What are tips to make my home more environmentally friendly?

People often say they wish they could live in a green home but think green features are too expensive.

Not true.

There are many simple things you can do to make your home more energy efficient.

1) Call your utility company and have an energy audit performed.

Every month you pay a little extra into your utility bill so that for less than $100 you can have an energy professional come to your home to have it checked for being efficient. Not only will you save an average of $200 a year on fuel savings but the auditor will probably leave you a supply of newer, efficient lightbulbs.

Contact Energize Connecticut’s Home Energy Solutions “HES” assessment program or rebates. Go to www.energizect.com or call 1-877-WISE-USE.

2) After you have had an energy audit, stop by your local lighting store and ask how you can save money by using better lighting. Many people can save as much as 20 percent off their utility bill.

3) Have your furnace or boiler cleaned. An oil unit should be cleaned once a year and a gas unit at least every two years. A clean unit will run more efficiently.

4) Use ceiling fans. During the winter have them blow the air up and during the summer have them blow the air down. This will allow you to expend less fuel and thus spend less on heating or conditioning your home.

5) Put insulation around the outside of your water heater and adjust the temperature down to between 120 to 125 degrees. Most people have the water far too hot.

6) Each new season spend some time doing maintenance on your home. This way you will do the same maintenance every year. Maintaining your home on a regular basis will keep your home running efficiently and green. Make sure you clean your gutters, as water should always be a concern in running your home.

Rob Carter, William Raveis Real Estate,

(203) 654-0140, rob.carter@raveis.com