Meet and connect with


like-minded entrepreneurs in the natural health and green living fields.


Join us for the Natural Awakenings Healthy Living, Healthy Planet


Networking Event


Tuesday, January 17 Back To Earth


1 South Main St., Nyack


Orange County location will resume soon


10:30 am $10 per person


For more info, contact Deborah Turner at 480-9006 or


publisher@naturalawakeningsro.com T


he latest edition of the Consumer Guide to Home


by Brita Belli


Energy Savings reports that heating costs represent the larg- est residential energy expense—35 to 50 percent—of annual energy bills. Fortu- nately, homeowners have many fuel- and money-saving options superior to turning up the thermostat on an inefficient gas- or oil-fueled furnace or boiler, using an electric space heater or throwing more logs into the old fireplace. Before buying any major home


heating equipment, it makes sense to first fix leaks. Beef up insulation; seal places where heat typically escapes— around windows and doors, dryer vents and cable and phone lines—and make sure heating ducts and pipes are working properly. Good ventilation is also vital in an air-sealed home, both to control moisture and prevent build-up of indoor pollutants. Once the home is sealed against unwanted heat loss and maintains


34 Rockland & Orange Counties naturalawakeningsro.com


Outdated furnaces and boilers are bad news for


the environment,


accounting for about 12 percent of U.S. sulfur dioxide and nitrogen


oxide emissions.


~ Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings


regular circulation of fresh air, take bigger energy-saving steps. Here are five options to consider, based on local climate, home size and budget. Air-source heat


pump: Because above- ground heat pumps transfer heat—from in- side to outside or vice versa—rather than create it, like a con- ventional heating and air-conditioning unit, they can provide up to four times the amount


of energy they consume, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). They also help dehumidify indoor air, reducing the need for air conditioning in warm months. The DOE notes that such devices


can cut energy use by 30 to 40 percent in homes that use electric heat in mod- erate climates. However, they are not a good option for cold climates, where the amount of heat easily drawn from the outdoors is greatly diminished. Geothermal heat pump: Geother-


mal or ground-source heat pumps in- volve loops of pipe buried in four-foot-


Energy-efficient soapstone fireplace


greenliving


SMART HEATING


OPTIONS Stay Warm and $ave


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