Our
friends at Lennox have gathered up some great information and tips on going
green and saving. Saving money while
being environmentally sensitive, fantastic!
·
As much as half of the energy your home uses is spent on heating
and cooling1. So choosing high-efficiency air conditioning and
furnace systems can make a big difference on your home's emissions and your
utility bills. Installing an ENERGY STAR® qualified
HVAC system can dramatically reduce your energy usage, saving up to 60% on
your cooling bills2, and up to 40% on heating costs2.
·
Reducing the number of catalogs that clog both your mailbox and
the landfill is better for the environment – and for your pocketbook, if they
tempt you to buy. Each American gets about 63 catalogs every year; production
of those uses an estimated 53 million trees and enough water to fill 81,000
swimming pools every year3. There's an online service that can help
you get off mailing lists free at www.catalogchoice.org, or you can find each
catalog company's 800 number and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
·
You hear a lot about "ozone"…but is it good or bad?
Well, that depends on where it is. The ozone layer refers to the ozone within
the earth's stratosphere, where more than 90% of the earth's ozone exists4.
This ozone layer helps protect the earth by absorbing 97 to 99% of the sun's
high-frequency ultraviolet light. However, ozone is an irritating, corrosive,
colorless gas that you don't want in your home, because exposure to
ground-level ozone can lead to shortness of breath and chest pain5.
Many indoor air quality (IAQ) products such as electronic air cleaners and
portable ionic air purifiers produce ozone. Choose an IAQ product that does not
produce ozone, such as the Healthy Climate® IAQ
products from Lennox. This is the industry's first comprehensive line.
·
Many energy utilities around the country are now offering
"green energy" programs. Because green or renewable energy can be
more expensive to develop than coal-based energy, these programs ask for
voluntary contributions to offset the extra cost. You can generally buy
"blocks" of green energy for a few dollars that your energy company
will use to purchase the more expensive, renewable energy. These contributions
allow you to offset part of your home's "carbon footprint," the
measure of how much carbon dioxide is created each day by your use of fossil
fuels.
·
Insulating your attic helps keep your home's upper floors more
comfortable in summer and winter, and keeps more of the comfort you paid for
from escaping your home. Use insulation with at least a minimum R-30 value, or
visit the U.S. Department of
Energy's website to learn more about choosing the right level of insulation for
your area of the country.
·
Planting a garden instead of grass around your home will allow you
to save water, reduce the energy spent mowing and help avoid spewing greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere. Choose native wildflowers, a ground cover that
requires little care or an organic herb garden and you'll save time and money
all summer long.
Sources:
1 EnergyStar.gov
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005
3 IdealBite.com
4 National Aeronautics and Space Administration
5 American Lung Association
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