Practical solutions to reducing your home energy costs revolve around taking a whole-house approach. This view looks at your house as a group of interdependent parts. Selecting energy-efficient equipment and products for your home and maintaining systems to perform at higher efficiency can reduce energy costs. Sometimes an extra expense up front results in energy savings for the long term. When purchasing heating and cooling equipment, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The heating and cooling system is the greatest user of energy dollars in the home. According the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 44 percent of your utility bill typically goes for heating and cooling. An energy-efficient furnace or air conditioning system combined with appropriate weatherization, insulation, proper maintenance, and thermostat settings can cut pollution and energy bills.
Use of a programmable thermostat enables you to adjust the heat and cooling according to a pre-set schedule. You don't operate the system as much when a part of the house is not occupied or when you are asleep. Set your thermostat as high as comfortable in the summer and as low as comfortable in the winter. Replacing or cleaning filters and cleaning warm-air registers or baseboard heaters helps them to operate more efficiently. Insulate duct systems, roofs, and walls, and choose windows that minimize air leaks. Opening draperies or shades on south-facing windows during the day and closing them at night helps reduce the chill from cold windows during the heating season. Or close curtains or drapes on south- and west-facing windows during the day when cooling is important. Landscaping is another way to reduce heating and cooling bills. The careful positioning of trees can save energy used for heating and cooling. They can provide shade or serve as windbreaks. If you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed unless a fire is going. And, if you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
Water heating is a major user of energy, typically accounting for 14 percent of your utility bill. The life of most water heaters is 10 to 15 years. It's best, however, to start shopping for a new one if yours is older than seven years. You can cut your water heating bills by selecting a heater that is more efficient and that meets your needs. You can lower the thermostat—a setting of 115 degrees F provides comfortable hot water for most uses and decreases your water heating costs. Insulate the storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the water heater's burner compartment, thermostat, top, or bottom. Take more showers than baths. Showers take less water. Installing non-aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads helps save water too. Appliances account for approximately 20 percent of your household's energy consumption. When shopping for a new appliance, consider the initial purchase price and the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. The annual energy consumption and operating cost for each appliance can be compared by looking at the bright yellow and black Energy Guide label. Also look for the ENERGY STAR emblem as identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy as being the most energy-efficient products in their classes.
The highest energy consumption by household appliances occurs with refrigerators, clothes washers, and dryers. The recommended temperature for a refrigerator is 37 to 40 degrees F, and a separate freezer should be kept at 0 degrees F. Lower temperatures than these will cost you more to operate and are not necessary. Look for automatic moisture control, and make sure door seals are airtight. Vacuum condenser coils once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Most of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. You can use less energy by laundering clothes in cooler water and less water. Select the appropriate water-level setting for the size of load. A clothes dryer with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when the clothes are dry is an energy saver. Don't over-dry your clothes. Greater efficiency and safety occur when you periodically inspect the dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) provide high-efficiency and high-quality lighting. Replace existing incandescent bulbs with CFLs. They may be more expensive to purchase, but they pay for themselves by saving energy over their lifetime. For more information from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC), contact (800) 363-3732, or go to www.eere.energy.gov.
Here are some other suggestions:
• Have your furnace checked each year by a licensed heating contractor service. An inefficient furnace costs more.
• Change your furnace filter monthly during cold months.
• Turn your heat down at night and when you're gone. You can do this manually, or you can purchase a programmable thermostat.
• You may feel more comfortable winter and summer if you add a humidifier to your heating and cooling system. You also can purchase room humidifiers.
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