Go Green at Home and Save Alabama

It’s no wonder more Americans are going green at home. It can help protect the environment and leave more money in your pocket. Plus, you may be able to get tax credits for adding insulation, energy-efficient windows and certain heating and cooling equipment (check with your financial advisor for more details).

Going green may also boost the value of your property:

A 2006 survey by the American Institute of Architects found that about 90 percent of those surveyed would pay an extra $5,000 to buy or build a more eco-friendly home.

Since most green homes are virtually indistinguishable from standard homes, it may be worth your while to tout your energy-saving investments when listing your home on the market. Mention any appliances or improvements you’ve made to your agent and factor them in to your asking price. With today’s high fuel costs, an energy-efficient home’s lower heating and cooling bills are an obvious selling point.

Steps you can take to create a green home:

Heat and cool efficiently
Up to half the energy you use in your home is for heating and cooling. Here’s how to cut down on your usage, and your costs:

• Service your heating and air conditioning systems every year to keep them running efficiently and prevent small damages from turning into major costs down the road.
• Regularly change the air filters in your air conditioner and furnace. A clean filter lets through more air, prevents dirt build up in the system and helps equipment work more efficiently. You get more bang for your buck and save on maintenance costs.
• Install a programmable thermostat. You can then set it to keep the temperature lower in winter or higher in summer during the times when you’re not at home.
• Install a high-efficiency furnace and/or central air conditioner. Furnaces and air conditioners that qualify for the government’s ENERGY STAR® certification use electricity, gas or fuel oil more efficiently and can save you up to 20 percent of your heating and cooling costs. For maximum savings, make sure the units are the recommended size for your house and installed correctly.
• Cool your rooms with ceiling fans. They cost less to run than an air conditioner.
• Open the windows and curtains to let the sun warm your home during the day; close them to keep the heat in at night.

Seal your home

• Seal joints in the ducts that carry hot or cold air to and from your forced air furnace, central air conditioning or heat pump. Use duct sealant (also called duct mastic) or metal-backed tape (with UL-181 label) on all seams and connections, then wrap them with insulation. You’ll improve your heating and cooling system’s efficiency by up to 20 percent.
• Seal your home from drafts and moisture leakage. Close all holes, cracks and openings by adding weather stripping or caulking to window and door frames. Spray foam or install foam board or caulking where pipes, wires and vents leave your house.
• Add insulation to walls and ceilings to help retain heat in winter and cool air in summer.

Use efficient lighting
Did you know the cost of lighting your home accounts for up to a quarter of your electricity bill? You can slash this expense by using ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent bulbs. They’re 75 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 13 times longer. Replacing just five frequently used incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR® bulbs can save you more than $60 in energy costs annually. You can also install dimmer switches that will enable you to reduce lighting when you don’t need it.

Buy energy-efficient appliances
Upgrade your refrigerator and/or clothes washer. An ENERGY STAR® refrigerator uses about half the energy of most 10-year old models, while ENERGY STAR® clothes washers use half the water and 70 percent less energy per load.