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Practical solutions to reducing your home energy costs revolve around
taking a whole-house approach.
This view looks at your house as a group of interdependent parts. Selecting
energy-efficient equipment and products for your home and maintaining
systems to perform at higher efficiency can reduce energy costs.
Sometimes an extra expense up front results in energy savings for the
long term. When purchasing heating and cooling equipment, look for high
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings and the Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio (SEER).
The heating and cooling system is the greatest user of energy dollars
in the home. According the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), 44 percent
of your utility bill typically goes for heating and cooling.
An energy-efficient furnace or air conditioning system combined with
appropriate weatherization, insulation, proper maintenance and thermostat
settings can cut pollution and energy bills. Use of a programmable thermostat
enables you to adjust the heat and cooling according to a pre-set schedule.
You don't operate the system as much when a part of the house is not occupied
or when you are asleep. Set your thermostat as high as comfortable in
the summer and as low as comfortable in the winter.
Replacing or cleaning filters and cleaning warm-air registers or baseboard
heaters helps them to operate more efficiently. Insulate duct systems,
roofs and walls and choose windows that minimize air leaks.
Opening draperies or shades on south-facing windows during the day and
closing them at night helps reduce the chill from cold windows, during
the heating season. Or, close curtains or drapes on south and west-facing
windows during the day when cooling is important.
Landscaping is another way to reduce heating and cooling bills. The careful
positioning of trees can save energy used for heating and cooling. They
can provide shade or serve as windbreaks. If you have a fireplace, keep
the damper closed unless a fire is going. And, if you never use your fireplace,
plug and seal the chimney flue.
Water heating is a major user of energy, typically accounting for 14
percent of your utility bill. The life of most water heaters is 10 to
15 years. It's best, however, to start shopping for a new one if yours
is older than seven years. You can cut your water heating bills by selecting
a heater that is more efficient and that meets your needs. You can lower
the thermostat - a setting of 115 degrees F provides comfortable hot water
for most uses and decreases your water heating costs. Insulate the storage
tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the water heater's burner
compartment, thermostat, top or bottom.
Take more showers than baths. Showers take less water. Install nonaerating,
low-flow faucets and showerheads help save water too.
Appliances account for approximately 20 percent of your household's energy
consumption. When shopping for a new appliance, consider the initial purchase
price and the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. The
annual energy consumption and operating cost for each appliance can be
compared by looking at the bright yellow and black EnergyGuide label.
Also look for the ENERGY STARŪ as identified by the U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency and DOE as being the most energy-efficient products
in their classes.
The highest energy consumption by household appliances occurs with refrigerators,
clothes washers and dryers. The recommended temperature for a refrigerator
is 37 to 40 degrees F and a separate freezer should be kept at 0 degrees
F. Lower temperatures than these will cost you more to operate and are
not necessary. Look for automatic moisture control and make sure door
seals are airtight. Vacuum condenser coils once a year unless you have
a no-clean condenser model.
Most of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water.
You can use less energy by laundering clothes in cooler water and less
water. Select the appropriate water-level setting for the size of load.
A clothes dryer with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the
machine when the clothes are dry is an energy saver. Don't overdry your
clothes. Greater efficiency and safety occurs when you periodically inspect
the dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked.
Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) provide high-efficiency
and high-quality lighting. Replace existing incandescent bulbs with CFLs.
They may be more expensive to purchase, but they pay for themselves by
saving energy over their lifetime.
For more information from the U. S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficient
and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) contact (800) 363-3732 or go
to www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets There you will learn more about topics
such as Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home.
You also can contact Kay Zimka, Colorado State University Extension agent in Jefferson County, Colorado, at (303) 271-6641 or e-mail
at: kzimka@co.jefferson.co.us
or contact your local Colorado State
University Extension office.
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Updated
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
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