Tips
Energy Efficiency Tips
- ENERGY STAR® — Remember that every appliance or electronic device has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy it uses. Look for items with the ENERGY STAR label, because they use up to 50 percent less energy than standard models, and the savings will show up in lower bills.
- Insulation — Insulate your home and caulk/weather-strip around doors and windows to reduce both cooling and heating costs. Taking these steps will pay for themselves as time goes by.
- Conservation — Consider unplugging consumer electronics when they are not in use. (Even when turned off, CD players in the U.S. consume enough energy in one year to power the Las Vegas Strip for six months.)
- Insulate Pipes — Insulate your hot water piping from the water heater to the wall or ceiling pipe penetration. Wrap the tank in an insulating blanket if the water heater's energy factor is less than 0.59. Remember to follow the installation instructions.
- Refrigerator — Dirty coils on the back or bottom front of your refrigerator can make it work harder than necessary. Check and clean the coils regularly, especially during the summer. See your appliance owner's manual for maintenance instructions.
- Consumer Electronics — Consumer electric products are responsible for approximately 15 percent of household electricity use. Devices still use energy when they're switched off to power features such as clock displays and remote controls – in fact, the average U.S. household spends $100 each year to power devices while they are in “standby” mode. Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR label use less energy to perform these functions, while providing the same performance and features as conventional models.
- Switch to CFLs — Replace lights and lamps with energy-efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, which last up to 10 times longer and use up to 75 percent less electricity.
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