I've been thinking about how much energy I used to keep my house cool in those hot weeks last summer. Can you tell me if it's worth the expense to add high reflectivity roofing to a home?

I'm glad you asked because, here in Vermont, the answer is most likely "no". For readers who don't know: Roofing material treated with a reflective coating can decrease a home's cooling needs by preventing some of the sun's heat from entering the building. This roofing is most worth the investment in southern climates with frequent, hot, sunny days.

In Vermont, where our hot season is short, the cost-effective approach to cooling is different. Luckily, many actions that reduce cooling costs in our climate can also reduce heating costs in the winter. The best place to start is with air sealing.

This entails sealing any holes and gaps that allow air into or out of the house, especially between living spaces and the attic. Next, make sure that you have adequate and wellinstalled attic insulation. The most effective and comprehensive way to get these jobs done is to hire a pro. I recommend calling a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor who is trained to do these jobs and to find and fix causes of high energy use throughout the house.

- Li Ling for The Home Team

I heard that you don't save energy with a CFL unless you keep it on for a few hours. I heard that this is because it uses so much energy to come on in the first place. Is this true?

It's a myth. The amount of electricity used when you turn on a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) is equivalent to the amount that a CFL uses in about five seconds of normal operation. What is true, however, is that frequently turning a CFL on and off can shorten its life. So, it's generally recommended that you use them in fixtures that are on for at least 15 minutes at a time. Regardless of how long you keep a CFL lit, it can use up to 75% less energy and last as much as 10 times longer than an incandescent light bulb.

When it's time to dispose of a CFL, remember to recycle it at a participating hardware store or designated waste facility. You see, Vermont law states that we can't use household trash or recycling for the disposal of items containing mercury. That includes CFLs, button cell batteries, and older thermostats and thermometers. It would take more than 100 CFLs to equal the amount of mercury in an old household thermometer. The mercury in a CFL can't escape unless the bulb breaks.

- Bob for The Home Team