Many of the new environmental products are energy efficient but not cost effective. Here are a couple of things you can do to save both energy and money.
DUAL-FLUSH TOILET CONVERSION KITS
Although dual-flush toilets can run from $500-$700, I found One2Flush conversion kits starting under $30. They can cut water usage by 40%, and the manufacturer claims a typical family can save 30 gallons a day… that's enough water saved in a year to fill a 27-foot long swimming pool!
The kit fits all standard two-piece toilets. Once installed, the handle goes one way for a half-flush and the other way for a full flush.
LED LIGHT BULBS
According to a recent survey, 63% of Americans have already switched to energy-efficient light bulbs, mostly compact fluorescent bulbs. But light-emitting diode bulbs (LED) are rapidly becoming even more popular than CFLs.
LED bulbs are significantly more expensive, can be up to 40 times the cost of a compact fluorescent bulb… but they use about 1/5 the energy and last up to 10 times longer than a CFL and 60 times longer than a typical incandescent light bulb! The good ones also produce far less heat so cooling costs are also reduced.
If all the country's recessed lights were converted to LED fixtures, the Energy Department says the energy saved would equal the output of 13 large power plants… enough to power 6.7 million households!
Source: LA Times
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – Email – HomesMSP.com
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If not for the ugly chrome handle at that dual-flush toilet valve, I’d install one today.
I recently replaced two bulbs at my exterior security light with LED bulbs that I picked up at Costco for a good price. I went from two 100 watt bulbs to two 5 watt bulbs!
Now I’m living the good life.
Thanks for the Costco LED bulb tip! Good call on the chrome handle…maybe you should design a new one!