Saving Energy - Saving Money

An easy way to save money is to conserve energy. Not only is it good for your wallet, it’s also good for the environment.

Look for the ENERGY STAR logo. ENERGY STAR is a government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. It is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Appliances

When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR appliance.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

When replacing light bulbs, you should also look for the ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs [CFLs]. These light bulbs fit into a standard incandescent socket and use 2/3 less energy than a standard incandescent and last much longer. This translates into a savings of $30.00 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime.

For more information about ENERGY STAR visit: www.energystar.gov.

Other energy saving tips:

•Turn off your computer at night for a savings of $70.00 per year.

•Turning off you television when no one is watching can save $200.00 per year.

•Washing clothes in cold water can save an additional $60.00 per year.

•Lower your thermostat. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, during each 24-hour period, you will save about 3% on your energy bill for every 1 degree that you lower your thermostat setting (or raise it when air conditioning is the big cost).

Art Of Saving is a personal finance education company. Our Savism^SM programs empower consumers to save money, plan for retirement, increase their net worth, and achieve financial goals.

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