ENERGY STAR @ home shows you how to save energy in your home, room by room.
If you haven't been affected by the high cost of energy this year, consider yourself lucky. From heating bills to plane and bus tickets to new trash collection surcharges, almost everyone is feeling the pinch.
The home remains the No. 1 energy guzzler for most Americans, but finding the time and energy to research ways to save can seem daunting. Fortunately, a wealth of information is available on the Internet, including several Web sites that have done most of the work for you.
Save money on your energy bills
These days the options available for making your home more energy efficient go well beyond remembering to turn off the lights. Significant energy savings can be had by making improvements to nearly any area of your home:
- Purchase and install new insulation. Sealing up air leaks can lead to big savings on heat.
- Replace aging appliances and hot water heaters with new Energy Star-rated ones. In addition to saving you money they'll work and look better. (Energy Star-rated products are anywhere from 10-25 percent more energy efficient than current U.S. Department of Energy guidelines dictate. See Energy Star's online product specifications for more information.)
- Install new doors, windows and skylights. They will not only reduce energy costs, but make your home more beautiful and comfortable.
- Install a programmable thermostat and change the filters in your heating system on a regular basis for big savings.
- Use ceiling fans to circulate the air in your home and reduce the heating and cooling it needs.
- Replace your standard light bulbs with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).
- Consider updating your home's heating or cooling system if your current one is more than 20 years old.
Save money on your tax bill
As a result of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, homeowners are now eligible for tax credits on a number of energy-saving home improvement products. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Web site, consumers can file for these tax credits (which are more valuable than tax deductions since they actually reduce the amount of tax owed dollar for dollar) by purchasing and installing any of the following:
- Energy Star-rated insulation, doors, windows, skylights and appliances.
- Energy Star-rated home heating and cooling systems or hot water heaters.
- Solar heating systems, or solar hot water heaters not used for pools or hot tubs.
To get the tax credit, consumers must retain their original receipts as well as the manufacturer's certification statement. Note that only the cost of the items themselves and not their installation costs is considered for the tax credit and that the items must be installed in the homeowner's primary residence. Items purchased between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007 are eligible, but need not be installed by the end date to qualify. The dollar amount of the tax credit varies with each item. See Energy Star's Federal Tax Chart for more information.
Getting information is easy
One of the best information-gathering tools homeowners have at their disposal is the Internet. Many U.S. government agencies and several nonprofit organizations have created Web sites to help consumers make sense of the enormous amount of information available and make informed home improvement decisions.
- Home Energy Saver http://hes.lbl.gov - This government Website helps consumers determine the best ways to save energy in their homes. The site's main feature is its Audit Tool, which calculates a home's energy usage in just a few minutes and then provides suggestions on the best ways homeowners can save both energy and money.
- Energy Star http://energystar.gov - Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, this Website provides a listing of products and services that are Energy Star-rated, including home entertainment equipment and specific contractors. The site also gives detailed information on the new Energy Policy Tax Credits and offers homeowners free podcasts and literature.
- Alliance to Save Energy http://ase.org - This nonprofit agency publishes articles and news releases on energy-related topics worldwide, including ways that consumers, schools and businesses can conserve energy and save money.The organization also sponsors programs and events promoting energy efficiency and offers a free e-mail newsletter.
- Save-n-Energy www.save-n-energy.com - Save-n-Energy is a consumer Website selling Energy Star-rated products for the home. Their inventory includes light fixtures, ceiling fans, tankless water heaters and several types of CFL light bulbs. The site also offers tips on lowering electric bills, green living and recycling.
- Energy Hog www.energyhog.org - This fun, not-for-profit site offers a useful checklist of no- and low-cost things anyone can do lower their energy bills. It also offers free educational materials to teachers and kids.
Don't wait!
If you've been meaning to replace your leaky dishwasher or find ways to bring down your hefty electric bill, now is the time! The sooner you start, the more you'll save. Here's how to get started:
- Visit Energy Star's Web site for a list of products eligible for the Energy Policy Tax Credit and try out Home Energy Saver's Audit Tool.
- Print out Energy Hog's checklist and take a look around your home for some obvious ways you can start saving money right away.
- Browse the energy-saving Web sites for tips and ideas you may never have thought of yourself.
- Even something as inexpensive and simple as installing new insulation or CFL bulbs can mean both a greener home and a greener wallet!
