Cooling Your Home

• Get a bicycle tune-up, and use your two-wheeled steed to run light errands.
• Put up a clothesline. The old-saw “sunlight is the best disinfectant” is generally used in another context, but sun and wind make for cheaper and fresher smelling laundry than any dryer sheet.
• Use ceiling, room and window fans or open windows before turning on your cooling system. A typical ceiling fan only uses about as much energy as a standard 60 Watt light bulb, but fans can make you feel 3–4°F cooler. Since a fan works by promoting convection and evaporation, they should only be powered on in occupied rooms. Also consider a whole house fan as a cheaper and more efficient alternative to air conditioning if you need extra cooling capacity.
• Use light colored curtains and blinds in the summer. Close them in the middle of the day to keep strong sunlight from heating your home. Consider thermal-drapes to block out sun on south-facing windows in the summer, which can have a dramatic impact, as can the use of light colored paint to reflect heat in porches or sun-rooms.
• Use landscaping such as trees and shrubs to shade your home, but avoid using evergreens on the south side of your home: You still want to take advantage of the warmth available from the winter sun.
• If you have a room air conditioner, make sure to rinse and clean the filter to maximize its efficiency. Room air conditioners should be on a north-facing wall or shaded side of a building when possible. Keep air conditioner units set at the highest comfortable temperature, a good starting point is 74–78°F. Set the air-conditioner to “Auto” instead of the “On” position, which keeps fan running even when you are not home. Ventilation fans such as those in kitchens, and bathrooms should be used sparingly, since they pull conditioned air out of your home. Lastly, close storm windows and doors to minimize loss of cool air, and make sure that drapes and furniture do not block vents or air returns.
• Make sure doors close properly and replace non-working doorknobs and latches. Keep the tracks on sliding glass doors clean. A dirty track can ruin the door’s seal and create gaps where heat can come in and cold air can escape.

Purchase Renewable-Generated Electricity

If you are an NSTAR customer, you have the option of purchasing half or all you electricity from wind power through NSTAR Green or Easy Energy, a competitive supplier.

Install Renewables for Your Home

The Mass Clean Energy Center now runs the renewable incentives programs including Commonwealth Solar and Commonwealth Wind, which were formerly hosted by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Through these programs you can receive up to $10,500 for a photovoltaic system or $40,000 for a micro-wind installation.

An experienced contractor can help you navigate the grant application and installation process. SEBANE and NESEA both offer directories of qualified solar installers, and NESEA’s “green pages” also include contractors for wind, geothermal and more.

Also, while there are currently no state grant programs for solar thermal equipment (hot water and space heating), it is an option that should not be overlooked. These systems can be an economical foray into renewable energy, and are generally eligible for the same sales tax exemption and 15% state (up to $1,000) plus 30% federal income tax credits as most other renewable energy installations.

Lease Solar for your Home

Not ready to buy solar panels? Companies such as SunRun lease solar panels for your home.

Invest in Renewables for Others

You can invest in bringing more renewable energy to New England by making a contribution at New England Wind Fund, or New Generation Energy. Both organizations help local groups with the cost of renewable energy installations.

Paying for a Renewable Energy Installation

In April of 2010 CEA sponsored an event dedicated to informing the public about financing solar energy installations, and the presentations of several organizations in the field are available.

Find out more about federal, state, and utility incentives through ENERGY STAR or DSIRE. Our residential financing page lists other programs and services which you may also be able to take advantage of.

Still perplexed?

If you have further questions, contact the Energy Advisor.

With the last two stimulus packages, the federal government has offered additional tax credits for energy efficient home improvements A 30% credit up to $1500 is valid through 2010 for the installation of Energy Star qualified windows & skylights, roofs, heaters and boilers, etc. In addition, there is an uncapped 30% credit for investments in in geothermal heat pumps and solar water heaters through 2016.

In collaboration with the state and other utilities, NSTAR offers a no-interest loan program that allows homeowners to borrow up to $15,000 which can be paid back over a 7 year period. Lenders participating in a federal energy efficient mortgage program may roll the cost of efficiency related improvements into a mortgage. Details and availability vary.

See also Greener Choices, the environmental division of Consumer Reports.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. Learn more about color, bulb types, what works where — and where to go when you’re ready to buy. Or find out how CFLs work, and how you can get the most from your bulbs and more. You can also find out the real environmental costs of using — or not using — CFLs. Learn about disposal options and what to do if a CFL breaks.

Heating and Cooling

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Here are some steps you can take to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. You can also download this guide to understand your options for heating and cooling your house in the most energy efficient manner possible.

Refrigerators and Freezers

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators provide energy savings without sacrificing the features you want. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. Now you can search for your ENERGY STAR fridges and freezers by brand, configuration and size.

See also Camberville Greenmap’s list of local environmental organizations.

“Hi, what is a PFC for?”