Tips to Become More Energy Efficient

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There are many ways that a homeowner can make their home more energy efficient, which range from easy, do-it-yourself weekend projects at home to a long-term investment that requires the help and oversight of professionals.

The average savings to a homeowner who commits to energy efficiency through home improvement projects is more than $300 a year.

These are just some tips to become more energy efficient.

• Consider updating common household appliances such as fridges, washing machines, dryers and hot water heaters can provide a homeowner with the largest margin of energy bill savings when replaced by Energy Star certified models.

• Insulation helps to keep cold air inside a home or office during the summer, and warm air inside during the winter months, which can help electricity bills stay low. The most significant improvement you can make to save energy is proper insulation. Insulation is typically a low-cost and easy do-it-yourself home improvement project that makes a big difference when it comes to saving energy and going green.

• Installing and using an outdoors clothesline to dry clothing, especially in dry, sunny parts of the country.

• Installing a water filter on the kitchen sink. Instead of buying bottled water, installing low flow shower heads in the bathrooms and converting a wood-burning fireplace to one that uses natural gas will also cause electricity bills to go down and the value of the home to go up.

Investing in energy efficiency doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. In fact, making your home or office buildings more green can actually save you money in the long term. But all of these projects can save you lots of money as the price of energy continues to rise.