Daily Home Renovation Tips

Editor’s Note: To view the 500+ different energy and water conservation tips for the home we have collected, simply access our free home Energy Savings and Water Savings Guide, 2nd Edition.

Today we complete our review of the home energy and water reduction ideas which are more strategic, more long term and which apply to all the different energy and water resources. We have grouped this collection of money saving tips for the home (and even for the office) in a category we call ‘All’.

Number 13, Environmental Records of Politicians. Politicians generally have a bad rap; some deserved some not. If your Federal, State / Provincial, County, City, etc. political representatives go on record indicating a support for home owner assistance in reducing household consumption of non-renewable resources and clean water, make sure you follow-up on how they are progressing in delivering on these promises.

If, for example, your local representative indicates she / he would like to see a doubling of the financial subsidies or grants available for households who have a home energy audit or who install ENERGY STAR windows, etc., then ask for them to confirm that in writing. Once received, go back to them in 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc. to ask for their progress on this issue.

If there has been no progress, why not contact your local news paper indicating what promise you received yet has not been achieved by your local politician.

Number 14, Downsize to Lower Energy (and Water) Consumption. Which takes more water: a lawn of a property which is 100 feet by 200 feet or a lawn on a property which is 60 feet by 100 feet?

Which size house takes more energy to heat in the winter, everything else being equal: a home which is 3,000 square feet or one which is 1,500 square feet?

Of course.

We downsized more than 2 years ago to our current bungalow and our heating and air conditioning bills have fallen dramatically.

Do you really need all that space in your current home? Why?  Just something to think about.

Number 15, Energy Conservation Fairs. It was by attending a local energy conservation fair where we lived two years ago that we first learned about interior solar blinds. It is amazing all the new energy and water conservation products which constantly come on the market in the past few years with no end in sight.

By attending these in person you can see up close and personal these new energy conservation gadgets, some of which can be very useful while others not so.

Number 16, Spend More Time Outside. The more time you spend outside your home, the more time you spend in a building that someone else is heating (in the winter) or cooling (in the summer). If it is a mall or movie theatre, there is no increase in overall energy consumption because they will be heated or cooled anyway.

Plus, the more time you spend outside your home, the longer you can have your thermostat lower in the winter or higher in the summer to reduce your home’s heating or cooling utility bills. And, the less electricity you will use because if you are not home, you will not be using electricity operating your TV, computer or lights.

Number 17, Use All Energy Conservation Tips. Why just use three or four of the over 500 energy and water conservation suggestions in our Un-Official Guide? It is like exercising; to gain the maximum benefit one needs to exercise more than once a week.

The more energy and water money savings and energy conservation tips you use, the more money you will save through constantly lower utility bills for your home.

As well, our Un-Official Guide does not purport to have absolutely every possible energy and water conservation idea. When you come upon one not in our list, not only tell us so we can add it to benefit others but why not use it yourself?

Number 18, Home Energy Audit - Professional. Some government financial assistance programs for energy conservation in the home, like the Canadian ecoENERGY Residential Retrofit program, require accredited professional assessors to first undertake an energy audit of the house before the household can become eligible for such grants.

Even where this is not required in your jurisdiction, consider having a professional energy audit performed on your home so you can have an independent assessment of where you can start to save money through taking action to reduce air leaks, energy inefficient appliances, etc. in your home.