content From This Old House

A Chicago couple uses spray-foam insulation made from the versatile legume to keep their kitchen cool in the summer and warm in the winter Read More

These products offer two completely separate functions in one package. You can decide which are perfect pairs and which should part ways Read More

Tips for using online resources to get the best contractors for your projects Read More

Transform your entry with budget-conscious improvements that'll boost your home's wow factorand its value Read More

Recent Comments

1 - 1 of 1
1 comments

Mizloosey83 11:55:36 AM Feb 28 2008

thisstuff is cool ideas that really should do we work hard for our money everything is going up so lets listen to save

1 - 1 of 1
1 comments

Add your own Comments

Entertaining with Michele & Gia

dinner party

Jennifer Cheung

Most Popular Videos