Going green has become an industry in it’s own right. Eco-consultants like Jim Armbrust, with Green Irene, can guide you through making the best decisions for your home. He says, “We can give you the tips. we have the knowledge and we can show you, ‘let’s do this instead of this’ and save you some money along the way as you do it.”

Most changes require investing in a more expensive products up front to see savings in your monthly bills. Jim suggests starting small, with lightbulbs, “We spent about 6 hundred dollars to change out all the lightbulbs in our house and our bill went from 140 to 70 dollars in the first month.”

Electronics like a DVR and game system are still using power, even when they’re turned off. but a smart power strip can save you money and energy. Jim says, “When you leave the room, you don’t have to reach behind the entertainment center. You have a remote and you just throw the switch and the bottom 6 will turn off. ” The top two outlets stay on — for items your DVR or alarm clock. The bottom six outlets are best for things like TV’s, DVD players, and lights. The smart strip costs 55 dollars and can save you almost as much in just one month.

This shower head lets the cold water run… then stops when the water hits your desired temperature. When you’re ready to hop in, pull the cord and the hot water starts immediately. It costs less than 50 bucks and can save you more than 2 hundred every year. It does decrease your water pressure. Do your homework before you head to the store so you’ll be happy with the pressure. Jim says, “If you know what you’re looking for, you can barely tell.”

Jim says if you green your whole home, it usually takes about a year to get back your investment.

Excerpted from WHPTV.