Flip the Switch: Energy Conservation in the Home Green Living

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Living Green

Refers to choices and activities that have a positive impact on our natural environment without reducing the quality of all aspects of life

So, What Can I Do to Conserve Energy in My Home?

Change behavior Use equipment efficiently Maintain and repair Replace with energy-efficient product

Where Does My Money Go?

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_pie

Change Behavior (minimum cost)

Change Behavior

Use dishwasher and clothes dryer at night Use cold water rather than hot water Take short showers instead of baths

Change Behavior

Don’t leave vent fans running longer than needed.

Plug home electronics into power strips; turn off the power strip when equipment is not in use.

Turn the computer and monitor off when not in use.

Change Behavior

Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees. (Use hot water setting on dishwasher when illness in household.) Unplug appliances that you are not using. (Just how many clocks do we need?)

Change Behavior

Dress for the season.

On hot days, avoid using the oven.

Turn lights off when leaving a room.

Change Behavior

Change your thermostat 8 degrees (set back for heat and set up for cool).

Use the ceiling fan for a wind chill effect (4 degrees).

Use ceiling fans only when you are in a room.

Change Behavior

Use window treatments or coverings to reduce heat gain and/or loss.

Close the blinds when the sun shines on windows.

Change Behavior

Minimize opening and closing the refrigerator and freezer.

Minimize activities that generate a lot of heat.

Close the outside doors to keep the cool air inside.

No Cost to Change Behavior

What are others ways to change your behaviors in order to save the amount of electricity or gas you use in your home?

Use Equipment Efficiently

Use the moisture sensor on the dryer, and remove clothes from the dryer when dry.

Wash only full loads in the clothes washer and dishwasher.

Insulate your water heater tank.

Use the correct size sauce pan or skillet for the unit size.

Use Equipment Efficiently

Install a programmable thermostat on the central heat and air system.

Provide shade for the exterior compressor.

Use landscaping to provide shade on doors and windows.

Ventilate and insulate the attic.

Use Equipment Efficiently

CFLs produce less heat than incandescent lights.

One larger wattage bulb is more efficient that two smaller wattage bulbs.

Use task lighting.

Maintenance/Repair

Have the HVAC professionally checked annually.

Check AC duct work for air leaks.

Change or wash AC filters, as needed.

Caulk and weather strip to seal air leaks around doors and windows.

Have the water heater flushed, as needed.

Energy Efficient Products

Look for the ENERGY STAR label.

- Equipment - Appliances - Electronics Products can earn the ENERGY STAR label by meeting the energy-efficiency requirements.

http://www.energystar.gov

Lighting

Incandescent bulbs are least efficient.

• 90% of energy becomes heat.

• 10% of energy becomes light.

Compact fluorescent lights are most efficient.

• Creates less heat, and more of energy is converted to light.

Little Changes Add Up!

By changing five bulbs at home that you use most with ENERGY STAR qualified models, a family would save about $60 every year in energy costs. If every household did this, nationally we would save about $6.5 billion each year in energy costs.

ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge

www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=globalwarming.showpledgehome