Green home mantras for March (and the rest of the year)

I'm a firm believer that one can accomplish great things without being brilliant; but just by giving proper attention and focus. I hope these meditations planted in your ear in early spring will lead you toward environmental and energy-efficient enlightenment and a very fruitful year.

Biobased "tofu" spray foam in the basement wall bays and recycled denim insulation in the ceiling help keep this house's temperature where it should be.

While each house and the people living in it are different, and a site-specific analysis is always helpful (especially for more comprehensive planning), there are some pretty well-known rules of thumb that can help guide you. Repeat these green home mantras...

Conservation is better than efficiency

Sealing gaps is better than installing insulation

Insulation is better than efficiency

Efficiency is better than renewables

Corn stoves are better than wind

Wind is better than solar

Cows, cars, kids, construction

Conservation is better than efficiency**

Conservation is better than efficiency (and all the rest of the items below) because it costs you nothing and every time you don't use something it saves you more than if you have the latest, greatest efficient devices. You can start right away; no tools, materials or gadgets necessary. Adjust or program that thermostat, turn down the water heater, use less (hot) water, turn off lights, unplug glowing "vampire" appliances and consider waking closer to sunrise and sleeping closer to sunset. You'll reduce how much artificial light you use AND probably get more rest.

Sealing gaps is better than installing insulation

Sealing gaps is better than installing insulation because the insulating value (R-value) of a gap is zero. If you don't close that up, it won't matter much how efficient your wall or roof insulation is. Use caulk, foam, and weather stripping to reduce and eliminate air infiltration and gain at LEAST the insulating value of whatever existing wall or roof that you have.

Insulation is better than efficiency

Insulation is better than efficiency since you want to maintain whatever temperature you set, instead of letting your heat (or coolth) radiate away from the house. Even if you have a super efficient furnace you don't want to be very efficient at heating the outdoors. Find out where insulation is missing, damaged or installed below recommended amounts...then re-insulate above the recommended amounts. Here is a particular case where professional insulation contractors can really pay for themselves, even if you're willing to do the work. (You can probably handle putting a jacket around the water heater and insulating hot water pipes.)

Efficiency is better than renewables**

Efficiency is better than renewable energy since it costs less to save energy with efficient lights, appliances and HVAC systems than it does to produce that energy from renewable sources. Replace old, inefficient bulbs and appliances with the highest rated EnergyStar products, not just the basic ones. Consider smaller, more efficient appliances and when getting new HVAC components, insist that they are sized properly for your NEWLY sealed and insulated house (see above).

Corn stoves are better than wind

Corn stoves are better than wind power when looking into renewable fuels. Not only does a corn stove replace a larger chunk of your energy use (heating), it also costs less than traditional natural gas and oil fuels. If you want to pay a little extra for a fancy stove or home-delivered corn, you won't save much money, but you'll still reduce your carbon footprint significantly. (Currently wind power costs a bit more, but we're working to change that.)

Wind is better than solar

Wind is better than solar because it's so easy to sign up for 100 percent wind power delivered to your house. You don't need an unshaded and ideally sloped and oriented roof, to wait for installation, or to apply for the many solar grants and tax credits available. You can buy 100 percent wind power through your electric bill. After you have that and you've worked on conservation and efficiency, then you should look into solar hot water or electricity (PV).

**Two caveats

1. Some would argue that efficiency is better than conservation since efficiency doesn't depend on a person or family members remembering to do something, and when you sell your house the next owner automatically saves energy even if they aren't particularly eco-minded.
2. Corn stoves and wind power are actually such easy (and, in the case of corn, cheaper) steps that they are renewable energy steps that could be done before conservation, air sealing, insulation and efficiency.

Cows, cars, kids, construction

To reiterate the mantra from my column last May, it should be noted that green homes and buildings are one of the top four biggest negative environmental impacts we have as a society.

However, along with the biggest impact we also have the greatest opportunity to reduce our oversized footprints by reducing meat consumption, limiting car driving, and moderating how we have kids and how many we have.

To truly have a big impact you need to work on at least a couple of those topics, but I've found that working on the home is the one with the least perceived sacrifice and the most personal benefit. So, go ahead: Start small, bottom-line the big stuff and be sure to celebrate your success!

Sat Jiwan Iklé-Khalsa is a recent green home renovator and a green building/renovation consultant. Find past articles, local green building stores, info, and resources, including annotated green house renovation photos and services, at: www.Truthful-Living.com or call 301.891.8891

For latest green articles and discussion visit the Green Voice blog: www.takoma.com/green