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Opening the Window to a Greener Home – and World

(NAPS)—With few topics hotter than global warming, homeowners are increasingly warming up to the idea of “going green.”

Fortunately, that doesn’t mean breaking the bank. As a homeowner, you can make choices that protect the environment and save you money.

Here are seven steps you can take toward a greener world and keeping more green in your pocket:

1. Make sure your walls and attic are sufficiently insulated.

2. Set your thermostat 2 degrees lower in winter, 2 degrees higher in summer.

3. Replace regular lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They last longer, use less energy and give off less heat.

4. Set your water heater at 120 degrees and wrap it in an insulating blanket.

5. Air-dry your clothes and your dishes.

6. Plant a tree. They absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

7. Replace inefficient windows. You won’t be alone. Of all the homeowners greening their houses through remodeling projects, nearly half replace the windows.

Because windows can account for between 10 and 25 percent of the total energy consumption for heating and cooling an average home, energy-efficient windows let you save money while living in comfort and reducing your effect on the environment. When replacing windows, look for dual-pane, gas-filled windows with Low-E glass coatings and choose windows with the most energy-efficient spacers, as shown by their U-value (a measure of thermal efficiency).

The most thermally efficient spacers keep cold air out in the winter and warm air out in the summer. The result is a more comfortable home year-round and lower energy costs.

How can you tell whether a window is built with an energy-efficient spacer? See if it carries an Envirosealed Window label. The label assures you that the spacer is the most thermally efficient available, providing you with unsurpassed energy savings.

The biggest cause of global warming is carbon dioxide released when oil and coal and other fossil fuels are burned. Scientists say that as the amount of CO2 continues to increase, global temperatures will continue to rise. If, however, everyone in the country installed Envirosealed Windows, the release of CO2 could be reduced by millions of tons a year. Such windows also offer thermal performance that’s up to 45 percent better than inefficient windows.

To save money, help the planet and live in a more comfortable home, look for windows labeled Envirosealed Windows. For more information, visit www.EnvirosealedWindows.com.

There are lots of ways to reduce your carbon footprint, including replacing inefficient windows.