With rising utility costs, there has never been a better time to go green. You certainly do not need to convert your whole home to an alternate power source but there are some small things that can be done that will save you quite a bit of money over the first few months of use. In fact, you could recoup the extra costs in the first month on certain changes you make. There is nothing wrong with going green and doing so to benefit your pocketbook. The benefits to the environment fall in naturally no matter what reason you have for doing it, so why not read further and make the changes that benefit you financially?
Garden lights and outdoor lights that use solar energy are readily available and can be bought cheaply at stores like Walmart. Not only do they aid in the appearance of your home and landscape, they save quite a bit of money compared to the outdoor porch lights and floods that we commonly use to light up our yards. You are looking at roughly twenty dollars for five solar lights that can be placed along a walkway or a porch light that will provide ample lighting from the use of cfc’s or led’s.
Small turbines placed on the roof can cut energy costs in the summer as they keep airflow moving and remove the heat that may be causing the a/c to kick on more than it should. Heat rises but when it has nowhere to go, it builds up and can make the whole house warmer than necessary. These are also great for the time of the year when heat and air aren’t necessary for the same reason. They keep airflow circulating and keep the house cooler for those open window days. These are relatively inexpensive and most homeowners with some mechanical abilities will be able to install them on their own.
Small skylights are a great way to reduce energy costs as the need for lighting is greatly reduced. Keep in mind that these do need to be installed by a professional. If the skylights are not installed properly, there could be energy loss when the heater or a/c is running as well as potential water damage from gaps or improper installation. These can save quite a bit of money but will need more time to recoup the costs.
Solar hot water systems are becoming more prominent as a must have. They provide more than enough hot water for a whole house but also reduce your utility bill by roughly 30 dollars per month. Now it can take some time to pay off the initial investment; if you are a home that uses a lot of hot water, this time will be short.
The greatest point to make about going green is that most improvements come with tax rebates, credits and in some cases grants. Check with the federal government as well as your state and local governments to see how much, if any, assistance you can get by making the changes to energy efficiency.
As you can see, the costs are minimal and, with tax relief, far less than you could imagine. There really is no reason why you shouldn’t step up and make the changes necessary to improve your financial status and aid in making the environment healthier and more beautiful for all to enjoy generations from now.