Greenlinks Blog
Simple Products for Your Home
-Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a simple way of making big changes at a low cost in the energy efficiency of your home. Most home improvement stores and hardware stores carry these bulbs, which use 70% less energy than regular bulbs and can save $30 or more in energy costs over the bulbs lifetime. I have been testing the bulbs at home and they are making a believer out of me. The light is good and what a great way to save money.
Home Insulation
Increasing the amount and R-Value (the measure of thermal resistance) of insulation is a cost effective way to save energy and help reduce heating and cooling costs which can account for at least half of the energy use in the home. If you are purchasing a home, have a home inspector look in the attic and interior and exterior walls at ways to look for energy leaks. Sprayed insulation made of foam, cellulose or wool are alternatives to traditional glass fiber batting. Even these products are improving and with a little shopping you can find the right application for your energy trouble spots. We can always do better and it is easy.
Efficient Toilets
New toilets have redesigned bowls and tanks that use less water but functions more efficiently than the first generation low-flow models. Some use pumps for more water pressure. In the average home, flushing toilets accounts for nearly 30 percent of water usage. New efficient models can reduce that use up to 25 percent. Your water and sewer bill are often linked so if you save on water you will also save on the sewer part of your bill as well.