2008 Woodie Awards
Thinking about energy efficiency can lead to lower utility bills
By Yubhya Garcia
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
Originally published: 4/17/08 at 7:05 PM CSTLast update: 4/17/08 at 8:04 PM CST
Here is a guide to reducing energy bills, according to www.consumerreports.org.
If you wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, you can save $150 per year. Ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine is spent heating the water for the load.
Don't over dry laundry. Clothes will need less ironing and hold up better if removed from the dryer while they are still just a bit damp.
Put your PC to sleep and save $60 per year. Keep your computer and the monitor in sleep mode rather than leaving them on around the clock.
Think twice before turning on the oven. Heating food in the microwave is more energy-efficient because it uses only 20 percent of the energy required by a oven.
Use the right pan. When cooking on the stovetop, pick a pan that's roughly the same size as the burner. You'll use much less energy than you would with a mismatched burner and pan.
A space heater used instead of central heating can save about $1,200 per year. Fans instead of air conditioning save about $600 per year.
Replacing regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs can save nearly $100 per year.
A television uses $75 per year so discarding one can be a savings.
Turning the light off always saves electricity, even if it's for just a second.
More tips are available at www.getrichslowly.org.
If you wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, you can save $150 per year. Ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine is spent heating the water for the load.
Don't over dry laundry. Clothes will need less ironing and hold up better if removed from the dryer while they are still just a bit damp.
Put your PC to sleep and save $60 per year. Keep your computer and the monitor in sleep mode rather than leaving them on around the clock.
Think twice before turning on the oven. Heating food in the microwave is more energy-efficient because it uses only 20 percent of the energy required by a oven.
Use the right pan. When cooking on the stovetop, pick a pan that's roughly the same size as the burner. You'll use much less energy than you would with a mismatched burner and pan.
A space heater used instead of central heating can save about $1,200 per year. Fans instead of air conditioning save about $600 per year.
Replacing regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs can save nearly $100 per year.
A television uses $75 per year so discarding one can be a savings.
Turning the light off always saves electricity, even if it's for just a second.
More tips are available at www.getrichslowly.org.
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