MBN, Monte Bubbles Network

www.ase.org/consumers

The time of year when temperatures can reach the triple-digits has arrived. To help consumers beat the heat by reducing home energy costs while remaining cool and comfortable, the Alliance to Save Energy offers home energy-efficiency tips that can curb the $5,000 that the average household will spend on energy this year. With this summer threatening to be one of the hottest on record, it pays to cut home energy bills by up to 30 percent with energy-efficiency technologies and smart energy practices, while also decreasing related pollution. Here are some simple ways to beat the heat and reduce home cooling costs:

 

--  Maintain your AC equipment with a professional "tune-up," and clean or     replace filters monthly.      --  For central air conditioning systems, purchase the highest Seasonal     Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) that you can afford.      --  Bigger is not always better.  Poorly sized air conditioning units can     inflate your energy costs, so check with your contractor or local air     conditioning system retailer to properly size your unit.      --  Install a ceiling fan. ENERGY STAR-certified ceiling fans provide     additional cooling and help reduce AC usage and cooling costs.      --  Fight your local "heat island" effect by planting leafy trees around     your home, installing reflective tiles on your roof.      --  Forgetful? A programmable thermostat automatically coordinates indoor     climates with your daily and weekend patterns, reducing cooling bills by up     to10 percent.      --  To cut your related energy bills by 30 percent, look for the ENERGY     STAR label, the symbol for energy efficiency, when shopping for room air     conditioners, major appliances, lighting, home office equipment, windows,     and electronics.  Find retailers near you at www.energystar.gov.      --  Install appropriate insulation for your climate and seal air leaks to     increase your comfort, make your home quieter and cleaner, and reduce your     cooling costs up to 20 percent.  See www.ase.org/taxcredits for details.      --  Switch to cold water for laundry to save up to $63 a year.      --  No more peeping Toms.  Close blinds or shades on the south- and west-     facing windows during the day or install shading devices such as trellises     or awnings.      --  Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor     lighting.      --  4 for the planet.  Replacing four 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 23-     watt compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) that use about two-thirds less energy     and last up to 10 times longer saves $190 over the life of the bulbs.      --  Activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power     down when the equipment is not in use for a while.  Turn off equipment     during long periods of non-use to cut costs and improve longevity.      --  Watch out for energy vampires! Your idle (turned off) electronics and     appliances -- TVs, VCRs, cable boxes, CD players, cassette decks, and     microwaves -- continue to consume electricity to keep display clocks lit     and memory chips and remote controls working -- costing consumers $4     billion annually.  ENERGY STAR products use less energy in the off mode.     

Many additional tips and free resources for all types of home and vehicle energy use can be found on the Alliance's consumer web site www.ase.org/consumers "Tips to Lower Your Energy Bills" and other sections. English and Spanish information on the federal tax credits for homes and vehicles is available at www.ase.org/taxcredits.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.