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Home & Garden Articles
The Best Green Home Improvements
Mon 02 Mar 2009 - 08:33
The Best Green Home Improvements
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine]Joseph Devine
In today's economy, people are looking for as many new ways to save money as possible. One thing that many people don't realize is that by implementing many of the things that environmentalists love, they can save money on their utility bills and reduce their carbon footprint.
The reason it is possible to reduce utility bills and save the environment at the same time is that the utility bills are tied to the sale and burning of oil and natural gas. When a person uses less electricity, he or she will pay less for the electricity bill. At the same time, because the person is using less electricity, less oil or gas must be burned to provide power. This reduces the carbon footprint of the home and, if enough people implement very simple things in their daily lives, can reduce the energy usage for the entire area.
A perfect example of this is the state of Connecticut. So many people in the state implemented cost, and environment, saving minor items in their homes that the electric company asked the state for a raise in what it could charge for electricity as they weren't making enough profits. The state didn't grant that request.
One of the most basic things any homeowner can do is switch from normal light bulbs to the high efficiency ones. While these are a smidge more expensive than the ordinary light bulbs, each bulb is estimated to save $30 over the course of its lifetime on the electricity bill.
Another easy thing to do to save money and make a home more green is ensure that there aren't any gaps around doors to the outside. By caulking or weather stripping all of the doors and windows, a person can prevent a lot of air from escaping or getting in. In the winter, preventing cold air from coming in or warm air from getting out will reduce the amount of work a furnace will have to do to keep the home warm.
In the summer, preventing warm air from getting in and stopping the escape of cooled air will reduce the amount of work the air conditioner must do to cool the house. Not only will this cut back on the power used but it will also save a lot of wear and tear on the furnace and air conditioner. This is likely to make them last longer which means that the cost of replacement occurs less frequently.
Finally, low flow shower heads and faucets will reduce a person's water consumption and, in turn, reduce the water bill. While reducing the amount of water used does not really reduce a carbon footprint, it does reduce strain on fresh water sources.
For more information on making an existing home green, please visit [http://www.carvajalgroup.com/]http://www.carvajalgroup.com
Joseph Devine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Best-Green-Home-Improvements&id=2040522
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