Ahorro Energia

ENERGY SAVERS
BOOKLET
Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home

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ight in your own home, you have the power to reduce energy demand, and when you reduce demand, you cut the amount of resources, like coal and gas, needed to make energy—that means you create less greenhouse gas emissions, which keeps air cleaner for all of us… and saves on your utility bills! Plus, reducing energy useincreases our energy security.

Contents
1 Save Energy and Money Today
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Your Home’s Energy Use Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks Heating and Cooling Water Heating Windows Lighting Appliances Home Office and Home Electronics Driving and Car Maintenance Renewable Energy References

This booklet shows you how easy it is to reduce your energy use at home and on the road.The easy, practical solutions for saving energy include tips you can use today, throughout your home—from the roof, walls, and insulation that enclose it to the appliances and lights inside. Please take a few moments to read the valuable tips in this booklet to start saving energy and money today. To learn more about U.S. Department of Energy programs in energy efficiency and renewable energy, visitthe Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s web site at www.eere.energy.gov

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Save Energy and Money Today
Tips to Save Energy Today
Easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy.

id you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. And each year, electricity generated by fossilfuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. And as for the road, transportation accounts for 67% of all U.S. oil consumption. The good news is that there is a lot you can do to save energy and money at home and in your car. Start making small changes today (see sidebar). To cut your energy use up to 25%, see the Long-Term Savings Tips throughout this booklet.The key to achieving these savings in your home is a whole-house energy efficiency plan. To take a whole-house approach, view your home as an energy system with interdependent parts. For example, your heating system is not just a furnace—it’s a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout your home using a network of ducts. Even a top-of-theline, energy-efficientfurnace will waste a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are not properly sealed and insulated. Taking a wholehouse approach to saving energy ensures that dollars you invest to save energy are spent wisely. Energy-efficient improvements not only make your home more comfortable, they can yield long-term financial rewards. Reduced utility bills more than make up for the higherprice of energy-efficient appliances and improvements over their lifetimes. In addition, your home could bring in a higher price when you sell.

• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer. • Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label. • Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’sdrying cycle. • Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. • Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power). • Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F. • Take short showers instead of baths. • Wash only full loads ofdishes and clothes. • Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.

• Visit www.energysavers.gov for more energy-saving ideas.

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Save Energy and Money Today

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the...