Plan ahead to save energy- and money!
| Get your flat roof coated with a white coating | |
| If you have a flat roof, chances are it's a black tar roof. Having black tar on your roof is like having a hot street on top of your house! When your roof needs recoating, or if it's time to replace your roof, ask your roofer to use a white coating. Studies show that coating a flat roof with a white coating will reduce temperatures on the top floor of your home by 5 degrees in the summer, as compared to a house with a black coated roof. | |
| Look for Energy Star appliances when you need to update | |
| When it's time to replace that refrigerator, or any appliance, look for appliances that are Energy Star certified. These appliances will save you money because they use less energy! If your appliances are really old, it sometimes saves you money to replace them now with more energy efficient ones. Click here to see if it's time to say goodbye to that old refrigerator! | |
| Plant trees to shade your house in summer | |
| Plant trees near your house to shade your house in the summer. Choose deciduous trees, as they will shade your house in the summer, and drop their leaves so they won't shade your house in winter. Email us to see if the city can plant one along your street in front of your house. | |
| Take advantage of home energy efficiency tax credits for 2007 | |
| 2007 is a good year to make your home energy efficient, as the IRS has home energy efficiency tax credits (up to $500) for homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient with Energy Star rated products. You can get tax credits for: Energy Star rated windows and exterior doors, storm windows and doors, metal roofs with Energy Star rated coatings, insulation, and qualified AC, Furnace, and water heaters. Click here for more details. | |
| Insulate your attic! | |
| The roof is where homes lose most of their heat. Insulating your attic can keep the heat in and save you money! Remember to look into tax credits if you do insulate your attic. | |
| Buy high efficiency furnaces or AC units when it's time to replace them | |
| If it's time to replace that old furnace or AC unit, look for a high efficiency model that's Energy Star rated. If you replace it in 2007, remember to apply for your home energy efficiency tax credit. | |
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