Energy Tips
Now is the time to take action
Whether you are at home, buying food, on the road or at work, the energy you use in your daily life has an impact on climate change. This is also known as your carbon footprint, the effects of which can be seen almost everywhere. There are a lot of easy, low-cost things that you can do at home to see big savings on your power bills and cut carbon pollution at the same time. There are simple things you can do to save electricity, money and carbon pollution, in and around your home, and help reduce our impact on the environment.
ENERGY SAVING TIPS
- Replace regular incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). Check for possible rebates from your utility company. See below for information regarding compact fluorescent bulbs. (CFL)
- Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Unplug other appliances when not in use. Shutting off your computer at closing time will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 83%.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Wash your clothes in cold or warm water, instead of hot water. Use a clothes line.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products.
• Ask for an energy audit. Get a home energy audit to find out if your home is poorly insulated or energy efficient. Many utility companies offer this service for free. Go to www.energystar.gov for more information or contact your local utility company. • Install double-paned windows. Install window shading.
• Cut back on driving by walking, biking or taking public transportation. Or Start a carpool with your coworkers, classmates or friends. Telecommute if possible.
• Use canvas bags for your groceries. Recycle glass, paper, aluminum and plastics. Buy recycled paper products and supplies.
• Choose a Fuel Efficient car. Keep your car tuned up and your tires properly inflated. Giving your engine a tune-up can improve gas mileage by more than 4%. Replacing a clogged air filter can boost efficiency by 10%. And keeping your tires properly inflated can improve gas mileage by more than 3%.
• Add fans to cut down on air conditioning.
• Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner.
• Install a programmable thermostat. You can save 3% of your monthly energy usage.
COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS
• For each standard incandescent bulb you replace with a compact fluorescent bulb, you can save $10 or more on your electric costs over the life of the bulb (see chart below). You get more hours of illumination (compact fluorescents have a life expectancy of 10,000 hours, compared to 750 to 900 hours for standard bulbs) and three to four times more lighting efficiency.
• When buying bulbs, look for the highest lumens-per-watt ratio. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb gives off, while watts measure how much energy a bulb uses. A typical lumens-per-watt ratio for an incandescent bulb is 15:1. This compares to 60:1 for a fluorescent bulb.
• Use brighter bulbs in areas where you do close-up work such as reading, cooking, and home projects. Use less-bright light in other areas.
• Keep light bulbs and fixtures clear of dust and other particles. Clean bulbs give off more light than dirty ones. Use natural light whenever you can. Make the most of natural light by moving desks, reading chairs and work benches closer to windows. Keep in mind that lighter colors for walls, ceilings, and floors reflect more sunlight.
• Replace outdoor floodlights with halogen lamps, or use motion detectors. A 50- or 90-watt halogen lamp can replace a standard reflector bulb that has twice the wattage. Motion detectors save energy and money by turning on lights only when needed. Before installing, be sure to read the package instructions carefully to determine if the wiring in your home can handle a motion sensor.
Guidelines for Replacing Incandescent Bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Existing Replace With
60 Watt 15 Watt Compact
75 Watt 20 Watt Compact
100 Watt 26 or 27 Watt
150 Watt 30 Ultra Watt
KITCHEN
• When you can, cook many dishes together when using the oven. If the dishes call for separate temperature settings, just set it in the middle. Adjust cooking times rather than using the oven twice.
• Cook with lids on your pans. For example, cooking spaghetti without a lid on the pot can use three times as much energy.
• Use the smallest pan and burner needed for the job.
• If the oven self-cleans, turn it on just after use, while the oven is still hot.
• Don't peek into the oven as you cook. Every time the door is opened, a lot of heat escapes.
• Contact a qualified heating contractor if your gas burners have a yellow flame instead of blue. Yellow flames may mean the gas is not burning efficiently.
• Seek alternative cooking sources. A pressure cooker cuts cooking time by about two-thirds, and a microwave uses less than half the energy of a conventional electric oven.
• Many dishwashers have energy-saving wash cycles that use less water. Using these cycles can save $5-15 per year.
• A no-heat air dry feature also can save energy by as much as 15 to 50 percent. If you have an older dishwasher, turn the dishwasher off after the final rinse cycle is complete and open the door. This allows air drying.
• If you wash dishes by hand, fill wash and rinse basins instead of letting the water run. This uses half as much water as a dishwasher does.
• Use cold water when running your garbage disposal. Cold water congeals grease better and keeps the disposal cooler, helping the unit run more efficiently
