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Show Notes for April 18, 2009
This week On The House was all about Earth Day 2009. From saving energy to saving money, this show was filled with handy tips to simplify your life. The Carey Brothers & Rebecca Cole also announced the winner of the Get Serious Challenge – with the Grand Prize of a complete set of Serious Windows, the most energy-saving windows on the market, for an entire house. The hosts also took phone calls, answering questions on everything from vinyl siding and pressure washers to landscaping. Read the rest of the show notes for all the information, tips, and links to websites mentioned in this week’s program.
FIND $500 IN ENERGY SAVINGS IN FIVE DIFFERENT ROOMS OF THE HOUSE
$215 in the Living Room
Replace your five most frequently used incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs for savings of $65 each year. In addition, install an Energy-Star qualified programmable thermostat, which can help control the temperature while you’re away from home or at night when you’re sleeping. When used properly, these thermostats can save as much as $150 per year in energy costs.
$145 in the Bathroom
Replace your existing shower head with a new 2.5 gallon per minute shower head. The new water efficient shower head, together with a 10 minute shower will save five gallons of water over a bath and up to $145 each year on electricity used to heat the water.
$75 in the Laundry Room
To save hot water-and the $25 to $40 in the fuel that it takes to heat that water each year-wash our clothes in cold water. Be sure to choose a laundry detergent that is formulated for use in cold temperatures. Save another $35 each year by cleaning the lint trap in your clothes dryer before every load of laundry, which will help increase the drying efficiency of the machine.
$35 in the Basement or Utility Room
Lower the temperature on your water heater from 145 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit – the only place you’ll notice the difference is on your utility bill. In fact, this slight reduction in temperature can save the average homeowner between $35 and $60 each year.
$35 in the Kitchen
To keep your hard earned money from literally going down the drain, be sure to repair faucet leaks at the kitchen sink. Hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water annually – and end up to $35 in electricity or natural gas.
TOTAL SAVINGS: $505 (or more in some cases!)
5 WAYS TO GREEN YOUR HOME
1. Build it Green: Plant Trees. They absorb heat-trapping carbon dioxide, hold soil together to prevent landslides, and provide a rich habitat for diverse plants and animals. Choose furniture made from eco-friendly sources such as bamboo and reclaimed wood. Buying vintage wherever possible, rather than adding something new, is always in style.
2. Go Natural: Ditch the poisons and choose natural, non-toxic, and equally effective methods of cleaning and corralling pests. You probably already have what you need in your kitchen to get started.
3. Vampire Energy: Americans pay $1 billion a year to power our televisions and VCRs while they're turned off. Just plug equipment into power strips with surge protectors, and before you crawl under the safety of your covers-or head out to work-simply flip the switch.
4. The 3 R’s: Separate recyclables from your regular trash, which barely takes any effort; Recycling aluminum, for instance, takes as little as 5 percent of the energy we'd need to manufacture virgin aluminum.
5. Paper Nor Plastic: Bring your own reusable canvas totes the next time you're at the supermarket or store. Americans run through about 100 billion plastic bags annually, using up an estimated 12 million barrels of oil.
• Earth Day 2009 - Learn more about Earth Day.
• E-Waste Recycle - Learn how to recycle your electronic equipment.
• Amazon.com - Earth Day deals on eco-friendly products.
• Solar City - Residential solar applications.
• Serious Windows - Learn about the most energy efficient windows on the market.
• The Family Handyman - The #1 Do-it-Yourself Magazine, on newsstands everywhere.
• Veteran’s Museum - Learn more about this great museum.
• Rebuilding Together - Learn more about Rebuilding Together and National Rebuilding Day.
• PexSupply.com Air Quality Giveaway - Enter to win a whole house indoor air cleaner, worth over $1,500.
• Classic Metal Roofing - Find out more about metal roofs.
• On The House Green Tip of the Week - Presented by Serious Materials, easy ways to become more energy efficient.
• Recall of the Week - Fitness Balls Recalled by EB Brands Due to Fall Hazard; New Assembly Instructions Provided.
If you need any more information about today's program, please contact us
or post on our new Home Improvement Forum and we'll try to help you
find what you need. Thanks for listening to On The House with the Carey Brothers!
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