As springtime begins to appear on the not-too-distant horizon, many may start to plan spring cleaning and home improvement projects. This year, why not focus on making your home more environmentally friendly? Three Missouri energy experts offered their tips to accomplish this task.
For those who wish to make their homes more eco-friendly in a cost-effective manner, there are many ways to do so. As far as electricity or lighting is concerned, something as simple as replacing incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights can make a big difference. According to the Department of Energy, a CFL uses just one-quarter of the energy and lasts 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.
"They last so long and have lots of juice," said John Hickey, director for the Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Jeffrey Owens, director and treasurer for Show Me Solar of Jefferson City, said he also favors the CFL bulbs. They are inexpensive, costing only a few dollars at any hardware store, he said.
Hickey also suggested taking advantage of Ameren Missouri's series of rebate programs for residents in the state wishing to participate in energy-saving upgrades on heating and cooling, solar panels and programmable thermostats.
Patricia Schuba, executive director of Labadie Environmental Organization, agreed with that recommendation. She said her family has been able to save tens of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of those rebate programs. She said they have been very beneficial in aiding her family, which lives on a farm, with their energy needs.
"We're a farm family making an investment for the future," Schuba said.
There are plenty of other simple changes a homeowner could make to reduce energy usage:
Using multi-socket extension leads around the house and turning them off when not in use.
Unplugging television sets and other appliances when not in use. Many appliances are on "standby" while plugged in, continuing to use electricity.
Smart dish washing. Save energy by not pre-rinsing and always running a full load in the dishwasher.
Hanging drying clothes instead of using the dryer, and try to use cold water and concentrated laundry detergent in the washing machine.
Winterizing the home.
In addition to these tasks, if financially possible, Owens recommends replacing older appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers and even older television sets. He said they are easy to replace with newer models that are more energy-efficient.
"The energy performance is drastically different," Owens said.
Hickey also mentioned some ideas to be more eco-friendly outdoors. One way would be the usage of efficient landscaping by planting native plants, he said.
"The native plants have evolved to survive the Jefferson City climate," Hickey said. "Planting native plants helps reduce costs through reducing watering."
He referred to grownative.org, which helps gardeners, farm owners and planners support biodiversity in their local, Midwest landscapes.
Installing solar panels has become increasingly popular. Panels are a clean and renewable source of energy. Hickey said before homeowners consider if solar energy is right for their home, they could use an app called Google Project Sunroof. This uses Google Earth imagery to analyze roof shapes and local weather patterns to create a personalized solar plan.
"You get an assessment to see if solar energy is appropriate or not," Hickey said. "My house is a big old house with trees around it. It is probably not viable. But most homes are candidates."
The experts all agreed using renewable energy and making one's home more environmentally friendly is worth the effort.
"It does make a difference if we all do it," Schuba said.