| There always seems to be two different camps | | | | steel appliances popular these days, you can make |
| among people considering improvement projects | | | | something of a fashion statement by upgrading your |
| around the house. On one side, there are the people | | | | old refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave. At the |
| who are thinking about making a home look more | | | | same time, you are bound to save money on every |
| beautiful. On the other side of the fence, there are the | | | | energy bill, as these new models are far superior to |
| people who are less concerned with presentation; | | | | their older counterparts in terms of energy efficiency. If |
| instead, they are preoccupied with solutions which will | | | | you can imagine having your drinks colder, your kitchen |
| help save energy. While each side has its pros and | | | | more attractive and your energy bills lower, you'll see |
| cons, there are a number of home improvement jobs | | | | why new appliances are a great idea. |
| to tackle which both beautify and conserve energy. | | | | 4. A/C wall units. While the sight of one of your wall |
| 1. Replacement windows. Perhaps the biggest energy | | | | unit air conditioners may be inviting on a scalding |
| guzzlers around the house are the old windows that | | | | summer's day, they will lose their appeal when you see |
| have gone out of style and begun to make your | | | | how much energy they use to cool a room for a few |
| house look rundown. Not that there is anything about | | | | minutes. Modern split A/C units do a much better job |
| windows which require energy; they simply allow heat | | | | at cooling while using a lot less electricity. Match your |
| out (and in) and make your furnace and the other | | | | unit to the interior and exterior décor of whatever |
| HVAC equipment work overtime. The solution to these | | | | room you need to upgrade the air conditioning unit. |
| windows is simply to get them out the first opportunity | | | | 5. The washer and dryer. Washers and dryers |
| you get and replace them with the energy efficient | | | | continue to be on the list of energy-saving ideas. It is |
| models now in circulation. | | | | recommended that you run your washer and dryer in |
| 2. Vinyl siding. When you deal with old wooden plank | | | | the evening hours, as it is easier for the energy to be |
| siding, the problems encountered every winter season | | | | accessed at these hours. When there is less of a |
| could make it difficult to maintain this exterior and look | | | | demand, the overall power source is not tapped as |
| ahead to the future. Vinyl siding options are both | | | | much. Of course, getting a new washer and dryer will |
| convenient and inexpensive, solving the problems with | | | | usually lead to less energy use merely because it is an |
| wood and making it easier to control energy costs. | | | | upgrade on the old technology. Besides that, the latest |
| Better yet, the amount of maintenance involve with | | | | models are very attractive, much like refrigerators or |
| vinyl is minimal at most. | | | | dishwashers. |
| 3. New kitchen appliances. With the type of stainless | | | | |