Nine no-cost ways to reduce your home energy use
Cher Seruto is an analyst with the Built Environment Team at the Rocky Mountain Institute.
There's a crispness to the air, and winter is again upon us. Colder temperatures and longer nights bring more frequent indoor gatherings with family and friends. But, if you're anything like me, you're having trouble socializing because you're anticipating a spike in your energy bills.
The average American household spends about $1,900 annually on energy and also creates more than 26,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Collectively, residential energy use accounts for about 20 percent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
We all want to be warm this season, and we often don't mind the increased cost. In fact, some of us may view those increased energy costs in the winter as a necessary evil.
But what if you had some no-cost, quick and easy ways to reduce that energy bill while saving the environment and maintaining the same level of comfort?
Well, here you go.
The Rocky Mountain Institute recently compiled energy usage information for the typical American home. In the process, we found dozens of ways ordinary people can cost-effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions from their own homes.
These nine suggestions cost nothing and will save you money:
| CO2 Saved (lbs/year) | $ Saved ($/year) | |
| Lower water heater temperature to 120°F | 214 | $12.12 |
| Lower thermostat in winter by 2°F | 353 | $19.04 |
| Wash clothes in cold water | 327 | $18.58 |
| Turn off unneeded lights | 376 | $21.04 |
| Turn off home-office equipment | 137 | $7.68 |
| Unplug extra fridge in garage | 448 | $25.04 |
| Use energy-saving mode on appliances | 769 | $43.04 |
| Increase AC thermostat by 3°F | 339 | $18.90 |
| Air dry clothes during summer | 779 | $43.60 |
| TOTAL SAVED PER YEAR: | 3,742 | $209.04 |
Not only can these free tricks save the average household more than $200 a year in energy costs, but the carbon dioxide reductions are equivalent to taking 10 miles off of your daily commute.
So be a do-gooder this season and year round, keep your guests happy, and give your pocketbook a boost, too.
Also, stay tuned, because next week we'll provide further energy efficiency measures you can purchase for less than 20 bucks per ton of saved carbon.
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