Ways to Save Energy in Your Home
Global warming is, unfortunately, a fact of life. A bad economy is also a fact of life, and both add up to a need to save on home energy costs. The average U.S. family pays $1,900 a year in utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Here are a few tips for saving energy in your home and reducing utility bills.
1. Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.
2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.
3. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
4. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
5. 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).
6. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
7. Take short showers instead of baths.
8. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
9. Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
10. 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.
Have you considered do-it-yourself solar panels or windmills for your home? At a low cost, they can greatly offset your home energy use, and are a great way to save money on your utility bills. Find out more.
Related article: Tips on going green at home.
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