Making your home more energy efficient doesn't have to be expensive. There are a number of quick, inexpensive changes that you can make to green up and save money.

Plastic Window Insulation

Cost < $10.00

Inexpensive and easy to install shrink film can keep your heat from flying out the window this winter. Window insulation kits are typically in stock at home supply and hardware stores, and, for less than ten dollars, you can usually get a kit that will insulate 5 standard size windows or at least one extra large window. See the Suite101 article Plastic Window Insulation for specific instructions on how to install this efficient money saver.

Ductwork around Your Furnace

Cost < $2.00

Because heating and cooling duct systems expand and contract you will often see that the duct close to your furnace will have a section that is not made of metal, but of flex duct area made of a cloth/plastic blend. In older systems these sections often have holes or tears, releasing your hard earned heat into your furnace room.

This green fix is as easy as purchasing a roll of duct tape for a couple of dollars and patching the torn areas. Sounds simple, but, particularly if you have large holes in these flexible areas, this quick fix can save you a bundle.

Sufficient Insulation in Attic

Cost is variable depending on the amount needed, but for do-it-yourself insulation of the attic space of an average home, insulation would cost approximately one to three hundred dollars.

Well-insulated attic space will protect your home from both the heat of summer and the cold of winter, and it is very easy to install yourself. Just be sure to wear a disposable jumpsuit and a dust mask.

Cellulose insulation is very cost-effective and environmentally friendly. This recycled, organic, loose-fill insulation is blown into walls and attics. It is usually composed of recycled newspaper which has been treated with a flame retardant. Depending on the amount of insulation that you purchase, most home supply stores will either allow you to use the blower at no cost or will charge you a nominal rental fee that is well worth it.

Fiberglass roll insulation is available in short batts for use in tight spaces as well as longer stretches that will quickly cover open spaces. It can even be purchased completely wrapped in plastic sheathing to allow for itch-free installation.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Cost ~ $4 - $10.00 each

Although they don’t provide the warm, comfy glow of an incandescent bulb, their efficiency provides the warm comfy feel of money in the bank. The government’s Energy Star website asserts that by just replacing one incandescent with a compact fluorescent bulb, “we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.”

What does this mean to your pocket book? Compact fluorescents use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last nearly 10 times longer. This can save you about $30 in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime. Incandescent bulbs are so wasteful because they lose a huge amount of energy through heat. Fluorescents produce 1/3 the heat of an incandescent, so, during the warmer months, fluorescents can help reduce your cooling bill.

And Of Course…

Turn down your heat or air conditioning when you are not in the house, and, when you are home, close the vents in rooms that are not used.

More Low-Cost Energy-Efficient Changes

For more information on quick green home fixes that you can make, see the Suite 101 article Home Energy Savings and the U.S Government’s Energy Star website. For other doable home improvement projects, look to Boy’s Room Decorating Ideas and Chalkboard Paint Ideas.