How to Live Green and Save Energy

Fact: A typical U.S. family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills. Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. And electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. And as for the road, transportation accounts for 66% of all U.S. oil consumption. The good news is, there is a lot you can do to save energy and money. The key to achieving these savings in your home is a whole-house energy efficiency plan. To take a whole-house approach, view your home as an energy system with interdependent parts. For example, your heating system is not just a furnace—it's a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout your home using a network of ducts. Even a top-of-the-line, energy-efficient furnace will burn a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are not insulated and leak. Taking a whole-house approach to saving energy ensures that dollars you invest to save energy are spent wisely.

Americans spend more than $160 billion a year to heat, cool, light, and live in our homes. This energy represents about 21 percent of the national total and includes significant demand for electricity and natural gas. Many households could save 20-30 percent on their household energy bills by implementing energy efficiency improvements. Energy Savers primarily focuses on existing homes — both owned and rented.

Purchase energy efficient household appliances. For example: if you replace your 1972 refrigerator with a 2001 model, you may cut your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,100 lbs. a year and save $80 a year on your energy bill. Replace your top-loading washing machine with a front-loader, and you may save $100 a year in energy, water and detergent. A new Energy Star refrigerator uses about 20% less energy than a standard new refrigerator and 46% less than one made before 1980. A new Energy Star washing machine uses nearly 50% less energy than a standard washer.” Washing clothes in cold water reduces your washer's energy use by 75% and saves almost 500 lbs. of CO2 per year. Drying clothes outside in the fresh air and sunlight not only lengthens the life of your clothes but also saves energy and 1,386 lbs. of CO2 emissions. When you need to use the clothes dryer, run full loads and use the moisture-sensing setting. Clean the lint trap after each use and clear the outdoor dryer vent frequently to eliminate blockage and reduce resistance.

If you increase your air conditioning thermostat by only 3°F you can save an average of 470 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year. You can save up to 3% of energy consumed for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees. Ceiling or room fans can also be used to cool rooms significantly while using less energy than air conditioning. Electric fan is an effective way of cooling your home without using the air conditioner. It forces hot air out of your home and draws cooler air in through attic vents.

Unplug the extra refrigerator in your basement or garage, and save 448 lbs of carbon dioxide per year. Unplug appliances like microwaves, stereos, VCRs and printers that do not have to be on all the time, but use energy when plugged in. Simply unplugging these appliances can save a lot of energy. If possible, unplug electronic devices and chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when they are not in use.

One of the least expensive and most effective ways to reduce energy consumption in the home is to seal air leaks. A simple effort to weatherize your home—especially to seal any large air gaps in the attic and basement—can reduce a typical home's greenhouse gas emissions by 1,300 pounds per year. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning to prevent heated air from escaping through the chimney. Avoid using kitchen, bathroom and other ventilating fans in excess, as these can eject a significant amount of heated or cooled air in a very short period of time.

Besides homes, transportation is another leading energy consumer. In the U.S., vehicles use more gasoline each year than the entire U.S. oil industry produces. Try to live near your work or school, and use public transportation, carpool, walk, or bike when you can. Replace your SUV with one of the new hybrid gas and electric cars and you could save as much as $11,000 on gas and produce 107 fewer tons of carbon dioxide. The new efficient hybrids are reliable and drive just like a standard car, with no need to recharge batteries. Finally, if we all pitch in our efforts to save energy, we can all breathe easier and cleaner, because the air is cleaner.