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Our dogs are experts at sniffing out energy savings, but they also can help you find the latest version of Flash. Here it is.
Energy-Efficient Windows
Thermal or double-pane windows help keep your energy bills low during weather's extremes by providing more insulation, which helps reduce energy use. Save $20-$95 each year in energy costs with ENERGY STAR qualified models designed for your area.
Heating & Cooling
Heating and cooling costs make up about 50% of your home's total energy bill. Make sure your unit is operating properly. ENERGY STAR qualified heat pumps are significantly more efficient than non-qualified systems and can save you up to $300 per year on your home's electric bill.
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lights can be on many more hours
than indoor lights. Install CFL bulbs and new
ENERGY STAR qualified outdoor fixtures to
save energy and money.
Weather Stripping
Proper weather stripping around windows
and doors will prevent air leaks, keeping
you more comfortable and providing
year-round energy savings.
Insulation/Sealing
Insulating attics, walls and floors will help
reduce energy costs and save you money.
We recommend R-30 for attics, R-19 for floors
and R-13 for outside walls or local building
codes, whichever is higher. Seal all plumbing
and electrical penetrations to prevent
conditioned air leaks.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
ENERGY STAR qualified CFL light bulbs provide high-quality light, produce 75% less heat, last up to 10 times longer and use 75% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs.
Air Vents
Help your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently by keeping air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains and rugs.
Ceiling Fans
Increase your thermostat's setting by two
degrees and use your ceiling fan to lower
energy costs by up to 6% over the course
of the air conditioning season.
Light Switches
Turn off the lights when you leave any room. Turning off just one 60-watt incandescent bulb before you leave the house for the day can save about $13 per year in energy costs.
Power Strips
Save up to 40 watts of standby power for
each piece of equipment you use by plugging
it into a power strip and turning off the strip
when equipment is not in use. You also can save
energy by unplugging unused battery chargers
and power adapters.
Thermostats
Save up to $100 a year with a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home's temperature when you're away or sleeping. Set manual thermostats at 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter, and then leave them alone. Constantly changing the temperature causes your system to work harder.
Heating & Cooling Maintenance
Change standard air filters once a month or pleated filters once every three months to help your system run more efficiently. Have your system professionally serviced annually.
Ductwork
Make sure your ductwork is properly sealed and installed. Cracks in ductwork and/or poorly installed ductwork can increase your heating
and cooling costs by as much as 30%.
Clothes Washers
Washing clothes in cold water, when possible,
can save you more than $40 annually. Always wash full loads. If your washer is more than
10 years old, you may want to consider an ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer. This could save you $50 a year on your utility bills
and about 7,000 gallons of water.
Clothes Dryers
Don't over-dry your clothes. A dryer operating an extra 15 minutes per load can cost you up to $34 every year. Cleaning the lint trap before every load increases efficiency and can save you more than $30 a year.
Attic Hatch or Door
Weather-stripping and insulating your attic
hatch or adding a thermal hood can cut down
on conditioned air loss.
Water Heaters
Water heating costs make up about 20% of your home's total energy bill. Set your water heater's temperature to 120° for optimal performance, and wrap your electric water heater with an insulated blanket for additional savings. If your water heater is more than 7 years old, chances are it's wasting energy; consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient model.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators made before 1993 use twice as much energy as today's ENERGY STAR qualified models. Replacing your older refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR qualified model can save you $45-$65 per year. Recycling your old overflow refrigerator can save you an extra $90 per year.
Stove Top Ranges
Using the correct-sized pot on electric range
stove burners can save about $36 annually.
A 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes
more than 40% of the burner's heat.
Range Hoods
ENERGY STAR qualified range hoods (lighting
models) use 65% less energy than standard
range hoods. This can save you $120 in
electricity costs over the life of the fan.
Dishwashers
Always run your dishwasher with a full load
and save water by scraping dishes instead of
rinsing them before loading the dishwasher. An ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher can save you more than $25 a year in energy costs compared to standard models.
Microwaves
Cooking small portions in the microwave or toaster oven generates less heat than the stove or oven and can reduce cooking energy used by as much as 80%.
