EarthTalk_VV0 :_: What_DDQ are_VBR some_DD simple_JJ low_JJ cost_NN1 improvements_NN2 I_PPIS1 can_VM do_VDI to_II my_APPGE home_NN1 to_TO make_VVI it_PPH1 greener_JJR ?_? 
According_II21 to_II22 consumer_NN1 advocate_NN1 Remar_NP1 Sutton_NP1 ,_, there_EX are_VBR many_DA2 ways_NN2 to_TO save_VVI energy_NN1 and_CC other_JJ resources_NN2 around_II the_AT home_NN1 without_IW spending_VVG a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO money_NN1 ._. 
And_CC taking_VVG action_NN1 sooner_RRR rather_CS21 than_CS22 later_RRR will_VM lead_VVI to_II ongoing_JJ savings_NN2 on_II utility_NN1 bills_NN2 ,_, so_RR a_AT1 little_JJ cash_NN1 outlay_NN1 now_RT will_VM more_RRR than_CSN pay_VV0 for_IF itself_PPX1 in_II the_AT long_JJ run_NN1 ._. 
On_II the_AT energy_NN1 front_NN1 ,_, turning_VVG your_APPGE thermostat_NN1 up_RP in_II summer_NNT1 and_CC down_RP in_II winter_NNT1 is_VBZ one_PN1 often_RR overlooked_VVN way_NN1 to_TO reduce_VVI usage_NN1 and_CC cost_NN1 ._. 
"_" For_IF each_DD1 degree_NN1 you_PPY raise_VV0 or_CC lower_VV0 your_APPGE thermostat_NN1 ,_, you_PPY can_VM save_VVI anywhere_RL from_II one_MC1 to_II five_MC percent_NNU on_II your_APPGE cooling_NN1 or_CC heating_NN1 bills_NN2 depending_II21 on_II22 where_RRQ you_PPY live_VV0 ,_, "_" Sutton_NP1 reports_VVZ ,_, adding_VVG that_DD1 programmable_JJ thermostats_NN2 can_VM help_VVI greatly_RR to_TO maximize_VVI efficiency_NN1 and_CC cut_VVI out_RP waste_NN1 ._. 
Other_JJ ways_NN2 to_TO save_VVI energy_NN1 include_VV0 :_: lowering_VVG the_AT hot_JJ water_NN1 heater_NN1 's_GE thermostat_NN1 ;_; getting_VVG heating_NN1 and_CC cooling_VVG equipment_NN1 tuned_VVD once_RR a_AT1 year_NNT1 ;_; insulating_JJ hot_JJ water_NN1 pipes_NN2 and_CC hot_JJ water_NN1 storage_NN1 tanks_NN2 ;_; caulking_VVG cracks_NN2 and_CC gaps_NN2 on_II walls_NN2 ,_, including_VVG around_II door_NN1 and_CC window_NN1 frames_NN2 ;_; weather-stripping_NN1 air_NN1 leaks_VVZ around_RP windows_NN2 and_CC doors_NN2 ;_; and_CC replacing_VVG incandescent_JJ light_NN1 bulbs_NN2 with_IW more_RGR efficient_JJ compact_JJ fluorescent_JJ (_( CFL_NP1 )_) bulbs_NN2 ._. 
Sutton_NP1 recommends_VVZ doing_VDG an_AT1 energy_NN1 audit_NN1 to_TO identify_VVI all_DB the_AT areas_NN2 around_II the_AT house_NN1 where_CS simple_JJ ,_, low-cost_JJ improvements_NN2 can_VM make_VVI a_AT1 difference_NN1 ._. 
Your_APPGE local_JJ utility_NN1 may_VM offer_VVI a_AT1 free_JJ or_CC low-cost_JJ audit_NN1 ,_, or_CC you_PPY can_VM do-it-yourself_NN1 via_II the_AT online_JJ calculator_NN1 at_II the_AT U.S._NP1 Department_NN1 of_IO Energy_NN1 's_GE Home_NN1 Energy_NN1 Saver_NN1 website_NN1 ._. 
Beyond_II energy_NN1 savings_NN2 alone_RR ,_, Sutton_NP1 offers_VVZ a_AT1 wealth_NN1 of_IO tips_NN2 on_II how_RRQ to_TO reduce_VVI water_NN1 usage_NN1 around_II the_AT house_NN1 as_RR21 well_RR22 :_: Wash_VV0 and_CC dry_JJ only_JJ full_JJ loads_NN2 of_IO laundry_NN1 and_CC only_RR wash_VV0 full_JJ loads_NN2 of_IO dishes_NN2 ;_; fix_VV0 leaky_JJ faucets_NN2 and_CC toilets_NN2 ;_; install_VV0 aerating_VVG low-flow_JJ showerheads_NN2 and_CC faucets_NN2 ;_; turn_VV0 off_RP the_AT faucet_NN1 while_CS brushing_VVG teeth_NN2 and_CC shaving_VVG ;_; and_CC take_VV0 short(er)_JJR showers_NN2 and_CC avoid_VV0 baths_NN2 altogether_RR ._. 
By_II taking_VVG some_DD or_CC all_DB of_IO these_DD2 measures_NN2 ,_, you_PPY can_VM run_VVI a_AT1 much_RR greener_JJR home_NN1 without_IW spending_VVG much_RR at_RR21 all_RR22 ._. 
Once_CS you_PPY 've_VH0 exhausted_VVN ways_NN2 to_TO save_VVI energy_NN1 and_CC water_NN1 around_II the_AT house_NN1 as_CSA it_PPH1 is_VBZ ,_, you_PPY might_VM consider_VVI taking_VVG larger_JJR steps_NN2 to_TO boost_VVI efficiency_NN1 more_RRR ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 Harvey_NP1 Sachs_NP1 of_IO the_AT American_JJ Council_NN1 for_IF an_AT1 Energy_NN1 Efficient_JJ Economy_NN1 ,_, installing_VVG or_CC upgrading_VVG insulation_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 sure-fire_JJ way_NN1 to_TO save_VVI money_NN1 over_II time_NNT1 ,_, as_CSA your_APPGE heating_NN1 and_CC cooling_VVG equipment_NN1 wo_VM n't_XX have_VHI to_TO work_VVI so_RG hard_RR maintaining_VVG the_AT desired_JJ temperature_NN1 of_IO your_APPGE home_NN1 's_GE interior_NN1 ._. 
Planting_VVG shade_NN1 trees_NN2 around_II your_APPGE home_NN1 's_GE exterior_NN1 will_VM help_VVI reduce_VVI the_AT need_NN1 for_IF air_NN1 conditioning_NN1 in_II summer_NNT1 and_CC ,_, if_CS they_PPHS2 're_VBR deciduous_JJ ,_, they_PPHS2 'll_VM let_VVI sunlight_NN1 through_RP in_II the_AT winter_NNT1 ._. 
Also_RR ,_, says_VVZ Sachs_NP1 ,_, upgrading_VVG to_II more_DAR energy_NN1 efficient_JJ appliances_NN2 --_NN1 preferably_RR those_DD2 brandishing_VVG the_AT federal_JJ government_NN1 's_GE EnergySTAR_NN1 seal_NN1 of_IO approval_NN1 --_NN1 should_VM more_RRR than_CSN make_VV0 up_RP for_IF any_DD cost_NN1 premiums_NN2 with_IW the_AT energy_NN1 savings_NN2 they_PPHS2 'll_VM bring_VVI going_VVG forward_RL ._. 
Replacing_VVG older_JJR single_JJ pane_NN1 windows_NN2 with_IW new_JJ more_RGR efficient_JJ double_NN1 or_CC even_RR triple_JJ pane_NN1 varieties_NN2 can_VM significantly_RR reduce_VVI home_NN1 energy_NN1 usage_NN1 and_CC heating/cooling_VVG bills_NN2 as_RR21 well_RR22 ._. 
Be_VB0 sure_JJ to_TO get_VVI professional_JJ help_NN1 when_CS installing_VVG insulation_NN1 or_CC new_JJ windows_NN2 ,_, as_CSA improper_JJ installation_NN1 can_VM negate_VVI the_AT benefits_NN2 you_PPY 're_VBR trying_VVG to_TO obtain_VVI ._. 
