Creating Simple Homes That Are Energy-Efficient

This isn’t about saving money (which you will) or being greener than your neighbor. We make our homes more energy efficient because we care about our neighbors, our grandchildren, people in the developing world, and we care about God’s creation. We care enough to use a lot less and therefore pollute a lot less, and use up far fewer non-renewable resources. It is about contributing to the world instead of being a drain on it. It’s about loving in our daily living.

The first principle is simply not to use so much: electricity, heating fuel, and hot water. How do you do that?

As caring Christians there are many ways in which we can easily reduce our energy use in our daily lives.

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We can save...

Electricity By:

Buying only the electric appliances and tools we need rather than what we want, and using them less.
Buying EnergyStar or other very efficient appliances.
Use less Air Conditioning – open the windows, use ceiling and other fans, and plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home.
Turning off the lights when we are not in the room.
Replacing conventional incandescent lamps with compact fluorescents.
Manually turning off or unplugging devices with always-on features or which use DC transformers (you probably have many more of these than you think!)
Let hot foods cool before putting them in the refrigerator.
Use a clothesline instead of a dryer.

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Heating Fuel By:

Insulating an older house and replace old windows with efficient models or install new storm windows.
Properly maintain your heating system so it runs very efficiently.
Installing a programmable thermostat to automatically lower the temperature at night and when no one is home.
Insulate your hot water heater.
Open curtains on the south side of your house.
Turn off kitchen and bathroom ventilating fans as soon as you are done with them.

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Learn a Lot More About Making Your Home More Efficient
by visiting these Websites

Alliance to Save Energy – A site dedicated to helping consumers, educators, and policy makers understand how we can save energy.

EcoMall – a site with virtually every product and service you might need to make your home greener and your diet and health far better:

Energy Guide – An unbiased guide to the energy-saving options available today including how to lower energy bills, changing the way we use energy, and selecting a different electric or gas supplier.

Energy Savers – A wide range of steps you can take to save energy developed by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Energy Star – the Federal Government’s site on high efficiency appliances and electronics. Green Tips (Union of Concerned Scientists):

Home Energy Saver – An energy audit tool developed by Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory:

The National Religious Partnership for the Environment: offers resources of religious life and moral vision to a universal effort to protect humankind's common home and well-being on Earth.

PlanetFriendly.net: is all about "Sustainable Living" – activities and choices that can help sustain your health, your spirit, and the planet.

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