Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Greeen: Easy Does It

The following article is gleaned from "Green: Easy Does It" by Maggie Sierger from Realtor Magazine Feb 2008.

About 21% of US greenhouse gas emissions are generated from household energy use, according to the US Energy Information Administration. A house that consumes less energy reduces greenhouse gases because less fossil fuel is required to operate it. Energy and water savings mean financial savings too. Here are some simple greening options.
Improve Energy Efficiency: replaces incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These produce the same amount of light yet require 75% less energy, produce 75% less heat and last 10 times longer.
Reduce Drafts: Plug leaks. Caulk and add weather-stripping to windows and doors to stop heat and air conditioning losses. Leaky air ducts can decrease energy efficiency by as much as 20%.
Appliance Excesses: Unplug chargers, power adapters, and appliances when they're not in use. about 75% of electricity used to power electronics such as VCR's televisions, stereos, computers and kitchen appliances is consumed while the products are turned off.
Avoid Super-Hot Water: Lower water heater temperature. the average tank style water heater uses about 5% less energy for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you reduce the temperature.

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