I have been a big proponent of what I call "common sense green". I hate to see people do things for the sake of being green - but are not really green at all. Anyway I came across some useful information on the fine homebuilding blog regarding some green "myths". The article identifies a number of common strategies that do not necessarily save you much energy. Those include the following:
- furnace tune ups
- sizing furnace correctly (not oversizing)
- basement duct sealing
- floor insulation
- caulking and weatherstripping
- window replacements
- tankless gas water heaters
- cooling your attic
- changing furnace filters monthly
- opening your refrigerator quickly
- using drapes to insulate windows
You should read the entire article if you want further information. See the following link:
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/8954/how-not-to-save-energy