Low-Cost and No-Cost Ways to Save Energy

Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills?

Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. 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 that there is a lot you can do to save energy and money at home and in your car.

- Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer.

- Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.

- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

- 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, as 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.

- Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.