Here's a great checklist from the July 2006 issue of Real Simple magazine. Use this checklist to keep track of the many ways you can seve energy--and money. These numbers are esitamtes. To calculate exact savings for your household based on your particular energy consumption, go to http://www.energyguide.com/energy/audit/HAintro.asp.
| Instead of this... |
try this... |
and save... |
| Setting your thermostate to 70 degrees in the winter |
Set it to 65 degrees (especially comfortable at night) |
$80 to $100 a year |
| Setting your water heater to 130 degrees |
Set it to 120 degrees |
$15 a year |
| A 75-watt incandescent lightbulb |
An 18-watt CFL lightbulb (or a 13-watt lightbulb from GHE) |
4 cents an hour, or about $88 a year if the bulb is lit for six hours a day (save more if you buy your lower-watt bulb from GHE!) |
| A traditional computer monitor |
An LCD monitor |
$20 a year |
| Washing clothes on a hot/warm cycle |
Switch to a warm/cold wash cycle |
10 cents a load |
| Washing several times a week |
Wash and dry your clothes back-to-back in one stint |
$1 a session, or $52 a year |
| Using a top-loading clothes washer |
Use a front-loading washer |
As much as 40 cents a load |
| A pre-1993 refrigerator |
A new Energy Star-rated refrigerator |
$120 a year |
| Rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher |
Load dishes into the dishwasher as they are |
6,500 gallons of water, or $30 a year on average |
| Leaving gaps in your ductwork |
Seal your loose house "shell" |
$300 a year |
There are so many more easy ways to save energy and money. Please post your thoughts on our comments section!