Green Home Upgrades That Will
Actually Save You Money
Energy experts call them “low-hanging fruit.” They are energy saving upgrades that offer outstanding ROI. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at some of the best green home improvements that will put money back in your pocket within two years.
75-80%
Energy saved by switching from incandescent to LED bulbs.
10-50%
Monthly savings on heating and cooling after adding insulation, such as spray polyurethane foam, to your home.
18-24 Months
Time needed for a programmable thermostat to pay for itself.
$303
Average annual energy savings for air sealing and weatherizing a cold-climate, wood-framed home.
20-30%
Amount of heating and cooling energy lost due to leaky ducts (Duct sealing is an inexpensive DIY fix.)
1 Year
Payback time for hot water pipe insulation (DIY).
6-10%
Monthly hot water bill savings from lowering your water heater temperature setting from 140 degrees to 120 degrees F.
4-10 Months
Payback period for adding an insulated water heater blanket to an older water heater.
$2,200
Lifetime water bill savings from installing a WaterSense-labeled low-flow toilet ($110 per year)
2 Months
Payback period for an automatic rain sensor installed on an irrigation system using 30,000 gallons per month.