On Utility Bills And Save The Planet (NAPSA)—Being energyefficient isn’t as hard as you think, and by using energy more efficiently you can lower your energy bills by more than 30 percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Here are some simple ways to accomplish this. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. By changing just six light bulbs to CFLs, you save 900 pounds of carbon dioxide and almost $100 a year. Install a programmable thermostat, then lower your thermostat two degrees in the winter and raise it two degrees in the summer, youll save about $100 a year and about 2000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Energy efficiency also involves sealing your home envelope. Air sealing is simply closing a home’s holes and gaps. Proper caulking and sealing can save you up to 20 percent a year. Experts estimate that proper caulking and sealing in the average homewill close the equivalent of a three-foot hole in a wall. Obvious leaks are around windows and doors, however, leaks in the attic and basement can really make a significant difference in energy savings. Large gaps are often found in basements or attics around plumbingpipes and chimneys. Sealing Air Leaks Choose greener product options by looking for low VOC sealants like DAP’s Dynaflex 230. This easy-to-use, water clean up sealant stays permanently flexible so it’s great for sealing smaller gaps and holes both indoors and out. Having your home improperly caulked and sealed is equivalent to having a three-foot hole in your wall, experts say. On larger holes and gaps a foam sealant is needed. Fortunately, there is DAPtex Plus window & door foam sealant with CoVinyl-X9000™. It is latex-based but has all the sealing and insulating properties of polyurethane foam with none of the application issues. It is toolable, so you can work with it once it is applied; it will not over expand, so you don’t have issues with windowsor wall sockets popping out because you applied too much and, unlike polyurethane foam, it cleans up easily with soap and water. Like standard caulks and sealants, foam sealants can be used in a variety of locations including the attic and basement. However,it is not recommendedfor use around heat sources like chimneys and wood burning stoves. The people at DAP (www.dap.com) want to help you save money and save theplanet. With just a little effort, you can do both.
