Today's busy families use technology in nearly every room of the home. Mom and Dad may be watching the flat-screen television in the den, while the kids are instant messaging or playing video games on PCs in their rooms. Meanwhile, microwaves, DVD players and household lights are abuzz in the background.
Unfortunately, this can add up to higher home energy costs, especially during the colder months when family activities move indoors. The average U.S. household spent about $1,900 on home energy bills last year, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes the efficient and clean use of energy.
To put a lid on your household energy costs, it's important to make energy savings a family affair. It's never too early for kids-often the largest energy users in the family-to develop energy-saving habits. Parents should enforce the basics, such as making sure kids turn off electronics when not in use.
To develop an effective energy savings plan, you'll need to take a good look at your family's energy-use patterns. Identify those who use the most energy in your household and develop strategies to quickly cut down on wasteful behavior. Does Mom enjoy steaming-hot baths a few times a week? Energy experts say about 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. Consider having her switch to quick showers instead.
It's also important to examine everyday items in the home that can contribute to energy savings. Motion sensors, for example, will turn off lights automatically when not in use.
Additional tips that can help your home become more energy efficient include:
? Look at Lighting-Use energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs rather than traditional bulbs. Energy experts recommend replacing the home's five most-used bulbs with CFL bulbs to save $60 a year in home energy costs. The Home Depot offers new n:vision CFL bulbs that use about two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer than regular bulbs.
? Temperature Control-Set your home thermostat to a comfortable yet energy-saving temperature of 68 degrees during the winter. Don't pay to heat an empty home. While you're away, turn down the thermostat 10-15 degrees. A programmable thermostat can warm the house before you get home.
? Stop Air Leaks-Leaks through small cracks around windows and doors are responsible for 30 to 40 percent of the heat that leaks out of your house. Seal and weather-strip windows and doors with weather-resistant foam sealant to make sure you're not wasting energy on heat that escapes through the leaks. Try Great Stuff? available at The Home Depot stores.
? Examine Appliances-Household electronics and appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers make up about 20 percent of household energy use, experts say. When shopping for such appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR? label that indicates the government's rating of the most energy-efficient models.
The Home Depot offers a wide variety of energy-saving appliances, tools and products to help your family develop an energy savings plan.
Author Bio:
Products that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. EPA and DOE. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov. Using energy efficiently at home can be as easy as changing a light bulb.
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