Probably the easiest step a homeowner can take to reduce energy costs is to lower the thermostat.  According to a Green Matters series by G.E. Miller, every degree a homeowner can lower their thermostat translates to almost a 5% decrease in heating expenses.  Consider using a programmable thermostat to set your home’s temperature around 65-70 during the day, and around 60 at night.  Using space heaters to heat specific rooms of your home (i.e. your home office), when others aren’t being used, will allow you to keep the thermostat down low.

Sealing or re-insulating areas that are prone to energy loss (windows, doors, attics, and ducting) can also have a great affect on your winter energy costs.  Taking the time to wrap windows in plastic, or placing foam or rubber seals in doorways can instantly remove the drafty feeling from older homes.  Wrapping your furnace in a thermal blanket (from the harware store) is an additional step that can be cheaply taken to save big money.

These simple steps will go a long way towards reducing your winter heating expenses… and as always, you can check out the Smart HomeOwner website for more ways to save money by cutting energy costs.

Robert Lenney, a professional gutter cleaning expert in northern California, whose company has cleaned over 3.5 million feet of gutter since 1996, offers a number of tips and facts about gutter cleaning that homeowners should take to heart to make the task a little easier.

For instance, did you know that every year in the U.S., about 180,000 homeowner accidents and fatalities occur from ladder-related incidents?  Lenney recommends a safe and sturdy step ladder for the one-story jobs or an extension ladder for the multi-story homes, always with a strong shelf to hold a 5-gallon bucket for easier cleanup of the bigger trash.  Fiberglass or aluminum ladders usually beat-out their wooden counterparts in stability and strength.  Check the ladder for defects or damage before you begin, and on the first rung, take a moment to jump a few times to check the ladder’s footing.  For extra stability, place a piece of half-inch plywood under the legs, and never forget the “3 Point Rule” that recommends both feet and one hand secured on the ladder at all times.  Most of all, don’t lean or reach for one more scoop of debris, moving the ladder a few feet takes a lot less time than setting a broken limb.

Once you get to the task itself, you should use a scoop to get to the big debris first.  Lenney warns against metal tools that can damage the bottom of the gutter or its seams, and recommends a plastic “Gutter Getter” (available at many hardware stores) that more closely fits the shape of the gutter and can be attached to an extension pole to limit ladder moves.  After the big stuff is gone, Lenny suggests a simple garden hose with a pistol grip, which not only provides one-handed control of water pressure, but also provides a hanging element when moving the ladder or scooping the larger debris you may have missed from before.

Additionally, Lenney suggests raking the roof before you even begin so that the next storm doesn’t ruin all of your hard work, and wearing gloves to protect against not only cuts, but bacteria from debris and animal droppings.

With these tips, gutter cleaning can be a much safer and easier task that warrants little more than a few hours of your time in return for problem-free drainage.

Fanjoy is among a growing number witnessing the energy-saving and value-boosting benefits of new window systems.  From companies such as Simonton and JELD-WEN, a number of Energy Star rated products with Low-E glass (a glass coating that keeps heat inside in the winter, and outside in the summer), are becoming available on the market that not only boost the curb-appeal of homes, but also drastically cut the energy costs.

These products and their benefits only support the findings of a recent poll published in the July issue of Green Building Product Dealer, in which an estimate 73% of homeowners would be willing to pay more for building and remodeling products that offer green or energy-efficient advantages.

As suggested by Dan Fritschen, author of Remodel of Move? Make the Right Decision, many people feeling the strain of the market should reorder their home improvement plans by expense and required skill.  Following your budget, there are a number of things that can be done, relatively inexpensively, to increase both the value and livability of your home.  For instance, painting or refinishing kitchen and bathroom cabinets and floors, installing new interior doors, replacing windows, new crown molding and baseboard, replacing old model toilets and sinks with new water efficient designs, layering new carpet and refinishing hardwood floors, and fixing and upgrading appliances are all things that can be done on a relatively fixed budget, in a short amount of time, with little or no professional labor necessary.

For more extensive projects, Fritschen reccomends that you take your time, research possibilities, and calculate the costs and benefits of the improvement.  Some of the smarter, more in-depth projects people choose to do include: remodeling a kitchen, remodeling bathrooms, finishing basements or attics, adding on rooms, enlarging family rooms, and adding stories.

As always, regardless of the extent to which one decides to make home improvements, the current market strongly supports green improvements that both save you energy and increase the value of your house.

According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), since 2000, the energy consumed by new home appliances has rapidly decreased, with refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers accounting for nearly 50% of the drop.  For instance, replacing an eight year-old clothes washer with a newer average-efficiency one will not only trim more than $60 off of your electricity bill every year, it will also save nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year – a statistic that carries significantly more weight in drought-ridden areas of the South.

Not ready to take quite that leap of replacing your perfectly well working appliances?  Here are a few tips to save some energy and trim down those bills with what you already have:

• Allow hot foods to cool before placing them in the refrigerator.  Also, cover any foods that may release moisture.
• Limit the number of times you open the refrigerator and freezer doors.
• Scrape, but do not pre-rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
• Use that “no-heat air dry” feature on your dishwasher when you are not in a rush.
• Make sure to appropriately set the load size on your clothes washer and use the cold water settings whenever possible.
• Leave the door open on the washer when you are finished washing to allow air to circulate.
• Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load (you might even want to do the same to the dryer’s outside exhaust on a regular basis).

Simply by taking these steps, you will be well on your way to a greener lifestyle (environmentally and financially).

Of course, if you want to provide visual statements to your commitment to green building, you can opt for bamboo flooring, countertops made from recycled materials, and similar materials that will make your home look good as well as more efficient and eco-friendly. DiCosola calls these “aesthetic green” improvements, and draws a distinction between them and “functional green” improvements, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to incorporate in any home, no matter its design or location. Some of DiCosola’s functional green home improvements include the following:

• Insulation: Use as much as you can appropriately fit in any given space. There are many new insulation choices available today, ranging from recycled newspapers and denim to injected foam. High-absorption insulation also slows the flow and leakage of heat.

• Furnace: Install a power-vented, dual-stage furnace with an efficiency rating of 90+ percent.

• Hot water heater: Install a tankless, on-demand hot-water heater, which is 20- to 25-percent more efficient than a traditional hot-water tank and takes up much less space.

• Low-flow toilets and washing machine: An older toilet can use three to seven gallons of water per flush. Today’s standard low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush and save thousands of gallons of water a year. Dual-flush toilets, widely used in Europe, are the next step in efficiency

• Low-E and argon-filled windows: These produce the best R-factor (degree of insulation) and minimize the escape of heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. Triple-glazed or paned windows are the ultimate in energy-efficiency

• Energy Star heating and cooling products: The EPA says that if 10 percent of households used these energy-saving appliances and products, we could keep 17 billion pounds of pollution out of the air.

• Build tight with ventilation: Homes that are built tighter are more comfortable and less drafty. However, it is important to bring in fresh air through mechanical means such as a heat-recovery ventilation unit.

Now is the time to incorporate energy-saving features, DiCosola says, as the expense of building green is on the decline. While it used to cost at least 15 percent more to build with green products, it will now only add one to three percent to construction costs.

The RainEscape Deck Drainage System uses a series of troughs concealed under the decking to catch rainwater and funnel it into downspouts. The system fits both 12-inch and 16-inch joist spacing and can be modified to fit 24-inch joist spacing. It can be retrofitted to existing decks, and can be installed with a pair of scissors and a staple gun in a matter of hours. For more information: 877-348-1385 or www.rainescape.com.

The American Dry Deck system consists of a watertight underdeck ceiling that appears as a multi-paneled cathedral-style surface when viewed from below. It’s essentially a “drop” ceiling that consists of snap-interlocking modular sections, and can withstand heavy snow, ice and high wind loads. The ceiling system is maintenance free, but you will have to flush out the debris in the gutters once a year. For more information: 800-272-8086 or www.americandrydeck.com.

The Dry-B-Lo Designer Deck Drain System is also an underdeck ceiling installation that consists of curved channels, which helps flush out debris. It includes a full perimeter of gutters with downspouts, installs in one to three days (depending on the size of the deck) and can support heavy ice and snow loads. For more information: 706-864-0049 or www.dry-b-lo.com.

• Shingles that are buckling, curling or blistering, which can indicate the end of their life expectancy
• Loose material or wear around chimneys and penetrations for pipes, vents and the like
• Excessive amounts of shingle granules in the gutters, which can indicate worn shingles that are past their effectiveness in protecting the roof.

In addition, check the inside of your home, including interior walls and ceilings, for water damage. The Association also suggests cleaning gutters and downspouts once or twice a year, since clogged gutters can overflow and damage fascia boards on the roof, and cause structural damage to the foundation over time. For more information or to request a free copy of the Association’s Roof Checkup Guide, visit www.ncra.net or call 847-299-9070.

A number of companies produce home filtration systems that can improve water quality. Pureez, for instance, recently introduced a countertop water purifier that uses an 11-watt ultraviolet (UV) lamp, as well as a double-active carbon filter and a 0.6 micron filter, to kill microbes in tap water. (UV technology is a cost-effective way to disinfect drinking water, according to the company.) The system reduces particulates in water by 99.9 percent, reduces chloroform by 95 percent and reduces chlorine by 75 percent.

The Pureez water filter can produce water at a variety of temperatures, from chilled to boiling, and it has a programmable volume control, so it can expend varying amounts of water, from a small cup to a large cup. It comes with a self-installation kit for easy set-up next to a sink or refrigerator, or it can be professionally installed. The Pureez water filter retails for $999, with a number of payment plans available, and comes in six colors. For more information: www.pureez.com or 866-939-7873.

• Design for functionality. Most bathrooms are used by more than one person, so keep that in mind when designing your new bathroom. If possible, separate toilets from the rest of the bathroom, and consider installing double sinks.

• Let there be light. Even if your bathroom is small, you can make it appear larger by lightening it up with either natural light or lighting fixtures.

• Feel free to vent. Proper ventilation prevents mold and mildew, two common problems in bathrooms. Many energy-efficient venting systems are available that can help control moisture and improve indoor air quality as well.

• Go tankless. Customized shower systems and tubs often require a greater volume of water. But rather than rely on an inefficient tank-style water heater, consider a tankless, on-demand water heater, which heats water as it flows through the heater and helps control energy costs.

• Expect the unexpected. With bathroom plumbing, unexpected problems can arise, resulting in unexpected costs. Set aside roughly 10 percent of the cost of labor for a cushion.