Kermit the Frog may have gotten it wrong when he said "it's not easy
being green."
Not only is it easy, it also saves the pocketbook.
The average energy bill in Southern Maryland is almost $2,200 a year,
according to Terry Ressler, corporate communications manager with
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. Making small changes at home may
mean lower energy bills and a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
"The thing that usually interests consumers the most with energy
efficiency is that they will save money," said Ronnie Kweller,
spokesperson for the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, D.C. "If
(people are) part of the solution, (they'll) be part of not contributing
to pollution and global warming."
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative operates the PowerWise program
that has served more than 2,700 customers since 1996. A representative
from the cooperative goes to homes at least five years old and will make
recommendations for the homeowner to take steps to reduce energy. These
recommendations include simple changes such as putting blankets on water
heaters; installing faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads and timers for
pools; providing one Compact Fluorescent Light bulb and coupons for
more; and using caulk around windows and doors, among other steps.
If consumers nationwide changed one standard light bulb to a Compact
Fluorescent Light bulb, it could save the equivalent of $600 million in
energy costs a year as well as greenhouse gas emissions equal to about
800,000 cars, according to Energy Star, a venture between the
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The
bulbs would generate about 75 percent less energy and last about 10
times longer than regular light bulbs, although the cost is initially
higher.
Here's what else you can do to save a little green, according to Energy
Star:
Conserve water, conserve energy -
o Repair leaky faucets. Hot water leaking at one drip per second can
waste about 1,661 gallons of water and up to $35 in electricity or
natural gas charges per year.
o Scrape food off dishes rather than rinsing before putting them in the
dishwasher. Make sure to run a full load and use the air-dry option to
save energy. An Energy Star dishwasher can save up to $25 a year.
o Switch to cold water in the washing machine to save about $40 annually
on electric bills or about $30 a year on gas bills. About 90 percent of
energy used by a washing machine is generated by hot water use.
o Switch to a low-flow showerhead to save up to $145 a year in
electricity costs.
Waste not, want not -
o Use a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature in a house,
especially when not at home. The change can save up to $150 a year.
o Make sure to use the right size pot on a stovetop to save energy. A
six-inch pot on an eight-inch burner, for example, wastes 40 percent of
the heat from the burner, resulting in an extra $36 a year in electric
bills or $18 a year in gas bills.
o Make sure to apply caulk and weather stripping around windows and
doors, especially the door leading to the garage. This action can save
10 percent on energy bills. Installing Energy Star windows can save
between $20 and $95 a year in energy costs.
o A refrigerator made before 1993 uses twice the energy as a newer
Energy Star model, so consider replacing older models.
o Don't overdry loads. Running the dryer 15 minutes extra per load can
cost an extra $34 a year. Cleaning the lint trap can save $34 a year.
o Unplug items such as power adapters and battery chargers when not in
use.
o Turn off lights when not in the room and machines like printers and
game consoles when not in use.
o Let computers go into sleep mode rather than a screen saver.
Those are just a few of the changes you could make to not only save
energy for future generations, but also save you money. It's definitely
a win-win. For more information visit the Web site of the Alliance to
Save Energy at www.ase.org. Or find
information at Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative at
www.smeco.com or at 1-888-440-3311.
Information is also available through the U.S. Department of Energy and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's partnership at
http://www.energystar.gov/ . |
