Tri-State Green Report - Easy Projects

Darryl Birkenfelds house is chocked full of great ideas you could easily copy. You could start with something simple like changing a light bulb. If every home in america replaced just one old-fashioned bulb, itd make a big difference. Some say itd have the same environmental impact as taking 800-thousand cars off the road. Low and double-paned window help too. Theyre more efficient than single paned or things we had 10 years ago. And think about the toilets we had ten years ago. They used up to five gallons of water with a single flush. To cut back, change your toilet flapper, or install a new toilet that uses less than 2 gallons a flush. Heres another easy project, weather strip your doors and windows. For a really well-sealed house, forget old fashioned insulation and consider the spray kind instead. If its energy-efficient its… "R-rated." The great advantage of it, energy-wise, is it gets into every corner and crevice and it really makes a tight seal. Want to do more?Try these do-it-yourself jobs. Insulate your water heater, just wrap it up and duct tape it. Or, buy a programmable thermostat. When youre not home it can change the temperature automatically. Need some more ideas? Install a low flow shower head, regularly clean your furnace filters, and vacuum your refrigerator coils.