http://www.timberhomeliving.com 15areas of the country, double-pane
windows are required by code. Triple-
panes, Low-E coatings and argon-fi lled
cavities offer even more insulating value
and could be mandated in areas like the
Northeast but may not provide a solid
return on your investment in other re-
gions. Consider this: The average house
has 26 windows. If you’re spending
$200 more per window for triple-panes
or argon fi lls, you’re spending an extra
$5,200 but may only be saving a few ex-
tra dollars on your monthly heating or
cooling bills. Remember: windows are
measured by U-value, and, unlike R-val-
ue, the lower the “U” the better.- Embrace smart-home tech. There
is no shortage of products designed to
help you manage your energy use in
an easy and affordable way. Program-
mable thermostats are one of the most
basic and effective. Programming the
thermostat to coincide with your liv-
ing patterns and controlling it via an
app when you’re away can have a sur-
prisingly signifi cant impact on your
monthly bills. Just be sure to keep your
temperature swing within 5 degrees,
otherwise the energy your HVAC will
use to get to your desired temp will
negate any savings. Other smart home
devices, including programmable
blinds and shades, home alert sys-
tems and voice/app controlled
lighting or motion-sensitive
switches can all help save en-
ergy and money.- Change your lifestyle. Develop daily
habits to conserve energy and water us-
age. Reducing water consumption by
taking a shorter shower, switching off
the lights when you leave a room and
turning down the heat/air temps on
your thermostat when you’re away are
small steps you can take to save energy
(and money). It all starts with you.
Programmable thermostats are
one of the most basic, effective
and affordable products designed
to help you easily manage your
N energy use.
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