Alternative Home ENERGY NOW!! 
 
 21st. Century Ideas for you and Your  Family.       

 

Energy Costs and Conservation Facts 

Aluminum

  • Recycled aluminum reduces pollution by 95 percent; recycling of one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours (Reynolds Metal Company)
  • Four pounds of bauxite are saved for every pound of aluminum recycled (Reynolds Metal Co.)
  • Enough aluminum is thrown away to rebuild our commercial air fleet four times every year. (Earth 911)

Glass
  • Recycling of one glass container saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours (EPA)
  • Recycled glass generates 20 percent less air pollution and 50 percent less water pollution (NASA)
  • One ton of glass made from 50 percent recycled materials saves 250 pounds of mining waste (EPA)
  • Glass can be reused an infinite number of times; more than 41 billion glass containers are made each year (EPA)
  • More than a ton of resources is saved for every ton of glass recycled-1,330 pounds of sand, 433 pounds of soda ash, 433 pounds of limestone, and 151 pounds of feldspar. (Earth 911) 

Paper
  • A ton of recycled paper equals or saves 17 trees in paper production. (Earth 911)
  • Recycled paper saves 60 percent energy vs. virgin paper (Center for Ecological Technology)
  • Recycled paper generates 95 percent less air pollution: each ton saves 60 pounds of air pollution (Center for Ecological Technology)
  • Recycling of each ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water (EPA)
  • Every year enough paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to California

Plastic
  • Plastic milk containers are now only half the weight that they were in 1960 (EPA)
  • If we recycled every plastic bottle we used, we would keep two billion tons of plastic out of landfills (Penn State)
  • Recycling a pound of plastic saves approximately 12,000 BTU's. (EPA) 

Act NOW: Five Little Ways to Conserve Energy
  • Change the filter in your furnace: Keep heating and cooling systems running efficiently.
  • Change to fluorescent light bulbs: They use far less energy than incandescent's.
  • Combine Trips : Plan your errands to reduce transportation time.
  • Lower the temperature on your water heater: You'll still have hot water, but it means the heater uses less energy when you are not using hot water.
  • Check your Tire's Air pressure: Poorly inflated tires wastes gas and causes more pollution.

Act NOW: Five Big Ways to Conserve Energy
  • Buy a fuel efficient vehicle: Include the fuel economy rating as part of the decision making process.
  • Buy Carbon Offsets: Carbon offsets fund clean energy and other projects that result in direct, measurable reductions in carbon emissions from your car, flights, home and more.
  • Make Energy-Efficient Home Improvements: New Windows, Doors, Insulation or Appliances.
  • Buy less stuff: Everything we buy creates waste and uses energy both in the manufacturing process and after we use it.
  • Recycle or Reuse- Nearly every materials or product around your home can be reused or recycled.

 

Conserve Energy At Home
  • 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. 
     
  • 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. 
     
  • Keep your air-conditioning and heating systems properly maintained by changing air filters and keeping air conditioner coils clean. 
     
  • Low-Flow Showerheads and Faucet Aerators - Replacing old models with new low-flow designs prevents the energy used to heat water from going down the drain. 
     
  • Take Control of Temperature - 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. 
     
  • 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. 
       
    • 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. 
       
    • 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. 
       
    • Wash only full loads in your dishwasher- This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use. 
       
    • Stop air from escaping around doors and windows - Caulk and weather-strip to seal off these air leaks. 
       
    • Insulate your Home: Start with the attic and cover bare floors with padded rugs for added insulation. 
       
    • Swap standard light bulbs for energy-saving compact fluorescents - you can save roughly $60 each year on electricity. Make sure you use EnergyStar compact fluorescents, which are tested for quality and longevity. 
       
    • Buy Energy- Efficient Appliances - Many of today's new appliances use half the energy of those from 20 years ago. Look for products with the Energy Star® label -- they typically use about 20 to 40 percent less energy than other new models. Some electric companies and even state governments offer consumer rebates on Energy Star-rated models.

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    Conserve Energy at the Office 

    • 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. 
       
    • 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. 
       
    • 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. When you're done for the day, shut down.

    Resources

    U.S. DOE's Energy Savers Guide - This consumer's guide from The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy tells you everything you need to know to make smart energy decisions, from home improvements and alternative fuel vehicles to creating your own renewable energy supply.

    Energy Star Home Improvement Toolbox - Choose your house's symptoms and let the Home Doctor solve your energy ills. Whether you're starting a major home-improvement project or just looking for simple ways to save energy, this site is sure to help.

    Home Energy Saver - Enter your zip code and some details about your home and the Lawrence Berkeley Lab's Energy Advisor will show you how to save an average of $500 annually in energy bills. The site also offers the resources you'll need to make it happen.

    Buying Energy-Efficient Appliances - Stretch your dollar with NRDC's smart shopping guide to energy-saving refrigerators, home electronics, washing machines, dishwashers, air conditioners and the like.