Going Green...in Your Home

"Going Green" seems to be the hot phrase these days. It means being environmentally friendly by recycling, reducing and reusing. But it also means doing things like saving water and energy. And these things are not only good for the environment, but they can be good for your wallet too. I met with Mark Jabaley, owner of Above and Beyond Energy, and this was his advice for greening your home.

In the living room, the windows and doors are the biggest problems. Mark suggests assessing the weather-stripping on the doors and making sure that it's adequate. When the wind blows, make sure it's not blowing air in on you. For the windows, he says to check to see if there is air leakage by the windows when the wind blows. If there is, then it may be time to consult a professional and have your windows replaced.

In the kitchen, the best thing is to shop for appliances that host the energy star label. This way you can be sure that the appliances are really using less energy. These appliances can save you up to $80 a year in energy costs. You can also get an aerator for your faucet. They cost around $5 and are available at any hardware store. They reduce water flow while maintaining good water pressure.

In the bathroom, you can install low flow shower heads, which cost around $20. You can also get low flow toilets or even dual flush toilets. Both can really help save water in the bathroom.

Lighting can also be a huge expense in the home. Mark advises people to us compact fluorescent light bulbs, which cost around 5 bucks, especially in high use areas. They use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs. You can also save energy by installing a motion sensor to turn the lights off when you forget!

If you want to take things to the next level, Jabaley's company (Above and Beyond Energy) can do an energy audit. This process, which involves a blower door and a thermal camera, enables them to identify exactly where in the house the air is leaking in. And through a comprehensive energy analysis, they can test the duct work and all the other systems of the home to make sure that your home is as efficient as it can be. Depending on the size of your house, it can cost between 200 and 400 dollars.

Making the investment will help you be more green now, so you can save your green later on. For more tips, check out www.aboveandbeyondenergy.com.