Using less energy saves your family money and helps prevent climate change. Here are some energy saving tips to consider.
Energy Saving Tips
1. Light Bulbs – replace the incandescent bulbs in your home with ENERGY STAR certified bulbs. An ENERGY STAR certified light bulb uses about 75%less energy and lasts 10-25 times longer.
2. Electronics – use ENERGY STAR Certified DVD players in your home and turn the player off when you’re not using it. If every TV, DVD, and home theater system purchased in the U.S. were certified, we would prevent more than 2.2 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
3. Heating – set your family’s home thermostats a few degrees lower. For each one-degree change, your family can save up to 5% on your home’s heating and cooling costs!
4. Energy Use – it costs almost $20 a year to leave one light on for 8 hours a day. Turn off lights when you’re not in the room or don’t need them.This is one of the easiest ways to start saving.
5. Laundry – it costs about $.37 just to turn ON a washer or dryer. So waiting until you have a full load of laundry before turning it on can make a huge impact on saving energy in your family’s home. Also, using machines like washers, dryers, and dishwashers after 8 p.m., or during “off-peak hours,”can save money as well.
6. Natural Light – instead of turning on the lights, open your blinds or curtains on sunny winter days to let the sun shine into your home.
7. Water Heating – save hot water by taking short showers instead of baths. Set your water heater thermostat at 120 degrees F or lower. This way you’ll reduce the amount of energy it takes to produce and maintain your hot water by not overheating it.
8. Weatherizing – check for signs of air leakage around windows and doors. Then use caulk and weather-stripping to stop the leaks.
9. Recycle Old Refrigerators – if you have an older refrigerator in your basement or garage, it could be costing your family nearly $300 per year to run it. Recycling it has the added advantage of ensuring that the refrigerants and other components are removed and properly recycled.
10. Computers – enable your computer and monitor to sleep while not in use. Check to ensure your power management settings are activated by following a couple of simple steps. If all U.S. homes power-managed computers and monitors, we would prevent more than 13 billion pounds of GHG emissions.
