Energy efficient tips

Tips for saving energy and helping the environment, from the federal government and the Northeast Ohio Green Building Initiative.

ROOF & GUTTERS

.. When redoing your roof, choose metal, concrete or wood roofing materials, which absorb less heat than asphalt shingles.

SIDING & INSULATION

.. Choose building materials with recycled content if possible. Consider concrete siding, which comes pre-finished. Choose lightcolored surfaces.

.. Recommended insulation values for homes in Midwest: R-49 in ceilings, R21 in walls, R-13 on basement walls, R-30 for floors over unheated areas.

WINDOWS

.. If you are building a house, position longest walls and most windows to face north and south. Put little-used rooms, garages, etc. on west side to buffer heat of the sun.

.. Choose high-efficiency double or triple-glazed windows certified to meet federal Energy Star standards and using “e-glass,” invisible metal coating that stops infrared radiation.

UTILITIES

.. Install whole-house, tankless or instant water heater that meets U.S. Department of Energy efficiency codes. Insulate entire length of all hot water lines with minimum 1-inch-thick insulation.

.. Install ceiling fans in major rooms, especially those with high ceilings.

PLUMBING & INTERIOR

.. Use ultra low-flow toilets (1.6 gallons per flush), many of which have now been redesigned to function with minimal amounts of water.

.. Install fluorescents, both new T-8 high-efficiency tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs that screw into conventional incandescent sockets. (Recycle rather than discard bulbs after they burn out. They contain mercury.)