Sort of... Adding things like active solar technology to an existing house will rarely pay for itself in a reasonable time frame. However, there are many ways to green-up your house and your life, that will have satisfying results:
1 - Control when the heat and/or AC is on. Install programmable thermostats, and use them. If you have hot water heat, and do not have a finished basement, it might be affordable to add separates zones for the different areas of the house. The bedrooms need heat/AC at different times than the kitchen and living room.
2 - Do a whole-house inspection - caulk what needs caulking, repair insulation on pipes and ducts - pay special attention to exterior joints, like the mud sill in the basement and the roof eaves.
3 - When it's time to do the roof - light colored shingles soak up much less heat then dark ones. Even in a cold climate, the reduction in AC needs is usually greater than any heat benefits (because most AC is electric, and most heat in cold climates is something more efficient).
4 - Shade your windows. Again, electric AC is very not-green. Everything you can do to reduce your heat gain is a good thing. The best is a generous roof overhang that keeps the hot noon sun off much of the face of a building. Next best is exterior awnings that shade the windows, followed by interior shades. Oh, and skip the skylights entirely.
5 - In a mixed or cool climate - open the windows at night, close them in the day. You'll be surprised how long a well insulated house will stay cool. While you're at it, fire up the grill in the yard instead of the stove in the house.
6 - Reduce the heat load from lights etc. There have been fabulous advances in fluorescent technology. Consider putting lights on sensor controls that turn them off when there's no movement in the room. Set computers to go to sleep when not in use.
7 - A gas fireplace can be very green. They add heat to a room fast and locally, allowing you to set the thermostats for the entire house or zone lower.
8 - Get a treadmill or exercise bike, and use it - or add a brisk walk to your routine. We feel colder when we're inactive and tired. Getting the blood moving will keep you from upping the thermostat as well.
9 - Do a total audit of your cleaning and personal care products. Some of those things are really nasty. It won't save you a dime, but you should sleep better at night knowing you're doing your part.
10 - Control your water usage. Get a dual flush toilet, a front loading washing machine, and an energy efficient shower head (some of them even have an on/off, so you can pause while your washing things and shaving things). Plant vegetation that's native to your climate, and doesn't need constant watering.
11 - When you're ready to do a remodel, be brutally honest about what you really need. Every time you put a perfectly good wall in the landfill, you're basically burning something you paid for, while consuming resources to get something different. Have a good architect help you maximize the benefits of your remodel.
Wendy
Wendy Welton, AIA
Art Form Architecture, Inc.
www.artform.biz"Our Creativity, Your Dreams"
