10 easy ways to save on energy at home

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10 Easy Ways to Save on Energy at HomeBy Sean Rosner

July 21, 2009

These days, its more of a win-win than ever to save on energy. Every time you lower yourutility bills, you put more money back in your bank account. And lower energy bills also meansless energy consumed, which means less harmful emissions released into our environment. Andwhat makes this an even better deal is you dont have to overhaul your home (or buy a new one)to make it more energy efficient. There are many easy, effective things that you can do, withlittle investment and little or no DIY experience, to save energy at home. Heres a list of 10 ideasto get you started.

1. Minimize Phantom Loads

The term phantom load refers to the energy that an appliance or electronic device consumeswhen it is not actually turned on. According to theU.S. Department of Energy(DOE), In theaverage home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed whilethe products are turned off. A report from the University of California Berkeley saysthatphantom loads account for about 6 percentof all national residential electricity consumption.You can eliminate phantom loads by unplugging appliances and electronics when you are notusing them, or by plugging them into a power strip, and turning the strip off when they are not inuse. For more information, seeSave Energy, Eliminate Phantom Loads.

2. Use More Energy-efficient Appliances

If you are shopping for new appliances, make sure to look for the Environmental ProtectionAgencys Energy Star label before making a purchase.Energy Star appliancesuse between 10and 50 percent less energy and water than their conventional counterparts. They may cost morethan appliances without the Energy Star designation, but in most cases they will more than makeup that additional cost through energy savings.

3. Change Your Light Bulbs

One of the least expensive and most effective changes you can make in your home is replacingyour light bulbs. According to Energy Star, one of its qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs(CFL), which cost just a few dollars, will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself inabout 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than anincandescent bulb. Although some people are concerned because CFLs contain mercury,Energy Star says that CFLs do not release any mercury when in use, and actually reduce mercuryemissions because they lessen the need for electricity from power plants that emit mercury.Learn more at Energy StarsCFLs and Mercury page. For more energy-efficient lighting,seeBright Ideas for Home Lightingor theEnergy Star CFL page.
http://www.energy.gov/applianceselectronics.htmhttp://www.energy.gov/applianceselectronics.htmhttp://www.energy.gov/applianceselectronics.htmhttp://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~recycle/ssec/download/Phantom%20Load.pdfhttp://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~recycle/ssec/download/Phantom%20Load.pdfhttp://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~recycle/ssec/download/Phantom%20Load.pdfhttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2008-01-01/Save-Energy-Eliminate-Phantom-Loads.aspxhttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2008-01-01/Save-Energy-Eliminate-Phantom-Loads.aspxhttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2008-01-01/Save-Energy-Eliminate-Phantom-Loads.aspxhttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_applianceshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_applianceshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_applianceshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_mercuryhttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_mercuryhttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_mercuryhttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2007-04-01/Bright-Ideas-for-Home-Lighting.aspxhttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2007-04-01/Bright-Ideas-for-Home-Lighting.aspxhttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2007-04-01/Bright-Ideas-for-Home-Lighting.aspxhttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cflshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cflshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cflshttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cflshttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2007-04-01/Bright-Ideas-for-Home-Lighting.aspxhttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_mercuryhttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_applianceshttp://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2008-01-01/Save-Energy-Eliminate-Phantom-Loads.aspxhttp://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~recycle/ssec/download/Phantom%20Load.pdfhttp://www.energy.gov/applianceselectronics.htm


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4. Install a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats work by automatically adjusting your homes temperature to yourschedule, keeping it comfortable only when you need it to be. If you dont already adjust yourthermostat throughout the day, a programmable thermostat could save you as much as 15 percenton heating and cooling costs. For more information on programmable thermostats, including astep-by-step guide to installing one, check outHow to Install a Programmable Thermostat.

5. Use Fans for Cooling

In the summer, use stationary, ceiling and whole-house fans to cool your home, reducing theneed for air conditioning.Simple Ways to Cool Your Home and Save Bigexplains that for every

degree you raise your thermostat, you reduce your cooling costs between 7 and 10 percent.

6. Seal Air Leaks

In addition to thinking about whether your home has enough insulation, you should also look forany small cracks and gaps where air is leaking into and out of your home. Energy Star says thatbetween improving insulation and sealing leaks, homeowners could potentiallysave 10percenton their annual energy bill. The articleLeak-proof Your House and Savesuggests thatthe first step in sealing a house is to tackle windows and doors. If searching for leaks sounds likea daunting task, you can hire an energy auditor to assess your house and find problem areas.Read more inEnergy Audits: What Homeowners Need to Know.

7. Make Windows More Efficient

Even if you seal windows well, window glass is a thin barrier against outside temperatures. Ifyou can afford it, install new storm windows in your home.How to Make Your Home EnergyEfficientexplains that storm windows reduce temperature loss by sealing leaks and creating adead airspace between window panes. Though installation is expensive ($8,000 to $10,000 ormore, depending on a variety of factors), storm windows have a relatively short return oninvestment (about 10 years).

f you cant install new storm windows, there are other simple and inexpensive ways to improve

the energy efficiency of your windows. You can cover windows with transparent material toimprove insulation. Energy guru Gary Reysa recommends usingbubble wrapfor this, andestimates that it can reduce heat loss from a window by half. Check outSave Energy with WinterWindow Treatmentsfor other ways to make your windows more efficient, including usinginsulated shades and window quilts.
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8. Improve Insulation

The Energy Star program estimates thatmore than 50 percentof a homes energy use goestoward heating and cooling. Beefing up the insulation in your houses attic, walls, floors andceilings slows the flow of air between inside and outside, making it easier to control your homes

temperature. The easiest place to add insulation in your home is the attic. You can find out howmuch insulation you have in your atticand how much you can addinHow to InsulateYour Attic and Save Money Year-round. For more general information about home insulation,seeAll About Insulation.

9. Conserve Water

Using less water will lower your water bill. And when you use less hot water, youll also seesavings in your gas bill, or your electric bill if you have an electric water heater. According toDOE, water heating is the third most energy consuming function in the home. To cut down onwater use, take faster showers and be conscious of the water you use when washing dishes and

clothes and preparing food. You can also save energy by lowering your hot water temperature.According to DOE, a water thermostat setting of 120 degrees is sufficient for most uses. If youwant more water-efficient fixtures and appliances, refer to the EPAsWaterSenseprogram whenbuying a new faucet or showerhead. SeeSave Money on Waterfor more on the WaterSenseprogram, or the DOE site onWater Heating.

10. Plant Trees and Shrubs

Planting shade trees around your home can lower your summer energy bill by reducing yourhomes exposure to the sun. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which operates aprogram that gives free trees to its customers, says that properly placed tress can cut yoursummer electric bill byup to 40 percent. Energy savings from a tree varies greatly depending on

its size and location in relation to your house. Planting shrubs and bushes around your home canimprove insulation in the summer and winter.DOEsays that if they are planted 1 foot away fromyour home, they create a dead airspace that shields against cold or hot outdoor temperatures.Learn more about using trees for shade fromMoney Does Grow on Trees.

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10 easy ways to save on energy at home

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