Making my house more energy efficient???

Question

i have a 23 year old town house and i want to make it energy efficient i have not bought anything yet so i need tips and good i ideas to make my house more energy efficient.

thank you

i would also like good websites with lots of information.

Answer 1

CFL Lightbulbs and weatherstripping are the cheapest ways to begin your home's transition to energy efficiency. From there, you may want to move to more energy efficient appliances. It may seem like a large investment, but the energy efficient machine will pay for themselves over time and you can get some sweet tax breaks from the government.

Answer 2

I own a every old house the 1st things i ded where

get energy saving light bulbs, Double glaze the house (still in progress)Get loft insulation.

you might be able to get a grant if your on benefits.

Answer 3

The biggest energy uses are heating and cooling.

So, for your AC and furnace, check that your house is as well insulated and sealed up as possible.  If you have access to the attic, check that the insulation is thick.  If not, you can add more on top of the old insulation.  Ask your building supply store for advice.  Have the AC and furnace checked for any needed tune-up service (good for periodic safety check too).

Ovens, stove, toasters, coffee makers, water heaters, anything that heats:  These things typically have wattages 10+ times those of lights, so consider their use.  A microwave will go at 1000 watts for a minute versus an electric burner will do that or more for several minutes to acheive similar results.  Gas appliances are often more efficient when you have the option to choose.

TV's eat lots of electrons.  Keeping the TV off will probably do more than switching to compact fluorescents.  Unless you keep your whole house lit up all the time, lighting is really a minor component in the big picture, and incandescents can be dimmed.  (They also don't contain mercury like fluorescents, but that's a separate issue.)

Answer 4

To save the most energy and money, replace your highest used fixtures or the light bulbs in them with energy-efficient models. The five highest use fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling lights, the living or family room table and floor lamps, and outdoor porch or post lamp. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures and replacement bulbs can be found at home improvement and hardware stores, lighting showrooms, and other retail stores.

When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.

This site here will really help you it helped my family we now save about 20.00-25.00 a month now that we have switched everything in the house.

Answer 5

To start with, when you go to the store to buy this stuff, don't drive an SUV, or Hummer, or vehicle thats older than 10 years old. If you go to get coffee while your out don't go somewhere that offers Styrofoam cups or bring a portable mug