Going Green to Save Green
There are many ways to save money by choosing from a growing list of home energy improvements. Frame to Finish is excited to provide you with a list of things you can do or call on our experienced handymen to take care of it for you. These home improvements will help you save money year-round.
In your kitchen:
- Vent your Energy Star-rated exhaust fan directly to the outside to remove smoke, gas, and odors.
- Switch your bulbs to energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs. Advancements in the bulbs now provide better color & light quality.
- If your plumbing fixtures were installed before 1992, replace with new low-flow fixtures. You'll get the same pressure with much less water use. Fun options like foot-pedals will reduce the water you use.
- Avoid cabinets using formaldehyde-based particle-board.
- Without sufficient ventilation, the toxic substances in conventional caulking can have serious health impacts.
In your bathroom:
- Older toilets use as many as 5 gallons per flush. Replace old toilets with a dual-flush model. They can be as efficient as 1.6 gallon per flush, saving 22,000 gallons of water per year for a family of 4.
- A typical household of 4 uses 260 gallons of water every day. Most of that water used in the bathroom. An efficient showerhead costs less than $15 and cuts water consumption by half.
- Install an aerator on every bathroom faucet, costs only $2.
In your bedroom:
- Turn the thermostat down. Install a timed, programmable thermostat; it can warm up your room before you wake up.
- Try to create a nontoxic nursery using zero-VOC paints.
- Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, it traps dust mites and allergens. Replace with wood flooring.
Around your Home:
- If your home is more than 20 years old, chances are, it is missing important features such as insulation, energy-efficient windows, and water saving fixtures.
- Exposure to carpet mold is one of the leading causes of respiratory problems.
- The toilet accounts for approximately 30% of household water. High-efficiency toilets use at least 20% less water than standard toilets. Dual-flush, water-saving toilets save you money (about 20% of monthly water bills).
- To cut the water-heating bill in half, turn down your water heater to 120 degrees and insulate it.
- If your gas water heater is more than 10 years old, it is inefficient and should be replaced, and get one with a timer so that it heats water only when you need it.
- Windows are thermal holes. An average home may lose 30% of its heat or air-conditioning energy through the windows.
- Insulate your water heater. But 25% of every dollar you spend on energy goes to heat your water.
- Install a low-flow showerhead. Low-flow showerheads & faucet aerators can reduce your water consumption and your energy cost as much as 50%, without sacrificing water pressure.
- Install natural insulation in your walls & attic. Between floor joists as well.
- Install a programmable thermostat with a timer.
- Test your home for radon.
- Insulate your roof.
- Install solar panels.
- Install a whole-house fan.
- Buy/Install a water filter instead of bottled water.
- Add insulation to the hot-water pipes.
- Install a solar attic fan to vent hot air from your attic.
- Weatherize your windows and doors. Use caulk, sealants, and weather-stripping.
- 1/3 of the heat in your home is leaking out of your ducts. Seal the joints in your duct work with low-toxic mastic compound.
- Clean your air conditioner filter regularly. If you shade your air conditioner, it will not have to work as hard.
- Install ceiling fans instead of air conditioners.
- Clean/replace furnace filters each month of use.
- Put a foam gasket behind your thermostat so that it reads the actual room temperature instead of the colder temperature inside the wall.
- Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and install occupancy Sensors which turn off lights when people leave the room.
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