BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! — TIPS FOR BUTTONING UP YOUR HOME
There’s no place like home when it comes to saving money and being environmentally responsible. A lot of home energy is wasted – between 40 and 70%, say the experts. We could save roughly half of our energy costs by buying efficient appliances and taking other energy-saving measures. Here are some products to consider:

• Air-conditioner covers: If you can’t remove your room air conditioner from the window during the winter, consider covering it, both inside and out. Besides protecting your air-conditioning unit, these covers also help keep cold air from entering your home through the space around the air-conditioner, cutting heating costs.
• Caulking: Filling in the small spaces and gaps around windows and where pipes and wires enter the home reduces drafts that cut the efficiency of your heating and air-condi-tioning system. Most caulking products cost under $10; rope caulk, one of the easiest types to apply, sells for about $4 for 40 or 50 feet.
• Draft Blockers: These foam plates fit behind light switches and electrical outlets to reduce drafts that enter through those spaces. You can get a packet of 10 for about $3; they are easy to install with only a screwdriver.
• Heat Reflectors: These are thin sheets that fit behind radiators, to reflect heat away from the wall and into the room, thereby maximizing each radiator’s efficiency.
• Programmable Thermostat: These allow you to change the temperature (of both heating and air conditioning) at different times of day. Some also have a second set of settings for weekends, when people usually spend more time at home. The thermostats range from $90 to $175, but can save 12% or more on your energy bill and pay for itself within three years.
• Reflective Window Film: These are thin, plastic sheets you place directly on the inside of window panes and glass doors. The film reflects inside heat back into your home, reducing the amount that is conducted outside through windows. The film, which costs about $10 a window, is easy to put on; it adheres to the window directly, or with the help of water from a spray bottle.
• Storm Window Kits: It can be expensive to have storm windows installed throughout your house, but there is a less-expensive alternative. Storm window kits consist of plastic film or sheets to cover the window. Attaching the plastic is done with tape or tacks. Prices range from about $3 to $10 per window.
• Weatherstripping: This includes plastic, foam, felt, or rubber strips that fit around window and door frames to create a tight seal and reduce heated and cooled air from escaping outside. Most are easy to apply, usually by way of a self-adhesive backing. Prices vary, but average about $5 per window or door.
  
  

  Need More Help? The Home Energy Saver allows you to enter information about your home and compute what specific changes would result in energy and environmental savings. www.homeenergysaver.lbl.gov