Yes, we need to help the environment and get hybrid cars or at least stop driving all the time. Gas prices are out of control and prices for food will also go up. The economy is getting worse and everyone can help before it is too late.
Here is some information on global warming:
Ethanol Myths
1. Ethanol is very rarely used in American cars.
Most likely, you're using ethanol in your car without even knowing it. In many regions, small amounts of ethanol are blended with gasoline to reduce emissions. Mixtures as high as E10 (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline) are safe for use in most vehicles.
Much of the news lately has been about fuel blends that have higher ethanol content. The most common is E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), which only can be used in vehicles that are designed for that fuel.
2. Using ethanol will eliminate global warming.
One might expect that by using E85, net carbon dioxide emissions would be almost zero. The crops used to make the ethanol absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during their growth, then this CO2 is put back into the atmosphere when the ethanol is burned in an automobile engine. In reality, this cycle is overly simplistic because it fails to recognize other greenhouse gas emissions that occur during the cultivation and production of ethanol. Modern farming, for example, relies heavily on diesel-powered equipment that emits greenhouse gases. Distilling ethanol is also an energy-intensive process that often uses electricity generated from coal, another source of greenhouse emissions.
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley recently examined six major studies of ethanol production and concluded that using ethanol made from corn instead of gasoline would lead to a moderate 13 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions. However, the researchers note that more dramatic reductions are possible if technology advances make it economical to make ethanol from cellulosic materials such as switchgrass, a crop currently grown by some U.S. farmers to control erosion on idle fields. Using cellulosic ethanol, they project, could result in 88 percent less greenhouse gas emissions.
The UC Berkeley study also contradicts a common criticism of ethanol: that it takes more energy to produce it than it delivers as a motor fuel. The study concludes that ethanol made from corn does indeed have a positive "net energy balance," particularly if you consider that other valuable products, such as corn oil, are byproducts of the ethanol-making process.
3. Ethanol is cheaper than gasoline.
Data on fuel prices from the Department of Energy shows that in the Midwest-where much of the country's ethanol is produced-E85 sells for nearly 30 cents less per gallon than conventional gasoline. However, on the West Coast, filling up with ethanol would cost a driver 35 cents more per gallon. In the mid-Atlantic states, E85 had an even higher premium: 44 cents per gallon.
The higher price of E85 in many areas is made worse by another of ethanol's drawbacks: ethanol, regardless of the price you pay for it, contains less energy than gasoline. This means that your car won't go as far on a gallon of E85, and your fuel economy will decrease by 20-30 percent. This is bad news for consumers because even if the price of E85 at the pump is cheaper than gasoline, using ethanol may not be less expensive in the end.
4. Ethanol-ready vehicles are equally available in all sizes.
If you're looking for small, fuel-efficient vehicles that use E85, you may be disappointed. Half of the 2006 flexible-fuel vehicles are full-sized pickups or SUVs, including the Dodge Durango (rated at 12 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway).
With minor changes and expense, DaimlerChrylser can make the Dodge Durango compatible for E85 fuel. As a result, the E85 Durango can be rated for 23 mpg-instead of the 13 mpg rating for the conventional Durango -even if its owners never use E85 fuel.
Automakers' tendency to make their largest vehicles E85 compatible is rooted in America's fuel economy rules. Since 1988, automakers have been allowed to assign flexible-fuel vehicles higher fuel economy ratings under the government's CAFE fuel economy regulations. This means that a vehicle like the Durango, which averages 13 mpg would be rated at roughly 23 mpg for CAFE purposes, even if its owner never fueled it with E85.
In fact, very few flex-fuel vehicles are using E85, largely because it's not widely available. The DOE lists more than 600 E85 stations in the United States, but nearly half of those are in two states: Minnesota and Illinois. Other areas, even populous ones, have little E85 infrastructure. For example, New York, California, Texas and Florida have just 15 E85 stations combined, only two of which allow sales to the general public.
MORE AT HYBRIDCARS.COM
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-article_115/
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/carboncalculator.cfm
How to Pick a Better Bulb
Find the Right Bulb for You
Though we call them "lights," traditional incandescent bulbs are actually small heaters that produce a little light — and waste a lot of energy making heat. (You know this if you've touched one that's been on for a while!) In the 1880s, they revolutionized the world. But today, we can do better.
Better alternatives use more efficient technology
Once dismissed as buzzing tubes in offices, fluorescent lights have gone compact and upscale. Energy-saving compact fluorescents (CFs) now rival the cozy, warm light of traditional bulbs. They use a fraction of the electricity, which means lower electricity bills and millions of tons less global warming pollution. And in the summer, because they don't burn as hot as incandescent bulbs, they'll lower your cooling bills.
If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with CF bulbs, the pollution savings would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road!
If you were disappointed by CF bulbs in the past, it's time to try again. Today's energy-saving bulbs can be used just about anywhere—as reading lights, in vanities and wall sconces. Some are dimmable; others work in three-way lamps. All are cheaper and more attractive than earlier models. It's easy to start saving money and electricity today. Here's how to make the switch:
1. Start with one bulb.
There are lots of choices, so before switching all the bulbs in a room, try just one to make sure it gives the kind of light you want. Look for bulbs with a color temperature between 2650 and 2850 degrees Kelvin or labeled "warm white." (More about light color and quality.)
2. Know your watts.
Incandescent bulbs are known by how much power it takes to light them—a 40-watt bulb is on the dim side and uses less power; a 100-watt bulb is bright and uses a lot of juice. Energy-saving CFs provide much more light per watt.
Look for a CF bulb whose wattage is about one-quarter of the incandescent you're replacing. For example, a CF bulb in the 15-watt range replaces around a 60-watt incandescent. (More on watts and lumens.)
3. Check the shape and size.
Both the CF bulb and its ballast (the bulb's "engine" in between the glass and the screw-in part) can be bigger than standard incandescent bulbs. Inspect your lamp shade, the harp and the socket to ensure that your lamp can accommodate the CF bulb. Use the pictures in our bulb guide to help gauge how they'll fit — here's a sample comparison.
4. Be careful choosing CF bulbs to use with dimmers.
In order for a CF bulb to work in a dimmer, it must be specially designed to do so. Read the package before you buy a CF bulb for a dimmer-controlled fixture. (More about choosing dimmable CF bulbs.)
5. Look for Energy Star.
The most energy-efficient CF bulbs carry the Energy Star label, the imprimatur of the government-backed energy efficiency program. (More about how bulbs qualify for Energy Star.)
6. Dispose of burned-out bulbs properly.
All fluorescent lights contain trace amounts of mercury. But don't worry — there is far less mercury in CFs than in thermometers or old thermostats. Plus, using these bulbs helps prevent mercury from being released into the air from coal-powered power plants. When they burn out years down the road, recycle them. (More on how to how to dispose of these long-lasting bulbs.)
7. See if your utility offers rebates.
Energy-efficient bulbs help utility companies lessen their load at peak times, so sometimes they run special programs or rebates to encourage you to make the switch.
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=608
Re-Thinking Energy in Homes
PRINTABLE TIP SHEETS
You can print out these documents to either hand out or post:
For your home and car [PDF]
Get kids involved [PDF]
SEND AN E-CARD
Choose from three different versions that you can send to friends.
Pretty much everything we do requires energy. Over the centuries, we have tapped different energy sources to heat, cool, cook and light up the dark. Fire was one of the earliest one-stop energy sources, as was sunlight. In fact, as early as the 1890s, solar water heaters were used in California. By the 1920s, though solar systems had spread to Arizona and Florida, low-cost oil and natural gas systems edged solar out.
Today, we turn on lights that are connected to the electricity grid. We fire up stoves through electricity or natural gas lines. And the heaters we use to warm our homes and the air conditioners and fans we use to cool them run on oil, natural gas and electricity.
Because fossil fuel-based energy sources produce a lot of heat-trapping pollution, and renewable sources little or none, our energy choices are critical to stopping global warming.
Energy savings add up
U.S. households produce 21 percent of the country's global warming pollution. That's more pollution than the entire heat-trapping output of the United Kingdom. The good thing is that energy-conscious families can reduce their emissions by up to two-thirds. If every household in the U.S. made energy-efficient choices, we could save 800 million tons of global warming pollution—more than the heat-trapping emissions from over 100 countries. That would go a long way toward stabilizing our climate.
New and emerging technologies can also reduce our production of heat-trapping gases. By choosing green power, you can use electricity that produces little or no global warming pollution.
What is efficiency?
Energy efficiency is about using less energy to achieve the same results. Because energy cannot be created or destroyed, using energy converts it into useful output and useless output, such as pollution.
Take the very inefficient incandescent light bulb, for example. If you've ever touched a traditional bulb that's been on for a while, you have discovered its inefficiency—it produces more heat than light. That means that all the bulbs burning in your home are wasting electricity and costing you more money. Newer, more efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescents, convert more energy into light and less into heat.
Yesterday's power plants
Sadly, many of our energy-hungry machines—including power plants—are not very efficient. Our most common way of generating electricity provides a good example of this. At many turbine power plants, coal is burned in a boiler to produce steam. The heat turns the turbine blades, which turn the shaft in the generator to produce electricity.
So what's the problem? Transforming coal to steam in this way is inefficient—it produces a little electricity and a lot of pollution. Producing electricity more efficiently both cuts pollution and provides more useful energy. New clean-burning technologies are one way to achieve this. Replacing old power plants with modern ones is another. In addition, there's also something called co-generation, which uses the waste heat of generated electricity to heat homes and businesses.
Why buy green power?
Buying green goes a long way toward cutting heat-trapping emissions because clean energy sources emit little or no carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution—a huge savings to the Earth and a way to slow global warming.
Green power can be slightly higher in price, but the benefits are many. Here are just a few examples. Using green energy:
Reduces smog, soot, mercury and acid rain pollution.
Reduces financial risks. Future regulations, caps on greenhouse gases and price fluctuations of fossil fuels could all increase the cost of energy. For example, natural gas prices have soared recently.
Creates new jobs and generate income, because green power sources tend to rely on local labor, land and resources, especially in rural communities.
Green power arrives in a quiet revolution
Traditionally, utilities sold us just one "brand" of electricity, and unless you were one of the largest electric customers, you paid one price. No negotiations. No choice. Today's electricity landscape is different. We have options.
In 1998, some 30 million American utility customers began choosing their power suppliers. Customers in California and parts of New England could decide which company to buy their electricity from, which brand to buy, and what prices to pay. In other states, utilities offered "green pricing," allowing customers to direct some of their electric bill toward clean, renewable energy, like solar and wind power.
TIPS FOR SAVING ENERGY
An energy-conscious family can reduce its global warming pollution by over 15 tons a year. Small adjustments in these areas can make a big difference:
Heating and cooling
Appliances
Lighting
Find out how »
Today, about 75 million electricity customers in 42 states have the option to buy green power through their utility or an alternative power supplier, according to the government's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (To find out if green power is available in your area, visit the Department of Energy's green pricing page.)
Suddenly, we Americans have new responsibility and opportunity of choice, but not a lot of information. Unfortunately, reading our electric bills does not tell us where our electricity comes from, how much it really costs or how much pollution it causes. The green power revolution arrived quietly, without much education and preparation. It's time to get caught up.
What does it mean to buy green power?
Buying green power is less direct than buying recycled paper towels—you can't specify that only wind-generated electrons show up at your wall outlet. Imagine the electricity delivery system as a system of pipes delivering water to and from a lake. Power generators pour water into the lake, and electricity consumers take water out. By buying green, you ensure that the water going into the lake is as clean as possible. The more green consumers there are, the cleaner the whole lake will be. But everyone still draws water out of the whole lake.
Where does conventional electricity come from?
Before diving into the cleaner sources of energy available these days, it's worth looking at conventional sources. Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil supplies about 97 percent of America's electricity and is responsible for about 33 percent of the country's global warming pollution. Reducing the amount of electricity we use in our homes is a key factor in creating a sustainable energy future.
Coal. Coal is energy stored in dead plant matter from prehistoric times. Coal burning generates more than 50 percent of the electricity in the U.S. and accounts for about one-third of the country's CO2 emissions. Though coal reserves will last for centuries at current rates of usage, long before supplies run out, global climate change will require that restrictions be imposed on burning coal.
There are cleaner ways of burning coal than the traditional steam turbine. (More about coal gasification.)
Nuclear. Nuclear power comes from splitting uranium or plutonium atoms. Nuclear power provides about 20 percent of electricity generated in the U.S. Although generating electricity from nuclear fuels emits little CO2, nuclear power poses grave risks to both human health and the environment. Safely storing nuclear waste is an extremely difficult problem. Although supplies of uranium and plutonium should last for more than a century, no more nuclear plants are being built, in large part because of high costs.
Natural Gas. Natural gas is the most environmentally benign fossil fuel. These two factors have greatly increased the use of natural gas to generate electricity. About 18 percent of electricity in the U.S. comes from natural gas. Natural gas does produce air pollution, but not nearly as much as other fossil fuels: for the same amount of energy, it produces half the CO2 of coal. Although natural gas reserves will last for many decades to come, they are finite. Prices have already started to tick up and, as supplies shrink, the price will rise even more.
Oil. Oil provides only about three percent of electricity in the U.S. Oil burns cleaner than coal, but still produces large quantities of CO2 emissions for each unit of energy produced. Most of the oil that is easiest to obtain in the United States has already been extracted, so continuing to use oil as an electricity source will require an increase in imports or improved technology. Increasing reliance on oil imports, especially from politically unstable regions, is unwise.
Large-Scale Hydropower. Dams provide electricity by guiding water down a chute and over a turbine at high speed. Although hydropower does not produce any air emissions, dams—especially large ones—cause serious environmental problems.
The reservoir behind a dam often requires flooding many square miles, destroying entire ecosystems. Dams block the natural flow of water and degrade water quality, damaging vegetation and wildlife. They interfere with fish migration, and though fish ladders can help, they don't solve the problem.
Hydropower provides about six percent of the electricity generated in the U.S. This percentage is unlikely to increase. Few sites remain where large dams could be built, and the environmental concerns are strong.
Where does green electricity come from?
By harnessing wind, sunlight, plant matter or heat from the Earth's core, we can produce electricity in ways that curtail global warming pollution. And because electricity demand is based on consumer choices, the more we demand green power, the more cleaner sources will be used. That means a lot less heat-trapping pollution.
Wind. Wind turbines, or windmills, use strong wind to create pollution-free, renewable electricity. Wind power is already as cheap as fossil fuel-generated electricity in some places. The windier the location, the lower the cost is, and the more energy that can be produced. Wind energy is most economical in places where average wind speed is at least 17 miles per hour. New York-based Brooklyn Brewery is one company powered completely by wind. Its annual savings of heat-trapping emissions are about 335,000 lbs of CO2.
Solar. The sun's energy can help produce electricity in two ways: photovoltaic (PV) systems and solar thermal systems. PV systems change sunlight directly into electricity. They are common where it is relatively expensive to run electrical wires or use batteries, such as in rural homes, remote research stations and freeway call boxes. Solar thermal systems use the sun's energy to heat a fluid that produces steam, which then turns a turbine and generator. California's Luz SEGS plants are the principal solar thermal generators in America. Although solar technologies are more expensive than other options now, they are cost-effective where people are allowed to sell electricity back to the grid, and several states offer subsidies to stimulate investment.
Geothermal. Geothermal energy is generated by converting the hot water or steam from deep beneath the Earth's surface into electricity. Geothermal plants emit very little air pollution and have minimal impacts on the environment. They are very economical, competing favorably with fossil fuel generation. Currently, geothermal plants in the U.S. provide enough electricity to supply the homes of 3.5 million people. Known geothermal reserves and technology could supply the entire country with electricity for 30 years.
Biomass. Biomass—crop parts or animal waste that can make energy—is an extremely versatile fuel source. It can provide electricity, heat buildings and factories, and power cars and trucks.
When the technology first took off, biomass was burned in an incinerator to produce energy. In newer facilities, the biomass is converted into a combustible gas, allowing for greater efficiency and cleaner performance. Biomass sources include agricultural, forestry and food processing byproducts, as well as gas emitted from landfills. Though not as clean as wind and solar energy and a bit more expensive (because of transportation costs from source to incinerator), its environmental benefits are a significant plus because biomass generates few or no heat-trapping gases. Biomass supplies 2% of the electricity used in California.
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/documents/5204_fgwdownloadkids.pdf
Heating and cooling
This is a top home energy user, with the average household producing about four tons of heat-trapping pollution a year. It is heavily influenced by weather. For example, a relatively cold 1996 led to an increase in heat-trapping emissions compared to the previous year. But the next year, a warmer winter helped emissions dip bit. Warmer summers increase greenhouse gas pollution, too, from heavy air conditioning use. Despite the relative warm or coolness of the season, the U.S. emits a harmful amount of global warming pollution.
Even as the weather varies, your choices can help spew less global warming pollution.
In summer, keep shades drawn to keep the cool in.
In winter, open shades to let the sunlight to help warm rooms.
In winter, keep your thermostat cooler at night or when the house is empty.
Install a programmable thermostat to heat and cool rooms only when necessary.
Plant trees around your house to cut cooling costs in summer.
Insulate your walls and ceilings.
Install a light-colored or reflective roof.
Appliances
After heating, refrigerators and freezers are generally the home's next two big energy eaters. Other appliances follow closely. Together, these items account for nearly eight tons of heat-trapping emissions per household per year.
Upgrade to Energy Star products. Not all appliances are equal. Whether you're in the market for a new fridge, toaster or air conditioner, look for Energy Star choices, which offer the best energy savings.
Size counts. When in the market for an appliance, make sure you buy what suits your needs. Items too large or too small waste electricity and your money.
Unplug. Your electric meter is often adding up kilowatt hours when you don’t think you’re using an appliance. Unplug toasters and cell phone and other chargers when they’re not in use. Don't use air fresheners that have to be plugged in.
Use power strips. Cable boxes and video game boxes, and to a lesser extent TVs and VCRs, use almost as much energy when they're off as when they're on. Make it easy to turn them all the way off—plug them into a power strip and turn off the whole strip.
Lighting
Lighting accounts for about 21 percent of commercial energy consumption and about 12 percent of home energy consumption. In terms of heat-trapping pollution, that means the lights in the average household produce just over a ton of carbon dioxide each year. Here are a few steps to lower those numbers.
Use energy-efficient lights. Changing just one 75-watt bulb to a compact fluorescent light cuts roughly 1,300 pounds of global warming pollution. They also last up to 15 times as long and save you money. (Learn how to pick the best bulbs.)
Turn off lights. A good chunk of lighting expenses is from rooms that stay unnecessarily lit.
Use natural light. Open shades and use sunlight to help light rooms.
Install motion-sensors so that lights automatically turn on when someone is in the room and turn off when empty.
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=267
STOP GLOBAL WARMING
•
Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Replace 3 frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 per year.
•
Inflate Your Tires
Keep the tires on your car adequately inflated. Check them monthly. Save 250 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $840 per year.
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Change Your Air Filter
Check your car's air filter monthly. Save 800 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $130 per year.
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Fill the Dishwasher
Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Save 100 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $40 per year.
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Use Recycled Paper
Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled paper. Save 5 lbs. of carbon dioxide per ream of paper.
•
Adjust Your Thermostat
Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year.
•
Check Your Waterheater
Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120°F. Save 550 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $30 per year.
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Change the AC Filter
Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150 per year.
•
Take Shorter Showers
Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $99 per year.
•
Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
Using less water in the shower means less energy to heat the water. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150.
•
Buy Products Locally
Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store.
•
Buy Energy Certificates
Help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution by buying wind certificates and green tags.
•
Buy Minimally Packaged Goods
Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10%. Save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide and $1,000 per year.
•
Buy a Hybrid Car
The average driver could save 16,000 lbs. of CO2 and $3,750 per year driving a hybrid
•
Buy a Fuel Efficient Car
Getting a few extra miles per gallon makes a big difference. Save thousands of lbs. of CO2 and a lot of money per year.
•
Carpool When You Can
Own a big vehicle? Carpooling with friends and co-workers saves fuel. Save 790 lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.
•
Reduce Garbage
Buy products with less packaging and recycle paper, plastic and glass. Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
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Plant a Tree
Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
•
Insulate Your Water Heater
Keep your water heater insulated could save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $40 per year.
•
Replace Old Appliances
Inefficient appliances waste energy. Save hundreds of lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.
•
Weatherize Your Home
Caulk and weather strip your doorways and windows. Save 1,700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $274 per year.
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Use a Push Mower
Use your muscles instead of fossil fuels and get some exercise. Save 80 lbs of carbon dioxide and x $ per year.
•
Unplug Un-Used Electronics
Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 per year.
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Put on a Sweater
Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear more clothes Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $250 per year.
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Insulate Your Home
Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $245 per year.
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Air Dry Your Clothes
Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer. Save 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $75 per year.
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Switch to a Tankless Water Heater
Your water will be heated as you use it rather than keeping a tank of hot water. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $390 per year.
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Switch to Double Pane Windows
Double pane windows keep more heat inside your home so you use less energy. Save 10,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $436 per year.
•
Buy Organic Food
The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce.
•
Bring Cloth Bags to the Market
Using your own cloth bag instead of plastic or paper bags reduces waste and requires no additional energy.
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/sgw_actionitems.asp
Efficient Appliances Save Energy -- and Money
Consumers get lower utility bills, and we all get a cleaner environment.
The major appliances in your home -- refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers -- account for a big chunk of your monthly utility bill. And if your refrigerator or washing machine is more than a decade old, you're spending a lot more on energy than you need to.
Today's major appliances don't hog energy the way older models do because they must meet minimum federal energy efficiency standards. These standards have been tightened over the years, so any new appliance you buy today has to use less energy than the model you're replacing. For instance, if you buy one of today's most energy-efficient refrigerators, it will use less than half the energy of a model that's 12 years old or older.
Of course, efficient appliances don't just save you money; they're good for the environment. The less energy we all use, the lower our demand on power plants, which means less pollution. The trick is to figure out which models use the least energy. Here are some guidelines.
Look for the Energy Star® label. Energy Star models are the most energy efficient in any product category, exceeding the energy efficiency minimums set by the federal government. If you remember only one rule when you shop, remember to look for the Energy Star label. In some parts of the country, utilities and state governments even sweeten the deal by offering rebates on Energy Star-rated models. Check http://www.energystar.gov for details.
Use the EnergyGuide label. Some uninformed salespeople might tell you that a model you're looking at is the most efficient because it has an EnergyGuide label. Not exactly. All new appliances must carry the EnergyGuide label, either on the appliance itself or on the packaging. The label allows you to compare the typical annual energy consumption and operating cost of different models of any type of appliance you're thinking of buying.
Get the right size. Make sure the product you're buying suits your needs. Oversized air conditioners, water heaters and refrigerators waste energy and money; in many cases they also don't perform as well.
Whenever possible choose appliances that run on natural gas rather than electricity. Usually it's more efficient to burn natural gas where it's needed -- in your home -- than to burn it at a power plant, convert the heat to electricity and then send the electricity over wires to your house. Look for dryers, stoves and water heaters that run on natural gas.
Think long term. Many of the most energy-efficient appliances cost more initially, but they'll save you money in the long run. Expect to keep most major appliances between 10 and 20 years. A more efficient appliance soon pays for itself; lower monthly utility bills over the lifetime of the appliance will more than offset a higher purchase price. In addition, the latest resource-efficient clothes washers and dishwashers not only save electricity, they also use a lot less water and can reduce your water bill.
Below is more specific information to keep in mind if you're in the market for any of the following major appliances.
NRDC: Setting the Standard
Energy efficiency standards may not be as high profile as saving endangered species or cleaning up toxic waste, but they are a hugely important cause for environmentalists. Since their inception, these standards have saved consumers over $200 billion -- about $2,000 per household -- while cutting electricity use 5 percent and reducing levels of pollution that come from the power plants that produce the electricity by over 2 percent. These savings are projected to more than double over the next 20 years even without new action. If NRDC's recommendations for new and updated standards are adopted, these savings will more than triple.
NRDC's energy program has played an important role in creating the framework under which continued improvements in appliance energy efficiency have occurred. NRDC led the negotiations that crafted the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (1987), the law that impelled manufacturers to develop today's energy-efficient appliances.
In the early 1990s, David Goldstein, co-director of NRDC's energy program, proposed the Super Efficiency Refrigerator Program, which spurred development of the new refrigerator technology from which consumers are benefiting today. Similar programs are offered by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency. David was awarded a 2002 MacArthur Fellowship for his innovative work proving that energy efficiency makes good economic sense.
REFRIGERATORS
If you are thinking of replacing an old appliance, the refrigerator is a good place to start. New refrigerators consume 75 percent less energy than those produced in the late 1970s. A family replacing a 1980 vintage fridge with one that meets today's standards will save more than $100 a year in utility costs. Go one step further and buy an Energy Star-qualified model, and your new refrigerator will save you an additional 15 percent or more by employing better insulation, more efficient compressors and more precise temperature control and defrost mechanisms.
Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:
• Refrigerators with freezers on top use 10 to 15 percent less energy than a side-by-side model of equivalent size.
• Generally, the larger the refrigerator, the greater the energy consumption. But one large refrigerator will use less energy than two smaller ones with the same total volume or a smaller fridge plus a separate freezer.
CLOTHES WASHERS
The energy efficiency of standard top-loading washers has doubled over the last two decades, mostly by decreasing the amount of water used. (Most of a washer's energy consumption goes to heating water.) Front-loading washers have also become more readily available. They generally use less water than top-loaders because they don't have to totally submerge clothes. Their tumbling action constantly lifts water and drops it back down onto clothing. Energy Star top-loaders, however, can be just as efficient as front loaders. Look for the EnergyGuide or Energy Star labels to compare efficiencies.
Replacing a pre-1994 washer with an Energy Star model can save a family $110 a year on utility bills. Energy Star washers use 50 percent less energy than other standard models, and only 18 to 25 gallons of water for a full-sized load, compared to 40 gallons for standard full-size washers. Many Energy Star models also advertise lower fabric wear, better stain removal and briefer drying times.
Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:
• Choose the right size washer. A smaller washer may be more efficient for small households. But if you have a large family and have to do multiple loads in a washer that's too small for your needs, you could lose any possible energy savings.
• Look for a washer with adjustable water levels. This gives you the option of using less water to wash small loads.
• Choose a washer with a faster spin speed. This allows more water to be removed after the wash, reducing the drying time and your dryer's energy use.
• Use a gas dryer rather than an electric dryer where possible.
DISHWASHERS
A new dishwasher is not only more efficient than older models, but it's also better at getting dishes clean. Manufacturers no longer recommend that you pre-wash your dishes. Simply scrape the remaining food off your plates and place them in the machine as is. This will save you time and save money on your water bill.
The most efficient dishwashers use less hot water, have energy-efficient motors and use sensors to determine the length of the wash cycle and the water temperature needed to do the job. The newest Energy Star dishwashers are 25 percent more efficient than the minimum federal standards. Replacing a pre-1994 dishwasher with an Energy Star model can save $25 a year on utility costs.
Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:
• Choose a dishwasher with a "light wash" or "energy-saving" wash cycle. It uses less water and operates for a shorter period of time for dishes that are just slightly soiled.
• Look for dishwashers that have an energy-saving cycle that allows dishes to be air-dried with circulation fans, rather than heat-dried with energy-wasting heating coils.
ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
The most efficient room air conditioners have higher-efficiency compressors, fan motors and heat-transfer surfaces than previous models. A high-efficiency unit reduces energy consumption by 20 to 50 percent. Replacing a 10-year-old model with an Energy Star model can cut energy bills by an average of $14 a year.
Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:
• Remember, the biggest unit isn't always the best choice, especially for small areas. A smaller unit running for a long period of time operates more efficiently and is more effective at decreasing humidity than a larger unit that goes on and off frequently.
• If you're comparing several similar units, choose the one with the highest Energy Efficiency Ratio. You can find the EER on the unit or its packaging. The minimum EER required by federal law is 9.7; the most efficient air conditioners of 2003 have an EER of 11.7.
CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS
If your central air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star model could reduce your energy consumption for cooling by 20 percent.
Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:
• Look for the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Old units typically have a SEER of 6 or 7. In 2006, new standards go into effect, raising the minimum SEER for central air conditioners to 13. Energy Star models already meet the SEER 13 standard, and also perform more efficiently when it's hot.
• For maximum efficiency on the hottest days, the air conditioner should have a thermal expansion valve (TVX), and the high temperature rating (EER) on your unit should be at least 11.6.
• For optimal performance, buy a matched system of indoor unit, condenser and even thermostat.
• Get a reliable contractor to make sure your new unit is the right size for your home, and have it professionally installed. Even the most efficient system can't make up for the energy loss due to improper sizing and poor installation.
• Have your contractor make sure all your ducts are sealed and insulated. Duct tests require a fan and a pressure gauge -- they cannot be done by sight.
WATER HEATERS
Water heating is typically the third largest energy expense in your home, accounting for about 14 percent of your energy bill. An old water heater can operate for years at very low efficiency before it finally fails. If your gas water heater is more than 10 years old, it probably operates at less than 50 percent efficiency.
Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:
• Calculate how much hot water your household uses at peak times. Figure that a clothes washer on hot wash/hot rinse can use about 32 gallons of hot water; a shower, 20 gallons. Washing dishes by hand can use 10 to 15 gallons, and automatic dishwashers, about 8 gallons.
• Match this figure with the "first hour rating" (FHR) on the EnergyGuide label. The FHR measures how many gallons of hot water your heater can deliver during a busy hour. Don't be misled by the size of the tank -- it doesn't necessarily correlate with FHR.
• Once you've found the right FHR range for your household, check the unit's Energy Factor (EF), which rates efficiency. A high-efficiency gas model would have an EF around 0.8.
• A natural gas unit will cost less to operate than electric.
HOME ELECTRONICS
For most products, the Energy Star label is your assurance that the product will operate more efficiently than a standard model. But Energy Star TVs, audio equipment, telephones, computers and printers earn the label primarily because they draw only a small amount of power when not in use -- regardless of the amount of power they consume when operating. When buying electronics, do look for the Energy Star label, but also keep a few general caveats in mind.
Energy-Saving Purchasing Tips:
• Ink jet printers tend to be more energy-efficient than lasers.
• LCD televisions and monitors draw less power than CRT or plasma screens.
• Small lightweight power supplies tend to be more energy efficient than large, heavy transformer-based power supplies.
MORE SMART SHOPPING TIPS
• Check for incentives. Some states offer rewards for buying the most energy-efficient appliances. Connecticut and California, for example, have rebate programs that will refund part of the purchase price of certain new energy-efficient appliances. Maryland eliminates sales tax on some appliances with the Energy Star label. Check with your local utility and the Energy Star Rebate Locator to find out if cash rebates or other incentives are available in your area, or see our state-by-state listing.
• Use the Internet. Several websites contain additional useful information. The EPA's Energy Star website has information on appliance models that carry the Energy Star label and where you can buy them. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy publishes a yearly list of the most energy-efficient appliances. And the Consortium for Energy Efficiency has information on programs promoting energy efficiency in the home.
EASY ENERGY-SAVING HABITS (Free!)
Don't forget the basics. This simple stuff will save energy -- and money -- right now.
1. Unplug
o Unplug seldom-used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that contains just a few items. You may save around $10 every month on your utility bill.
o Unplug your chargers when you're not charging. Every house is full of little plastic power supplies to charge cell phones, PDA's, digital cameras, cordless tools and other personal gadgets. Keep them unplugged until you need them.
o Use power strips to switch off televisions, home theater equipment, and stereos when you're not using them. Even when you think these products are off, together, their "standby" consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously.
2. Set Computers to Sleep and Hibernate
o Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu.
o Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The "hibernate mode" turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch.
3. Take Control of Temperature
o Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less during the daytime, and 55 degrees before going to sleep (or when you're away for the day). During the summer, set thermostats to 78 degrees or more. (Click here for a more detailed summer energy-saving tip.)
o Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day.
o Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120 and 130 degrees. Lower temperatures can save more energy, but you might run out of hot water or end up using extra electricity to boost the hot water temperature in your dishwasher.
4. Use Appliances Efficiently
o Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them.
o Don't preheat or "peek" inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items.
o Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes. This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use.
o In your clothes washer, set the appropriate water level for the size of the load; wash in cold water when practical, and always rinse in cold.
o Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use. Dry heavy and light fabrics separately and don't add wet items to a load that's already partly dry. If available, use the moisture sensor setting. (A clothesline is the most energy-efficient clothes dryer of all!)
5. Turn Out the Lights
o Don't forget to flick the switch when you leave a room.
o Remember this at the office, too. Turn out or dim the lights in unused conference rooms, and when you step out for lunch. Work by daylight when possible. A typical commercial building uses more energy for lighting than anything else.
http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/simple.asp
http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/longterm.asp