Get More Green

Save $5,000 at home -- and help save the planet.

By Sacha Zimmerman
From Reader's Digest
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Images from this article
Illustrated by 5W Infographics
1. Solar panels mean lower electricity costs.
2.Insulation is key to preventing heat loss. 3. Duct sealants stop air leakage at connection points.
4. Windows with coated glass reflect heat back into a room.
5. High-efficiency furnaces reduce costs and greenhouse gases.
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Courtesy Ford Motor Company
Ford Escape Hybrid (4WD)
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A Green House From the Ground Up
Illustrated by 5W Infographics
1. Solar panels mean lower electricity costs.
2.Insulation is key to preventing heat loss. 3. Duct sealants stop air leakage at connection points.
4. Windows with coated glass reflect heat back into a room.
5. High-efficiency furnaces reduce costs and greenhouse gases.
Image Image Image Image Image

Living Green Can Save You Money

We all know going green is good for the planet. But ask people to do more to protect the environment and they think: sacrifice. Doing the responsible thing means giving up conveniences while paying for eco-friendlier alternatives, right? Not at all. Living green can actually save you money, and lots of it. In celebration of Earth Day, here are steps you can take that are good for the environment -- and even better for you, because hidden in your home are green savings of $5,000 or even more!

Build Energy-Efficient
In the market to purchase a home? More and more contractors are building energy-efficient houses because they can get a $2,000 government tax credit for enviro-smart construction.

Typically, these homes have state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems, as well as features like windows with insulation coatings and energy-saving lighting and appliances.

What's in It for You?
Owners of these new homes have slashed 50 percent or more off their utility bills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The average American household expenditure of $1,900 per year on energy could potentially drop to around $950 a year. And that doesn't include your water bill, which can bump your annual savings to nearly $1,000.

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I'm thrilled that being green is the "thing" to be right now. I hope that people make lifestyle chaBy quinN79, on 11/08/2008


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