Custom Search

• Cover Story
• Features
• Columns
• Political
• Economics
• Social
• Justice
• Advocacy
• The Market Place
• Technology
• Commentaries
• Health
• Op Ed.
• Sports
• Politics
• Foreign

Winter Energy- Saving Tips

• Use a programmable thermostat with your heating system to automatically lower the temperature at night or when no one is home.
• Keep the warm air in and the cold air out by adding insulation, caulking and weather-stripping around doors, attic access, windows, outlets and any area that can let the cold air in and the warm air out. Or call a Home Performance with Energy Star® contractor to assess your home’s efficiency.
• It’s a good time to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace old batteries. Remember: As you seal up leaks in your home, this becomes even more important.
• Make sure floor and wall vents are not blocked by draperies, furniture or rugs. Vents should also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or broom.
• Battery chargers for wheelchairs should be turned off when not in use.
• If you sleep on an air mattress, turn it off when you do not expect to use it for more than five hours.
• Keep blinds and drapes of sunexposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night.
• When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed.
• Have your heating system inspected by a Home Performance with Energy Star contractor. If you have a forced-air heating system, check your air filters once a month and replace if dirty.
• Make sure outdoor portions of your heating system are not blocked by leaves, shrubbery or other objects.
• If you have a window air-conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit. If it can’t be removed, buy a cover to prevent drafts.
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls. Gaskets can be found in most home improvement stores.
• Ceiling fans can keep you comfortable in the winter too! Reversing the direction of the blades pushes warm air down in to the room.
• Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees. For added savings, have your water heater wrapped with an insulation blanket by your heating or plumbing contractor.
  
  Computers
• When you shut down your computer, don’t forget to turn off the monitor as it can use twice as much energy as the computer!
• Use an advanced power strip for convenience; that way all of your computer accessories are turned off by one switch (even in sleep mode, your computer may cost you $105 a year).
• Use the powermanagement feature on your computer monitor; it will turn off the monitor when idle for more than 15 minutes when you leave your computer on.
• Consider a laptop computer over a traditional desktop as laptops use less energy.
  
  Copiers, Fax Machines and Mailing Machines
• Turn off electronics when they are not in use.
• Consider a multifunction device, which combines printing, copying, faxing and scanning, and look for the Energy Star label to further increase energy savings.
• Plug your copier, fax machine and mailing machine into an advanced power strip so that when you switch off your computer (or put it in sleep mode) all of the peripherals will also turn off. Battery-Charging Systems and External Power Adapters
• Avoid leaving on transformers and charging units for appliances and battery-operated devices (such as cell phones and tools) when they aren’t being used.
• Instead of just turning your electronics off, it is better to unplug them because even when they’re “off” they still draw electricity from the outlet, something known as a “phantom load.”
• Plug your battery charging system or power adapter into a power strip to enable you to shut off power with the flick of a switch. For even better control, use a power strip with a timer or a programmable power strip.
  
  Cordless Phones
• When buying a cordless phone, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star phones use only about one-third the energy of standard cordless phones.
• DVD Products, Home Audio and Combination Units
• Don’t forget to turn off your DVD player, video-game console and television when not in use.
• Plug your DVD and home audio products into an advanced power strip so that when you turn off the television, all the home audio and video components will also turn off.
• Consider combination products to save space, simplify set-up and save energy in standby mode. Televisions and VCRs
• Turn off televisions when no one is watching them. A TV left on for eight hours a day or while you sleep will cost you about $41-$102 per year.
• When choosing a new television, look for the Energy Star label to save energy.
• If considering a flatpanel or large-screen television, consider purchasing an LCD model rather than a plasma model to cut your power usage by approximately 50%.
  
  Printers, Scanners and All-in-One Devices
• Ink-jet printers use as much as 90% less energy than typical laser printers.
• Choose a multifunctional product (printer/ copier/scanner) instead of separate products.
• Don’t forget to turn your printer off at night as it still draws power even when not in use.
• Plug your printer, scanner and all-inone device into an advanced power strip so that when you switch off your computer (or put it in sleep mode) all of the peripherals will also turn off.
  
  LIGHTING
• Bulbs
• Use energy efficient, Energy Star-qualified CFLs instead of standard incandescent lightbulbs, and you will use 75% less electricity.
• Energy Star CFLs also emit less heat and are cooler to the touch than incandescent bulbs.
• Replace your home’s five most frequently used incandescent lights with CFLs; it will save you more than $60 a year in energy costs. Ceiling Fans with Lighting Kit
• Invest in an Energy Star-qualified ceiling fan with a lighting kit to help cool your home and improve airflow. An Energy Star-qualified model is about 50% more efficient than a conventional unit and can save up to $20 per year on cooling and heating bills. Lighting Fixtures
• Energy Star lighting fixtures put out the same amount of light as standard fixtures while providing excellent color rendering and light temperature.
• Use floodlights only when needed; they use 2.5 times more electricity than indoor lights.
• • Replace 150-watt floodlight bulbs with outdoor Energy Starqualified CFLs.
• Keep your lights and fixtures clean to improve efficiency as much as 20%. Holiday Lighting
• Energy-efficient lighting comes in a variety of festive styles and colors, including lightemitting diodes (LEDs), fiber-optic lights, candelabra CFLs and rope lights, all of which use substantially less energy than standard holiday lighting.
  
  EXTERIOR
• Doors
• Use Energy Starqualified doors that use materials to prevent heat loss and provide maximum energy savings.
• Use multiple glass panes (doubleor triple-paned insulating glass) to reduce heat flow.
• Use improved weather-stripping in the frames as well as a magnetic strip to create a tighter seal that will reduce air leakage around the edges.
• Windows
• Choose Energy Starqualified windows to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in winter.
• Use multiple panes of glass to insulate against the weather, sound and impacts.
• Consider U-value and Low-E coatings. U-value is the measure of a window’s ability to insulate. Low-E window coatings are thin and transparent, permitting visible light to pass through, while effectively reflecting radiation and keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
• Close storm windows in the fall.
• Plastic placed over windows will help reduce drafts when installed securely.
• Skylights
• Choose energy efficient skylights to help reduce your home heating and cooling costs.
• Use multiple panes of glass to insulate against the weather, sound and impacts. Attics
• Insulate your home, especially the attic.
• Install a vapor barrier in your attic to reduce the flow of moisture from inside your home through the insulation. This eliminates the condensation that reduces insulation efficiency. Exterior Lighting
• Use solar-powered LED landscape lighting. This new technology is charged by sunlight (using zero-metered electricity) and lasts for up to eight hours with a full charge.
• BATH
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Shortening the time you spend in the shower will not only save energy but will also conserve water.
• Use a low-flow showerhead rated at 2.5 gallons per minute or less.
• Keep the water running only when rinsing.
• Repair leaking faucets, especially on the hot-water tap. One drop per second can waste as much as 10 gallons of water in a week. For additional tips go to: http://www.getenergysmart. org/Resources/Tips.aspx