Updating your client’s house to make it more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly requires educating them on a few upgrades. Installing a solar electrical system or replacing hot water tanks can set them back thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.

They may not save enough money on these types of upgrades to cover their investment for decades. However, there are several quick and inexpensive green upgrades they can make that will start paying off quickly.

1. Install Faucet Aerators – $10

   An aerator is a device that fits on or into the end of a faucet. It forces water through tiny holes, restricting water flow but making the flow feel stronger. It can be used on either kitchen or bathroom sinks and can be found in water-saving shower heads. An aerator can cost as little as $10 and can lower water use by up to 50%. Using less water also means less energy to heat the water, resulting in further savings.

2. Buy Compact Florescent Light Bulbs – $3 Each

   Changing light bulbs from incandescent to compact florescent is the easiest green switch of all. Compact Florescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) are inexpensive and can save up to $40 over the course of their lifetime. They last 10 times longer than incandescent and use much less electricity. According to Energy Star, CFLs use up to 75% less energy than normal incandescent bulbs. Replacing all old light bulbs immediately with CFLs saves the most.

3. Replace an Old Dishwasher – $300

   According to Energy Star, if you replace a dishwasher built before 1994 with a new Energy Star model, you will save 10 gallons of water per cycle. At one cycle a day, that’s 3,650 gallons of water per year. New energy-efficient dishwashers start at around $300. Between the cost of the water and of heating it for the dishwasher, payback on this upgrade can be achieved in about three to four years.

4. Install Ceiling Fans – $50

   Ceiling fans are popular in the south but not as common in cooler climates. However, they can make both your air conditioner and heat unit operate more efficiently. Ceiling fans circulate the air in the house, drawing the cool air from the air conditioner and distributing it around the house. They also push warm air from the heat pump down from the ceiling back into the living space to reduce the amount of time the furnace has to run.

The Bottom Line

Let you customers know that going green isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. There are many inexpensive and cost-effective changes that make a noticeable difference. Once the savings from these changes start accumulating, they can be used to start investing in larger upgrades.

Original article found on SFGate

Public awareness of environmental concerns is at an all-time high. People are participating in recycling programs, buying hybrid cars, building green homes and looking for ways to go green in every aspect of their lives. You can help homeowners who want to do their part too, but who are often discouraged by the high cost of going green.

Think Small

Going green isn’t an all or nothing effort. By helping homeowners make small steps over time, you can move their house in a greener direction without breaking their budget. A half-dozen things that can be done right now are listed below.

• Light Bulbs

  Replacing existing light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs is a simple and easy way to kick off their effort at going green. While buying the bulb will cost you a lot more money up front, we’re still talking a cash outlay of less than $5, and the long-term savings are worth the expense. Using a 15-watt compact fluorescent instead of a standard 60-watt light bulb can save you about $30 over a bulb’s lifetime.
  It will also put them ahead of the curve, as the process of phasing out the use of incandescent lights has begun.

• Insulation

  Reducing the amount of energy that a house uses is a great way to go green. Insulation, weather stripping and caulking can help homeowners reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool their home, and reduce their monthly bills. Local governments often provide low- or no-cost programs that can help insulate a home.

• Water

  If a new shower head, faucet or toilet is needed, a low-flow model can help you advance efforts to go green.

• Windows

  Much of the heat loss that occurs from a home literally goes right out the window. When it’s time to replace old windows, energy efficient windows are the logical choice.

Original article – Financial Edge