I recently got a mailer from Power Tomorrow, a program that encourages a “greater energy-efficient commitment in our lives.” It broke down energy use by category:
The mailer also included some great energy savings tips. I’ve highlighted the easy ones here and added some additional ones:
- Lower your thermostat at night and when you aren’t home.
- Use a programmable thermostat to do the above automatically.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent [1]Â light bulbs.
- Turn off the TV and lights when not in use.
- Wash laundry in cold water.
- Buy Energy Star appliances.
- Use the air-dry setting [2] on the dishwasher.
- Switch providers [3] if you live in a state that allows competition between energy companies.
- To determine which appliances are the biggest energy users, check out a portable energy meter from the library.
- Save money on the largest category by trimming heating costs [4].
Extra Credit
If you made approved energy efficient changes last year, be sure to claim the energy tax credit [5] on your 2007 taxes.