Living Greener in 2012

Jeff Thorson of Tampa’s William Ryan Homes knows green building. 

We asked him to share five of the easiest ways to live greener in 2012. 

Here they are: 
1) Install compact fluorescent bulbs.  Lighting accounts for 20% of a home’s power bill and compacts are 75% more efficient and last ten times longer.
2)  Install low-flow fixtures.  For about $10 you can save $50 to $75 per year on your water bill and $20 to $50 more on your energy bill. 
3) Install a programmable thermostat.  You can cut your energy bill by 1% to 3% for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees. “Set it and forget it,” he says.
4) Check on incentives and rebates.  Some utilities offer rebates for higher efficiency heating and cooling equipment and there are even discounts for wrapping leaky duct work that can add up to 25% to your energy bill. 
5) Eliminate VOCs from your home.  Doctors believe that the widespread use of home products containing volatile organic compounds may be partially responsible for the rise in asthma and other lung diseases.