Home Energy Saving TipsIf you are thinking "green" or just want to save money, these easy energy saving tips can help. In addition, consider having a home energy audit. Also, lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees F. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Compact fluorescent light bulbs are an alternative to incandescent bulbs and are easy, no-hassle energy saving tip. One estimate states that each fluorescent used in place of a regular bulb will prevent nearly one-half ton of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Fluorescent bulbs not only use a lot less energy than their traditional counterparts, they also last longer. Each bulb is likely to create an energy savings of $30-$60 during its lifespan. The slightly higher up-front cost of fluorescent bulbs is more than compensated for by these significant savings. Low Flow Faucets and Showerheads We literally send a lot of energy down the drain every day. By overusing heated water, we waste energy. You can decrease your energy use significantly by replacing existing faucets and showerheads with water-saving low-flow alternatives. This low-flow solution has a few other benefits. In addition to saving on energy costs and being more environmentally friendly, you can also save on your water bill and increase conservation of that important natural resource. Additional energy saving tip: Take short showers instead of baths. Energy Star Appliances Even if your old major appliances still work, it may be worth retiring them early. New appliances (such as the Whirlpool water softener) use up to 50 percent less energy to function, and often function far better than their older counterparts. Appliances with the Energy StarŪ rating can reduce energy use by an additional 20 to 40 percent. You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for eight hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program. More How Fireplaces Affect Energy Use Sealing Air Leaks to Save Energy Tips for Installing a Ceiling Fan Tips for Saving Energy with Home Insulation Water Heating Energy Savings Tips Window Tips for Energy Efficiency
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