UPGRADING A HOME TO BE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT IS EASIER THAN EVER. IN TONIGHT'S TEXOMA GREEN REPORT ERIN SHRYOCK SHOWS WHY THE HARD PART MIGHT BE FIGURING OUT WHICH HOMES ON YOUR BLOCK HAVEN'T ALREADY GONE GREEN.
This home doesn't look much different than others in the neighborhood. But there is one big difference. It's making eighty-perecent of its own power.
"What excites me is that we have a house that basically looks like a normal house that isn't high tech or new age" says Pete McKechnie of Mountain view Builders.
The deck was made of recycled milk jugs, soda bottles and plastic bags. Solar panels produce electricity and heat the water.
"It doesn't look like some people's idea of a solar house. It's just a house" says McKechnie.
It's not as easy to ignore the wind turbine in the backyard. But the neighbors aren't complaining. When the house makes too much energy it goes through a grid to power the home next door.
McKechnie went on to say "It's a really cool example of what you're average american can do to be less dependent on foreign oil and independently generate some of your own energy."
Depending on your budget, you can start small or go for it and tackle big projects.
Diana Godman who uses wind turbines said "I hope people start to realize that you need to do something ...You can't just let someone else do it and we're lower middle class and we're doing something about it."
No matter what you spend there's nothing but upside potential. You'll help save the environment and your money.
THE ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR BUILDING A HOME LIKE YOU JUST SAW RUN ABOUT FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. THAT INVESTMENT COULD PAY FOR ITSELF IN TEN YEARS. I'M ERIN SHRYOCK AND THAT'S TEXOMA GREEN BACK TO YOU.