10 Things You Should Put in Your House in 2010

The last thing home builders should want is a reputation for turning out substandard houses loaded with the cheapest materials they can find. Sure, the company might make money for a while, but in the end, the negative word-of-mouth will spread faster than you can say “class action lawsuit,” and everyone knows where that could lead.

Conscientious builders, instead, try to turn a profit but looks for ways to make houses more energy-efficient, more durable, more attractive, and cheaper to operate. Simply put: They look for ways to make houses better.

There are different ways to build a better house, of course. Using tried-and-true techniques that work should be the first option. But because building scientists and manufacturers have learned much in the last 25 years, there are a variety of ways builders can improve their products.

Last year, BUILDER Online wrote about 10 ways to improve the perceived value of homes in “10 Things You Must Put in Your Next House.” This list recommended items such as inexpensive butcher block countertops, but it also included products that could be deemed “green” such as dual-flush toilets and tankless water heaters. “Is it me or were 9 of the 10 of these green-oriented products?” one reader commented. “Maybe the title should have been ‘Go Green in 2009.’”

You can call these products green if you like, but that’s not our intent. People mistakenly associate products that improve performance or save money with the green movement. In the old days, it was merely called Yankee thrift, good building practices, or simply common sense. Sometimes a better product is not about green; it’s simply about being, well, better.

Having said that, we’ve compiled another list of products. It does contain products that will help homeowners lower their energy bills, but it also consists of offerings that will last longer and perform better than conventional choices.

As is the case with many high-performing products, some of these will have a higher initial cost, but they save money in labor, maintenance, energy, or replacement. Use one or use them all if your budget allows. Feel free to call them green if you like. But regardless of what you call them, any of these products will improve your houses and your reputation with your buyers in the New Year and beyond.

Credit: Georgia Pacific

Radiant Barrier
A radiant barrier is simple: It’s just a structural panel with a reflective material (usually aluminum) laminated to one side that installs foil side down on a roof deck to reduce heat gain in warm climates. Manufacturers say the panels can block up to 97% of heat transfer through roof sheathing, which lowers attic temperatures and consequently reduces cooling costs by 5% to 10%. Studies say the material ranges from 15 cents to 75 cents per square foot, but you have to install roof sheathing anyway, so why not get one with the foil attached?

Credit: Dow Building Solutions

Foam Board Insulation
Insulation on the interior is a no-brainer, but a house also will see additional benefits from rigid foam board insulation installed on the exterior wall or roof deck. In addition to boosting thermal resistance, the product adds to a house’s structural strength and reduces conduction through elements such as joists and studs. Boards range in R-values from 3.8 to 8 per inch of thickness.

Credit: Marvin Windows and Doors

Better Windows, Better Placement
Energy Star-qualified windows were more than adequate a short time ago, but with the development of better glazing technology, they are no longer good enough. If the budget permits, get the best climate-specific window you can. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers homeowners a tax credit for using replacement windows with a 0.30 U-factor and a 0.30 solar heat gain coefficient. And remember, where you put the windows (and their shading) is just as important as the products themselves.

Credit: ARXX Corp.

ICF Foundation
It’s pointless to improve the energy efficiency of your houses only to neglect the basement walls. Houses leak here too. Building with insulating concrete forms (ICFs) is a smart way to go. ICFs are lightweight rigid expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene foam forms that hold concrete in place during the curing process but are left in place to serve as thermal insulation for the walls. In addition to possessing insulation values ranging from R-17 to R-26, ICF foundation walls are fast and easy to construct.

Credit: Follansbee Steel

Metal Roof
Asphalt dominates the residential roofing category, but more green building advocates are recommending metal roofs as an energy-efficient improvement. Available in aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or zinc, metal is a durable, lightweight material that’s extremely fire-resistant. No wonder it’s the material of choice for so many agriculture buildings. Considered a “cool” roof, a metal roof reflects heat, lowers energy use, and helps reduce the heat island effect. The product is pricey—especially copper, zinc, and stainless steel—but it has a low lifecycle cost, and some states offer lower home insurance premiums for homes with metal roofs.

Credit: AZEK Building Products

Cellular PVC Trim
Wood, the old standby, is a good choice for exterior trim. But unless you’re using durable species such as mahogany, teak, or cedar, millwork will eventually succumb to Mother Nature. Available as trim, sheets, and corner boards, cellular PVC lumber can be cut and nailed like wood, but it’s resistant to moisture and insects, which means a homeowner will not have to replace it—at least not anytime soon. It can be painted, but manufacturers say there’s no need.

Credit: TruStile Doors

Solid Core Doors
A hollow-core door may look acceptable, but homeowners will soon notice how flimsy they feel and how little soundproofing and privacy hollow-core doors truly offer. But, then again, what do you expect for a $30 slab? Solid-core doors are much better. Not only do they sound and feel more substantial to a homeowner, they also exhibit excellent sound transmission properties. They last longer too. Considering that the average new home in 2007 measured 2,407 square feet and had 8.6 interior passage doors, solid core doors will seem pricey at $100. The good news is that the homes that are being built–and sold in the downturn–are smaller and likely have fewer doors. Using solid-core doors only for bedrooms and main bathrooms will also lower costs.

Credit: Resolute USA

Better Light Fixtures
There are a handful of areas where it can be painfully obvious that the builder took the cheap way out. Inferior lighting is one of them. Here are a few tips: Don’t try to get too fancy. Don’t get brass. Do go for something simple and elegant, whether it’s traditional or contemporary. If money is an issue, focus on a living space that everyone sees, such as the dining room/kitchen or great room. Keep in mind that low-cost and cheap aren’t the same things. You can often find a nice simple light for just a few dollars more than your original choice and get a priceless “wow” factor in the process.

Credit: Lutron Electronics

Dimmers
Say you haven’t bought into the energy efficiency hype of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, and your pockets aren’t deep enough for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). For you, incandescent is the one true light. Fair enough, but at least install a few dimmers so your buyers can save some bucks by lowering the intensity of the light output as needed. Dimmers allow homeowners to save energy, extend the life of light bulbs, and gain more lighting flexibility in their home. Again, think strategically and install dimmers just in the kitchen, living room, and maybe the dining room if margins are tight.

Credit: RAIS

EPA-Certified Wood Stove
Strictly speaking, a freestanding wood-burning stove will not improve your house–although if you select one of those really handsome European numbers, it will certainly add to your home’s aesthetics. But the beauty of a wood stove goes deeper than the unit’s cast iron or soapstone skin. Unlike a fireplace, a wood stove performs a slow controlled burn that produces substantially less smoke. The product also is an excellent source of supplemental heat, which is radiated to a house long after the fire dies away. Consequently, a properly sized wood stove can heat up to 4,000 square feet.

Using Eco Friendly Products

One mainstay of green living is using eco-friendly products and today, almost anything you want to buy can be had in eco-friendly version. Eco-friendly simply means that the product is made in a way that is friendly to the environment. It could mean that it is made of sustainable materials such as bamboo flooring or that it takes an old material that would be dumped into the landfill and gives it new use such as recycled glass countertops.

Eco-friendly products aren’t just reserved for major home remodeling however. You can get eco-friendly bamboo laptops, belts made from recycled bike inner tubes, and even shoes made from recycled quilts.

Whenever you look at buying something, you want to look at how it is made. Is it manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner? There are actually a couple of levels of eco-friendly products. One is that the product itself is made from renewable or sustainable materials and the other is the method of manufacture and its effects on the environment. The best of both worlds is to be able to get a product that is made from renewable materials and manufactured in an earth friendly manner.

You can take the concept of using eco-friendly products down to any level. For example, even your grocery shopping can be made more eco-friendly by buying locally grown, organic produce and using recyclable bags to carry it in.

When it comes to home renovations, you have a lot of great options. Everyone has heard of bamboo flooring which is both beautiful and made from a renewable resource but there other types of flooring that you can use as well. Cork flooring is also renewable and can be very beautiful and it is warm and soft on the feet. Marmoleum is a type of flooring that’s actually been made for quite some time using earth friendly methods and has a great industrial or retro feel that fits right in with today’s styles.

Even clothing can be eco-friendly. Choose items made from organic cotton, hemp and even bamboo. Even big name manufacturers are getting on the green bandwagon with Levi Strauss using recycled zippers and buttons as well as organic cotton. Today’s eco-friendly clothing can also be trendy so when you’re in the store pay attention to the labels and try to help out the environment while you are picking out your new wardrobe.

Even things like cosmetics and cleaning products can be eco-friendly. You want to choose items that are made from organic materials that don’t have toxic chemicals in them. In fact, using these products will be better for the environment as well as for your health so it’s worth your while to seek them out.

Some of the best eco-friendly products also help you conserve resources like water and electricity. Showerheads and faucets that help conserve water are great choice as well as compact fluorescent bulbs that lower your electric bill and help reduce the strain on energy worldwide.

Today there is a large demand for eco-friendly products so you will find more and more choices as time goes on. Look at your product labels carefully and take the time to make sure what you’re buying really is eco-friendly and you’ll know that you’re doing your part to keep the planet healthy.

Tips For Reducing Energy Consumption

When it comes to green living, reducing the amount of energy you use is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do. While electricity itself is not unfriendly to the environment, the production of it is as most of the facilities we use to generate electricity are powered by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are not renewable and the output from these facilities produces carbon which leads to global warming.

Luckily, there are several things you can do to reduce your energy consumption and the bonus is that youll also save money on your utility bill!

1.If youre not using it, then unplug it. Many electronic devices today have LEDs that draw energy even if the device is not powered on. Your VCR, Coffee Maker and even your electric toothbrush all use a little bit of energy when plugged in. Those little bits can quickly add up, so when your appliances are not in use, try to get into the habit of unplugging them.
2.Shut down your computer. While its nice to have your computer always ready for use, it also uses a lot of electricity. When you go to bed at night, power off the computer, monitor and printer.
3.Get a programmable thermostat. Getting an automatic thermostat can be a great way to reduce your heating costs, be it from oil, gas or electricity. With a programmable thermostat you can set it to the optimum temperatures and then forget about it. Set it to 68 degrees Fahrenheit for daytime use when people will be home and 55 degrees Fahrenheit when you are sleeping or at work.
4.Make your water heat more efficient. Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and get an insulated sleeve for it to insure it is working as efficiently as possible.
5.Use your lighting wisely. Switch to more energy efficient lighting like LED lights or compact fluorescent lights and be sure that you dont leave lights on overnight or when no one is in the room.
6.Energy efficient laundry. Even doing laundry can be an opportunity to save on energy. Make sure you always clean the lint basket after each load and be sure to set the appropriate water level in your washer. Doing these will help your washer and dryer run more efficiently.
7.Set the right temps in your fridge. Your refrigerator should be set to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for most efficient use. Also, make sure you clean out all the dust bunnies behind and underneath the fridge.
8.Dont run the dishwasher until it is full. Make sure there is a full load in the dishwasher before you run it and use the energy saving cycle.
9.Buy energy efficient appliance. Using energy efficient appliances can help reduce energy usage as well as your electric bill so the next time you are in the market for a new appliance, make sure you look at the energy star rating and buy the most efficient model you can afford.

Tips For Greener Driving

Everyone knows that cars cause a lot of pollution and with gas getting more expensive, adding some green to your driving can help keep the green in your wallet as well as benefit the environment. Here are some tips for greener driving that you can easily implement into your daily life:

1.Drive A Gas Efficient Vehicle it stands to reason that the more efficient your car is on gas, the less emissions and the less you have to pay at the pump. Today, there are many options in hybrid vehicles so if you are in the market for a new car, make the gas efficiency one of your main concerns.
2.Tire Pressure make sure your tires are neither overinflated or underinflated as both of these can affect your fuel efficiency. Make sure to check the tire pressure regularly and adjust as needed.
3.Car Maintenance needless to say, if your car is not maintained properly, it will not be running at peak performance. Be sure to have the oil changed as recommended as well as the other suggested maintenance. Making sure your engine is running efficiently can improve your gas mileage up to 40%. It might cost a bit to have these things done, but you will save money with better fuel efficiency and a longer lasting car.
4.Air Conditioning You want to use your AC sparingly, but its actually more efficient to use air conditioning than it is to roll the windows down. So, if you must cool off, be sure to set the AC on low and turn it off when the car is cooled make sure you have the windows tightly rolled up so none of that cool air can get out.
5.Heated Seats heated seats use a lot of energy so the next time you want your tushy all warm and comfy, think about the impact to your gas bill and the environment.
6.Drive Consistently try to drive at a consistent speed, or better yet, use the cruise control. Keeping your speed consistent will improve your gas mileage and lessen your CO2 impact. Also, try to keep it under 60 MPH as anything over that really decreases your gas mileage.
7.Commute Consider commuting with co-workers or, if your company allows it, working from home. Even if you do these just a couple of days a week, you will be doing a lot to lower carbon emissions and youll be saving a bundle on gas too!

Keeping your car in good condition and being aware of some of these fuel efficiency tips isnt that difficult and it makes good sense especially when it comes to the longevity of your car. Your efforts will be rewarded with a fuller wallet and a healthier environment!

Simple Things You Can Do To Go Green

Going green is something we all want to do to help save the planet, but many times it seems that the things you need to do are very costly or overcomplicated and a lot of us just simply don’t know where to get started. Luckily there are some simple and easy things you can do today that will help to reduce your carbon footprint and some of them will even help you save a little bit of money too.

When it comes to going green, every little bit counts and one of those little bits has to do with using paper towels. The less paper towels you use, the lower your carbon footprint will be. While this may seem like a small thing, every little bit adds up! One great way to lower use of paper towels is to get some good quality kitchen towels that you can wash and reuse and make sure you have them handy for drying your hands, wiping up spills, and drying off dishes. Limit the use of the actual paper towels to the really nasty messes. It doesn’t really take much effort and you soon discover that you’re spending less money on paper towels at the grocery store each week!

Speaking of the grocery store, another thing you can do to help the environment is to stop using plastic bags and switch to those tote bags that you can use over and over again. While the plastic ones might be convenient, there are literally millions of them that pileup in the landfills every year and may take up to 1000 years to decompose.

Plastic bags are bad for the environment, and plastic water bottles are bad for the environment and your health. Invest in some stainless steel drinking mugs to carry your water in instead of buying water in plastic bottles. You’ll be helping to reduce more plastic in your landfill as well as saving your body from harmful toxins that can leach into the water you are drinking.

Heating your home is another area where you can help the environment and save a little bit of money with your efforts. Have your furnace serviced to make sure that it is working most efficiently and make sure that you caulk your windows thoroughly so that they are no little places that cold air can get in. Buy a programmable thermostat so you can keep your home at a steady temperature, but try to keep at 68 or below when you are home and 58 when you are sleeping or at work.

Everyone knows that using energy-efficient appliances can help reduce your carbon footprint and save on utility bills, but not everyone can afford to buy new energy-efficient appliances. However, there are some things you can do that will help reduce your electric bill and be good for the environment. If you have a home computer (and who doesn’t these days) then make sure you turn it off when you’re not using it. Don’t leave lights on in rooms that no one is in and take a good look at all the appliances that you normally leave plugged in all the time. Do they have little LEDs or lights? You might consider unplugging them as these little lights do consume some energy even when the appliance is off.

Going green doesn’t have to mean taking extravagant measures like converting your home to solar energy, or driving an electric powered car. Every little step counts, and you will find that these little steps lead to bigger steps and a less negative impact on the environment.

Save Some Green While Going Green

What could be better than helping out the environment? Why, saving some money while you are helping out the environment, of course!

Of course, most everyone wants to lower their carbon footprint and help the environment be healthier but if you can save money doing it, then you have the best of both worlds. Luckily, there are many ways to go green and save some green at the same time. Here are 5 things you can do that will help boost your bank account and the environment:

1.Buy Second Hand most people dont think of buying second hand stuff as being environmentally consciences but when you buy something second hand it helps to keep that item from ending up in a landfill. Not only that but buying second hand can save you a bundle! Plus buying something used doesnt mean you have to settle for something that is broken or damaged there are plenty of brand new items waiting for you to pick them up. Great places to shop for second hand goods include eBay, Craigslist, yard sales, flea markets and Consignment stores.
2.Energy Efficient Lighting Swapping your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lighting might cost a bit at first, but it can save you a bundle in the long run in energy costs. In fact, fluorescent lights use 1/3 the energy that incandescent do and, since lighting is typically one of the largest energy uses in any home, this could save you 25% or more on your bill. Not only that but compact fluorescent lights last 10 times longer so you wont have to buy them nearly as often. Want even more savings? Then seek out the new LED lighting they are more efficient and the lighting itself is much better then the fluorescents.
3.Save On Paper Towels If youre anything like me, you probably use a ton of paper towels in the kitchen. Theyre great for wiping up spills, drying off your hands and putting food on but what do you think happens with them once you are don? Right they end up in the landfill! You can reduce your costs for paper towels and lighten the load on the landfills by using cloth kitchen towels instead. Invest in a bunch of them and make sure they are handing for wiping up. Youll be amazed at how few paper towels you really need!
4.Eat More Veggies Unless youve been living under a rock, you know that eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat is better for your health, but did you realize that its also better for the environment? Yes, its true, raising cattle takes a huge toll on the environment. Plus beef costs more than vegetables so why not help your health and the environment by replacing a few of your meaty meals with vegetarian choices?
5.Conserve Water There are many options in faucets today that will help you conserve water which, of course help the environment and saves you on your water bill. You can get low flow facets and smart faucets that will automatically shut off after a certain amount of time or sense when something is under it turn the water on and then sense when nothing is under it and turn the water off.

Is Your Home Renovation Green Enough?

If youre thinking about building or renovating your home, you might want to consider some green options. No I dont meant having a green color scheme (although you certainly can if it suits you), Im talking about making eco friendly choices for your new design.

Certainly one of the first things that comes to mind is using green products. Low VOC carpets and floors and cabinetry made from sustainable materials like cork and bamboo should be high on your choice list. In the kitchen and bathrooms, you could opt for recycled glass countertops that add a unique touch to the kitchen and are a great way to put old glass to use. These countertops come in many color combinations and resemble artful mosaics which lend a classy air to your room.

Another thing to consider is recycling your old items or, using items from someone elses home. These days, wood floors are very popular and if you are considering them for your home you might look around at older homes that are being torn down to see if you can salvage the flooring. Every item that you reuse from your old design or from someone elses home is one less item that will end up in the landfill.

If you are redoing your heating, then look into solar or wind power. Wind power might not be practical for all homes since you need to have quite a bit of land and a high area for the turbine. Solar power, on the other hand, can be adapted to almost anywhere. If putting in a solar system is not within your reach, you should at least make sure that you insulate properly and use triple pane windows and tight fitting seals on your doors to minimize loss of energy from your home.

Avoiding use of paints and glues that produce air pollution is another consideration. This is not only important for the environment, but for your health as well. Toxic fumes can build up in your home and are bad for your health. In fact, the EPA estimates that the pollution inside your home can be up to 100 times worse than that outside the home! In order to have cleaner air inside, use water based paints instead of oil based and avoid products that have a lot of adhesives. When you do need to use adhesive, try to make sure they are as green as possible.

Luckily, there are plenty of exciting options in eco-friendly materials and you dont have to sacrifice beauty or function to go green. When choosing the new materials and items for your home, be sure you do your homework and look for eco-friendly options I think you will find plenty of items that fit in your new design!

Greener Cleaning

Everyone wants a clean and fresh smelling home, but if youve been using commercial cleaners and air fresheners, you might have a home full of toxins! In fact, the EPA says that the levels of pollutants in the home can be up to 100 times higher than the outside air. This pollution can come from gasses given off by anything from your carpeting to your kitchen cabinets to your cleaning products.

Walk into any grocery store and you will see a myriad of cleaners theres so many it might even be hard to choose. Most of them are loaded with harmful chemicals, but there are many now that bear the words natural on the label. However, one should not be fooled by that one little word many of these cleaners are anything but natural and there are no standards or regulation for using this word on product labels.

If you really want to go green with your cleaning, there are plenty of natural things you can use. Tea tree oil is a great natural cleaner for mold and mildew, baking soda makes a wonderful abrasive cleaner and white vinegar is a great all around cleaner that will shine your windows and mirrors like nobodies business. In addition to the health benefits of no toxic cleaning, using these substances is also much less costly than most store bought cleaners.

For scrubbing surfaces like bathtubs, sinks and even counters use a mixture of baking soda and liquid detergent combined to make a paste. Put the paste on a sponge and scrub away. You can also mix baking soda with a little water if you prefer.

For cleaning glass surfaces, there is nothing like vinegar. Mix 3 tablespoons with 2 cups of water and just a dab of liquid detergent. Put it in a spray bottle and shake it up, then just spray on and wipe off as you would any cleaner.

When it comes to moldy areas, bathroom tile and even cutting boards, you can use straight vinegar sprayed on the area and let to sit for as long as you want (even overnight). The vinegar will work to clean and sanitize as well as deodorize. If you have a mold problem, combine 2 teaspoons tea tree oil with 1 cup of water and spray directly on the area without wiping off it works wonders!

You can even use natural ingredients as an effective furniture polish and olive oil works wonders for this task. Mix teaspoon with cup lemon juice dab onto a rag and wipe over the wood. This mixture can be stored in a tightly closed glass jar for quite some time.

When it comes to deodorizers for the home, those store bought sprays are harmful both environmentally and health wise. Your much better off to open the windows and let the fresh air in. If thats not enough then you can always put out bowls of dried flowers or herbs, use an open box of baking soda to absorb odors or place some cedar blocks strategically around the house.

Theres no reason why you cant clean everything in your home using natural ingredients, so throw out all those chemical cleaner bottles and arm yourself with some baking soda, vinegar and tea tree oil not only will your house be less toxic but youll save on your next grocery bill too!

Going Green In The Kitchen

Going green in the kitchen encompasses everything from what you eat to how you cook it. Theres a ton of things you can do in your kitchen that will help lessen your impact on the environment. From using a water saving faucet, to energy efficient appliances to cleaning with non-toxic cleaners, going green in the kitchen can be great for the environment as well as for your budget.

One little thing you can do is reduce your use of paper towels. The average family uses several rolls of paper towels a week but you can reduce your usage by keeping some cloth towels handy in the kitchen and use those for wiping your hands, spills and other uses that would normally call for a paper towel. Youll save money on paper towels and there will be less of them in the landfill which, in turn, helps the environment. Also, the less paper towels that are manufactured, the less pollution in the air from those manufacturing plants.

Did you realize that some types of cooking are more energy efficient than others? While many cooks love a gas stove, the fact is that the newer model electric stoves are more energy efficient. Not only that, but if you opt for a toaster oven or microwave instead of using your big oven, you can drastically reduce the energy needed for cooking.

Another thing you can do in the kitchen to help the environment is buy local whenever you can. While this might seem like a small thing, transporting food is actually a big drag on the environment. Flying bananas into upstate New York from the tropics can be costly in terms of air pollution. Not to mention that foods from the grocery store can be loaded with pesticides and your local growers probably dont put so much junk on their crops. Plus, its nice to support the farmers in your own community.

Using reusable cloth grocery bags, reusing jars and composting organic materials are great ways to reduce waste. You can compost your kitchen scraps, paper and even cardboard. This will make great fodder for your garden and does double duty as it acts as an organic fertilizer saving you from buying fertilizer which saves you money and ensures that harmful chemicals dont leach into the environment from commercial fertilizers you might have had to purchase.

Possibly the most important thing you can do to be greener in the kitchen is to recycle. Make sure you get a good handle on all the plastic and glass materials you use that can be recycled. Check the rules at your landfill as to what has to be separated out and buy yourself some bins to help you keep things separate.

Lastly, you want to keep the environment in mind when you clean. Cleaners full of chemicals can be bad for the environment and the fumes from these can be harmful to the health of yourself and your family. There are plenty of natural things you can use for cleaning like vinegar, baking soda and tea tree oil that will help keep your kitchen sparkling without harming you or the environment.

Eco Friendly Lighting Tips

When it comes to saving the planet and saving some money on your energy bill, lighting can play a key role. Lighting can account for about 30% of your energy bill, so changing your lights to more energy efficient options can save you quite a bit. Not to mention the positive impact on the environment. Here are some tips for more energy efficient lighting:

The first thing you should do is switch to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). Thats those swirly lights that have a whiter glow to them than the incandescent lights. While these might cost a bit more than the regular incandescent lights, they use only about 25% of the electricity so they can have a big impact on your lighting bill. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs too so you wont have to replace them as often.

LED light bulbs are a newcomer to the energy efficient lighting market and have a few advantages over CFLs. They have a brighter light and dont take time to warm up and reach their full lighting. They also cost less to run and last even longer than CFLs reducing your energy usage by 80-90% and lasting over 100,000 hours.

When it comes to lighting outside the home, the energy conscientious consumer might want to consider solar lighting. Lights for walkways, driveways and outside the front door can collect energy from the sun during the day and use it to power their lights during the night. A great way to light up your home without using any energy at all.

In addition to using more efficient light bulbs, there are some things you can do to help reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting. First of all, you want to be sure that you dont use lights unnecessarily. When no one is home or when a room is empty, be sure to turn the lights off. During the daytime, open the blinds and let the sunshine in instead of using indoor lighting. Using motion sensors can help to insure lights turn on only when needed.

When it comes to lighting, you need to have the right amount for the tasks you intend to do. While you dont want to skimp or have poor lighting in important areas like the kitchen, you also want to be cognizant of when to use the lights and when to flip the switch. Remember reducing your use of electricity helps to reduce CO2 emissions into the air since the plants that produce electricity are largely coal burning plants which can add to global warming. A little bit of prudence on your part can make a big difference in the stability of our environment.

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