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Appliances account for about 20% of your household's energy consumption, with refrigerators,
clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list.
Carbon monoxide (CO) has been estimated to claim the lives of 10,000 Americans each year. Many
of these fatalities can easily be prevented through the use of relatively inexpensive and
easy-to-install carbon monoxide detectors.
Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than
any other system in your home. Typically, 56 percent of your utility bill goes for heating
and cooling.
Many homes are decorated during the holidays with strings of lights, and most people
currently use standard incandescent C7 lights or mini-lights. Two energy-efficient alternatives
to consider are LED lights and fiber optic trees. As more lighting is used and as energy rates
climb, consumers find that decorating with lights is costing more.
Checking your home's insulation is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient
ways to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars. A good
insulating system includes a combination of products and construction techniques
that protect a home from outside temperatures—hot and cold, protect it against air
leaks, and control moisture.
Making improvements to your lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy
bills. An average household dedicates 5-10 percent of its energy budget to lighting. Using
new lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in your home by 50-75 percent.
Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for
about 16% of your utility bill.
Windows can be one of your home’s most attractive features. Windows provide
views, daylight, ventilation, and solar heating in the winter. Unfortunately, they can
also account for 10-25 percent of your heating bill.
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