Greener Living #20 and 21

#20 Insulate Your House: Good insulation is one of the best ways to reduce your heating bills and cut your CO2 emissions. Heating and cooling make up 50 to 70 percent of energy use in the average American home. Also, replace old windows and be sure to seal holes and cracks in your house with weather stripping or caulk. A well-insulated house can prevent hundreds of pounds of CO2 emissions per year and can cut your heating and cooling bills by up to 20%. For more information, visit eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/insulation.html.

#21 Turn Your Thermostat Down One Degree: If you turn your thermostat down by one degree, your heating costs will decrease by about 3%. Turn it down five more degrees for four hours a day and reduce your heating bills by almost 6%. If you're going to be away for the weekend or out in the evening, turn your thermostat down. It's not true that reducing the temperature means it will take more heat to bring it back up to a warm level (unless you have a heat pump in your home). Also, turn the heat down if you are throwing a party--every guest will be the equivalent of a 100-watt heater.