Health & Fitness

5 Best Ways to Go Zero-Energy At Home

Savings: Up to 100 percent of your energy bill. It pays for itself in about five years.


4 WATER HARVESTER

What: The BRAE Complete Rainwater Solution, a below-ground polyethylene tank that varies in size depending on your household needs. braewater.com

How it works: The technology couldn’t be simpler. Rainwater is collected in your roof gutters and channeled into an underground tank. It is filtered and then delivered back to your house. The BRAE system flushes away the first few minutes of rain (the most polluted), has enough storage capacity to see you through a three-month draught, and pressurizes the water enough for power showers and car washing.

Cost: Starts at $850

Savings: Up to 60 percent off your water bill


5 GEOTHERMAL WELL

What: The WaterFurnace Geothermal Comfort System is a loop of pipe buried in your yard in a trench, either 400 feet horizontally or 300 feet vertically, depending on the size of your property. waterfurnace.com