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B.E.S.T. "Top Ten" Lists -- Information for Consumers
By Building Environmental Science and Technology (B. E. S. T.)

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New Homes| Cooling Your Home | Heating Your Home

Ten Inexpensive Ways to Go Green (+ bonus idea!):


  1. Watch water flow. Don't over-rinse dishes going into dishwashers, most clean some residues OK. Install flow restrictor head on sinks. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth (can save 5 gallons or more!).
  2. Wash your clothes in cold water, and use 50 % less energy than washing them in hot water. Also don't use permanent press cycle. Employing the "regular" setting instead of the permanent press setting on you washing machine may conserve about five gallons of water per load.
  3. Fix all leaking faucets. Any constant dripping is wasting lots of water up to 3,000 gallons per year!
  4. Check your toilet tank. Put a drop of food coloring into your toilet bowl and it disappears right away then your tank is leaking. Fixing toilet leaks can save 200 gallons of water a day.
  5. Insulate your water heater. If it was built before 2004, you can save as much as 10% on your annual water-heating bill by wrapping the tank in an insulating fireproof blanket. Water heaters older than 1998 are candidates for replacement due to inefficiency and age. Consider a solar water heater replacement too.
  6. Insulate hot water pipes. You can cut water heating costs by insulating exposed hot water pipes in your home. Less water is wasted "waiting" for hot as well.
  7. Insulate your attic. An Alliance to Save Energy study showed that about 2/3 of Americans attics may be under insulated. Installing proper R-38 levels of attic insulation may save up to $500 per year in severe climates, less where it is mild.
  8. Tune up your furnace. Getting your furnace serviced every two years not only reduces the amount of carbon dioxide it emits, it also cuts your heating bills by up to 10%.
  9. Lower the indoor temperature. Studies show that you can take 5% off your heating bill for every degree below 72 F you reduce a home's temperature during the cold season. Setting the air-conditioning temperature at 78 F saves too.
  10. Weatherstrip your doors. Putting weatherstripping around your home's entry doors will save $30 a year in heating and air conditioning energy, and reduces annoying drafts while preventing insects from entering you home (triple win).
  11. Bonus! Why not Plan to Drive less? Carefully plan your car trips like "missions" that include multiple errands and destinations and with this better organization you may save 10 or more gallons of gas a week!

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Tips for Energy Efficient "Green" New Homes
  1. Ensure your builder meets, or exceeds local requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code - 2004 (IECC) which considers basic building "shell" and mechanical systems.
  2. insist upon air-sealed construction and have a "blower door" test done to confirm quality.
  3. require installation of an appropriate controlled mechanical ventilation system (cold, or very-hot climates this should be a heat-recovery ventilator type).
  4. Choose energy-efficient windows (see Windows Tips) that are rated by the "NFRC" or have and equivalent energy performance warrantee from the manufacturer or builder.
  5. Plan for effective natural lighting in the home's layout of floor spaces and windows and skylights. Day light with "tubular" skylights where spaces would have no windows.
  6. Install insulated doors, and use double-pane glass in doors with vision panes. Mild areas go with R-2.5, while colder areas go with R-5 doors
  7. Design for "passive solar" where the homes architectural features help seasonally heat and cool the interior.
  8. Specify your builder shall use locally produced building products and other "green" building materials with greater recycled content.
  9. Select mechanical systems and appliances that have DOE "energy guide" labels in the most efficient 20% range of their product performance category. Energy Guide labels are provided under Federal law for most major appliances and home systems.
  10. Use drought resistant landscaping and planting that shade the home without significantly reducing the amount of winter-time sun for south facing windows.

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Tips for Cooling Your Existing Home


  1. Install set-up (set-back) digital thermostat on your A/C system or heat pump. Every degree of set "up" for air conditioning may save up to 5% on central A/C electric usage. These devices can also "turn off" A/C when you are not home. (Be sure to select the appropriate model; professional installation may be recommended.)
  2. Close windows and doors during the hottest parts of the day, and when outdoor conditions are humid. Humidity can build up in home furnishings and may cause your A/C to run longer.
  3. Close draperies and window shades on sunny warm days, particularly on south and western facing windows.
  4. Reduce oven, stove, indoor lights, and TV use since appliances release considerable by-product heat indoors resulting from electrical use.
  5. Accentuate natural lighting in the home during hot months. This can reduce electric lighting during hot days. You can easily day light with "tubular" skylights where spaces have no windows.
  6. Install ceiling fans in your most frequently occupied rooms, such as family rooms and bedrooms. These fans can make 80 degrees seem like 75 degrees with normal clothing worn.
  7. When outdoor conditions are mild -- usually below 75 degrees F, and less humid, open windows in all rooms of the home for natural ventilation
  8. Choose energy-efficient windows for replacements, that are rated by the "NFRC," or have and equivalent energy performance warrantee from the manufacturer or builder. (NFRC - "National Fenestration Rating Council")
  9. Plant drought tolerant shade trees around your home, but remember to provide good Winter-time "solar" access to south-facing windows.
  10. Select the lightest colors when painting your home, or putting on a new roof. Be sure to promote light surfaces to your home owners association to make sure they are acceptable in your neighborhood.

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Tips for Heating Your Existing Home


  1. Obtain an "energy audit" or "home energy performance rating", and use the information to upgrade the most cost-effective energy problems at your home. Many utility companies, heating and air-conditioning firms, and consultants offer such services. Home energy ratings can now be used to get mortgage-backed loans to make improvements, in many areas.
  2. Install set-back digital thermostat on your heating system or heat pump. Every degree of set "back" for heating may save up to 8% on central heating energy usage. These devices can also "turn off" mechanical systems when you are not home. (Be sure to select the appropriate model; professional installation may be recommended.)
  3. Get your furnace or heat-pump serviced professionally, and the air-filters should be changed frequently for best circulation. You may also wish to close registers in un-used rooms.
  4. Check and upgrade your attic insulation to thicknesses appropriate for your climate. In most areas of the US, the Department of Energy recommends either R-30 or R-38 attic insulation be installed.
  5. Install ceiling fans in your most frequently occupied rooms, such as family rooms and bedrooms. These fans can make 65 degrees seem like 70 degrees, in Winter by evening out room temperature layers.
  6. When outdoor conditions are mild -- usually above 65 degrees F, open windows in all rooms of the home for natural ventilation.
  7. Choose energy-efficient windows for replacements, that are rated by the "NFRC," or have and equivalent energy performance warrantee from the manufacturer or builder. (NFRC - "National Fenestration Rating Council")
  8. Close windows and doors during the coldest parts of the day, and when outdoor conditions are windy.
  9. Open draperies and window shades on sunny winter days, particularly on South, East and Western facing windows.
  10. Plant drought tolerant shade trees around your home, but remember to provide good Winter-time "solar" access to south-facing windows.

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rev 9/17/07