For a “green home,” do I really need a high-efficiency furnace, high-efficiency appliances, and new windows?
Sure, new equipment will save energy, but it’s better to go low-tech according to Lane Burt, a building-energy expert with the Natural Resource Defense Council. Hire a pro to find all the leaks in your home and plug them up. This should cost much less than a new heating system, so you won’t be heating the outside of your home.