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Home improvements can actually save homeowners a lot of money if the projects are done correctly. Some projects to your house can actually save you cash over time because they can dramatically reduce your electricity costs. When most people think of home upgrades they often think about how much money the project will cost. Here are 3 of the easiest “green” ways to improve your house and save yourself some cash over the long run:

Replace any of your air filters: Dirty air filters can cause your AC systems to run harder and can increase your overall energy costs. Most air filters are inexpensive and not difficult to replace or clean. You can usually find air filters in central air conditioner systems and forced hot air heating systems.

Add more insulation: Insulation serves as a thermal barrier that helps block the outside weather from dramatically affecting the comfort level inside your home. The more insulation you use, the more energy efficient you home will be. Insulation is not cheap but you will often see big savings in your utility costs throughout the year. Many people remember to put insulation in their attics, but they don’t know how to put insulation in a basement.

Replace out dated windows: New windows can greatly cut down on exterior air flow and lower your energy costs. Windows can leak over time, letting in drafty air which may make all your home’s insulation a waste of money. Think about it: your home has lots of large holes in the walls, and those holes are hidden by thin sheets of glass that let in lots of warm air when they should not.

Making your house more green in its energy utilization can also save you some green money over time. Of course, all of these improvements will be costly at first, but they will gradually pay for themselves. By making your house more green you are not only helping the environment but also cutting your energy costs and saving lots of money in the long run.

Environmentally friendly home improvements are good ways to help the planet while helping you save some cash. Many home projects could even earn you a home improvement tax break when you file your income taxes!

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With the economy the way it is today with many unemployed, many who may be facing unemployment, and trying to keep up with rising costs, it becomes even more important to cut costs wherever we can. Therefore, here are five tips you can use with or without the use of wind power to help cut costs year round.

1. Furnaces and a/c units that do not get serviced yearly can lose efficiency costing you more money in your utility bill. Having them serviced on a yearly basis will keep them in top running condition, prolonging their life which will save you from a costly replacement bill. The climate you live in does not matter because regular servicing will save money and energy no matter where you live. Along with regular servicing, get in the habit of changing the filter once a month because a dirty filter will cut down on efficiency and can cause premature failure of the units.

2. Consider replacing your manual thermostat with a programmable one. There are many who try to save energy and money by turning the thermostat way down in the winter when they leave the house, or way up in the summer, and this fine as long you do not go to extremes. Turning the temperature way up or way down will cause the furnace or a/c to run excessively to bring the temperature back to a comfortable level. Changing the thermostat manually works good if you don’t forget to do it, which is why I suggested replacing the old manual one with a programmable one, set it and forget it until the seasons change, this way you gain maximum benefits and savings.

3. In order to keep the cool/warm air in the house, depending on the season, you should seal the air leaks. This can be done in several easy inexpensive ways such as, caulking around exterior doors and windows, placing foam gaskets behind outlet and switch covers that are on outside walls. These two things alone can go a long way to seal up the house and keep your furnace or a/c from running excessively. You can get the caulk and gaskets (ones they use behind the covers on switches and outlets that are located outdoors) by making a quick trip to the hardware store.

4. Fewer and fewer homes are built today with real wood burning fireplaces but, if you do have one and use it regularly in the winter, you should also have it and the chimney cleaned once a year. Burning wood can save a lot of money on heat bills in the winter but a heavy build up of creosote can cause chimney fires. If the chimney does not have a screen and cap on it, you should have one put on. Birds will sit on top of the chimney for the warmth, and then be overcome by the fumes, causing them die and fall into the chimney. This can cause smoke to back up into the house.

5. This one will save you the most money. A windmill to produce your own power can cut your utility bill by at least 60%. That right 60% or more and with today’s technology they can be constructed to fit on the roof and built for three hundred dollars or less. All that is required is a minimum of eleven mph winds, which can be found in just about any state you live in. Plus the windier it is, the more power the windmill will produce, the more you will save.

With the cost of living rising every day and threat of losing your job, it is even more important to use wind power to reduce your utility bill. Click here to discover how easy it is to use renewable energy sources.

Saving energy and saving money should not be your sole responsibility as parents. Your kids must also learn to contribute in keeping the electric bills down. This way, your effort will not get wasted and at the same time, your kids will learn good values while growing up.

Since it will take sometime for you to teach your kids, I’ll be giving some tips to make your task a little bit easier:

Education

Teaching your kids the importance of saving energy should be your first goal. Take note that making them understand the value of being energy efficient is more effective than enumerating the ways to save energy and leaving it at that. Teach them how conserving energy helps the environment. Tell them stories or read educational books about the importance of energy.

Lead By Example

You know very well that kids tend to follow what elders do. Practice what you preach. You may have listed and posted a litany of things-to-do to conserve energy but if you don’t follow them yourself, you cannot expect your kids to follow it too. Do not just tell them to turn the lights off before leaving their room; show them by always turning the lights off every time you leave a room in your house. Education and leading by example are a good combination if you want to make good habits stick.

Make it fun

Find educational materials where your kids will learn the value of conserving energy as well as the ways on how to save it. Computer software, educational websites, books and television shows that educate and entertain kids would really make a difference on how well they will respond. This is especially applicable to kids from 5 to 10 years old.

Get your kids involved

Family activities should not limit to eating, playing and entertainment. Chores can also be a good way to bond with your kids. Manually wash the car, water the plants, clean the table, wash the dishes, clean the house etc. These are some of the things you can do with your kids while conserving energy.

Teach your kids according to their age.

A 5 year old kid needs a different approach on this task compared with your 10-year old. If your 5-year old kid leaves the light open in his room, talk to them and maybe show them how to turn off the light. Talking and illustrating will help a lot in this age.

Your 10-year old daughter may require different approach like showing her your electric bill and explaining to her that it will greatly help if she will change her bad habits. You are teaching your 5-year old good habits while you are teaching and emphasizing your 10-year old good habits and responsibility.

Let me enumerate some energy saving tips for your toddlers

1-Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

2. See to it that you turn the lights off when leaving a room.

3. Shut down the computer after use.

4-Do not hold the refrigerator open.

5. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use.

6. Make use of the sun’s natural light.

Involving your kids in your quest to be more earth-friendly and budget-conscious will be much more advantageous for you. They can carry their learnings until they are old, enabling them to be more conscious of their environment as they gain age.

Want to find out more about ways to help your family save energy? Get a fix from Earth-4-Energy. Then visit Taylor Nelson’s site at Fastvideoreviews.com for your online business needs.