Green Home Credits

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Use ENERGY STAR Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) wherever possible

Turn off computers and monitors when not in use

Keep the Hot Water Heater Thermostat at 120 or below

Use a programmable home Thermostat for summers and winters

Try to wash only "Full" loads of dishes and laundry

Plug TVs and DVD players into power strips and turn off power strips when not in use

Use ENERGY STAR rated appliances and devices

Be sure to close the fireplace damper when not in use to prevent heat loss

Did You Know...

The average household spends $1,900 per year on home utility bills

43% of total home energy use goes towards heating and cooling

Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are properly insulated to DOE recommendation levels

53% of all households use Natural Gas to heat

You can lose up to 60% of heated air through uninsulated attics and crawlspaces

Heat Pumps are the most efficient form of both heating and cooling in moderate climate areas

A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water in a short period of time

Computers, TVs, DVD players, and Charger Cables still use Standby Power even when turned off

Lighting accounts for about 11% of the energy budget in the average household

Switching from incandescent to CFLs can reduce lighting energy by 50–75%

Today’s CFLs are now compatible with dimmer switches and offer brightness and color comparable to incandescents

CFLs can also be used in enclosed outdoor lighting fixtures

New LED light bulbs last 25x longer than CFLs and use even less energy

Low insulation windows can account for 10-25% of the heating bill due to loss

Single pane windows are common in older American homes and account for most loss

In cold climates, use double pane Low-E coated windows which reflect back room heat

In cold climates, close curtains and shades at night

In cold climates, keep south facing windows clean to allow in winter sunlight

In warm climates, use spectral selective coated windows which reflect external heat gain

In warm climates, install window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect sun

In warm climates, close south and west facing windows during the day to reflect sun

Water Heating is the 3rd largest energy expenditure in the home

Install aerating low-flow faucets and showerheads

Always repair a leaky faucet quickly as gallons of water can be wasted in a short time

Insulate the first 6 feet of hot and cold water pipes connected to the tank

Insulation is measured in R-value: the higher the better!

Attics, exterior walls, floors, and ceilings are common leaky spots

Attic insulation should have R-value between 30 to 60

Insulation types include Rolls, Loose-fill, Rigid foam, and spray foam

Rigid foam is more expensive but has 2x the R-value of other types

Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls

Replace door bottoms and thresholds with pliable sealing gaskets

Be sure to replace furnace filters once a month

Clean baseboard heaters, radiators and registers making sure they are not blocked

Remember to bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators 1 to 2 times a season

Check ducts for leaks and be sure to join with Mastic, Butyl, or Foil tape

Avoid using rubber adhesives or cloth-backed duct tape which tends to fail quickly

Remember that ducts can have leaks in attics and crawl spaces too

Heat pumps can cut electricity used for heating by 30% to 40%

Keep window coverings closed during summer to prevent solar heat gain

Use plants and shrubs to shade central air units but do not block the airflow

Aggressive and Speed driving uses 33% more highway energy

Speeds above 60 mph drop gas mileage substantially

Every extra 100 pounds of weight reduces the mpg by 2%

A loaded roofrack creates aerodynamic drag, reducing the mpg by 5%

Properly inflated and aligned tires improve mpg by 3.3%

Clogged air filters can reduce mpg by up to 10%

Fuel Injection cleaner increases mpg up to 5% and reduces emissions