Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home
Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills? High energy costs can really pinch American families. There are simple, inexpensive steps families can take to reduce their heating and cooling costs.

Long Term Savings Tips

• Installing new, high-performance windows will improve your home's energy performance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of added comfort and improved aesthetics and functionality may make the investment worth it to you. Calculate your savings.
• One of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your attic.
• Buy a new energy-efficient water heater. While it may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance
• Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy web site (www.dsireusa.org) to see if you might qualify for tax credits or rebates for buying a solar water heater.
• When shopping for a new dishwasher, look dishwashers that uses less water and 25% less energy than required by federal standards.
• Select a new refrigerator that is the right size for your household. Top freezer models are more energy efficient than side-by-side models. Features like icemakers and water dispensers, while convenient, will increase energy use. Refrigerators with the freezer on the top are more efficient than those with freezers on the side.
• Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient vehicle. A fuel efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative fuel vehicle could save you a lot at the gas pump and help the environment. Economy Guide (www.fueleconomy.gov) for more on buying a new fuel-efficient car or truck.

  Easy Low-Cost and No-Cost Ways to Save Energy.

• Set your thermostat 2 degrees lower in the winter and 2 degrees higher in the summer. This will save you $100/yr
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandedescents. This will save you appr. $100/yr
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
• Find out which parts of your house use the most energy. A home energy audit will pinpoint those areas and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs. You can conduct a simple home energy audit yourself, you can contact your local utility, or you can call an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination.
• Study your family's lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls—like occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers—to reduce lighting energy use, and replace standard (also called incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.