Energy Saving Tips in the Home Part II

Here are some more energy saving tips to not only cut down on your electric, water, and gas bills, but also your carbon emissions!

• Lighting: Replace ordinary incandescent light bulbs with compact, fluorescent bulbs. They are more energy-efficient (using 75% of the energy a regular bulb would) produce less heat, and last longer
• Unplug Appliances When Not in Use: If the cord is still plugged into the socket, its likely that the charger or appliance is still consuming electricity, even if it is turned off or the gadget is not attached to the charger
• You can invest a small amount of money in water saving shower and faucet heads that aerate the water and dramatically reduce the amount of water used in your home
• Plant trees around your house that will grow large in the coming years. This will help shade your house in the summer, blocking out the sun and giving the whole house some cooling relief

For more steps on how to reduce energy consumption, check out the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy at http://www.epa.gov and http://www.energy.gov.