Energy Conservation
The typical U.S. family spends $1,300 a year on home energy bills, and some of that energy is wasted. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning units are inefficient, windows leak conditioned air, and appliances devour energy.
This is money out of your pocket, and it's bad news for the environment -electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.
Energy conservation, such as efficient heating, cooling, and lighting, not only saves money, it also reduces environmental and social impacts. These include air pollution, acid rain and global warming, oil spills and water pollution, loss of wilderness areas, construction of new power plants, and foreign energy dependence. There are many things you can do to reduce your energy use without greatly changing your lifestyle. Energy conservation and efficiency go a long way preserving our planet's rich natural resources and promoting a healthy environment.
What You Can Do:
- Use a programmable thermostat to control the heating and cooling in your home
- Compare your energy use against the national average
- Conduct a home energy audit to determine the largest savings potential
- Install energy efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
- Hire a professional to help you insulate and repair your ducts
- The Energy Savers Web site is full of useful tips for saving energy, and Home Energy Saver allows you to plug in specific information about your home to find out where you have the most potential for savings.
- Sign up for Utah's PowerForward program