Seven Easy Steps to Reduce Energy Consumption

We've all seen those long lists of green steps that you should take to stop global warming. While these lists provide us with some good information, they also can be overwhelming. How do you know where to start?

That's where our list comes in. We provide you with seven easy ways that will reduce energy consumption by 20 to 40 percent saving energy and money. We tell you why you should do them, and how, by providing links to resources.

Most of these are fairly easy. If you have already done some of these things, great! Try one or two new things, and encourage your friends and neighbors to follow the list, too! Together, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down climate change.

Let's get started!

1. Change Your Lighting

   Turn off the lights when you leave a room. And switch to Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs)! Changing your lighting from incandescent to compact fluorescent lights can take less than 5 minutes and it will make a big difference:
   • Replacing four 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 23-watt CFLs uses about two-thirds less energy.
   • Fluorescents last up to 10 times longer, saving $190 over the life of the bulbs.
   • The cost of a CFL is paid for by the electricity saved after just 150 hours of use!
Pepco and BG&E Customers can visit a participating retailer and save $1.50 per CFL light bulb or $3 on a multi-pack. Discounts are included in the price at the store.

2. Purchase a Programmable Thermostat

   Install a programmable thermostat. In the winter, you can use it to lower temperatures in the winter, once everyone has gone to bed. In the summer, you can use it to raise temperatures when no one is home anyway!
   Turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours, when you're asleep or out of the house, can save you about 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills!
   If you're not sure how to program your thermostat or need more information on how to use them, the ENERGY STAR Web site has instructions and videos to help you.

3. Tune Up Your HVAC

   Once a year, make sure the ductwork is sealed well and insulated if it runs through unheated spaces, such as your basement.

4. Plug Air Leaks

   This alone can reduce your heating and cooling costs by 10 to 30 percent (depending on how leaky your house is):
   • Poor fitting fireplace dampers can waste 8 % of your heating bill, so replace them!
   • Many houses have air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys, and recessed lights in insulated ceilings. Add caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
   For more information, see the ENERGY STAR Do It Yourself Guide.

5. Check Insulation

   Make sure you attic insulation is deep enough and that there are no gaps.

6. Buy ENERGY STAR Appliances

   Refrigerators manufactured before 1993 use three to four times as much electricity as today's ENERGY STAR models. You can save $120 to 175 a year by replacing it.
   Check out the ENERGY STAR Web site for product lists, searchable database of products and stores, contractors and guidelines.

7. Go Low-Flow

   According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average household spends as much as $500 per year on its water and sewer bill. The agency says homeowners could save about $170 per year just by making a few simple changes to use water more efficiently.
   • Low-flow toilets use a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared with about 3.5 gallons of water used by a standard toilet.
   • Low-flow shower heads use about 2.5 gallons of water per minute compared to between four and five gallons per minute used by conventional heads.
   • Low-flow faucet aerators can cut water usage by as much as 40% (from 4 gallons per minute to 2.5)!
   Visit the Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense information and product database for more information.

Where Energy Is Used in Your Home

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