Eight easy projects for instant energy savings
New energy-efficient windows are an expensive investment, but there are simple fixes that will make your existing windows more efficient. One of the fastest and cheapest is to cover them with bubble wrap.
(Photo — Gary Reysa)
Reducing your home energy use is the best of win-win deals — not only does it reduce your carbon footprint, it also saves you big bucks on your energy bills. That’s especially exciting when you consider that many home energy improvements are fast, easy and inexpensive. Often, the savings from an individual project are small, but when you start putting them together they add up quickly. These eight easy home improvement projects cost about $400 and will save at least $9,000 over the next 10 years! Personal computer power management Computers and all their related equipment, such as printers and wireless routers, consume a lot of power. Two computers and related equipment use about 270 watts whenever they were switched on, but there’s an easy way to reduce this amount. Simply put all the computer junk on a power strip, so that at night you can turn off everything with one flip of the power strip switch. Also start using the energy saving settings on your computer. During the day
» Full StoryHeating your home with wood
As natural gas prices skyrocket, wood-burning stoves are becoming a smart, money-saving option for many homeowners.
Wood heat offers many benefits over conventional home-heating fuels. Although burning wood creates air pollution, the ne
Slash your heating bills
The costs of fuel oil and electricity are rising, and natural gas prices are up to 50 percent higher than last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
As fuel prices rise, it’s tempting to look for the single solution t
Biodiesel creates cleaner, greener heat
Homeowners heating with an oil furnace can make an eco-friendly choice this winter by adding biodiesel to the fuel tank. Made from new and used vegetable oils or animal fats, biodiesel is perfectly suited as an additive or replacement fuel in a stan
» Full StoryCanning made easy
During the first World War, the U.S. government asked its citizens to contribute to the war effort by growing gardens. Americans rose to the challenge. The millions of quarts of provender produced by this astonishing effort not only fed American fami
» Full StoryStay warm with nontoxic insulation
Environmentally friendly insulation options let homeowners create more energy-efficient homes. Today’s insulation materials are less toxic, use recycled content and make use of natural materials.
Homeowners can cut heating and cooling




