GreenStreet LI Home | Green Products
 to Warm the Home




Green Products
 to Warm the Home
2010-00-28 


In previous installments this fall we’ve talked about the importance of getting a home energy audit as a first step to finding leaks and energy drains. After you’ve checked that off your list, consider some of these eco product options to take the edge off winter, and save money.

Low Cost:
Keep warm air in and cold air out by weather-stripping doors – a $30 or $40 outlay. For homes with central heating, reseal ducts around the vents; price per vent – as low as $20. Or install insulated window treatments, which  can make a big difference in any home.

Medium Cost:
Buy a programmable thermostat that lowers energy use during non-peak family times – nighttime and daytime work hours. This way the boiler won’t kick in while your house sits empty, or everyone is asleep. Mike Kuplicki of Alure Home Improvements likes Honeywell’s Energy-Star rated unit, priced at between $200 and $300.

High Cost:
Consider an outdoor reset controller, a $400 to $500 expenditure that adjusts the water temperature for your boiler based on outside temperature. For about the same investment, you can turn fireplaces from heat-eaters to heat-makers with inserts that improve efficiency by approximately 75%.

Not too late for your energy audit. GreenStreet LI partner Alure Home Improvements offers a comprehensive home assessment to help you find the most cost-effective ways to insulate a home, and seal up its drafts. www.alure.com

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates households can save 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning the thermostat
back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours in
the winter and the same in the summer

One Simple Thing:
Parents’ hands are trained to detect children’s temperatures; homeowners need to be just as astute. Check wall temperatures today with your hand or bare forearm to detect cool spots that signal air seepage, which may require corking or insulation.


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