Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home
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Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home “Technological advances and the development of energy-efficient products can help American families save a lot of money. Today, American families can choose refrigerators that use the same amount of power as a 75-watt light bulb, high efficiency light bulbs that last longer and require less electricity than traditional ones, and energy- efficient windows that can keep hot and cold air in and prevent hard-earned dollars from flowing out. Thanks to the development of innovative technologies, American families can make better energy choices.” – President George W. Bush “High energy costs can really pinch American families. While the Department of Energy is working hard to develop new technologies to improve the efficiency of American homes and buildings over the long term, today, there are simple, inexpensive steps families can take to re- duce their heating and cooling costs. I hope you will find this booklet helpful in making energy choices that are right for you and your family. As this booklet shows, when it comes to energy savings, a little effort can go a long way.” – Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman Contents 1 Save Energy and Money Today 2 Your Home’s Energy Use 4 Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks 10 Heating and Cooling 16 Water Heating 18 Windows 20 Lighting 22 Appliances 29 Home Office and Home Electronics 31 Driving and Car Maintenance 32 Renewable Energy 33 References To learn more about DOE programs in energy efficiency and renewable energy, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s web site atwww.eere.energy.go v Save Energy and Money Today id you know that the typical saving energy include tips you can use U.S. family spends more than today, throughout your home—from D $1,600 a year on home utility the roof, walls, and insulation that bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of enclose it to the appliances and lights that energy is wasted. And electricity inside. Please take a few moments to generated by fossil fuels for a single read the valuable tips in this booklet to home puts more carbon dioxide into the start saving energy and money today. air than two average cars. And as for the road, transportation accounts for 66% of Tips to Save Energy Today all U.S. oil consumption. The good news Easy low-cost and no-cost is that there is a lot you can do to save ways to save energy. energy and money at home and in your car. Start making small changes today • Set your thermostat comfortably (see sidebar). To cut your energy use up low in the winter and comfortably to 25%, see the Long-Term Savings Tips high in the summer. Install a throughout this booklet. programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and The key to achieving these savings in cooling system. your home is a whole-house energy • Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. efficiency plan. To take a whole-house • Air dry dishes instead of using your approach, view your home as an energy dishwasher’s drying cycle. system with interdependent parts. For • Turn off your computer and monitor example, your heating system is not just when not in use. a furnace—it’s a heat-delivery system • Plug home electronics, such as TVs that starts at the furnace and delivers and DVD players, into power strips; heat throughout your home using a turn the power strips off when the network of ducts. Even a top-of-the-line, equipment is not in use (TVs and energy-efficient furnace will burn a lot DVDs in standby mode still use of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, several watts of power). and doors are not insulated and leak. Taking a whole-house approach to • Lower the thermostat on your saving energy ensures that dollars you hot water heater to 20°F. invest to save energy are spent wisely. • Take short showers instead of baths. • Wash only full loads of dishes and Energy-efficient improvements not only clothes. Today make your home more comfortable, they • Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving can yield long-term financial rewards. (speeding, rapid acceleration and Reduced utility bills more than make up braking) wastes gasoline. Money for the higher price of energy-efficient • Look for the ENERGY STAR® label appliances and improvements over their and on home appliances and products. lifetimes. In addition, your home could ENERGY STAR products meet strict bring in a higher price when you sell. efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. This booklet shows you how easy it is to Environmental Protection Agency and Energy reduce your energy use at home and on the U.S. Department of Energy. the road. The easy, practical solutions for Save Your Home’s Energy Use he first step to taking a whole- switches, and electrical outlets that can Thouse energy efficiency approach leak air into or out of your home. is to find out which parts of your • Check for open fireplace dampers. house use the most energy. A home energy audit will pinpoint those • Make sure your appliances and heating areas and suggest the most effective and cooling systems are properly measures for cutting your energy maintained. Check your owner’s costs. You can conduct a simple manuals for the recommended home energy audit yourself, you can maintenance. contact your local utility, or you can • Study your family’s lighting needs call an independent energy auditor for and use patterns, paying special a more comprehensive examination. attention to high-use areas such as For more information about home the living room, kitchen, and outside energy audits, including free tools and lighting. Look for ways to use lighting calculators, visit www.energysavers. controls—like occupancy sensors, gov or www.natresnet.org/resources/ dimmers, or timers—to reduce lighting consumer/default.htm. energy use, and replace standard (also called incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps. Formulating Your Plan After you have identified where your home is losing energy, assign priorities by asking yourself a few important questions: • How much money do you spend on energy? • Where are your greatest energy losses? • How long will it take for an investment in energy efficiency to pay How We Use Energy in Our Homes for itself in energy cost savings? Heating accounts for the biggest chunk of a typical utility bill. • Do the energy-saving measures Source: 2005 Buildings Energy Data Book, Table 4.2.1., provide additional benefits that 2003 energy cost data. are important to you (for example, Energy Auditing Tips increased comfort from installing • Check the insulation levels in your Use double-paned, efficient windows)? attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. • How long do you plan to own your Visit www.energysavers.gov for current home? Energy instructions on checking your • Can you do the job yourself or insulation levels. will you need to hire a contractor? • Check for holes or cracks around Home’s • What is your budget and how your walls, ceilings, windows, much time do you have to spend on doors, light and plumbing fixtures, Your maintenance and repair? 2 Once you assign priorities to your energy Tips for Finding a Contractor needs, you can form a whole house efficiency plan. Your plan will provide • Ask neighbors and friends for you with a strategy for making smart recommendations purchases and home improvements that • Look in the Yellow Pages maximize energy efficiency and save the • Focus on local companies most money. • Look for licensed, insured contractors Another option is to get the advice of a professional. Many utilities conduct • Get three bids with details in writing energy audits for free or for a small • Ask about previous experience charge. For a fee, a professional • Check references contractor will analyze how well • Check with the Better Business your home’s energy systems work Bureau together and compare the analysis to your utility bills. He or she will use a variety of equipment such as blower effective energy improvements doors, infrared cameras, and surface and enhanced comfort and safety. thermometers to find leaks and drafts. A good contractor will also calculate After gathering information about your the return on your investment in high- home, the contractor or auditor will give efficiency equipment compared with you a list of recommendations for cost- standard equipment. 997, Infraspection Institute, Inc., Shelburne, VT Shelburne, Inc., Infraspection Institute, 997, Use Energy Thermogram/photograph copyright Cool Hot Heat Loss from a House A picture is worth...in this case, lost heating dollars. This thermal photograph shows heat leaking from Home’s a house during those expensive winter heating months. The white, yellow, and red colors show heat escaping. The red represents the area of the greatest heat loss. Your Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks hecking your home’s insulation is Insulation one of the fastest and most cost- First, check the insulation in your attic, C efficient ways to use a whole- ceilings, exterior and basement walls, house approach to reduce energy floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets waste and make the most of your the levels recommended for your area. energy dollars. A good insulating Insulation is measured in R-values—the system includes a combination of higher the R-value, the better your products and construction techniques walls and roof will resist the transfer that protect a home from outside of heat. DOE recommends ranges of hot or cold temperatures, protect R-values based on local heating and it against air leaks, and control cooling costs and climate conditions in moisture.