From the Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Star...
Save with Winter Energy-Efficiency Tips
In the face of higher energy bills this winter, the Environmental Protection Agency encourages everyone to be more energy efficient. The agency recommends five places to look and practical advice for home energy savings: sealing and insulating; heating efficiently; changing lights; powering down home electronics; and looking for the Energy Star on new products.
The average American household spends $1500 annually on energy bills — a number that may go up as much as 50 percent this year. Almost half of that energy goes to heating and cooling your home. Lighting and appliances represent about a quarter and home electronic products like computers, TVs and cell phone chargers take a significant and growing share of what is left. There are ways to become more energy efficient in all these areas. Click on the links below for specific options on reducing your energy costs.
- Seal up your home. One of the most cost effective ways to reduce energy bills is to air-seal holes, cracks and openings in your home and then add insulation to stop the flow of heat through the walls and ceiling.
- Heat your home wisely. Your heating system works hard during the winter to keep you warm. When it is working at top performance and your heating ducts are delivering warm air to your rooms effectively, you will be more comfortable and save money. EPA offers five suggestions on using your heating system efficiently.
- Change a light. Lighting your home can represent 20 percent of your electricity bill and is one of the easiest places to start saving energy. If every household changed a light to an Energy Star® one, together we'd save enough energy to light 7 million homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 1 million cars. Replace the five most frequently used lights, or the bulbs in them, with one's that have earned the Energy Star®, and save more than $60 each year in energy costs.
- Power down computers and electronics products when not in use. Computers and other electronics account for an increasing energy load in most homes, and often use energy even when switched off.
- Look for many products that have earned the Energy Star®. The government's Energy Star® label is on more than 40 different kinds of products the home, including lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances. Energy Star® qualifying products provide the features and performance you want while helping you save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency also offers a complete list of home energy-efficiency tips.
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