Make your home eco-friendly, cut utility bills

Each year, U.S. households account for 21 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions. Take advantage of government subsidies for renovating existing homes by adding insulation, new heating equipment or even solar panels. It’s cheaper and easier now than it’s ever been before to lower your utility bills by a third or more. First off in the category of improving energy efficiency is to set up an energy audit – typically a room-by-room inspection to quickly reveal the weakest link the chain, according to Mark Price, a sustainability specialist with building systems consultants Steven Winter Associates in Maynard. Often the problem is to stop leaking air, which is both inefficient and costly for a homeowner. To continue reading this list of cost-saving tips, click here.