Protecting the environment is a responsibility that we all share. So here are a few tips that you can use at home to cut down on energy consumption and save on household utility bills:

Home Appliances:

• Look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels when shopping for home appliances. The ENERGY STAR® label is the government's seal of energy efficiency. The EnergyGuide label estimates an appliance's energy consumption.
• Unplug electric appliances when not in use, or plug them in to power strips.  In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.

Washer/Dryer:

• Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
• Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. 

Personal Computer:

• Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.  Screen savers do not reduce energy consumption by monitors; switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy. 

Heating/Cooling:

• Heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill. Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. 
• By resetting your thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent. 
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes. 
• Weatherize your home-caulk and weather-strip any doors and windows that leak air.

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Richard Ives, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, AHWD, RECS Broker/Instructor

Make An Intelligent Move with Richard Ives

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