Being Green doesn't mean you have to freeze. In an average home, adjusting the temperature by 3 degrees year round can save you $144 a year and reduce that home's CO2 emissions by 2683 pounds. According to the Department of Energy, reducing your home's temperature by one degree in the winter will you save you 5% on your energy bill. That's $40 a year for every degree. A great way to save money and reduce your CO2 emissions are programmable thermostats so read on...

PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS

Programmable thermostats allow you to automatically turn your heat down when you are at work or sleeping. They can be set to turn the heat back on at any time. For example, let's say you leave for work at 8am and usually arrive home again at 6pm. A programmable thermostat can be set to turn your heat down at 8am and back on again at 5pm so your home is warm when you arrive home. They cost about $70 but can save you over $150 a year in energy costs. Programmable thermostats are available at any major hardware store, very easy to install, and easy to operate.

THE FACTS

Our homes account for more than 20 percent of the our national energy demand and produce more than 20 percent of our national carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, the average home emits twice as much CO2 as the average car.