Safety at Home

Economics of Being Green at Home

Saving valuable resources is good for all of us, but it’s even more appealing when you realize that it’s good for your own pocketbook too. A few dollars here and there can add up to extra money you can spend where it really counts: on your family and home.

Green Savings #1: CFLs

Most people don’t realize the electricity to run a light bulb costs more than the bulb itself. Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for overall savings.

$$ Potential: About $30 per bulb (based on CFL life of 10,000 hours)¹

Green Savings #2: Insulation

Spend a few hundred dollars to add insulation to your attic, walls and basement to keep cool air in during the summer and out during the winter.

$$ Potential: 10 to 30 percent of your annual heating and cooling bill²

Green Savings #3: Caulking and Weather Stripping

Seal up leaky windows or add low-E glazing and storm windows. Add weather stripping to doors and windows that don’t seal as tightly as they should.

$$ Potential: $15 per window or door per year³

Green Savings #4: Plumbing Fixtures

You’ll have to invest up front on new fixtures, but they’ll likely pay for themselves over the long run. Install a low-flow showerhead ($65 per year), water-efficient toilet ($25 per year), a more efficient water heater ($48 per year) and a whole house water filter ($312 per year).

$$ Potential: Up to about $450 per year⁴

Green Savings #5: Programmable Thermostat

If you come and go at predictable times, have a programmable thermostat added to conserve energy while you’re away and keep things comfortable when you’re home.

$$ Potential: $180 per year⁵

Green Savings #6: Home Energy Audit

Call a professional energy auditor to evaluate your home’s energy efficiency and recommend improvements.

$$ Potential: Depending on your rating, it could be thousands of dollars⁶

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