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SAVERS
BOOKLET
Tips on Saving
Energy & Money
at Home
R ight in your own home, you have the power to reduce
energy demand, and when you reduce demand, you
cut the amount of resources, like coal and gas, needed to
make energy—that means you create less greenhouse gas
How to get u.s
emissions, which keeps air cleaner for all of us… and saves unclaimed money
on your utility bills! Plus, reducing energy use increases click here
our energy security.
1
Your Home’s Energy Use
T he first step to taking a whole-
house energy efficiency
approach is to find out which parts
• Check for open fireplace dampers.
• Make sure your appliances and heating
and cooling systems are properly
of your house use the most energy. maintained. Check your owner’s
A home energy audit will pinpoint manuals for the recommended
those areas and suggest the most maintenance.
effective measures for cutting your
• Study your family’s lighting needs
energy costs. You can conduct a
and use patterns, paying special
simple home energy audit yourself,
attention to high-use areas such as
contact your local utility, or call an
the living room, kitchen, and outside
independent energy auditor for a
lighting. Look for ways to use lighting
more comprehensive examination.
controls—like occupancy sensors,
For more information about home
dimmers, or timers—to reduce lighting
energy audits, including free tools and
energy use, and replace standard
calculators, visit www.energysavers.
(incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures
gov or www.natresnet.org.
with compact or standard fluorescent
lamps.
Other Formulating Your Plan
Refrigeration 8% After you have identified where your
Space
8%
Appliances Heating home is losing energy, assign priorities
31%
9% by asking yourself a few important
Computers &
Electronics Space
questions:
9%
Lighting Water Cooling • How much money do you spend on
11% Heating 12% energy?
12%
• Where are your greatest energy losses?
How We Use Energy in Our Homes • How long will it take for an
Heating accounts for the biggest chunk of investment in energy efficiency to pay
a typical utility bill. for itself in energy cost savings?
Source: 2007 Buildings Energy Data Book, Table 4.2.1.,
2005 energy cost data.
• Do the energy-saving measures
provide additional benefits that
Energy Auditing Tips are important to you (for example,
• Check the insulation levels in your increased comfort from installing
attic, exterior and basement walls, double-paned, efficient windows)?
ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. • How long do you plan to own your
Your Home’s Energy Use
Cool Hot
Attic
Walls
Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks
Floors
Crawl space
Basement
Where to Insulate
Adding insulation in the areas shown above may be the best way to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Insulate either the attic floor or under the roof. Check with a contractor about crawl space or basement
insulation.
4
cost effectiveness. For more customized Should I Insulate My Home?
insulation recommendations, visit our
site, www.energysavers.gov, look for Insulate your home when:
Insulation and check out the Zip Code • You have an older home and
Insulation Calculator. This tool provides haven’t added insulation. Only 20%
insulation levels for your new or existing of homes built before 1980 are
home based on your zip code and other well insulated.
basic information about your home. • You are uncomfortably cold in the
Although insulation can be made from winter or hot in the summer—
a variety of materials, it usually comes adding insulation creates a more
in four types; each type has different uniform temperature and increases
characteristics. comfort.
• You build a new home, addition, or
Rolls and batts—or blankets—are install new siding or roofing.
flexible products made from mineral
• You pay high energy bills.
fibers, such as fiberglass and rock wool.
• You are bothered by noise from
They are available in widths suited to outside—insulation muffles sound.
standard spacings of wall studs and attic
or floor joists: 2x4 walls can hold R-13
Insulation Tips
or R-15 batts; 2x6 walls can have R-19 • Consider factors such as your
or R-21 products. climate, building design, and budget
Loose-fill insulation—usually made when selecting insulation R-values
of fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose in for your home.
the form of loose fibers or fiber pellets, • Use higher density insulation on
it should be blown into spaces using exterior walls, such as rigid foam
special pneumatic equipment. The boards, in cathedral ceilings and on
blown-in material conforms readily to exterior walls.
building cavities and attics. Therefore, • Ventilation helps with moisture
loose-fill insulation is well suited for control and reducing summer
places where it is difficult to install other cooling bills. Attic vents can be
types of insulation. installed along the entire ceiling
Rigid foam insulation—foam insulation cavity to help ensure proper airflow
typically is more expensive than fiber from the soffit to the attic to make a
insulation. But it’s very effective in home more comfortable and energy
Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks
7
6
4 6
5 5
4
3
2 3
2
Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks
1
All of Alaska in Zone 7 except for the Zone 1 includes Hawaii,
following boroughs in Zone 8: Guam, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands How Much Insulation
Bethel Northwest Arctic
Dellingham Southeast Fairbanks
Does My Home Need?
Fairbanks N. Star Wade Hampton For insulation recommendations
Nome Yukon-Koyukuk tailored to your home, visit the DOE Zip
North Slope Code Insulation Calculator at www.ornl.
gov/~roofs/zip/ziphome.html.
* These recommendations are cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available information
on local fuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differ from
current local building codes.
6
New Construction Today, new products are on the
For new homes in most climates, you market that provide both insulation
will save money and energy if you and structural support and should be
install a combination of cavity insulation considered for new home construction
and insulative sheathing. Cavity or additions. Structural insulated panels,
insulation can be installed at levels known as SIPs, and masonry products
up to R-15 in a 2 in. x 4 in. wall and like insulating concrete forms are
up to R-21 in a 2 in. x 6 in. wall. The among these. Some homebuilders are
insulative sheathing, used in addition to even using an old technique borrowed
this cavity insulation, helps to reduce from the pioneers: building walls using
the energy that would otherwise be straw bales. Check online at www.
lost through the wood frame. The energysavers.gov for more information
table below shows the recommended on structural insulation.
combinations. For example, in Zone Radiant barriers (in hot climates),
5, you could use either a 2x4 wall with reflective insulation, and foundation
R-13 or a 2x6 wall with R-21. For either insulation should all be considered for
of those two walls, you should also use new home construction. Check with
an inch of insulative sheathing that has your contractor for more information
an R-value of R-5 or R-6. about these options.
_____Wall_____
Cathedral Ceiling
Electric Furnace
Heat Pump
Sheathing
Insulation
Fuel Oil
Cavity
Floor
Zone
Attic
Gas
7
Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home
Areas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the areas listed below.
9
Heating and Cooling
H eating and cooling your home
uses more energy and drains
more energy dollars than any other
if in doubt about how to perform
this task, call a professional.
• Place heat-resistant radiator
system in your home. Typically, 43% reflectors between exterior walls
of your utility bill goes for heating and the radiators.
and cooling. What’s more, heating
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other
and cooling systems in the United
exhaust fans within 20 minutes after
States together emit 150 million tons
you are done cooking or bathing;
of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
when replacing exhaust fans,
each year, adding to global climate
consider installing high-efficiency,
change. They also generate about
low-noise models.
12% of the nation’s sulfur dioxide and
4% of the nitrogen oxides, the chief • During the heating season, keep the
ingredients in acid rain. draperies and shades on your south-
facing windows open during the day
No matter what kind of heating, to allow the sunlight to enter your
ventilation, and air-conditioning home and closed at night to reduce
system you have in your house, you the chill you may feel from cold
can save money and increase your windows.
comfort by properly maintaining
• During the cooling season, keep the
and upgrading your equipment. But
window coverings closed during the
remember, an energy-efficient furnace
day to prevent solar gain.
alone will not have as great an impact
on your energy bills as using the $ Long-Term Savings Tips
whole-house approach. By combining • Select energy-efficient products
proper equipment maintenance and when you buy new heating and
upgrades with appropriate insulation, cooling equipment. Your contractor
air sealing, and thermostat settings, should be able to give you energy
you can cut your energy use for fact sheets for different types,
heating and cooling, and reduce models, and designs to help you
environmental emissions, from 20%
to 50%.
No Heating System
Heating and Cooling Tips 1%
Fuel
• Set your thermostat as low as is Other
Oil
7%
comfortable in the winter and 9%
as high as is comfortable in the Natural Gas
summer. 53%
Electricity
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces 30%
Heating and Cooling
11
Ducts—Out-of-Sight, Out-of-Mind
The unsealed ducts in your attic and crawlspaces lose air, and uninsulated ducts lose heat, wasting
energy and money.
• If your basement has been converted and repairs to a duct system should
to a living area, hire a professional always be performed by a qualified
to install both supply and return professional.
registers in the basement rooms. • Ducts that don’t work properly can
• Be sure a well-sealed vapor create serious, life-threatening carbon
barrier exists on the outside of monoxide (CO) problems in the
the insulation on cooling ducts to home. Install a CO monitor to alert
prevent moisture buildup. you to harmful CO levels if you have
• When doing ductwork, be sure to a fuel-burning furnace, stove or other
get professional help. Changes appliance, or an attached garage.
12
Heat Pumps the same house that does not include
Heat pumps are the most efficient form passive solar design.
of electric heating in moderate climates, Passive solar design can also help reduce
providing three times more heating than your cooling costs. Passive solar cooling
the equivalent amount of energy they techniques include carefully designed
consume in electricity. There are three overhangs, windows with reflective
types of heat pumps: air-to-air, water coatings, and reflective coatings on
source, and ground source. They collect exterior walls and the roof.
heat from the air, water, or ground
outside your home and concentrate it for A passive solar house requires careful
use inside. Heat pumps do double duty design and site orientation, which
as a central air conditioner. They can depend on the local climate. So, if you
also cool your home by collecting the are considering passive solar design for
heat inside your house and effectively new construction or a major remodeling,
pumping it outside. A heat pump can you should consult an architect familiar
trim the amount of electricity you use for with passive solar techniques.
heating by as much as 30% to 40%. Solar Tips
Heat Pump Tips • Keep all south-facing glass clean.
• Do not set back the heat pump’s • Make sure that objects do not block
thermostat manually if it causes the the sunlight shining on concrete slab
electric resistance heating to come on. floors or heat-absorbing walls.
This type of heating, which is often
used as a backup to the heat pump, Natural Gas and Oil Heating
is more expensive. If you plan to buy a new heating system,
ask your local utility or state energy
• Clean or change filters once a month office for information about the latest
or as needed, and maintain the technologies available to consumers.
system according to manufacturer’s They can advise you about more
instructions. efficient systems on the market today.
For example, many newer models
$ Long-Term Savings Tip incorporate designs for burners and
• If you use electricity to heat your heat exchangers that result in higher
home and live in a moderate climate, efficiencies during operation and reduce
consider installing an energy- efficient heat loss when the equipment is off.
heat pump system. Consider a sealed combustion furnace;
Solar Heating and Cooling they are both safer and more efficient.
Using passive solar design techniques to Check the shopping guide in the back
heat and cool your home can be of this booklet for additional information
both environmentally friendly and on how to understand heating system
cost effective. Passive solar heating ratings.
Heating and Cooling
14
Buildings and Trees—Natural Partners
Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will help keep your house cool in the summer and
02477415m
allow sun to shine in the windows in the winter.
• Consider using an interior fan in of this booklet will help you find the
conjunction with your window air right size unit for your needs.
conditioner to spread the cooled air • Consider installing a whole-
more effectively through your home house fan or evaporative cooler if
without greatly increasing your power appropriate for your climate. Check
use. out www.energysavers.gov for more
• Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near information on efficient cooling.
your air-conditioning thermostat.
The thermostat senses heat from Landscaping
these appliances, which can cause Landscaping is a natural and beautiful
the air conditioner to run longer than way to keep your home cool in
necessary. summer and reduce your energy bills.
A well-placed tree, shrub, or vine
• Plant trees or shrubs to shade air
conditioning units but not to block the can deliver effective shade, act as a
airflow. Place your room air conditioner windbreak, and reduce your energy
on the north side of the house. A unit bills. Carefully positioned trees can
operating in the shade uses as much as save up to 25% of the energy a typical
10% less electricity than the same one household uses for energy. Research
operating in the sun. shows that summer daytime air
temperatures can be 3° to 6° cooler
Heating and Cooling
16
Average Hot Water Use
• Although most water heaters last
Activity Gallons per Use
10–15 years, it’s best to start shopping
now for a new one if yours is more Clothes washing 32
than 7 years old. Doing some research Showering 20
before your heater fails will enable
Bathing 20
you to select one that most
appropriately meets your needs. Automatic 12
dishwashing
$ Long-Term Savings Tips Preparing food 5
• Buy a new energy-efficient water
Hand dishwashing 4
heater. While it may cost more initially
than a standard water heater, the Source: ACEEE
energy savings will continue during
the lifetime of the appliance. Look for
the ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide More than 1.5 million homes and
labels. businesses in the United States
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on have invested in solar water heating
efficient water heaters in the following systems, and surveys indicate that
categories: high efficiency gas non- more than 94% of these customers
condensing, gas condensing, electric consider the systems a good
heat pump, gas tankless, and solar. investment. Solar water heating
systems are also good for the
• Consider installing a drain water waste environment. Solar water heaters
heat recovery system. A recent DOE avoid the greenhouse gas emissions
study showed energy savings of 25% associated with electricity production.
to about 30% for water heating using During a 20-year period, one solar
such a system. water heater can avoid more than 50
• Consider natural gas on-demand or tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
tankless water heaters. Researchers When shopping for a solar water
have found savings can be up to 30% heater, look for the ENERGY STAR
compared with a standard natural gas label and for systems certified by
storage tank water heater. the Solar Rating and Certification
• Heat pump water heaters can be very Corporation or the Florida Solar
cost-effective in some areas. Energy Center.
17
Windows
W indows can be one
of your home’s most
attractive features.
Windows provide views,
daylighting, ventilation, and
solar heating in the winter.
Unfortunately, they can also
account for 10% to 25% of
your heating bill. During the
summer, your air conditioner
must work harder to cool
hot air from sunny windows.
Install ENERGY STAR
windows and use curtains
and shade to give your air
conditioner and energy bill
a break. If you live in the Cold-Climate Windows Keep Heat In 02477413m
Sun Belt, look into low-e Double-pane windows with low-e coating on the glass reflect
windows, which can cut the heat back into the room during the winter months.
cooling load by 10% to 15%.
If your home has single- Cold-Climate Window Tips
pane windows, as many U.S. homes • You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic
do, consider replacing them with sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic
new double-pane windows with film to the inside of your window
high-performance glass (e.g., low-e frames during the cold winter months.
or spectrally selective). In colder Remember, the plastic must be sealed
climates, select windows that are gas tightly to the frame to help reduce
filled with low emissivity infiltration.
(low-e) coatings on the glass to reduce • Install tight-fitting, insulating window
heat loss. In warmer climates, select shades on windows that feel drafty
windows with spectrally selective after weatherizing.
coatings to reduce heat gain. If you are • Close your curtains and shades at
building a new home, you can offset night; open them during the day.
some of the cost of installing more • Keep windows on the south side of your
efficient windows because they house clean to let in the winter sun.
allow you to buy smaller, less
expensive heating and cooling • Install exterior or interior storm
equipment. windows; storm windows can reduce
heat loss through the windows by 25%
If you decide not to replace your to 50%. Storm windows should have
windows, the simpler, less costly weatherstripping at all movable joints;
measures listed here can improve their be made of strong, durable materials;
Windows
19
Lighting than incandescent bulbs initially, over
their lifetime they are cheaper because
M
of how little electricity they use. CFL
aking improvements to your lighting fixtures are now available
lighting is one of the fastest that are compatible with dimmers and
ways to cut your energy bills. An operate like incandescent fixtures.
average household dedicates 11% of
its energy budget to lighting. Using Indoor Lighting Tips
new lighting technologies can reduce • Be sure to buy ENERGY STAR
lighting energy use in your home by qualified CFLs.
50% to 75%. Advances in lighting - They will save you about $30 or more
controls offer further energy savings in electricity costs over each bulb’s
by reducing the amount of time lights lifetime.
are on but not being used. - Producing about 75% less heat, they
are safer to operate and can cut home
cooling costs.
- Visit www.energystar.gov to find the
right light bulbs for your fixtures. They
are available in sizes and shapes to fit
in almost any fixture.
- They provide the greatest savings in
fixtures that are on for a long time
each day. The best fixtures to use
qualified CFLs in are usually found in
your family and living rooms, kitchen,
dining room, bedrooms, and outdoors.
• Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs— qualified fixtures. They are available in
A Bright Idea! many styles including table, desk and
floor lamps — and hard-wired options
ENERGY STAR qualified lighting provides bright, for front porches, dining rooms,
warm light and uses about 75% less energy
bathroom vanity fixtures, and more.
than standard lighting, produces 75% less heat,
and lasts up to 10 times longer.
Indoor Lighting
Use linear fluorescent tubes and energy
efficient compact fluorescent light
bulbs (CFLs) in fixtures throughout
your home to provide high-quality and
high-efficiency lighting. Fluorescent
lamps are much more efficient than
incandescent (standard) bulbs and last
about 6 to 12 times longer.
Today’s CFLs offer brightness and
color rendition that is comparable to CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed
Lighting
incandescent bulbs. Although linear within the glass tubing. Many retailers are offering
fluorescent and CFLs cost a bit more free recycling services for consumers at their stores.
20
Outdoor Lighting
Many homeowners use outdoor
lighting for decoration and security.
When shopping for outdoor lights,
you will find a variety of products,
from low-voltage pathway lighting
to motion-detector floodlights. Light
emitting diodes, or LEDs, thrive in
outdoor environments because of
their durability and performance in
cold weather. Look for ENERGY
STAR LED products such as pathway
lights, step lights, and porch lights for
outdoor use.
Outdoor Lighting Tips
ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are available in • Because outdoor lights are usually
sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture. left on a long time, using CFLs
in these fixtures will save a lot of
• ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures energy. Most bare spiral CFLs can be
distribute light more efficiently and used in enclosed fixtures that protect
evenly than standard fixtures and they them from the weather.
deliver convenient features such as • CFLs are also available as flood
dimming on some indoor models. lights. These models have been tested
• Controls such as timers and photo to withstand the rain and snow so
cells save electricity by turning lights they can be used in exposed fixtures.
off when not in use. Dimmers save Most though, cannot be used with
electricity when used to lower light motion detectors.
levels. Be sure to select products that • Look for ENERGY STAR qualified
are compatible with CFL bulbs; not all fixtures that are designed for outdoor
products work with CFLs. use and come with features like
• When remodeling, look for recessed automatic daylight shut-off and
downlights, or “cans”, that are rated for motion sensors.
contact with insulation (IC rated).
• Take advantage of daylight by using
light-colored, loose-weave curtains LED—A New Kind of Light
on your windows to allow daylight to
Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, offer
penetrate the room while preserving
better light quality than incandescent
privacy. Also, decorate with lighter bulbs, last 25 times as long, and use
colors that reflect daylight. even less energy than CFLs. Look for
• If you have torchiere fixtures with ENERGY STAR qualified LED products at
halogen lamps, consider replacing them home improvement centers and lighting
with compact fluorescent torchieres. showrooms.
Compact fluorescent torchieres use
60% to 80% less energy and do not get
as hot as halogen torchieres.
Lighting
21
Appliances and 28 lists some of the major appliances
that carry the ENERGY STAR label and
provides helpful information on what to
22
• Let your dishes air dry; if you don’t
What’s a kilowatt?
have an automatic air-dry switch,
When you use electricity to cook a pot of turn off the control knob after the
rice for 1 hour, you use 1000 watt-hours of final rinse and prop the door open
electricity! One thousand watt-hours equals slightly so the dishes will dry faster.
1 kilowatt-hour, or 1 kWh. Your utility bill
usually shows what you are charged for the
kilowatt-hours you use. The average residential
$ Long-Term Savings Tip
rate is 9.4 cents per kWh. A typical U.S. • When shopping for a new
household consumes about 11,000 kWh per dishwasher, look for the ENERGY
year, costing an average of $1,034 annually. STAR label to find a dishwasher that
uses less water and 41% less energy
than required by federal standards.
Dishwasher Tips
• Check the manual that came with your
dishwasher for the manufacturer’s Refrigerators
recommendations on water The EnergyGuide label on new
temperature; many have internal refrigerators tells you how much
heating elements that allow you to electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) a
set the water heater in your home particular model uses in one year. The
to a lower temperature (120°F). smaller the number, the less energy
• Scrape, don’t rinse, off large the refrigerator uses and the less it
food pieces and bones. Soaking will cost you to operate. In addition
or prewashing is generally only to the EnergyGuide label, don’t forget
recommended in cases of burned-on to look for the ENERGY STAR label.
or dried-on food. A new refrigerator with an ENERGY
• Be sure your dishwasher is full, but STAR label uses at least 20% less
not overloaded, when you run it. energy than required by current
• Avoid using the “rinse hold” on your federal standards and 40% less energy
machine for just a few soiled dishes. than the conventional models sold in
It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each 2001.
time you use it.
23
Refrigerator/Freezer Energy Tips • Cover liquids and wrap foods stored
• Look for a refrigerator with in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods
automatic moisture control. release moisture and make the
Models with this feature have been compressor work harder.
engineered to prevent moisture
accumulation on the cabinet exterior
$ Long-Term Savings Tip
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label
without the addition of a heater.
when buying a new refrigerator. Select
This is not the same thing as an
a new refrigerator that is the right
“anti-sweat” heater. Models with an
size for your household. Top freezer
anti-sweat heater will consume 5%
models are more energy efficient than
to 10% more energy than models
side-by-side models. Features like
without this feature.
icemakers and water dispensers, while
• Don’t keep your refrigerator or convenient, will increase energy use.
freezer too cold. Recommended
temperatures are 37° to 40°F for
the fresh food compartment of the
refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer
section. If you have a separate
freezer for long-term storage, it
should be kept at 0°F.
• To check refrigerator temperature,
place an appliance thermometer in
a glass of water in the center of the
refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours.
To check the freezer temperature,
place a thermometer between frozen
packages. Read it after 24 hours.
• Regularly defrost manual-defrost
refrigerators and freezers; frost
buildup decreases the energy
efficiency of the unit. Don’t allow
frost to build up more than one-
quarter of an inch.
• Make sure your refrigerator door
seals are airtight. Test them by
closing the door over a piece of
paper or a dollar bill so it is half
in and half out of the refrigerator.
If you can pull the paper or bill
out easily, the latch may need
adjustment, the seal may need
replacing, or you might consider
buying a new unit. ENERGY STAR Refrigerators Are Cool!
Appliances
24
Other Energy-Saving Kitchen Tips or cold water setting on your machine
• Be sure to place the faucet lever on the will generally do a good job of
kitchen sink in the cold position when cleaning your clothes. Switching your
using small amounts of water; placing temperature setting from hot to warm
the lever in the hot position uses can cut a load’s energy use in half.
energy to heat the water even though it
may never reach the faucet. Laundry Tips
• Wash your clothes in cold water
• If you need to purchase a natural gas using cold-water detergents
oven or range, look for one with an whenever possible.
automatic, electric ignition system.
An electric ignition saves natural gas • Wash and dry full loads. If you
because a pilot light is not burning are washing a small load, use the
continuously. appropriate water-level setting.
• In natural gas appliances, look for • Dry towels and heavier cottons in
blue flames; yellow flames indicate a separate load from lighter-weight
the gas is burning inefficiently and an clothes.
adjustment may be needed. Consult the • Don’t over-dry your clothes. If your
manufacturer or your local utility. machine has a moisture sensor, use it.
• Keep range-top burners and reflectors • Clean the lint filter in the dryer
clean; they will reflect the heat better, after every load to improve air
and you will save energy. circulation.
• Use a covered kettle or pan to boil • Use the cool-down cycle to allow
water; it’s faster and it uses less energy. the clothes to finish drying with the
• Match the size of the pan to the heating residual heat in the dryer.
element. • Periodically inspect your dryer vent
• Use small electric pans or toaster ovens to ensure it is not blocked. This will
for small meals rather than your large save energy and may prevent a fire.
stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a Manufacturers recommend using
third to half as much energy as a full- rigid venting material, not plastic
sized oven. vents that may collapse and cause
blockages.
• Use pressure cookers and microwave
ovens whenever it is convenient • Consider air-drying clothes on
to do so. They will save energy by clothes lines or drying racks. Air-
significantly reducing cooking time. drying is recommended by clothing
manufacturers for some fabrics.
Laundry
About 90% of the energy used for $ Long-Term Savings Tips
washing clothes in a conventional • Look for the ENERGY STAR and
top-load washer is for heating the water. EnergyGuide labels. ENERGY
There are two ways to reduce the amount STAR clothes washers clean clothes
of energy used for washing clothes—use using 50% less energy than standard
less water and use cooler water. Unless
Appliances
25
How Much Electricity Do Appliances Use?
This chart shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost
based on national averages. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the
average television uses. Visit www.energysavers.gov for instructions on calculating the electrical
use of your appliances.
26
Major Appliance
Shopping Guide
This easy-to-read guide may help you
understand how appliances are rated for
efficiency, what the ratings mean, and what to
look for while shopping for new appliances.
Air-Source Look for the EnergyGuide label that If you live in a cool climate, look for a heat
Heat Pumps lists the SEER (Seasonal Energy pump with a high HSPF. ENERGY STAR heat
Efficiency Ratio) and HSPF (Heating pumps are about 20% more efficient than
Seasonal Performance Factor) for heat standard models. Contact a professional for
pumps. The SEER measures the energy advice on purchasing a heat pump.
efficiency during the cooling season
and HSPF measures the efficiency
during the heating season. The ENERGY
STAR minimum efficiency level is
13 SEER or higher.
Central Air Look for the EnergyGuide label with Air conditioners that bear the ENERGY
Conditioners a SEER for central air conditioners. STAR label may be 25% more efficient than
The ENERGY STAR minimum efficiency standard models. Contact a professional for
level is 13 SEER. advice on sizing a central air system.
Room Air Look for the EnergyGuide label with an What size to buy?
Conditioners EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) for room Area in Btu/ Two major factors
air conditioners. The higher the EER, square feet hour should guide your
the more efficient the unit is. ENERGY purchase: correct
STAR units are among the most energy- 100 to 150 5,000 size and energy
efficient products. 150 to 250 6,000 efficiency. If the
250 to 350 7,000 room is very sunny,
350 to 450 9,000 increase capacity
400 to 450 10,000 by 10%. If the unit
450 to 550 12,000 is for a kitchen,
550 to 700 14,000 increase the
Appliances
27
Appliances Rating Special Considerations
Programmable For minimum ENERGY STAR efficiency, Look for a the ENERGY STAR label and
Thermostats thermostats should have at least two a thermostat that allows you to easily
programs, four temperature settings use two separate programs, one that
each, a hold feature that allows users can be programmed to reach the desired
to temporarily override settings, and the temperature at a specific time, and a
ability to maintain room temperature hold feature that temporarily overrides
within 2ºF of desired temperature. the setting without deleting the preset
programs.
Water Heaters Look for the EnergyGuide label that If you typically need a lot of hot water at
tells how much energy the water once, the FHR will be important to you.
heater uses in one year. Also, look for Sizing is important—call your local utility
the FHR (first hour rating) of the water for advice.
heater, which measures the maximum
hot water the heater will deliver in the
first hour of use. ENERGY STAR labeled
water heaters available January 2009.
Windows Look for the NFRC (National Look at the Climate Region Map on the
Fenestration Rating Council) label that ENERGY STAR label to be sure that the
provides U-values and SHGC (solar heat window, door, or skylight you have selected
gain coefficient) values. The lower the is appropriate for where you live.
U-value, the better the insulation.
Refrigerators Look for the EnergyGuide label that Look for energy-efficient refrigerators and
and Freezers tells how much electricity, in kWh, the freezers. Refrigerators with freezers on top
refrigerator will use in one year. The are more efficient than those with freezers
smaller the number, the less energy it on the side. Also look for heavy door hinges
uses. ENERGY STAR refrigerators use at that create a good door seal.
least 20% less energy than required by
federal standards.
Dishwashers Look for the EnergyGuide label that Look for features that will reduce water
tells how much electricity, in kWh, the use, such as booster heaters and smart
dishwasher will use in one year. The controls. Ask how many gallons of water
smaller the number, the less energy it the dishwasher uses during different
Major Appliances Shopping Guide
Major Appliances Shopping Guide
uses. ENERGY STAR dishwashers use at cycles. Dishwashers that use the least
least 41% less energy than required by amount of water will cost the least to
federal standards. operate.
Clothes Look for the EnergyGuide label that Look for the following design features that
Washers tells how much electricity, in kWh, the help clothes washers cut water usage:
clothes washer will use in one year. The water level controls, “suds-saver” features,
smaller the number, the less energy is spin cycle adjustments, and large capacity.
uses. ENERGY STAR clothes washers For double the efficiency, buy an ENERGY
use less than 50% of the energy used STAR unit.
by standard washers.
28
Home Office and Home Electronics
I n the U.S., nearly 4.2 million
people worked from home in 2000,
up from 3.4 million in 1990. Working
Shop for ENERGY STAR
Products for Offices
from home saves energy and time by • Computers
cutting out the commute, but it may • Copiers
increase your home energy bills a lot • Fax Machines
unless you use energy-saving office • Monitors
equipment. • Multifunction Devices
ENERGY STAR labeled office (fax, scanner, copier)
equipment is widely available: it • Printers
provides users with dramatic savings, • Scanners
as much as 90% savings for some
products. Overall, ENERGY STAR
labeled office products use about half machines when they are not in
the electricity of standard equipment. use can result in enormous energy
Along with saving energy directly, savings.
this equipment can reduce air- • An ENERGY STAR labeled
conditioning loads, noise from fans computer uses 70% less electricity
and transformers, and electromagnetic than computers without this
field emissions from monitors. designation. If left inactive,
ENERGY STAR labeled desktop
Home Office Tips computers enter a sleep mode and
• Selecting energy-efficient office use 4 watts or less.
equipment—personal computers
(PCs), monitors, copiers, printers,
and fax machines—and turning off
29
Spending a large portion of time
in low-power mode not only saves
Shop for ENERGY STAR
energy, but helps equipment run Home Electronics
cooler and last longer. • Cordless Phones
• Televisions
• To maximize savings with a laptop,
put the AC adapter on a power strip • VCRs and DVD Players
that can be turned off (or will turn • Combination Units (TV/VCR;
off automatically); the transformer TV/DVD)
in the AC adapter draws power • Home Audio
continuously, even when the laptop • Set-Top Boxes
is not plugged into the adapter.
• Common misconceptions sometimes
kitchen appliances. These phantom
account for the failure to turn off
loads can be avoided by unplugging
equipment. Many people believe
the appliance or using a power strip
that equipment lasts longer if it is
and using the switch on the power strip
never turned off. This incorrect
to cut all power to the appliance.
perception carries over from the
days of older mainframe computers. • Unplug battery chargers when the
batteries are fully charged or the
• ENERGY STAR labeled computers chargers are not in use.
and monitors save energy only when
• Studies have shown that using
the power management features
rechargeable batteries for products
are activated, so make sure power
like cordless phones and PDAs is
management is activated on your
more cost effective than throwaway
computer.
batteries. If you must use throaways,
• There is a common misconception check with your trash removal
that screen savers reduce energy use company about safe disposal options.
by monitors; they do not. Automatic
switching to sleep mode or manually
turning monitors off is always the
better energy-saving strategy.
30
Driving and Car Maintenance
T ransportation accounts for 67% of
U.S. oil use—mainly in the form of
gasoline. Luckily, there are plenty of
Car Maintenance Tips
• Use the grade of motor oil
recommended by your car’s
ways to improve gas mileage. manufacturer. Using a different
motor oil can lower your gasoline
Driving Tips
mileage by 1% to 2%.
• Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon.
The best way to warm up a vehicle is • Keep tires properly inflated and
to drive it. No more than 30 seconds aligned to improve your gasoline
of idling on winter days is needed. mileage by around 3.3%.
Anything more simply wastes fuel • Get regular engine tune-ups and car
and increases emissions. maintenance checks to avoid fuel
• Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid economy problems due to worn
acceleration, and hard braking) spark plugs, dragging brakes, low
wastes gas. It can lower your transmission fluid, or transmission
highway gas mileage 33% and problems.
city mileage 5%. • Replace clogged air filters to
• Avoid high speeds. Above 60 mph, improve gas mileage by as much
gas mileage drops rapidly. as 10% and protect your engine.
• Clear out your car; extra weight • Combine errands into one trip.
decreases gas mileage by 1% to 2% for Several short trips, each one taken
every 100 pounds. from a cold start, can use twice as
much fuel as one trip covering the
• Reduce drag by placing items inside
same distance when the engine is
the car or trunk rather than on roof
warm.
racks. A roof rack or carrier
provides additional $ Long-Term Savings Tip
cargo space • Consider buying a highly
and may fuel-efficient vehicle. A fuel-
allow you to efficient vehicle, a hybrid
buy a smaller vehicle, or an alternative
car. However, fuel vehicle could save you
a loaded a lot at the gas pump and
roof rack can help the environment. See
decrease your the Fuel Economy Guide
Driving and Car Maintenance
31
Renewable Energy
Y ou have many options for using
renewable energy at home—from
solar-powered outdoor lights to buying
and a good solar resource, you might
want to consider generating your
own electricity using PV cells. New
renewable energy from your utility products are available that integrate
to even producing solar electricity at PV cells with the roof, making them
home with photovoltaic (PV) cells. much less visible than older systems.
33
Visit www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/
to order booklets, download the PDF, and view the booklet online.
A Strong Energy Portfolio for a Strong America For more information contact:
Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a EERE Information Center
stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy 1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463)
independence for America. Working with a wide array of state, www.eere.energy.gov
community, industry, and university partners, the U.S. Department
of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
invests in a diverse portfolio of energy technologies.
May 2009
Printed with renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper,
including 10% postconsumer waste. Inside illustrations © 1998 Greening America
Printing paid for by the partner organization identified on the back cover.