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Going 'green'
doesn't have to mean sacrificing comfort
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You can be both comfortable and environmentally responsible. Here are five ways to cut your energy consumption without sacrificing comfort:
November 2010
1. Buy a programmable thermostat. If you turn your heat or air conditioning off and on when you leave the house or start feeling too warm or cold, you can wind up spending more for electricity than if you let a thermostat ease the temperature up and down a bit at regular intervals. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save 1 percent on your utility bill for every degree you raise or lower your thermostat for eight hours.
2. Don’t “binge” on electricity. Even on a freezing cold day, resist the urge to crank the heat way up. Try to keep your thermostat at a steady temperature while you’re home so you don’t wind up with a big surprise on your energy bill.
3. Wait until after dark to run the dishwasher and wash clothes. Electricity is in greater demand during hours of the day when everybody is getting ready for work or cooking dinner, so the later you can wait to use energy-guzzling appliances, the better. In some cases, your electricity rate could be cheaper if you use the power late at night.
4. Ask your electric cooperative if it offers a “time-of-use” rate that rewards homeowners who use electricity during off-peak hours. Take advantage of utility and government rebates on energy-efficient appliances.
5. Keep up-to-date with the latest energy-saving technology. Appliances, windows and other energy-efficient products might cost a little more to buy than inefficient models, but they save you enough on your energy bills to pay for themselves in the long run.
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