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Dave: Hi! I am David Epstein this is Growing Wisdom and today we are going to bring in Bill Stack who is from NSTAR. We are going to talk about ways you can save some energy inside and make your house more energy efficient and use plant as well to do that. So, as you see Bill is coming in now, hey Bill how are you?
Bill: Great David.
Dave: It is great to talk to you on the phone the other day.
Bill: Thank you.
Dave: So, you were telling me that you know there are certain things that we can do both you things the people might think about like get better windows and installation and all of that stuff but I is also stop with plants that we can do to really helps our home to be a little bit more energy efficient.
Bill: That is right. If you are doing any planting you might want of plants residuals trees on the south sides of your home so during the summer months. You have the shade to keep your house cold and you can assume what works is that hour is long to save you there and then conversely in what the time at leaves are off and you have the bright sun coming in to keep your house warm to save money and your energy builds in.
Dave: We have got especially here in this part of the country winds in the winter the colder winds come from the north and other part of the country that make from the different direction. So what would you advice in terms of planting to help mitigate that strong window a little bit?
Bill: We recommend evergreens Arborvitaes, Capitata Yews if you have them a Hemlocks.
Dave: You want to look at some of my windows, can we look at them from the outside and so to see you know maybe what you think I should be doing.
Bill: Sure.
Dave: All right, this is an old window; I mean this is 50 years old at this point. So, Bill much energy can replacing all your windows save?
Bill: Just by changing out your windows can save up to 15% on your heating costs because of the fact that glass in the window frames at the south a more efficient than ever.
Dave: Those are regular incandescent bulbs and you are recommending replacing them.
Bill: Absolutely, if you can use that compact incandescent light wherever have incandescent bulb, if you have a light on for 46 hours each day by changing one of this to save six to seven lights in your home or your outside lights you can save up to $20.00 on your electric bill each month.
Dave: I get this e-mails that you know this is the most dangerous thing on the planet, it is got mercury in it. Let us start at the record straight.
Bill: I heard one for as to see in conference there is less mercury on the light bulb than between a can of tuna fish.
Dave: Tell me about the air conditioner placement?
Bill: Sure, a roomy air conditioner should always try to if possible on the north side of your home.
Dave: And finally, some of the energy companies around the country will actually comes to peoples home and doing audit. So, you just want to get on the list, right?
Bill: Right, you get on the list and eventually will get to you but right now the demand is great so they should expect a sort amount of waiting time.
Dave: I really appreciate your time; so we have talked all the way from putting Arborvitaes on the windy side of your house to take you air condition on the winter. This is what you can do to make your home more energy efficient and help the planet. Come back every week for all of our tips and some help at GrowingWisdom.com
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