Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home ...saving energy throughout your home, from the insulating system that surrounds it to the appliances and lights inside. Please,

Tips on SavingEnergy & Money

at Home

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Did you know that the typical U.S. familyspends close to $1,300 a year on theirhome’s utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted.The amount of energy wasted justthrough poorly insulated windows anddoors is about as much energy as we getfrom the Alaskan pipeline each year. Andelectricity generated by fossil fuels for asingle home puts more carbon dioxideinto the air than two average cars. Byusing a few inexpensive energy-efficientmeasures, you can reduce your energybills by 10% to 50%, and at the sametime, help reduce air pollution.

The key to achieving these savings is a whole-house energyefficiency plan. To take a whole-houseapproach, viewyour home as anenergy systemwith interdepen-dent parts. Forexample, yourheating system isnot just a furnace—it’s a heat-deliverysystem that starts atthe furnace and deliv-ers heat throughoutyour home using a net-work of ducts. You mayhave a top-of-the-line,energy-efficient furnace,but if the ducts leak andare uninsulated, and yourwalls, attic, windows, anddoors are uninsulated, your energy billswill remain high. Taking a whole-houseapproach to saving energy ensures thatdollars you invest in energy efficiency arewisely spent.

Energy-efficient improvements notonly make your home more comfortable,they can yield long-term financialrewards. Reduced operating costs morethan make up for the higher price ofenergy-efficient appliances and improve-ments over their lifetimes. Improvementsmay also qualify you for an energy effi-ciency mortgage, which allows lenders touse a higher-than-normal debt-to-incomeratio to calculate loan potential. In addi-tion, your home will likely have a higher resale value.

This booklet shows you how easy it is to reduce your home energy use. It is a guide to easy, practical solutions for

saving energy throughoutyour home, from theinsulating system thatsurrounds it to theappliances and lightsinside. Please, take afew moments to readthe valuable tips inthis booklet that willsave you energyand money and,in many cases,help the envi-ronment byreducing pollution andconserving our natural

resources.

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Whole-House Energy PlanPrioritize your whole-house plan byviewing your home as an energysystem with interdependent parts.

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) works to ensuresecure, reliable, and affordable energy supplies that support agrowing economy and protect the environment and publichealth. Energy efficiency improvements and tips are easy waysfor Americans to do their part for the nation’s energy security —while saving on energy bills. To learn more about DOEprograms that promote energy efficiency and renewable energy,visit the Office of Building Technology, State and CommunityProgram’s web site at: www.eren.doe.gov/buildings

A special thank you to Owens Corning and Honeywell forprinting this award-winning booklet and for participating inDOE’s Energy Awareness Month Campaign.

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The first step to taking a whole-houseenergy efficiency approach is to find outwhich parts of your house use the mostenergy. A home energy audit will showyou where these are and suggest themost effective measures for reducingyour energy costs. You can conduct asimple home energy audit yourself, youcan contact your local utility, or you cancall an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination.

Energy Auditing Tips

• Check the level of insulation in yourexterior and basement walls, ceilings,attic, floors, and crawl spaces. Contactyour local contractor for advice onhow to check your insulation levels.

• Check for holes or cracks around yourwalls, ceilings, windows, doors, lightand plumbing fixtures, switches, andelectrical outlets that can leak air intoor out of your home.

• Check for open fireplace dampers.

• Make sure your appliances and heatingand cooling systems are properlymaintained.

• Study your family’s lighting needs anduse patterns, paying special attentionto high-use areas such as the livingroom, kitchen, and exterior lighting.Look for ways to use daylighting,reduce the time the lights are on, andreplace incandescent bulbs and fixtureswith compact or standard fluorescentlamps.

Formulating Your PlanAfter you have identified places

where your home is losing energy, assignpriorities to your energy needs by askingyourself a few important questions:

• How much money do you spend onenergy?

• Where are your greatest energy losses?

• How long will it take for an investmentin energy efficiency to pay for itself inenergy savings?

• Can you do the job yourself, or will youneed to hire a contractor?

• What is your budget and how muchtime do you have to spend on mainte-nance and repair?

Once you assign priorities to yourenergy needs, you can form a whole-house efficiency plan. Your plan will pro-vide you with a strategy for making smartpurchases and home improvements thatmaximize energy efficiency and save themost money.

Another option is to get the advice of a professional. Many utilities conductenergy audits for free or for a nominalcharge. For a fee, a professional contrac-tor will analyze how your home’s energy

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How We Use Energy In Our Homes (based on national averages)The largest portion of a utility bill for a typical house is for heating and cooling.

Waterheating14%

Lighting,cooking,and otherappliances

33% Refrigerator9%

Heating andcooling44%

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systems work together as a system andcompare the analysis against your utilitybills. He or she will use a variety of equip-ment such as blower doors, infrared cameras, and surface thermometers tofind inefficiencies that cannot be detectedby a visual inspection. Finally, they willgive you a list of recommendations forcost-effective energy improvements andenhanced comfort and safety. A goodcontractor will also calculate the return on your investment in high efficiencyequipment vs. standard equipment.

For more information about homeenergy audits, contact:

U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s)Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732 (800-363-3732), www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets

Owens Corning Customer Service Hotline,(800) GET-PINK (800-438-7465), www.owenscorning.com

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When searching for a contractor, youshould:• Ask neighbors and friends if they

have worked with a contractor theywould recommend

• Look in the Yellow Pages• Focus on local companies• Look for licensed, insured

contractors• Get three bids with details in writing• Ask about previous experience• Check references• Inquire with the Better Business

Bureau.

Finding a contractor

Heat Loss from a HouseA picture is worth..., in this case, lost heating dollars. This thermal photograph shows heat leakingfrom a house during those expensive winter heating months. The white, yellow, and red colors showwhere the heat escapes. The red represents the area of the greatest heat loss.Thermogram/photograph copyright 1997, Infraspection Institute, Inc., Shelburne, VT

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Checking your home’s insulating systemis one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to use a whole-houseapproach to reduce energy waste andmaximize your energy dollars. A goodinsulating system includes a combinationof products and construction techniquesthat provide a home with thermal perfor-mance, protect it against air infiltration,and control moisture. You can increasethe comfort of your home while reducingyour heating and cooling needs by up to 30% by investing just a few hundreddollars in proper insulation and weather-ization products.

InsulationFirst, check the insulation in your attic,

ceilings, exterior and basement walls,floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meetsthe levels recommended for your area.Insulation is measured in R-values—thehigher the R-value, the better your wallsand roof will resist the transfer of heat.The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)recommends ranges of R-values basedon local heating and cooling costs and climate conditions in different areas ofthe nation. The map and chart on pages 6and 7 show the DOE recommendationsfor your area. State and local codes in

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Crawl spaceBasement

Attic

Walls

Floors

Where to InsulateAdding insulation in the areas shown here may be the best way to improve your home’s energyefficiency.

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some parts of the country may requirelower R-values than the DOE recommen-dations, which are based on cost-effectiveness. For more customized insu-lation recommendations, visit Oak RidgeNational Laboratory’s (ORNL) Zip Mapat www.ornl.gov/%7Eroofs/Zip/ZipHome.html. ORNL’s Zip-Code Insula-tion Program can tell you the most eco-nomic insulation level for your new orexisting home.

Although insulation can be made froma variety of materials, it usually comes infour types—batts, rolls, loose-fill, andrigid foam boards. Each type is made tofit in a different part of your house. Battsare made to fit between the studs in yourwalls or between the joists of your ceilingsor floors. Batts are usually made of fiberglass or rock wool. Fiber glass is manu-factured from sand and recycled glass,and rock wool is made from basaltic rockand recycled material from steel millwastes. Rolls or blankets are also usuallymade of fiber glass and can be laid overthe floor in the attic. Loose-fill insulation(usually made of fiber glass, rock wool, orcellulose) is blown into the attic or walls.Cellulose is usually made from recyclednewsprint treated with fire-retardantchemicals.

Rigid foam boards are made of poly-isocyanurate, extruded polystyrene (XPSor blueboard), expanded polystyrene(EPS or beadboard), or other materials.These boards are lightweight, providestructural support, and generally have anR-value of 4 to 7 per inch. Rigid boardinsulation is made to be used in confinedspaces such as exterior walls, basements,foundation and crawl space walls, con-crete slabs, and cathedral ceilings.

Insulation Tips

• Consider factors such as your climate,building design, and budget when select-ing insulation R-value for your home.

• Use higher density insulation, such asrigid foam boards, in cathedral ceilingsand on exterior walls.

• Ventilation plays a large role in provid-ing moisture control and reducing summer cooling bills. Attic vents canbe installed along the entire ceiling cav-ity to help ensure proper airflow fromthe soffit to the attic to make a homemore comfortable and energy efficient.

• Recessed light fixtures can be a majorsource of heat loss, but you need to becareful how close you place insulationnext to a fixture unless it is marked“I.C.”—designed for direct insulationcontact. Check your local buildingcodes for recommendations.

• As specified on the product packaging,follow the product instructions oninstallation and wear the proper pro-tective gear when installing insulation.

The easiest and most cost-effectiveway to insulate your home is to add insulation in the attic. To find out if youhave enough attic insulation, measurethe thickness of insulation. If there is less IInn

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The answer is probably “yes” if you:• Have an older home and haven’t

added insulation: in a recent survey,only 20% of homes built before1980 were well insulated

• Are uncomfortably cold in the winter or hot in the summer—adding insulation creates a moreuniform temperature and increasescomfort

• Build a new house or addition, orinstall new siding or roofing

• Pay excessive energy bills• Are bothered by noise from the

outdoors—insulation helps to muffle sound

• Are concerned about the effect ofenergy use on the environment.

Should I insulate my home?

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than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rockwool or 6 inches of cellulose) you couldprobably benefit by adding more. MostU.S. homes should have between R-22and R-49 insulation in the attic.

If your attic has ample insulation andyour home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer,chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well. This is a moreexpensive measure that usually requires acontractor, but it may be worth the cost ifyou live in a very hot or cold climate.

You may also need to add insulation to your crawl space. Either the walls orthe floor above the crawl space should beinsulated.

New ConstructionFor new construction or home addi-

tions, R-11 to R-28 insulation is recom-mended for exterior walls depending onlocation (see map below). To meet thisrecommendation, most homes and additions constructed with 2 in x 4 inwalls require a combination of wall cavity

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U.S. Department of Energy Recommended* Total R-Valuesfor New Construction Houses in Six Insulation Zones

*These recommendations are cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available information on localfuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differ from current local buildingcodes. In addition, the apparent fragmentation of the recommendations is an artifact of these data and shouldnot be considered absolute minimum requirements.

insulation, such as batts and insulatingsheathing or rigid foam boards. If you livein an area with an insulation recommen-dation that is greater than R-20, you maywant to consider building with 2 in x 6 inframing instead of 2 in x 4 in framing to allow room for thicker wall cavity insulation—R-19 to R-21.

When shopping for insulation watchfor the ENERGY STAR® label and theNational Association of Home Builders(NAHB) certification.

WeatherizationWarm air leaking into your home dur-

ing the summer and out of your homeduring the winter can waste a substantialportion of your energy dollars. One ofthe quickest dollar-saving tasks you cando is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip allseams, cracks, and openings to the out-side. You can save 10% or more on yourenergy bill by reducing the air leaks inyour home.

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1 ✔ ✔ ✔ R-49 R-38 R-18 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-11 R-10

1 ✔ R-49 R-60 R-28 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-19 R-15

2 ✔ ✔ ✔ R-49 R-38 R-18 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-11 R-10

2 ✔ R-49 R-38 R-22 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-19 R-15

3 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ R-49 R-38 R-18 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-11 R-10

4 ✔ ✔ ✔ R-38 R-38 R-13 R-13 R-19 R-4 R-11 R-4

4 ✔ R-49 R-38 R-18 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-11 R-10

5 ✔ R-38 R-30 R-13 R-11 R-13 R-4 R-11 R-4

5 ✔ ✔ R-38 R-38 R-13 R-13 R-19 R-4 R-11 R-4

5 ✔ R-49 R-38 R-18 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-11 R-10

6 ✔ R-22 R-22 R-11 R-11 R-11 (C) R-11 R-4

6 ✔ ✔ R-38 R-30 R-13 R-11 R-13 R-4 R-11 R-4

6 ✔ R-49 R-38 R-18 R-25 R-19 R-8 R-11 R-10

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(A) R-18, R-22, and R-28 exterior wall systems can be achieved by either cavity insulation or cavity insulation with insulating sheathing. For 2 in x 4 in walls, use either 3-1/2-in thick R-15 or 3-1/2-in thick R-13 fiber glass insulation with insulating sheathing.

For 2 in x 6 in walls, use either 5-1/2-in thick R-21 or 6-1/4-in thick R-19 fiber glass insulation.(B) Insulate crawl space walls only if the crawl space is dry all year, the floor above is not insulated, and all ventilation to the crawl space is blocked.

A vapor retarder (e.g., 4- or 6-mil polyethylene film) should be installed on the ground to reduce moisture migration into the crawl space.(C) No slab edge insulation is recommended.NOTE: For more information, see: Department of Energy Insulation Fact Sheet (D.O.E./CE-0180). Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 3048, Merrifield, VA 22116; phone: (800) 363-3732; www.ornl.gov/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_11.html or contact Owens Corning, (800) GET-PINK (800-438-7465), www.owenscorning.com

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Weatherization Tips

• First, test your home for air tightness.On a windy day, hold a lit incense sticknext to your windows, doors, electricalboxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches,and other locations where there is apossible air path to the outside. If thesmoke stream travels horizontally, you

have located an air leak that may needcaulking, sealing, or weatherstripping.

• Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.

• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumb-ing, ducting, or electrical wiring pene-trates through exterior walls, floors,ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.

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Sources of Air Leaks in Your HomeAreas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the culprit areas listed here:1 Dropped ceiling2 Recessed light3 Attic entrance4 Electric wires and box5 Plumbing utilities and penetration6 Water and furnace flues

7 All ducts8 Door sashes and frames9 Chimney penetration

10 Warm air register11 Window sashes and frames12 Baseboards, coves, and interior trim

13 Plumbing access panel14 Electrical outlets and switches15 Light fixtures16 Sill plates

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• Install rubber gaskets behind outletand switch plates on exterior walls.

• Look for dirty spots in your insula-tion, which often indicate holeswhere air leaks into and out ofyour house. You can seal theholes by stapling sheets of plasticover the holes and caulking theedges of the plastic.

• Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace themwith double-pane windows. Stormwindows as much as double the R-value of single-pane windowsand they can help reduce drafts,water condensation, and frost for-mation. As a less costly and lesspermanent alternative, you can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on aframe or tape clear plastic film to theinside of your window frames duringthe cold winter months. Remember,the plastic must be sealed tightly to theframe to help reduce infiltration.

• When the fireplace is not in use, keepthe flue damper tightly closed. A chim-ney is designed specifically for smoketo escape, so until you close it, warmair escapes— 24 hours a day!

• For new construction, reduce exteriorwall leaks by either installing housewrap, taping the joints of exteriorsheathing, or comprehensively caulk-ing and sealing the exterior walls.

For more information on insulation,weatherization, and ventilation, contact:

Cellulose Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (CIMA), (937) 222-2462,www.cellulose.org

ENERGY STAR®, (888) STAR-YES (888-782-7937),www.energystar.gov

Insulation Contractors Association ofAmerica (ICAA), (703) 739-0356, www.insulate.org

National Association of Home Builders(NAHB), (800) 368-5242, www.nahb.com

North American Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (NAIMA), (703) 684-0084,www.naima.org


Polyisocyanurate Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (PIMA), (202) 624-2709,www.pima.org

U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732(800-363-3732), www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets

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Plumbingpenetrations

13%

Windows10%

Floors, walls,and ceiling

31%

Fireplace14%

Fans and vents4%

Doors11%

Ducts15%

Electricoutlets

2%

How Does the Air Escape?Air infiltrates in and out of your home throughevery hole, nook, and cranny. About one-third of this air infiltrates through openings in yourceilings, walls, and floors.

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Heating and cooling your home usesmore energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in yourhome. Typically, 44% of your utility billgoes for heating and cooling. What’smore, heating and cooling systems in theUnited States together emitover a half billion tons of carbon dioxide into theatmosphere each year,adding to global warming.They also generate about24% of the nation’s sulfurdioxide and 12% of the nitrogen oxides, the chiefingredients in acid rain.

No matter what kind ofheating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system you have in your house, you can save money andincrease comfort by properly maintaining andupgrading your equipment.But remember, an energy-efficient furnace alone will not have as great animpact on your energy bills as using thewhole-house approach. By combiningproper equipment maintenance andupgrades with appropriate insulation,weatherization, and thermostat settings,you can cut your energy bills and yourpollution output in half.

Heating and Cooling Tips

• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as highas is comfortable in the summer.

• Clean or replace filters on furnacesonce a month or as needed.

• Clean warm-air registers, baseboardheaters, and radiators as needed;

make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if indoubt about how to perform this task,call a professional.

• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectorsbetween exterior walls and the radiators.

• Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilat-ing fans wisely; in just 1 hour, thesefans can pull out a houseful of warmedor cooled air. Turn fans off as soon asthey have done the job.

• During the heating season, keep thedraperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day toallow the sunlight to enter your homeand closed at night to reduce the chillyou may feel from cold windows.

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Household Heating SystemsAlthough there are several different types of fuels available to heat our homes, about half of us use natural gas.

gas53%

Electricity26%

Natural

Fuel oil11%

Other10%

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During the cooling season, keep thewindow coverings closed during theday to prevent solar gain.

• Close an unoccupied room that is isolated from the rest of the house,such as in a corner, and turn down the thermostat or turn off the heatingfor that room or zone. However, do notturn the heating off if it adversely affectsthe rest of your system. For example, if you heat your house with a heatpump, do not close the vents—closingthe vents could harm the heat pump.

• Select energy-efficient equipment when you buy new heating and coolingequipment. Your contractor should beable to give you energy fact sheets fordifferent types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.Look for high Annual Fuel UtilizationEfficiency (AFUE) ratings and theSeasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER). The national minimums are78% AFUE and 10 SEER.

• Look for the ENERGY STAR® andEnergyGuide labels. ENERGY STAR®is a program of the U.S. Department ofEnergy (DOE) and the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) designed to help consumers identify energy-efficient appliances and products.

DuctsOne of the most important systems in

your home, though it’s hidden beneathyour feet and over your head, may bewasting a lot of your energy dollars. Yourhome’s duct system, a branching networkof tubes in the walls, floors, and ceilings,carries the air from your home’s furnaceand central air conditioner to each room.Ducts are made of sheet metal, fiberglass, or other materials.

Unfortunately, many duct systems are poorly insulated or not insulated

properly. Ducts that leak heated air intounheated spaces can add hundreds ofdollars a year to your heating and cool-ing bills. Insulating ducts that are inunconditioned spaces is usually very cost-effective. If you are buying a newduct system, consider one that comeswith insulation already installed.

Sealing your ducts to prevent leaks iseven more important if the ducts arelocated in an unconditioned area such as an attic or vented crawl space. If thesupply ducts are leaking, heated orcooled air can be forced out unsealedjoints and lost. In addition, uncondi-tioned air can also be drawn into returnducts through unsealed joints. In the summer, hot attic air can be drawn in,increasing the load on the air conditioner.In the winter, your furnace will have towork longer to keep your house comfort-able. Either way, your energy losses costyou money.

Although minor duct repairs are easyto accomplish, ducts in unconditionedspaces should be sealed and insulated byqualified professionals using the appro-priate sealing materials. Here are a fewsimple tips to help with minor duct repairs.

Duct Tips

• Check your ducts for air leaks. Firstlook for sections that should be joinedbut have separated and then look forobvious holes.

• If you use duct tape to repair and sealyour ducts, look for tape with theUnderwriters Laboratories (UL) logo HH

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One Btu, or British thermal unit, isroughly equivalent to burning onekitchen match. That may not soundlike much, but a typical home con-sumes about 100 million Btu per year.Approximately 44% of the total isused for space heating.

What’s a Btu?

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to avoid tape that degrades, cracks,and loses its bond with age.

• Remember that insulating ducts in the basement will make the basementcolder. If both the ducts and the base-ment walls are uninsulated, considerinsulating both.*

• If your basement has been converted to a living area, install both supply and return registers in the basementrooms.

• Be sure a well-sealed vapor barrierexists on the outside of the insulationon cooling ducts to prevent moisturebuildup.

• Get a professional to help you insulateand repair all ducts.

Heat PumpsIf you use electricity to heat your

home, consider installing an energy-efficient heat pump system. Heat pumpsare the most efficient form of electricheating in moderate climates, providingthree times more heating than the equivalent amount of energy they con-sume in electricity. There are three types

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Ducts—Out-of-Sight, Out-of-MindThe unsealed ducts in your attics and crawl spaces lose air — uninsulated ducts lose heat, wastingenergy and money.

* Note: Water pipes and drains in unconditionedspaces could freeze and burst in the space if the heatducts are fully insulated, because there would be noheat source to prevent the space from freezing in cold weather. However, using an electric heating tape wrap on the pipes can prevent this.

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of heat pumps: air-to-air, water source,and ground source. They collect heatfrom the air, water, or ground outsideyour home and concentrate it for useinside. Heat pumps do double duty as acentral air conditioner. They can alsocool your home by collecting the heatinside your house and effectively pump-ing it outside. A heat pump can trim theamount of electricity you use for heatingby as much as 30% to 40%.

Heat Pump Tips

• Do not set back the heat pump’s ther-mostat manually if it causes the electricresistance heating to come on. Thistype of heating, which is often used asa backup to the heat pump, is moreexpensive.

• Clean or change filters once a month or as needed, and maintain the systemaccording to manufacturer’s instructions.

Solar Heating and CoolingUsing passive solar design techniques

to heat and cool your home can be both environmentally friendly and cost effective. Passive solar heating tech-niques include placing larger, insulatedwindows on south-facing walls and locat-ing thermal mass, such as a concrete slabfloor or a heat-absorbing wall, close tothe windows. In many cases, you can cutyour heating costs by more than 50% com-pared to the cost of heating the same housethat does not include passive solar design.

Passive solar design can also helpreduce your cooling costs. Passive solarcooling techniques include carefullydesigned overhangs, windows withreflective coatings, and the use of reflec-tive coatings on exterior walls and theroof.

However, a passive solar house alsorequires careful design and site orientation,which depend on the local climate. So, ifyou are considering passive solar design

for new construction or a major remodel-ing, you should consult an architect familiar with passive solar techniques.

Solar Tips

• Keep all south-facing glass clean.

• Make sure that objects do not block thesunlight shining on concrete slab floorsor heat-absorbing walls.

• Consider using insulating curtains toreduce excessive heat loss from largewindows at night.

FireplacesWhen you cozy up next to a crackling

fire on a cold winter day, you probablydon’t realize that your fireplace is one ofthe most inefficient heat sources you canpossibly use. It literally sends your energydollars right up the chimney along withvolumes of warm air. A roaring fire canexhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet ofair per hour to the outside, which must be replaced by cold air coming into thehouse from the outside. Your heating sys-tem must warm up this air, which is thenexhausted through your chimney. If youuse your conventional fireplace whileyour central heating system is on, thesetips can help reduce energy losses.

Fireplace Tips

• If you never use your fireplace, plugand seal the chimney flue.

• Keep your fireplace damper closedunless a fire is going. Keeping thedamper open is like keeping a 48-inchwindow wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up thechimney.

• When you use the fireplace, reduceheat loss by opening dampers in thebottom of the firebox (if provided) oropen the nearest window slightly—approximately 1 inch—and closedoors leading into the room. Lower HH

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the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.

• Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blowswarmed air back into the room.

• Check the seal on the flue damper and make it as snug as possible.

• Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.

• Use grates made of C-shaped metaltubes to draw cool room air into thefireplace and circulate warm air backinto the room.

Gas and Oil Heating SystemsIf you plan to buy a new heating system,

ask your local utility or state energy officefor information about the latest technolo-gies available to consumers (for a list ofstate energy offices visit the NationalAssociation of State Energy Officials[NASEO] web site at www.naseo.org/members/StateDir.htm). They can adviseyou about more efficient systems on themarket today. For example, many newermodels incorporate designs for burnersand heat exchangers that result in higherefficiencies during operation and reduceheat loss when the equipment is off.Check the Shopping Guide in the back ofthis booklet for additional information onhow to understand heating system ratings.

Look for the ENERGY STAR® andEnergy Guide labels.

Air ConditionersIt might surprise you to know that buy-

ing a bigger room air-conditioning unitwon’t necessarily make you feel morecomfortable during the hot summermonths. In fact, a room air conditionerthat’s too big for the area it is supposed tocool will perform less efficiently and lesseffectively than a smaller, properly sizedunit. This is because room units work better if they run for relatively long periods

of time than if they are continually switch-ing off and on. Longer run times allow air conditioners to maintain a more constantroom temperature.

Sizing is equally important for centralair-conditioning systems, which need tobe sized by professionals. If you have acentral air system in your home, set thefan to shut off at the same time as thecooling unit (compressor). In otherwords, don’t use the system’s central fanto provide circulation, but instead use circulating fans in individual rooms.

Cooling Tips

• Whole-house fans help cool your homeby pulling cool air through the houseand exhausting warm air through theattic. They are effective when operatedat night and when the outside air iscooler than the inside.

• Set your thermostat as high as com-fortably possible in the summer. Theless difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower youroverall cooling bill will be.

• Don’t set your thermostat at a coldersetting than normal when you turn onyour air conditioner. It will not coolyour home any faster and could resultin excessive cooling and, therefore,unnecessary expense.

• Consider using an interior fan in con-junction with your window air condi-tioner to spread the cooled air moreeffectively through your home withoutgreatly increasing your power use.

• Don’t place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from theseappliances, which can cause the airconditioner to run longer than necessary.

• Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block theairflow. A unit operating in the shade

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uses as much as 10% less electricitythan the same one operating in the sun.

• Look for the ENERGY STAR® andEnergyGuide labels.

The shopping guide in the back of this booklet will help you find the rightsize unit for your needs.

Programmable ThermostatsYou can save as much as 10% a year

on your heating and cooling bills by sim-ply turning your thermostat back 10% to15% for 8 hours. You can do this auto-matically without sacrificing comfort byinstalling an automatic setback or pro-grammable thermostat.

Using a programmable thermostat,you can adjust the times you turn on theheating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. As a result, you don’toperate the equipment as much whenyou are asleep or when the house or partof the house is not occupied. Program-mable thermostats can store and repeatmultiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you canmanually override without affecting the

rest of the daily or weekly program.When shopping for a programmablethermostat, be sure to look for theENERGY STAR® label.

For more information on heating andcooling, contact:

Air Conditioning and RefrigerationInstitute (ACRI), (703) 524-8800, www.ari.org


Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association,(703) 525-9565, www.gamanet.org

Honeywell Customer Response Center,(800) 345-6770, www.honeywell.com


U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732 (800-363- 3732), www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets

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Nighttime CoolingIn the summer, you can save money by automatically turning your air-conditioning up at night.

Nighttime HeatingUsing a programmable thermostat,you can automatically turn down your heat at night or when you arenot at home.

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Water heating is the third largest energyexpense in your home. It typicallyaccounts for about 14% of your utility bill.

There are four ways to cut your waterheating bills: use less hot water, turndown the thermostat on your waterheater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient water heater. Afamily of four, each showering for 5 min-utes a day, uses 700 gallons of water aweek; this is enough for a 3-year supplyof drinking water for one person. You cancut that amount in half simply by usinglow-flow nonaerating showerheads andfaucets.

Water Heating Tips

• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leakyfaucet wastes gallons of water in ashort period.

• Insulate your electric hot-water storagetank and pipes, but be careful not tocover the thermostat.

• Insulate your gas or oil hot-water storage tank and pipes, but be carefulnot to cover the water heater’s top,bottom, thermostat, or burner com-partment; when in doubt, get profes-sional help.

• Install nonaerating, low-flow faucetsand showerheads.

• Buy a new energy-efficient waterheater. While it may cost more initiallythan a standard water heater, theenergy savings will continue during thelifetime of the appliance.

• Although most water heaters last10–15 years, it’s best to start shoppingfor a new one if yours is more than7 years old. Doing some researchbefore your heater fails will enable you

to select one that most appropriatelymeets your needs.

• Lower the thermostat on your waterheater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of115°F provides comfortable hot waterfor most uses.

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Water HeaterInsulate your water heater to save energy and money.

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• Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to removesediment that impedes heat transferand lowers the efficiency of yourheater. The type of water tank youhave determines the steps to take, so follow the manufacturer’s advice.

• If you heat with electricity and live in awarm and sunny climate, considerinstalling a solar water heater. The solarunits are environmentally friendly andcan now be installed on your roof toblend with the architecture of your house.

• Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household. You use 15–25 gallons of hot water for a bath,but less than 10 gallons during a 5-minute shower.

• Consider the installation of a drainwater waste heat recovery system.

• Look for the FTC EnergyGuide label.

Solar Water HeatersIf you heat with electricity and you

have an unshaded, south-facing location(such as a roof) on your property, con-sider installing a solar water heater. Morethan 1.5 million homes and businesses inthe United States have invested in solarwater heating systems and over 94% ofthese customers consider the systems agood investment. Solar water heating sys-tems are also good for the environment.Solar water heaters avoid the harmfulgreenhouse gas emissions associated withelectricity production. During a 20 yearperiod, one solar water heater can avoidover 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

When shopping for a solar waterheater, watch for systems certified by the Solar Rating and CertificationCorporation (SRCC) or the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC).

For more information on how you cansave money on your water heating bill,contact:

American Solar Energy Society (ASES),(303) 443-3130, www.ASES.org/solar

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC),(407) 638-1015, www.fsec.ucf.edu

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association,(703) 525-9565, www.gamanet.org


Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA),(202) 383-2600, www.seia.org

Solar Rating and Certification Corporation(SRCC), (407) 638-1537

U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732 (800-363- 3732), www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets

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Clothes washer26%

Dishwasher14%

Bath12%

Sinks11%

Shower37%

Hot Water Usage (based on national averages)

The typical U.S. homeowner’s waterconsumption by place of use.

Windows can be one of your home’s mostattractive features. Windows provideviews, daylighting, ventilation, and solarheating in the winter. Unfortunately, theycan also account for 10% to 25% of yourheating bill. During the summer, sunnywindows make your air conditioner worktwo to three times harder. If you live inthe Sun Belt, look into new solar controlspectrally selective windows, which cancut the cooling load by more than half.

If your home has single-pane windows,as almost half of U.S. homes do, considerreplacing them. New double-pane win-dows with high-performance glass (e.g.,low-e or spectrally selective) are availableon the market. In colder climates, selectwindows that are gas filled with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings on the glass to reduce heat loss. In warmer climates,select windows with spectrally selectivecoatings to reduce heat gain. If you arebuilding a new home, you can offsetsome of the cost of installing more efficient windows because doing soallows you to buy smaller, lessexpensive heating and coolingequipment.

If you decide not to replace yourwindows, the simpler, less costlymeasures listed below can improvethe performance of your windows.

Cold-Climate Window Tips

• Install exterior or interior stormwindows; storm windows canreduce your heat loss through thewindows by 25% to 50%. Stormwindows should have weather-stripping at all moveable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.

• Repair and weatherize your currentstorm windows, if necessary.

• Install tight-fitting, insulating windowshades on windows that feel draftyafter weatherizing.

• Close your curtains and shades atnight; open them during the day.

• Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to maximize solar gain.

Warm-Climate Window Tips

• Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from thehouse.

• Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.

• Install awnings on south- and west-facing windows.

• Apply sun-control or other reflectivefilms on south-facing windows toreduce solar gain.

Cold-Climate WindowsDouble-pane windows with low-e coating on the glass reflect heat back into the room during the winter months.

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Buying New WindowsNew windows are long-term invest-

ments that have a large impact on yourhome’s energy system. Today, there aremany new window technologies avail-able that are worth considering. Glazingmaterials now come with a variety ofselective coatings and other features;frames are available in aluminum, wood,vinyl, fiber glass, or combinations ofthese materials. Each type of glazingmaterial and frame has advantages anddisadvantages.

Shopping Tips

• When you’re shopping for new windows,look for the National FenestrationRating Council (NFRC) label; it meansthe window’s performance is certified.

• Remember, the lower the U-value, thebetter the insulation. In colder climates,a U-value of 0.35 or below is recom-mended. These windows have at leastdouble glazing and low-e coating.

• In warm climates, where summertimeheat gain is the main concern, look for windows with double glazing and spectrally selective coatings thatreduce heat gain.

• Select windows with air leakage ratingsof 0.3 cubic feet per minute or less.

• In temperate climates with both heat-ing and cooling seasons, select win-dows with both low U-values and lowsolar heat gain coefficiency (SHGC) to maximize energy benefits.


For more information about windows,contact:

American Architectural ManufacturersAssociation (AAMA), (847) 303-5664,www.aamanet.org


National Fenestration Rating Council(NFRC), (301) 589-6372, www.nfrc.org

National Wood Window and DoorAssociation, (800) 223-2301, www.nwwda.org


U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732 (800-363-3732), www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets

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Warm-Climate WindowsIn the summertime, the sun shiningthrough your windows heats up theroom. Windows with spectrallyselective coatings on the glass reflectsome of the sunlight, keeping yourrooms cooler.

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Landscaping is a natural and beautifulway to keep your home more comfort-able and reduce your energy bills. In addition to adding aesthetic value andenvironmental quality to your home, a well-placed tree, shrub, or vine candeliver effective shade, act as a wind-break, and reduce overall energy bills.

Carefully positioned trees can save upto 25% of a typical household’s energyused for heating and cooling. Computermodels from DOE predict that just threetrees, properly placed around the house,can save an average household between$100 and $250 in heating and coolingenergy costs annually. During the sum-mer months, the most effective way tokeep your home cool is to prevent theheat from building up in the first place. A primary source of heat buildup is

sunlight absorbed by your home’s roof,walls, and windows. Dark-colored homeexteriors absorb 70% to 90% of the radi-ant energy from the sun that strikes thehome’s surfaces. Some of this absorbedenergy is then transferred into your homeby way of conduction, resulting in heatgain inside the house. In contrast, light-colored surfaces effectively reflect most of the heat away from your home.Landscaping can also help block andabsorb the sun’s energy to help decreaseheat buildup in your home by providingshade and evaporative cooling.

Shading and evaporative cooling fromtrees can reduce the air temperaturearound your home. Studies conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory found summer daytime airtemperatures to be 3° to 6°F cooler in

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Buildings andTrees—NaturalPartners Deciduous treesplanted on the southand on the west sideswill help keep yourhouse cool in thesummer and allow sun to shine in thewindows in the winter.

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tree-shaded neighborhoods than in tree-less areas. The energy-conserving land-scape strategies you should use for yourhome depend on the type of climate inwhich you live.

Landscaping Tips—Dependent onGeographic Area

• Trees that lose their leaves in the fall(i.e., deciduous) are the most effectiveat reducing heating and cooling energycosts. When selectively placed arounda house, they provide excellent protec-tion from the summer sun but permitwinter sunlight to reach and warm your house. The height, growth rate,branch spread, and shape are all factors to consider in choosing a tree.

• Vines provide shading and cooling.Grown on trellises, vines can shadewindows or the whole side of a house.

• Deflect winter winds by planting evergreen trees and shrubs on thenorth and west sides of your house;deflect summer winds by planting them on the south and west sides of your house.

Orientation of the house and sur-rounding landscaping has a large effecton energy consumption. A well-oriented,well-designed home admits low-anglewinter sun to reduce heating bills; rejectsoverhead summer sun to reduce coolingbills; and minimizes the chill effect of winter winds. Fences, walls, other nearbybuildings, and rows of trees or shrubsblock or channel the wind. Bodies ofwater moderate temperature but increasehumidity and produce glare. Trees pro-vide shade, windbreaks, and wind chan-nels. Pavement reflects or absorbs heat,depending on whether it is light or dark in color.

Contact your county extension agents,public libraries, local nurseries, landscapearchitects, landscape contractors, andstate and local energy offices for addi-tional information on energy-efficientlandscaping and regional plants and their maintenance requirements.

For more information on landscapingfor energy efficiency, contact:

American Forests, (202) 955-4500,www.amfor.org

American Society of Landscape Architects(ASLA), (202) 898-2444, www.asla.org

National Arbor Day Foundation (NADF),(402) 474-5655, www.arborday.org

U.S. Department of Agriculture, CountyExtension Service - Local Chapter


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Just as wearing white clothes reflectsthe sun’s heat from your body, a whiteor light-colored roof will help reflectthe sun’s heat away from your home.This strategy works particularly wellwhen trees are located next to thereflecting surface. Not only do treesprovide shade, they absorb thereflected sunlight for photosynthesis.In the process, water evaporates fromthe tree, cooling the air around thehouse.

White Roofs

Increasing your lighting efficiency is oneof the fastest ways to decrease your energybills. If you replace 25% of your lights inhigh-use areas with fluorescents, you cansave about 50% of your lighting energy bill.

Indoor LightingUse linear fluorescent and energy-

efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)in fixtures throughout your home to pro-vide high-quality and high-efficiency light-ing. Fluorescent lamps are much moreefficient than incandescent bulbs and last6 to 10 times longer. Although fluores-cent and compact fluorescent lamps aremore expensive than incandescent bulbs,they pay for themselves by saving energyover their lifetime.

Indoor Lighting Tips

• Turn off the lights in any room you’renot using, or consider installing timers,photo cells, or occupancy sensors toreduce the amount of time your lightsare on.

• Use task lighting; instead ofbrightly lighting an entireroom, focus the light whereyou need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinetlighting for kitchen sinks andcountertops under cabinets.

• Consider three-way lamps;they make it easier to keeplighting levels low whenbrighter light is not necessary.

• Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtureswith reflective backing andelectronic ballasts for yourworkroom, garage, and laundry areas.

• Consider using 4-watt mini-fluorescent or electro-luminescent

night lights. Both lights are much more efficient than their incandescentcounterparts. The luminescent lightsare cool to the touch.

• Use CFLs in all the portable table andfloor lamps in your home. Considercarefully the size and fit of these sys-tems when you select them. Somehome fixtures may not accommodatesome of the larger CFLs.

• When shopping for new light fixtures,consider buying dedicated compact flu-orescent fixtures with built-in ballaststhat use pin-based replacement bulbs.

• For spot lighting, consider CFLs withreflectors. The lamps range in wattagefrom 13-watt to 32-watt and provide a very directed light using a reflectorand lens system.

• Take advantage of daylight by usinglight-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight topenetrate the room while preserving

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Compact Fluorescent BulbsThese compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more energyefficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same lighting.

22

privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.

• If you have torchiere fixtures with halo-gen lamps, consider replacing themwith compact fluorescent torchieres.Compact fluorescent torchieres use60% to 80% less energy, can producemore light (lumens), and do not get ashot as the halogen torchieres.

• Look for the ENERGY STAR® labelwhen purchasing these products.

Outdoor Lighting Many homeowners use outdoor light-

ing for decoration and security. Whenshopping for outdoor lights, you will finda variety of products, from low-voltagepathway lighting to motion-detectorfloodlights. Some stores also carry lightspowered by small photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight directly

into electricity; consider PV-poweredlights for areas that are not close to anexisting power supply line.

Outdoor Lighting Tips

• Use outdoor lights with a photocell unitor a timer so they will turn off duringthe day.

• Turn off decorative outdoor gas lamps;just eight gas lamps burning year-round use as much natural gas as ittakes to heat an average-size homeduring an entire winter.

• Exterior lighting is one of the bestplaces to use CFLs because of theirlong life. If you live in a cold climate, be sure to buy a lamp with a cold-weather ballast.

For more information on energy-efficient lighting, contact:



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Torchiere LampHalogen lamps generate excessive heat that cancreate fire hazards. Use compact fluorescentlamps in your torchiere fixtures. They are saferand use much less energy.

24

Appliances account for about 20% ofyour household’s energy consumption,with refrigerators, clothes washers, andclothes dryers at the top of the consump-tion list.

When you’re shopping for appliances,you can think of two price tags. The firstone covers the purchase price—think ofit as a down payment. The second price tagis the cost of operating the appliance dur-ing its lifetime. You’ll be paying on thatsecond price tag every month with yourutility bill for the next 10 to 20 years,depending on the appliance. Refrigera-tors last an average of 20 years; room airconditioners and dishwashers, about10 years each; clothes washers, about14 years.

When you do have to shop for a newappliance, look for the ENERGY STAR®label. ENERGY STAR® appliances havebeen identified by the U.S. Environmen-tal Protection Agency and DOE as beingthe most energy-efficient products in their classes. They usually exceed mini-mum federal standards by a substantialamount. The appliance shopping guide on pages 29 and 30 lists some of the major appliances that carry the

ENERGY STAR® label and provides helpful information on what to look forwhen shopping for an appliance.

To help you figure out whether anappliance is energy efficient, the federal

government requires most appli-ances to display the bright yellowand black EnergyGuide label.Although these labels will not tellyou which appliance is the mostefficient, they will tell you theannual energy consumption andoperating cost for each applianceso you can compare them yourself.

DishwashersMost of the energy used by a dish-

washer is for water heating. TheEnergyGuide label estimates how muchpower is needed per year to run theappliance and to heat the water based onthe yearly cost of gas and electric waterheating.

Dishwasher Tips

• Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer’srecommendations on water tempera-ture; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set thewater heater in your home to a lowertemperature (115°F).

• Scrape, don’t rinse, off large foodpieces and bones. Soaking or prewash-ing is generally only recommended incases of burned-on or dried-on food.

• Be sure your dishwasher is full, but notoverloaded.

• Don’t use the “rinse hold” on yourmachine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.

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What’s the Real CostEvery appliance has two price tags—a purchaseprice and the operating cost.

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• Let your dishes air dry; if you don’thave an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the finalrinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

• When shopping for a new dishwasher,look for the ENERGY STAR® label.ENERGY STAR® dishwashers use lesswater and energy and must exceed minimum federal standards by at least13%.

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When you cook a pot of rice for1 hour, you use 1000 watt hours of electricity! One thousand watt hoursequals 1 kilowatt-hour, or 1 kWh. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hoursyou use. The average residential rateis 8.3 cents per kWh. A typical U.S.household consumes about10,000 kWh per year, costing an average of $830 annually.

Based on standard U.S. Government tests

Refrigerator-FreezerWith Automatic DefrostWith Side-Mounted FreezerWithout Through -the-Door-Ice Service

XYZ CorporationModel ABC-W

Capacity: 23 Cubic Feet

Compare the Energy Use of this Refrigeratorwith Others before You Buy.

This Model Uses776 kWh/year

Refrigerators using more energy cost more to operate.This model's estimated yearly operating cost is:

$68

Uses LeastEnergy742

Uses MostEnergy

836

Energy Use (kWh/year) range of all similar models

kWh/year (kilowatt-hours per year) is a measure of energy (electricity) use.Your utility company uses it to compute your bill. Only models with 22.5 to 24.4cubic feet and the above features are used in this scale.

Based on a 1995 U.S. Government national average cost of 8.4¢ per kWh forelectricity. Your actual operating cost will vary depending on your local utility ratesand your use of the product.Important: Removal of this label before consumer purchase is a violation of Federal law (42 U.S.C. 8302).

What’s a kilowatt?

How to Read theEnergyGuide LabelThe EnergyGuide labelgives you two importantpieces of informationyou can use forcomparison of differentbrands and modelswhen shopping for anew refrigerator:

• Estimated energyconsumption on ascale showing a rangefor similar models

• Estimated yearlyoperating cost basedon the nationalaverage cost ofelectricity.

RefrigeratorsThe EnergyGuide label on new refrig-

erators will tell you how much electricityin kilowatt-hours (kWh) a particularmodel uses in one year. The smaller thenumber, the less energy the refrigeratoruses and the less it will cost you to operate. In addition to the EnergyGuide label, don’t forget to look for theENERGY STAR® label. A new refrigeratorwith an ENERGY STAR® label will saveyou between $35 and $70 a year com-pared to the models designed 15 years

ago. This adds up to between $525 and$1,050 during the average 15-year lifeof the unit.

Refrigerator/Freezer Energy Tips

• Look for a refrigerator with automaticmoisture control. Models with this fea-ture have been engineered to preventmoisture accumulation on the cabinetexterior without the addition of aheater. This is not the same thing as an “anti-sweat” heater. Models with an anti-sweat heater will consume 5% to 10% more energy than modelswithout this feature.

• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezertoo cold. Recommended temperaturesare 37° to 40°F for the fresh food com-partment of the refrigerator and 5°Ffor the freezer section. If you have aseparate freezer for long-term storage,it should be kept at 0°F.

• To check refrigerator temperature,place an appliance thermometer in aglass of water in the center of the refrig-erator. Read it after 24 hours. To checkthe freezer temperature, place a ther-mometer between frozen packages.Read it after 24 hours.

• Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrig-erators and freezers; frost buildupdecreases the energy efficiency of theunit. Don’t allow frost to build up morethan one-quarter of an inch.

• Make sure your refrigerator door sealsare airtight. Test them by closing thedoor over a piece of paper or a dollarbill so it is half in and half out of therefrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may needadjustment or the seal may need replacing.

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Refrigerator ChoicesRefrigerators with the freezer on top are moreefficient than those with freezers on the side.

• Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foodsrelease moisture and make the com-pressor work harder.

• Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condensercoils once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Yourrefrigerator will run for shorter periodswith clean coils.

Other Energy-Saving Kitchen Tips

• Be sure to place the faucet lever on thekitchen sink in the cold position whenusing small amounts of water; placingthe lever in the hot position usesenergy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.

• If you need to purchase a gas oven orrange, look for one with an automatic,

electric ignition system. An electricignition saves gas because a pilot lightis not burning continuously.

• In gas appliances, look for blue flames;yellow flames indicate the gas is burn-ing inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. Consult the manufac-turer or your local utility.

• Keep range-top burners and reflectorsclean; they will reflect the heat better,and you will save energy.

• Use a covered kettle or pan to boilwater; it’s faster and it uses less energy.

• Match the size of the pan to the heat-ing element.

• If you cook with electricity, turn thestovetop burners off several minutesbefore the allotted cooking time. The

Electric blanketHome computer

TelevisionMicrowave oven

DehumidifierWell pump

Aquarium/terrariumDishwasher

Electric cookingFreezer

Waterbed heaterClothes dryer

Washing machineRefrigeratorPool pump

Spa (pump and heater)

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500kWh/year

Cost/year 0 $42 $83 $125 $166 $208

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How Much Electricity Do Appliances Use?This chart shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost basedon national averages. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the averagetelevision uses.

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eessheating element will stay hot longenough to finish the cooking withoutusing more electricity. The same principle applies to oven cooking.

• Use small electric pans or toasterovens for small meals rather than yourlarge stove or oven. A toaster ovenuses a third to half as much energy as a full-sized oven.

• Use pressure cookers and microwaveovens whenever it is convenient to do so. They can save energy by significantly reducing cooking time.

LaundryAbout 80% to 85% of the energy used

for washing clothes is for heating thewater. There are two ways to reduce theamount of energy used for washingclothes—use less water and use coolerwater. Unless you’re dealing with oilystains, the warm or cold water setting onyour machine will generally do a good job of cleaning your clothes. Switchingyour temperature setting from hot towarm can cut a load’s energy use in half.

When shopping for a new washer, look for an ENERGY STAR® machine.These machines may cost more to buybut use about a third of the energy andless water than typical machines. You’llalso save more on clothes drying,because most remove more water fromyour clothes during the spin cycle.

When shopping for a new clothesdryer, look for one with a moisture sensorthat automatically shuts off the machinewhen your clothes are dry. Not only willthis save energy, it will save wear and tearon your clothes caused by over-drying.Keep in mind that gas dryers are lessexpensive to operate than electric dryers.The cost of drying a typical load of laun-dry in an electric dryer is 30 to 40 cents

compared to 15 to 25 cents in a gasdryer.

Laundry Tips

• Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents when-ever possible.

• Wash and dry full loads. If you arewashing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.

• Dry towels and heavier cottons in aseparate load from lighter-weightclothes.

• Don’t over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor,use it.

• Clean the lint filter in the dryer afterevery load to improve air circulation.

• Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with theresidual heat in the dryer.

• Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This willsave energy and may prevent a fire.Manufacturers recommend using rigidventing material, not plastic vents thatmay collapse and cause blockages.


For more information on energy-efficient appliances, contact:

Association of Home ApplianceManufacturers, (312) 984-5823,www.aham.org



Natural Gasand OilSystems

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Central AirConditioners

Room AirConditioners

Appliances Rating Special Considerations

Look for the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) EnergyGuide label with an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating for gas- and oil-fired furnaces and boilers. The AFUE measures the seasonal or annual efficiency. ENERGY STAR® furnaces have a 90 AFUE or greater.

Look for the EnergyGuide label that contains the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heat pumps. The SEER measures the energy efficiency during the cooling season and HSPF measures the efficiency during the heating season. The ENERGY STAR® minimum efficiency level is 12 SEER or higher.

Look for the EnergyGuide label with a SEER for central air conditioners. The ENERGY STAR® minimum efficiency level is 12 SEER. ENERGY STAR® central air conditioners exceed federal standards by at least 20%.

Look for the EnergyGuide label with an EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) for room air conditioners. The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit is. ENERGY STAR® units are among the most energy-efficient products.

Bigger is not always better! Too large a system costs more and operates inefficiently. Have a professional assess your needs and recommend the type and size of system you should purchase.

If you live in a cool climate, look for a heat pump with a high HSPF. If you purchase an ENERGY STAR® heat pump, you are getting a product that is in the top 25% for efficiency. Contact a professional for advice on purchasing a heat pump.

Air conditioners that bear the ENERGY STAR® label may be twice as efficient as some existing systems. Contact a professional for advice on sizing a central air system.

Two major decisions should guide your purchase. Buy a correctly sized unit.Buy an energy-efficient unit. If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10%. If the unit is for a kitchen, increase the capacity by 4,000 Btu per hour.

100 to 150 5,000

150 to 250 6,000

250 to 350 7,000

350 to 400 9,000

400 to 450 10,000

450 to 550 12,000

550 to 700 14,000

700 to 1,000 18,000

Area in square feet Btu/hour

The ENERGY STAR® label is the government’s seal of approval. It was created by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These agencies set the criteria to help shoppers for large and small home appliances identify the most energy-efficient products on the market. ENERGY STAR®-labeled appliances exceed existing federal efficiency standards, typically, by 13% to 20%, and as much as 110% for some appliances. Customers can be assured that the appliance being purchased is a high-performance product which will reduce the operating cost of that appliance or product every month during the course of its lifetime.

Major Appliance Shopping GuideThis easy-to-read guide may help you understand how appliances are rated for efficiency, what the ratings mean, and what to look for while shopping for new appliances.

What size to buy?

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ProgrammableThermostats

Water Heaters

Windows

Refrigerators and Freezers

Dishwashers

Clothes Washers

Appliances Rating Special Considerations

For minimum ENERGY STAR® efficiency, thermostats should have at least two programs, four temperature settings each, a hold feature that allows users totemporarily override settings, and the abilityto maintain room temperature within 2°Fof desired temperature.

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much energy the water heater uses in one year. Also, look for the FHR (First Hour Rating) of the water heater, which measures the maximum hot water the heater will deliver in the first hour of use.

Look for the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label that provides U-values and SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) values. The lower the U-value, the better the insulation.

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the refrigerator or freezer will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy it uses. ENERGY STAR® labeled units exceed federal standards by at least 20%.

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the dishwasher will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy it uses. ENERGY STAR® dishwashers exceed federal standards by at least 13%.

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the clothes washer will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy it uses. ENERGY STAR® clothes washers use less than 50% of the energy used by standard washers.

Look for a thermostat that allows you to easily use two separate programs; an “advanced recovery” feature that can be programmed to reach the desired temperature at a specific time; a hold feature that temporarily overrides the setting without deleting preset programs; and the ENERGY STAR® label.

If you typically need a lot of hot water at once, the FHR will be important to you. Sizing is important—call your local utility for advice.

Look at the Climate Region Map on the ENERGY STAR® label to be sure that the window, door, or skylight you have selected is appropriate for where you live.

Look for energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers. Refrigerators with freezers on top are more efficient than those with freezers on the side. Also look for heavy door hingesthat create a good door seal.

Look for features that will reduce water use, such as booster heaters and smart controls. Ask how many gallons of water the dishwasher uses during different cycles. Dishwashers that use the least amount of water will cost the least to operate.

Look for the following design features that help clothes washers cut water usage: water level controls, “suds-saver” features, spin cycle adjustment, and large capacity. For double the efficiency, buy an ENERGY STAR® unit.








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Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute

4301 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 425Arlington, VA 22203Phone: (703) 524-8800Fax: (703) 528-3816E-mail: [email protected]

American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)

1827 Walden Office Square, Suite 104Schaumburg, IL 60173-4628Phone: (847) 303-5664Fax: (847) 303-5774E-mail: [email protected]

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)

1001 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 801Washington, DC 20036Phone (Research and Conferences):

(202) 429-8873Publications: (202) 429-0063www.aceee.org

American ForestsP.O. Box 2000Washington, DC 20013(202) 955-4500www.amfor.org

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)

636 Eye Street, NWWashington, DC 20001-3736Phone: (202) 898-2444Fax: (202) 898-1185www.asla.org

American Solar Energy Society (ASES)2400 Central Avenue, Unit G-1Boulder, CO 80301Phone:(303) 443-3130Fax: (303) 443-3212www.ases.org/solar

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1231Chicago, IL 60606Phone: (312) 984-5800Fax: (312) 984-5823www.aham.org

Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association (CIMA)

136 South Keowee StreetDayton, OH 45402Phone: (937) 222-2462Fax: (937) 222-5794E-mail: [email protected]

ENERGY STAR®Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)401 M Street, SW, (6202J)Washington, DC 20460Phone: (202) 564-9190Toll Free: (888) STAR-YES (782-7937)Fax: (202) 564-9569Fax-back system: (202) 233-9659www.energystar.gov

E Source, Inc.4755 Walnut StreetBoulder, CO 80301-2537Phone: (303) 440-8500Fax: (303) 440-8502www.esource.com

Federal Trade CommissionBureau of Consumer ProtectionCRC-240Washington, DC 20580Phone: (202) FTC-HELP (382-4357)www.ftc.gov

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)1679 Clearlake RoadCocoa, FL 32922-5703Phone: (407) 638-1015 or 638-1000Fax: (407)638-1010E-mail: [email protected]

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association1901 North Moore Street, Suite 1100Arlington, VA 22209Phone: (703) 525-9565Fax: (703) 525-0718www.gamanet.org

Honeywell Inc.Honeywell PlazaP.O. Box 524Minneapolis, MN 55440Phone: (612) 951-1000Customer Response Center: (800) 345-6770www.honeywell.com

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Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA)

1321 Duke Street, Suite 303Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (703) 739-0356Fax: (703) 739-0412E-mail: [email protected]

National Arbor Day Foundation (NADF)100 Arbor AvenueNebraska City, NE 68410Phone: (402) 474-5655www.arborday.org

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)

1201 15th Street, NWWashington, DC 20005Phone: (800) 368-5242E-mail: [email protected]

National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)

1414 Prince Street, Suite 200Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (703) 299-8800Fax: (703) 299-6208E-mail: [email protected]

National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)

1300 Spring Street, Suite 500Silver Spring, MD 20910Phone: (301) 589-NFRC (589-6372)Fax: (301) 588-0854E-mail: [email protected]

National Insulation Association99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 222,Alexandria, VA 22314-1538Phone: (703) 683-6422Fax: (703) 549-4838www.insulation.org

National Wood Window and Door Association

1400 East Touhy Avenue, Suite 470Des Plaines, IL 60018Phone: (800) 223-2301Fax: (847) 299-1286www.nwwda.org

North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)

44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 310Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (703) 684-0084Fax: (703) 684-0427E-mail: [email protected]

Owens CorningOne Owens Corning ParkwayToledo, OH 43659Phone: (419) 248-8000Customer Service Hotline:

(800) GET PINK (800-438-7465)www.owenscorning.com

Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA)

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWSuite 500 NorthWashington, DC 20004Phone: (202) 624-2709Fax: (202) 628-3856www.pima.org

Rocky Mountain Institute1739 Snowmass Creek RoadSnowmass, CO 81654-9199Phone: (970) 927-3851Fax: (970) 927-3420E-mail: [email protected]

Solar Energy Industries Association(SEIA)

122 C Street, NW, 4th FloorWashington, DC 20001Phone: (202) 383-2600Fax: (202) 383-2670www.seia.org

Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC)

C/O FSEC, 1679 Clearlake RoadCocoa, FL 32922-5703Phone: (407) 638-1537E-mail: [email protected]: (407) 638-1010

33

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eerreenn

cceess

Association of Home ApplianceManufacturers, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1231, Chicago, Il 60606,(312) 984-5800.

Heede, Richard, et al. Homemade Money. The Rocky Mountain Institute,1739 Snowmass Creek Road, Snowmass,CO 81654-9199, (970) 927-3851.

U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse Fact Sheets, P.O. Box 3048, Merrifield, VA 22116, (800) DOE-EREC (800-363-3732).www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheetswww.ornl.gov/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_11.html

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Building Technology, State andCommunity Programs, Core Databook,May, 1997.

Wilson, Alex, and Morrill, John. ConsumerGuide to Home Energy Savings.American Council for an Energy-EfficientEconomy (ACEEE), 1001 ConnecticutAvenue, Suite 801, Washington, D.C.20036.

RReeffeerreenncceessU.S. Department of Energy’s

Energy Efficiency and RenewableEnergy Clearinghouse (EREC)

P.O. Box 3048Merrifield, VA 22116Fax: (703) 893-0400TDD: (800) 273-2957BBS: (800) 273-2955 (800) DOE-3732 (800-363-3732)E-mail: [email protected]/erec/factsheets

U.S. Department of Energy’sOffice of Building Technology, State andCommunity Programs (BTS), EE41

1000 Independence Ave. SWWashington, D.C. 20585www.eren.doe.gov/buildings

NOTICE: This booklet was prepared by an agency of the United States government. Neither the UnitedStates government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express orimplied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of anyinformation, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringeprivately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by tradename, trademark, manufacturer, or other-wise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement,recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views andopinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United Statesgovernment or any agency thereof.

Available to the public from:

An animated version of Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Homeis available online at www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)U.S. Department of Commerce5285 Port Royal RoadSpringfield, VA 22161(703) 487-4650

U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiencyand Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC)(800) DOE-EREC (800-363-3732)E-mail: [email protected]

Available to DOE and DOE contractors from:

Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)

P.O. Box 62Oak Ridge, TN 37831(423) 576-8401

Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home was printed courtesy of:

Produced for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a DOE national laboratory

Funding and technical preparation provided by DOE's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs

DOE/GO-10098-584August 1998 Second Printing

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Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% postconsumer waste

Illustrations © 1998 Greening America

Owens CorningPhone: (419) 248-8000Customer Service Hotline: (800) GET PINK (800-438-7465)www.owenscorning.com

Honeywell Inc.Phone: (612) 951-1000Customer Response Center: (800) 345-6770www.honeywell.com

Documents

Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home ...saving energy throughout your home, from the insulating system that surrounds it to the appliances and lights inside. Please,