Remember the Earth is the only home we have. The words “ecology” and “economy” both come from the Greek word “oikos,” which means home. Taking care of our ecology and our economy together is nothing more than good housekeeping! As the Holy Father said: “Once we start to think about the kind of world we are leaving to future generations, we look at things differently; we realize that the world is a gift which we have freely received and must share with others.”

When buying a house, consider its energy usage and energy efficiency. Ask your realtor to show you energy efficient homes, and ask about a prospective home’s energy use and efficiency. If possible, consider buying a LEED-certified Home. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). 

Even in the hottest times of summer, night-time temperatures in most of Massachusetts dip into the mid-60s and sometimes lower. On those nights, instead of spending money to run the air conditioning unit, why not use your windows and ceiling fans to bring in cool night air? Don’t forget about using screens for upstairs windows, and for all your windows consider installing safety pins in the window sashes so that they can be safely locked to open no more than six inches at night for cross-ventilation. Cool night air is free!

Depending on where you live, consider line-drying some of your clothes in summer. Clothes dryers are usually the most energy-intensive home appliance. Line-drying just a few loads each week can significantly reduce your energy use and save money. Line-drying also saves money on clothes, since they last longer if you don’t tumble them in a hot dryer. If you live in a subdivision, be sure to check with your Homeowners Association to see if line-drying is allowed.