Consumer Services

Saving Energy & Money at Home

Are you looking at your home utility bill and wondering why you're paying so much? Perhaps you already take steps to reduce your energy consumption at home (and save hard-earned money!), yet still you're facing steep charges. Well, you're not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical U.S. family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills. However, a large portion of that energy paid for is wasted. By taking a comprehensive look at your home appliances and taking note of your own habits, you can easily spot ways to avoid wasting energy and money.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers reports that since 2000, new refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers combined accounted for a 43% decrease in energy consumption. Simply replacing an eight-year-old refrigerator, dishwasher and clothes washer with new appliances of average efficiency can save consumers more than $95.00 a year. You can save more than $60.00 in electricity costs and nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year by replacing an eight-year-old clothes washer. Purchasing appliances with the Energy Star logo can earn you even greater savings because it means the appliance is significantly more energy efficient than the average comparable model. Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program reports that U.S. residents who replaced their appliances with Energy Star models saved $16 billion on their utility bills in 2007 and saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars.

To jump on the energy-efficiency bandwagon and begin benefiting from the savings, follow these few simple tips compiled by the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department.

• Air conditioning:  Cool your home at 78° or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82° or warmer when you're away from home.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings. It also helps maintain a comfortable temperature when you wake up or return home.
• Clean or replace your air conditioner's filter every month to trim your cooling costs and help your unit run more efficiently.
• Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month depending on size and age.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Avoid pre-rinsing dishes before putting in dishwasher. It can save up to $70 a year. Air-dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Limit the time you run your pool pump: Summer -- run it no more than six hours a day. Winter -- no more than four hours a day.
• Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.
• Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry your clothes faster and save money.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Use the auto sensor function on your dryer, if you have one, to conserve energy by not over-drying your clothes.
• Ensure that the temperature on your water heater is set to 120 degrees. Some thermostats are preset at the factory to 140 degrees.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Although it takes spending some money to purchase an energy-efficient appliance, the return on investment is considerable over the long run. Not only will your utility bills will be lower, but it will also be good for the environment. It can reduce air pollution and help conserve natural resources.

When shopping for an appliance, look for test results printed on the EnergyGuide labels, which manufacturers are required to put on many of their appliances. These labels let you compare a particular model's energy-efficiency to other similar appliances.

To learn how you can enroll in energy-savings programs offered by local utility company, FPL and for other tips, visit: http://www.fpl.com/residential/electric/highbill.shtml?wt.svl=37.

If you would like information on how to conduct a home energy audit, the U.S. Department of Energy website provides a step by step guide: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/monthly_tips.html.

For more consumer news, visit the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department website www.miamidade.gov/csd or call the Consumer Mediation Center at 305-375-3677.