Consider: Air Conditioning Filters, Central Air Conditioning, Window Air Conditioning Units, Other Technologies and Cooling Systems, Evaporative Coolers, Energy Star Cooling Equipment, and Geothermal Cooling.
High efficiency central air conditioning is second only to natural ventilation and passive cooling systems. Individual room air conditioners are an option worth considering to keep cool this summer and have come a long way in the past several years. Priced in the $100-and-up range, window units also come in the energy efficient variety, so look for an ENERGY STAR qualified units. Install the unit in a shady place to improve functionality. The northern and southern sides of your home are preferred to the eastern and western sides, as direct sunlight will warm the air conditioner and make it less efficient. Routine maintenance and cleaning is also a must; it will extend the life of your investment for years. For optimum energy efficiency make sure you are using the right size air conditioner.
The right home improvement products, techniques, and services:
Contractors, home improvement stores, and specialty shops in your area may not yet have a complete familiarity with the ‘green’ opportunities, products, system integration, and overall savings potential. So, you may get some resistance, since people in general are typically more comfortable recommending something that they are already familiar with rather than something new. To help break the inertia, use the information across this website like our Return on Investment Master ROI Table. Also feel free to post a question in our forum on the message board about a particular need for your home relative to your area. Our team has spent multiple years aggregating research from public and private sector performance reports and from manufacturers and homeowners across the country in order to provide you with the perspective you may need to see the initial payback and long term advantages. Environmental enthusiasts and leading institutions like the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of Realtors, see the value and link into our resources to support their members.
The Green Home:
For your overall home improvement, you can save money, improve your family’s health, and save the planet. Find out for free how much it will cost to do different types of home improvement in your home from a qualified and member approved contractor in your area. Get a FREE Quote . Plus, regardless of the size and scope of your home improvement project, save money and keep your home clean with the top rated chemical free and concentrated Green Home Cleaning Products.
Home Improvement Basics:
When it comes to home improvement basics, look for interior home improvements like creating a clean, safe, and healthy home through sustainable ‘green’ furniture, home décor, zero VOC and Interior Paint, plus ENERGY STAR Appliances and Electronics. For energy and utility savings you can focus on insulation and air sealing, windows, doors, lighting and skylights, water saving plumbing opportunities, and high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems. On the outside of your house, look for exterior home improvement opportunities through landscape design and gardening plus solar energy, wind and other power sources. If you are undertaking a major home renovation, an additions, or building a new home, then take the lead to ‘go green’ in as many ways as possible to save money and the environment.
