Is your Lexington MA Home eco-friendly? Read the top 10 Green Facts about becoming eco-friendly.
1. Buying a product labeled
“organic”
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture regulates the term “organic,” so it can’t be used simply as a
marketing ploy. Organic products must be “produced without antibiotics,
hormones, pesticides, irradiation, or bioengineering.”
2. Buying a product labeled “natural”
This term isn’t regulated at
all, so proceed cautiously. There’s no denying that artificial chemicals can
cause health and environmental problems. But so can natural ones, like ammonia.
Don’t assume natural is a synonym for earth-friendly, hypoallergenic, or good
for you without doing your research.
3. Replacing Old Drafty Windows
Although new energy-efficient windows can
make your house far more comfortable, they won’t make a big dent in your energy
use.
Caulking and sealing all
penetrations to your home works great, says Suzanne Shelton,
CEO of Shelton Group, a marketing agency that specializes in energy efficiency.
4. Installing Solar-Powered Attic Fans
At first blush, attic fans seem like a green slam-dunk: Cooling your attic can help reduce the load on your HVAC system, and powering a fan with solar energy is free. Plus, there’s a 30% federal tax credit through 2016 on the purchase and installation costs — at least for fan’s solar panel, says the IRS, not the fan. Also if a manufacturer has officially certified that the equipment qualifies, you can generally rely on that. (It’s wise to keep manufacturer records and consult with your CPA.)
At first blush, attic fans seem like a green slam-dunk: Cooling your attic can help reduce the load on your HVAC system, and powering a fan with solar energy is free. Plus, there’s a 30% federal tax credit through 2016 on the purchase and installation costs — at least for fan’s solar panel, says the IRS, not the fan. Also if a manufacturer has officially certified that the equipment qualifies, you can generally rely on that. (It’s wise to keep manufacturer records and consult with your CPA.)
But studies, like one
from the Florida Solar Energy Center, show you need two to three fans
to make a difference, and at $400+ a pop to purchase and install just one,
you’ll struggle to recover your investment through the slight energy bill
savings: roughly $40 per year.
5. Installing a Geothermal System
You may look at the price tag for a geothermal heating system and dismiss it out of hand: Systems can cost $10,000 to $25,000 and up. But with federal tax credits for geothermal heat pumps until 2016, you can cut your purchase and installation costs by 30% and your energy bills in half.
You may look at the price tag for a geothermal heating system and dismiss it out of hand: Systems can cost $10,000 to $25,000 and up. But with federal tax credits for geothermal heat pumps until 2016, you can cut your purchase and installation costs by 30% and your energy bills in half.
CFLs are
about 75% more efficient than traditional incandescents, but they don’t perform well in
enclosed fixtures, especially in humid bathrooms, and disposal is tricky
because they contain mercury.
More: Tips for Cleaning up a
Broken CFL Bulb
7. Throwing away a 20-year-old Refrigerator that Still Works
If your fridge was made before 1993, it’s an energy hog. Replacing it, even if it still works, with an energy-efficient model can save you $100–$200 per year on your energy bills.
By the way, putting that old fridge in the garage and filling it with beer isn’t considered recycling, nor is it reducing your energy bill or your carbon footprint.
You don’t have to toss the old model in the landfill; see if your local utility will come and pick it up for recycling. Many utilities will even pay you a small rebate for it. Check the DSIRE database for info about utility rebates and incentives by area. (DSIRE primarily tracks municipal utilities with more than 30,000 customers.)
8. Using Rubber Mulch in your GardenRecycled rubber mulch products keep old tires out of the landfill, and mulch is generally a great way to preserve soil moisture and nutrients.
6. Replacing
inefficient incandescent bulbs with CFLs
CFLs are
about 75% more efficient than traditional incandescents, but they don’t perform well in
enclosed fixtures, especially in humid bathrooms, and disposal is tricky
because they contain mercury.
More: Tips for Cleaning up a
Broken CFL Bulb
Keep an eye out for LED lightbulb bargains instead. They’re more expensive than CFLs and only marginally more efficient, but they last up to five times as long. Also consider incandescent halogens when CFLs aren’t the greatest choice — they cost more than traditional incandescents, but they use 25% to 30% less energy and can last up to three times as long.
Keep an eye out for LED lightbulb bargains instead. They’re more expensive than CFLs and only marginally more efficient, but they last up to five times as long. Also consider incandescent halogens when CFLs aren’t the greatest choice — they cost more than traditional incandescents, but they use 25% to 30% less energy and can last up to three times as long.
7. Throwing away a 20-year-old Refrigerator that Still Works
If your fridge was made before 1993, it’s an energy hog. Replacing it, even if it still works, with an energy-efficient model can save you $100–$200 per year on your energy bills.
By the way, putting that old fridge in the garage and filling it with beer isn’t considered recycling, nor is it reducing your energy bill or your carbon footprint.
You don’t have to toss the old model in the landfill; see if your local utility will come and pick it up for recycling. Many utilities will even pay you a small rebate for it. Check the DSIRE database for info about utility rebates and incentives by area. (DSIRE primarily tracks municipal utilities with more than 30,000 customers.)
8. Using Rubber Mulch in your GardenRecycled rubber mulch products keep old tires out of the landfill, and mulch is generally a great way to preserve soil moisture and nutrients.
9. Installing a Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are certainly more efficient than conventional water heaters,
but thanks to high upfront costs, unpredictable temperature swings (the
infamous cold sandwich), and the fact that they’re still an improving
technology, the choice isn’t clear-cut.
10. Installing a White Roof
If you live in a warm
climate — roughly south of Columbus, Ohio (south of 40° latitude) — or in urban
areas where asphalt captures heat — you’d be surprised how much changing your
roof color could change your energy bills: 20% on average during the cooling
season. This one isn't so important in Lexington MA.
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