Energy Saving Tips

1. Appliances

  • Did you know that the average home spends about $2,000 on energy bills every year? Changing to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, can save $75 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.
    Save Energy, Save Money
  • When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses.
  • ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.
  • For top performance, premium features, and energy savings, look for
    energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners, and dehumidifiers that have earned the ENERGY STAR. This mark may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the EnergyGuide label.

2. Heat & Cool Efficiently
    As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills...and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
  • Change your air filter regularly. Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool - wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system - leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
  • Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly
    tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.
  • Install a programmable thermostat-
    A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
  • Seal your heating and cooling ducts-
    Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent - and sometimes much more.
  • Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment. If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, you should have it looked at by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual energy bill by nearly $200. Remember to address any ductwork issues at the same time.
  • Remember that getting the proper size and a quality installation is
    essential to getting the most from your new equipment. When replacing HVAC equipment, bigger doesn't always mean better. If the unit is too large for your home, you will be less comfortable and might actually have higher utility bills. Oversized equipment will operate in short run cycles, not allowing the unit to reach efficient operation and remove humidity from the air - resulting in an uncomfortable home.

Guide for energy efficient heating and cooling
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/heat_cool/GUIDE_2COLOR.pdf