ways to save energy

Grab some spray foam and some cheap insulation, then get to work with these simple ways to save energy.

Some easy weekend projects can keep your house warm and your energy bills low.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Looking for some good news in the midst of increasing unemployment and talk of a "double dip" recession? Here's something to celebrate. According to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Americans are using less energy overall, and more renewable energy, than ever before. The lab estimated that overall energy use was down by 5 percent from 2008 to 2009 and that renewable energy use increased by 27 percent. Renewables, in general, still make up a fraction of total energy supply, but the increase is encouraging.

Of course, we could always be doing more to reduce our energy consumption. Energy pundits like to say that energy efficiency is the most renewable fuel of all. And a recent study from the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions at Columbia University found that when most people think about ways to save energy, they think about simple steps like turning lights off when they leave a room, line-drying clothing, or driving less, rather than making larger improvements, such as buying more energy-efficient appliances or adding insulation to walls and windows, which energy-efficiency experts believe are more effective in reducing energy consumption.

But both help, says James Brew, principal architect at the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit think-tank that advocates for more efficient use of natural resources. "I like to think about active people, passive houses," he says. "If you actively engage in the energy operation of your house, you're going to save money, and you learn more about your house's energy balance." So while experts may think a new water heater or investing thousands in new windows is the best way to go, you're not in the wrong if your idea of energy efficiency is line-drying clothes or closing drapes on a hot day.

With fall just around the corner, Brew gave Rodale.com three ways to save energy when the temperature drops:

#1: Seal up your windows. "Any season of the year is a good season to seal up the house," says Brew. But you may notice leaky windows more in the fall or winter, particularly if drafts blowing in around the frame make you cold. In the past, our Nickel Pincher Jean Nick has suggested ways to turn leaky windows into powerful energy-saving windows by sealing cracks from the outside. Brew has an even easier way to cut down on leaks, and it'll only cost you a few dollars. The best part? You can do it all from the inside. First, take off the trim around your windows and floorboards on inside of the house walls. If you feel comfortable that you won't get electrocuted, take off your outlet covers and pull the outlet out of the wall, as well. Then, using a low-expanding foam sealant, start filling in any cracks or small holes you might see (if you don't see any, Brew suggests using a lit incense stick to detect air leaks). "This is the most effective thing people can do in houses that were built before 2000, which is about 85 percent of the homes out there," he says. While you're doing that, he adds, take out any insulation you see there and spray your low-expanding foam in its place. "Historically, people took bad insulation and just pounded it into place with a screwdriver or the end of a hammer," he says. In most cases, that bad insulation is pretty ineffective at keeping out drafts. "It's literally a weekend project," Brew says, "and you can easily see a 10 to 15 percent—or more—change in your energy bills."