10 Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades Under $20

By Dan Harding

In America, we tend to think big. We
want to make the big bucks, hit the big time and ride in our big
trucks down big highways. But in the new age of green, the focus is
changing to smaller cars and energy efficient homes. Goodbye,
McMansion, hello cozy, easy-to-maintain eco-house.

Thankfully, for every big move into the
green, there are 10 smaller, affordable moves that make a big
difference. Indeed, it would be foolish to attempt any major home
energy upgrade without taking the small steps first. A good portion
of these steps are dirt cheap, providing a big boost to lifestyle,
pocketbook and environment without the renovation headaches. Here are
10 home
efficiency upgrades anyone can perform
for about $20.

#1 – Switch to CFLs. The word
is long out regarding compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). These
snaky little fellows last many times longer than incandescent bulbs
and use roughly one-quarter of the energy. While they cost more than
an incandescent bulb, CFLs for typical household lighting fixtures
are considerably less than $20.

#2 – Timer Switches. “Who
left the light on?” is a question we’ve all heard before. Timer
switches and motion sensors on light switches are an easy way to
alleviate this problem. Most commonly, the ideal locale for a timer
switch is the bathroom, one of the busiest rooms in the house with
both lights and exhaust fans to be left on. A timer switch can be set
to shut one or both off after a set period of time, usually about 5
minutes. Also useful for outdoor lighting. From $15 and up.

#3 – Programmable Thermostat.
Finding a programmable
thermostat for less than $20 could be a
bit difficult. But it’s not so hard to find a simple version in the
vicinity. Even the price of more elaborate and expensive versions can
sometimes be brought down by rebates now offered by many utility
companies and state or local governments looking to meet energy
standards.

#4 – Caulking and
Weather-stripping. This upgrade is so effective that even the
federal
government offers a tax credit to help
pay for it. It might amaze you what the price of a tube of caulk can
do for your home’s energy efficiency. Step one in readying a house
for any larger upgrade is sealing it up and ridding it of pesky air
leaks, many of which come from tiny gaps around windows and doors.
Yes, caulking and weather-stripping an entire home may cost more than
$20, but sometimes it doesn’t take much and a little caulking goes a
long way. One tube of caulk is $3. Weather-stripping runs you $5 to
$25, depending on material and length.

#5 – Smart Power Strip. Ranging
from $20 to $50, true eco-friendly power strips contain wattage
sensors that detect when a device is in standby mode, and then
automatically shut down all other devices attached to the strip. The
most obvious application: a computer powered alongside a printer,
scanner and other computer peripherals, not to mention the surge
protection. Remember that using any power strip (smart or not) can be
beneficial. It makes it much easier to turn off a group of electronic
devices, helping to eliminate phantom loads and other
out-of-sight-out-of-mind power losses.

#6 – Solar Garden Light. Turn
off the porch light, let the sun light your way. Solar
garden lights are now as cheap as $10 or
less. No cords, no electrical work, just a simple stake in the
ground. These lights are excellent for wirelessly and cleanly
lighting entry walkways, garden paths, driveways, and more. I’ve even
seen them used in place of hardwired lights at front doors (assuming
you don’t have a covered porch).

#7 – Clothesline or Tennis Ball.
Dryers are some of the most energy intensive appliances in
existence. Cutting your usage of these electricity-mongers can have a
big effect on energy bills and household carbon footprint. A
retractable clothesline typically costs $15 or less, and clothes pins
are cheap too–perhaps the cheapest way to utilize
solar energy. If the dryer is too
essential for your lifestyle or living situation (there are indoor
drying racks as well) and you like fluffy clothes and linens, toss a
tennis ball or two in with the dryer. They act as static controllers,
fluffers, softeners and speed up the drying process.

#8 – New AC Air Filters. An
easy $5 habit to get into that won’t give you lung cancer, cleaning
or replacing the air filter in your air conditioning unit once per
month can save a lot of money and energy annually. Not to mention
improve indoor air quality considerably. Dirty filters block normal
air flow, greatly reducing system efficiency and introducing unwanted
particulates into the ambient air.

#9 – Water Heater Blanket. Water
heating is second only to space heating and cooling in annual energy
expenditure for the average American household. So, making your water
heaters as efficient as possible is a big step. The easiest way to do
this is to wrap your hot water tank in a blanket. In other words,
insulate it. Cost of keeping your hot water hot? $13 and up.

#10 – Low-Flow Showerhead and
Faucet. The low-flow toilet may be a slightly larger expense, but
replacing an aging, inefficient showerhead or faucet with a
water-conserving low-flow version is cheaper than ever. For the
showerhead, simply buy a new model. They can get expensive but start
as cheap as $10 to $20. For the sink, a new faucet for less than an
Andrew Jackson may be hard to find, but it’s no matter when an
aerator attachment will handle it for you. We’re talking as cheap as
$1 and less than 1 gallon of water flow per minute.

Dan Harding is a well-versed veteran of solar critique, commentary and reporting. CalFinder Residential Solar Power is proud to tout Dan as their solar expert. He has published well over 1,000 articles on a wide variety of solar industry topics, ranging from cutting-edge technology and gadgetry to political satire and powerful editorials.