Are you looking for a way to save money and change the world?   As our world is becoming more environmentally aware, we are being encouraged to change many of our daily practices to respond to this awareness. There are many easy modifications we can make at home, which will produce savings and protect the environment.

One such practice is to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs.  Although incandescent light bulbs are cheaper to purchase than fluorescent bulbs, they cost more money in the long run.  Fluorescent bulbs last approximately ten times longer (up to 10,000 hours) and use 75% less energy.  Apply this concept throughout your home and you will achieve a savings of approximately 50 dollars per year.

Another practice is to replace older appliances with Energy Star-rated appliances which are rated highest for energy efficiency.  They use less energy to operate, reducing your energy bills. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), consumers using Energy star products can reduce their annual energy costs by up to 30 percent while helping the environment.  Many electronic products use energy even when they are off to power features like clock displays. Some of these savings are the result of reducing the use of electricity while these devices are in the OFF mode.  Households with nonqualified appliances spend approximately 100 dollars per year to power devices while they are in this “standby” mode. Energy star qualified products use less energy to perform these same functions.

Nearly half of all energy bills go to heating and cooling our homes.  By installing a programmable thermostat, temperatures can be automatically adjusted to lower levels while we are away from the home during the day and while we are sleeping.  Setting the temperature back 5 -8 degrees at night and during the daytime can save as much as 10% of your total heating costs.  There are several models available to suit your individual schedule.

Leaky doors and windows can add substantially to heat loss and heating costs.  While sealing doors and windows prevents much heat loss, replacing existing windows and doors with Energy star products has a greater savings. Some qualifying products are eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 per year.

The less water we use in the shower or tub is less water that needs to be heated and treated at the sewage plant.  A savings of about 5 percent can be obtained by adjusting the water heater thermostat downward from 140 degrees to 120 degrees and insulating the hot water pipes.  Selecting the cold water wash cycle saves about 60 dollars per year. Installing a low-flow showerhead can reduce hot water usage by 50 percent.  And while we’re addressing water conservation – a low-flow toilet can save 4000 gallons of water per year.

There are many ways we can lower our energy costs and save the environment without too many changes in our lifestyle.  It just takes developing a sensitivity and awareness to the effects of our actions on our wallets and on our planet.  We’re not powerless (That’s not a pun.).  Making the right choices in our use of energy can make a huge difference to our world.  Please join us in making it happen.