When Richard Ames decided to embrace earth-friendly living, he did not wade slowly into the shallow end of home efficiency improvements. Instead he embarked on an aggressive seven-year campaign to retrofit his 96-year-old home — an effort he says cut his annual energy costs by nearly $6,000 and reduced his fossil-fuel consumption by more than 80 percent.

In 2003, at the end of the first four seasons in his 3,200-square-foot home in Jaffrey Center, Ames took a close look at energy costs for the “dim and drafty” building. By his estimates, his home consumed 322 million British Thermal Units, or BTUs, the equivalent of more than 2,300 gallons of heating oil. The numbers were unacceptable, said Ames, particularly in the larger context of global warming.

“We did what we did because we were concerned about the high use of fossil fuels, both nationally and in our own situation,” said Ames.

The first step was to insulate the home and eliminate drafts, which required a new roof, insulation, and new doors and windows. In the course of renovations, a 335-square- foot passive solar porch was added to the southwest corner of the home. With large floor-to-ceiling windows, the porch heats itself year-round and sends plenty of warmth into a nearby bedroom. The Ameses replaced an electric clothes dryer with a good old-fashioned clothesline and got in the habit of unplugging unused appliances. Sub-meters were installed to gauge energy use in each area of the home.

In addition to a central wood stove, a new and more efficient oil-fired boiler was installed and used for a few years until an electric boiler was found to be even more efficient. However, the electric unit has not been used much since the installation of three 4 foot by 8 foot solar hot water collectors on the roof. Even in short and cloudy winter days, the system provides more than half of the hot water needed in the home. During a recent visit from children, grandchildren and other relatives, Ames said he was pleased to find the solar hot water collectors provided more than enough for numerous showers.

A 24-panel, 360-square-foot solar photovoltaic array on the garage generates electricity. Thanks to a monitoring system on the array, Ames knows the solar panels have prevented 197,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being sent into the atmosphere.

As a result of these modifications — and despite adding 335 square feet of heated living space — Ames’s home now consumes just 63 million BTUs per year, more than 80 percent less than when he first moved in. Overall energy use is down 44 percent.

Based on the home’s oil and utility consumption rates in 2003, Ames saved more than $5,950 in the past year. If oil and electricity costs continue to climb, Ames predicts savings of $6,400 in the coming year. Because the initial cost of the efficiency projects were tied up in general improvements to the home, Ames said it would be difficult to isolate his efficiency expenses.

“The important thing is to demonstrate that you can save,” said Ames. “What you spend to do that will vary greatly.”

Not only is every home and every family different, said Ames, the cost and effectiveness of the technology changes rapidly. In addition, government incentive programs come and go and can lead to substantial savings for the installation of solar arrays and other improvements. But although they lead to dramatic savings, the cost of such projects remains significant.

“It’s still a long-term proposition,” said Ames, who said such improvements might not be ideal for someone who is unsure how long they will stay in a home. “But if you have the long-term view, you’re going to save money.”

For instance, the solar panel on Ames’s roof is tied to the grid and Ames receives credit for the excess electricity it generates. The balance of credit is reflected on Ames’s energy bill, which isn’t really a bill during sunny summer days. He estimates the array will pay for itself in 15 years.

“The cost of electricity is going up faster than inflation,” he added. “So this is an inflation-proof investment.”

Ames chairs the Jaffrey Energy Committee to stay involved in municipal conversations surrounding efficiency efforts. He encourages creative lending opportunities from banks, which he suspects don’t fully understand the profitability of such investments. And he encourages skeptical or curious homeowners to solicit a home energy audit.

Generally, however, Ames said he tries not to proselytize.

“For some people, their own financial situation might be what motivates them. For other people, it would be driven by the global situation,” said Ames. “I hope that what I’ve been able to do will at least help other people see there are ways to make us less dependent on burning fossil fuels.”