green home upgrades to save you money

1. Green Home Upgrades That Will
Actually Save You Money
Energy experts call them “low-hanging fruit.” They are energy-saving
upgrades that offer outstanding ROI. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at
some of the best green home improvements that will put money back
in your pocket within two years:
75-80%
Energy saved by switching from
incandescent to LED bulbs
18-24 MONTHS
Time needed for a programmable
thermostat to pay for itself
6-10%
Monthly hot water bill savings from lowering your
water heater temperature setting from 140 degrees
to 120 degrees F
20-30%
Amount of heating and cooling energy lost due to
leaky ducts (Duct sealing is an inexpensive DIY fix.)
$2,200
Lifetime water bill savings from installing a
WaterSense-labeled low-flow toilet ($110 per year)
10-50%
Monthly savings on heating and cooling after adding
insulation, such as spray polyurethane foam, to your home
1Year
Payback time for hot water pipe insulation (DIY)
$303
Average annual energy savings for air sealing and
weatherizing a cold-climate, wood-framed home
4-10 MONTHS
Payback period for adding an insulated water
heater blanket to an older water heater
2 MONTHS
Payback period for an automatic rain sensor installed on
an irrigation system using 30,000 gallons per month