Energy Efficient Changes! Yay!

Americans save billions of dollars yearly by employing energy-saving measures and investing in energy-efficient homes. Upgrades: Energy Star appliances, new hot water heaters, or geothermal pumps are just the beginning of the updates that make a big difference in your budget over time.

Toilet flushing and showering are the two biggest culprits for wasted water. Upgrade your home’s plumbing fixtures so you use less water to accomplish the same tasks, low-flow fixtures reduce your home water consumption by as much as 50 percent and save you up to $145 a year on electricity, according to Energy Star.

Upgrading your home with energy-efficient insulation is the quickest energy payback project you can undertake. Many homes do not have enough insulation especially those built before 1980. Bring it up to current standards, make it more comfortable all year long and you’ll save money — anywhere from 10 to 50 percent on your heating and cooling bills.

Fluorescent bulbs are more expensive than regular bulbs, however each bulb can save up to $40 over the lifetime of the bulb and they last 10 times longer than conventional bulbs. Did you know that the average household spends about $2,000 annually on energy bills? Install a programmable thermostat, this little gadget can pay for itself in a matter of months. Annually, you’re looking at saving $150 or more.