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 Form an Energy Action Plan If you're buying a home that needs expensive energy-efficiency improvements, it pays to negotiate to have them repaired or the price of the home lowered. Keep in mind that a furnace or water heater that's over 15 years old, in addition to nearing the end of its useful life, is also likely to be a chronic energy waster compared to newer models. If you want to improve the energy efficiency of the home you're living in now, form an energy action plan. Focus on items that return the most energy savings for the least expense. For example, it hardly pays to install a new furnace or boiler for thousands of dollars, if the fireplace damper is missing and the front door has a 1-inch gap at the sill. You can also save greatly on energy costs by doing simple things, such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). And because heating and cooling costs comprise 70% of average home energy costs, replacing standard thermostats with programmable setback thermostats is an inexpensive way to increase efficiency.
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