Did you know
that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility
bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted.
And each year, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home
puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. And as for
the road, transportation accounts for 67% of all U.S. oil consumption.
The good news is that there is a lot you can do to save energy and
money at home and in your car. Start making small changes today (see
sidebar). To cut your energy use up
to 25%, see the Long-Term Savings Tips throughout this booklet.
The key to achieving these savings in your home is a whole-house energy
efficiency plan. To take a whole-house approach, view your home as an
energy system with interdependent parts. For
example, your heating system is not just a furnace—it’s a
heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat
throughout your home using a network of ducts. Even a top-of-theline,
energy-efficient furnace will waste
a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are not
properly sealed and insulated. Taking a wholehouse approach to saving
energy ensures that dollars you invest to save energy are spent wisely.
Energy-efficient improvements not only make your home more comfortable, they can yield long-term financial rewards.
Reduced utility bills more than make up for the higher price of
energy-efficient appliances and improvements over their lifetimes. In
addition, your home could bring in a higher price when you sell. |
Tips to Save Energy Today
Easy low-cost and no-cost
ways to save energy.
• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably
cool in the summer.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power
strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs
and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products.
ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S.
Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Visit www.energysavers.gov for more energy-saving ideas. |
