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The
typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home
utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted because of
inefficiency. The best way to save money and increase energy efficiency
is to have a home with an energy efficient furnace, appliances and
windows, plus walls and an attic that are well insulated. If all that is
not in your budget, there are small things you can do to lower your
energy consumption without spending a lot.
Heating and cooling your home uses more energy than any
other system in your home and typically accounts for 56 percent of your
utility bill. A programmable thermostat, easily installed and with
starting costs around $30, allows you to automatically adjust the
temperature of your home when you are asleep or out of the house, saving
you approximately $180 a year, according to the Energy Star program.
Turn off kitchen, bath and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after
you are done cooking or bathing - in just one hour, these fans can pull
out a house full of warm air. Make sure registers, baseboard heaters and
radiators are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes. Fix all
holes or cracks around your walls, windows, doors, lighting and plumbing
fixtures and electrical outlets that can leak air.
Windows can account for 10 to 25 percent of your heating
bill. You can help your current windows be more efficient by adding
clear plastic film during cold winter months or installing storm
windows, which can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent. Many retailers
sell winterization kits, most starting around $6.00, that include
plastic sheets to fit most windows. Installing insulating window shades
or awnings also can help windows operate more efficiently.
Heating your water is the third largest energy expense in
your home and accounts for approximately 12 percent of your utility
bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot
water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees
Fahrenheit, insulate your water heater or buy a new, more efficient
model.
Making improvements to your lighting is one of the
fastest ways to cut your energy bills. An average household dedicates 11
percent of its energy budget to lighting. A compact fluorescent light
bulb (CFL) will pay for itself in about 6 months and save about $30 over
its lifetime. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times
longer than an incandescent bulb.
Approximately 40 percent of the electricity that home
electronics use is consumed while the products actually are turned off.
The typical American home has 20 electrical appliances that use energy
even when switched off in order to support features such as timers,
clocks, memory and remote "on" and "off" switches. Satellite receivers
for televisions and VCRs, and other appliances, use almost as much
electricity when they are switched off as when they are on. Some of the
biggest energy wasters are the adapters that come with rechargeable,
battery-powered phones, power tools and other electronic devices. Most
draw power whenever they are plugged into an outlet, regardless of
whether the device battery is even connected.
Unplugging devices when they are not being used
eliminates potential energy loss. To save the time and hassle of
unplugging everything, plug them into a power strip or surge suppressor
that can be turned off with a single switch. Also, choose the model that
uses the least standby power when buying an appliance or electronic
device. If standby power is not included on a given product label, check
the U.S.
Department of Energy's online database of manufacturer-supplied
information.
A simple way to save is to avoid buying products that
include "bells and whistles" you don't need. Those extra features might
be fun and convenient, but they waste energy and cost you money.
From the
Ohio Department of Aging
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