A Five-Point Plan for Just About Any Home
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Saturday, February 23, 2008
It's easier than you think to make your house more environmentally friendly.
Simple changes can save resources and energy and perhaps help slow global warming. A growing demand for energy efficiency led design trends measured by the American Institute of Architects' home-design survey for the second quarter of 2007.
The group's chief economist, Kermit Baker, said that a panel of 500 architecture firms found high demand for insulation panels, tankless water heaters, geothermal heating and cooling, and green flooring products such as bamboo and cork.
Warren, Vt., architect John Connell, a member of the institute's housing committee, said the No. 1 question he gets from confused homeowners is where to start.
"None of the more sexy energy-saving installations -- small windmills on the roof, photovoltaic panels, solar-water collectors -- make any sense until you've done your insulation, weatherstripping and other fundamentals," he said.
For the do-it-yourself homeowner, this is Connell's five-point plan for easy, immediate action:
Lighting
Changing to fluorescent bulbs makes sense despite recent concerns about how to dispose of the small amount of mercury they contain.
"If you put in compact fluorescent lighting today, you won't have to change those bulbs for a couple of years at least -- and systems are quickly evolving to deal with disposal as more and more people do this," Connell said.
The Environmental Protection Agency is working with bulbmakers and retailers to expand recycling and disposal options.
Check with your local sanitation department to see if you can recycle bulbs containing mercury. If not, the EPA suggests sealing the bulb in two plastic bags and putting it in outside trash for normal collection.
Windows
First, using a compass, identify which windows face south and which north. Use insulating shades on those windows to keep heat in or out and slow the loss of energy, Connell said.
You can open and close windows and shades to help heat or cool the house, depending on season and geographical location.
