Found Money:
How To Generate Quick Cash In An
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Slash your
electric bill in 6 easy steps
Spending lots to save pennies makes very
little sense, but if you’re already in
the market for a new appliance, consider
the Web as your first line of defense in
energy-savings.
Perhaps you weren’t so Eco-conscious
until that glaring electric bill landed
in your mailbox. It’s time to become
mindful of the green in your wallet and
save energy at the same time.
Start by simply unplugging unused
appliances, lowering the temperature on
your electric water heater to 120
degrees F, and washing only full loads
of dishes and air drying them.
At the same time take a look at the free
online calculators to get customized
tips for improving your home’s energy
efficiency at Home Energy Saver, a Web
site sponsored by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Department of Energy (DOE).
Spending hundreds to save pennies
generally doesn’t make sense, but if
you’re already in the market for a new
appliance, or even light bulbs, consider
the Web your first energy-savings tool.
Think Climate Control
A typical household uses the bulk of its
energy for heating and cooling—up to 44%
of your utility bill, according to the
DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Network (EREN).
Install a programmable thermostat. This
can reduce energy wasted while heating
or cooling a house when no one is home
or everyone’s asleep.
According to the Home Energy Saver site,
Energy Star programmable thermostats can
save as much as 20% to 30% on your
heating or cooling costs by allowing for
multiple daily settings and
automatically adjusting when the outside
temperature changes. Participating
manufacturers include Honeywell, Hunter
Fan and Smart Systems International.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to search
for programmable thermostats by Energy
Star status. Instead, keep an eye out
for those with features typical of the
Energy Star thermostats: temperature
recovery systems, two programs and four
temperature settings.
Think Ceiling fans
When you move the air, you tend to feel
cooler. This allows for higher
summertime thermostat settings.
According to EREN, the effect is
equivalent to lowering the air
temperature by about 4° F (2° C), and
using less energy than air conditioners
in doing so.
Think Lighting,
Cooking and other Appliances
The next-biggest household energy use
after climate control is for lighting,
cooking and other appliances. Not
counting the fridge, these make up about
33% of a typical utility bill.
Think Compact
Fluorescent Lamps (CFL’s)
CFL’s will use up to 75% less energy
than standard incandescent bulbs and
will last up to 10 times longer,
according to Home Energy Saver. This is
very good, because they’re also more
expensive to start with.
Check your local utility for ideas. Look
for a free “Conservation Kit”,
containing among other things, two CFL’s.
This, of course, is a terrific deal!
Think
Energy-efficient Appliances
Use the Energy Star site as a starting
point to search for Maytag washing
machines. Look for the Atlantis MAV9600
high-efficiency model for $689 at Best
Maytag.
Among household appliances, the
refrigerator is likely your biggest
energy consumer, especially if it’s more
than 15 years old. It can account for up
to 9% of your energy costs alone. Again,
look to the Energy Star site for a list
of energy-efficient models if you’re
looking to replace yours.
Hot Water Heating
Heating water is the third-biggest
home-energy cost and typically accounts
for 14%-20% of your total energy bill.
Think Hot Water
Jackets
Hot water jackets usually sell for $10
to $20, and shipping charges for buying
them online can easily increase their
cost by 50% or more. Use the Web to find
offline deals in this case.
Think Aerating,
Low-flow Faucets and Showerheads
Both Niagara and AM Conservation models
popped up on a variety of environmental
sites, including EnergyGuide, which also
had the best price for the four-way
adjustable Niagara showerhead at $6.75.
The nice thing about ordering from
EnergyGuide is that it automatically
searches for any rebates based on the
ZIP code you enter.
When you’re considering buying a new
home, you can plan for energy savings
from the ground up with an
energy-efficient homebuilding project.
Check the DOE’s Building America and the
EPA sites to find projects near you.
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