GOIN' GREEN

Seven ways to slash your energy bills 10/10
(This article is adapted from the October 2010 Consumer Reports magazine.)

American’s energy consumption per capita in 2009 dipped to its lowest level in 41 years. But we still use twice as much energy as the average European and more energy than people in most other countries. (More after the break)

So if you’d like to find a few more ways to save energy and lower your utility bills, here are seven steps you can take to save a bundle. The savings listed below range from $400 to about $30 a year with the biggest savings gains from fixing leaky ducts, programming your thermostat, and driving your car with fuel efficiency in mind.

1. Fix leaky ducts
Pay a qualified heating and cooling pro to seal and insulate heating and cooling ducts that run through your home, especially in unconditioned spaces.
Yearly savings $400






2. Program your thermostat
You can trim up to 20 percent from your heating and cooling bills by adjusting temperatures 5 to 10 degrees at night or when you're not home. A programmable thermostat will make the setbacks for you. Devices cost about $80, and some utilities offer rebates.
Yearly savings $200




3. Jettison the lead foot
Obeying speed limits and avoiding hard acceleration and braking will add several mpg to the fuel efficiency of your midsized car.
Yearly savings $200

4. Tame hidden energy use
Between 5 and 10 percent of residential electricity goes to devices that draw power when they're off or in standby mode. Video games are a major offender. Turn them off when you pry the controls out of your kid's hands.
Yearly savings $125

5. Stop pre-rinsing
Washing dishes before you put them in the dishwasher wastes up to 6,500 gallons of water per year, plus the cost to heat that water. And our tests show that it's unnecessary.
Yearly savings $75

6. Wash in cold water
Think that won't get your clothes clean? Think again. Tide 2X Ultra for Cold Water for traditional washers, which we tested using cold water, ranked best overall at removing grass, wine, and other tough stains in our tests.
Yearly savings $60

7. Adjust modes
Manufacturers often ship televisions in "retail mode" to ensure the best picture quality under bright showroom lights. But the more efficient "home mode" is fine for most types of viewing
Yearly savings $30 to $60