Here’s how you can get smart about energy for your heating and cooling systems. Schedule an annual tune-up for your central air conditioner, heat pump, or furnace. Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts and to make sure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating equipment is operating efficiently. Clean or replace [...]
Posts Tagged ‘energy savers’
Don’t Get Burned
When energy prices rise, so do the number of ads for energy-saving products and services. Some of these ads are for gadgets and gimmicks that can’t deliver big energy savings. Look carefully at the claims and check for independent information about product performance. Don’t fall for unsolicited or high-pressure sales pitches from contractors or door-to-door [...]
Going Shopping
Furnaces and air conditioners are important to your comfort and safety. Whether you’re buying a new house, renovating an old one, or replacing an old system, choosing energy-efficient equipment can save you money. When you go shopping for a new furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, or water heater, the price tag tells only part of [...]
Living Room Energy Savers
Your local grocery or home store offers a dazzling array of light bulbs. Here’s “watt” you need to know before you buy. Regular incandescent bulbs. Everyday pear-shaped bulbs with a screw-in base, these bulbs use electricity to heat a filament until it glows white hot, producing light. About 90% of the electricity used by incandescent [...]
What do you need from a light bulb?
You want the right amount of light, and you want it to last a long time, especially if it’s for a hard-to-reach place. But you don’t want it to add to your electric bill. You can get everything you want if you use a little energy know-how. Highly efficient compact fluorescent bulbs may cost more [...]
Shedding Light on Buying Bulbs: A Bright Idea
Energy efficient lighting can save you money. The law requires light bulb manufacturers to provide information to help you choose the most energy efficient bulb. For all standard bulbs, including halogen, reflector, and compact fluorescent bulbs, the package must tell you about: * Light output: How much light the bulb produces, measured in lumens. A [...]
How to make an energy-smart decision
* Select the appropriate size and style . Measure the space in your kitchen to be sure your new appliance will fit. Make sure that you have room to open the door fully and have enough clearance for ventilation. * Factor in the operating cost as well as the purchase price. Check out your choices [...]
Kitchen Energy Savers
* Move your refrigerator away from the stove, dishwasher, or heat vents. Make sure the door seals are airtight. * Wait until your dishwasher is full before you run it but don’t overload it. * Use pots that fit the size of the burners on your stove. Use lids so you can cook at a [...]
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Everything But the Kitchen Sink You’re on a budget and need a new refrigerator. The best buy is the fridge with the lowest price, right? Not necessarily. How much an appliance costs depends on three things: purchase price, repair and maintenance costs, and energy costs. To estimate how much you’ll spend on an appliance over [...]
Attic Energy Savers
* If you’re in the market for new windows, consider high-efficiency alternatives. Look for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label, an independent industry rating system for the energy performance of windows, doors, and skylights. * Look for windows made of low emissivity—or “low-E”—glass. Low-E glass has a special thin coating that lets in light, [...]