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Upgrade your thermostat
Roughly half of the energy you buy every month goes to heating or cooling your home. Programmable thermostats can save a consumer up to $180 a year, but only when they are used to reduce the heating or cooling load for a significant portion of the day, Sloboda says. Unfortunately, most homeowners fail to program their devices for maximum efficiency.
So-called smart thermostats are a new, “hands-off” option for automated savings. They come with motion sensors that detect when the house is vacant and adjust the temperature accordingly. Within a few days, the system learns your schedule, automatically dialing your thermostat back when you’re not home and returning it to a more comfortable setting when you are.
Replace incandescent bulbs
With the government-mandated phaseout of old-fashioned incandescent lightbulbs, consumers now have three choices for home lighting—halogen-incandescents, CFLs and LEDs. While these replacement bulbs use less electricity, consumers will have to pay more up front.
As consumers make the switch, 800-lumen LED bulbs are gaining popularity as a replacement for traditional 60-watt incandescents. LED bulbs are long lasting and more energy efficient, and most have the iconic look of the old incandescents, but Sloboda warns buyers to stick with reputable lighting brands for the best quality.
He also advises consumers pay close attention to the “lighting facts” label on packaging to compare lumens, light color, light quality and the estimated annual energy costs of any replacement bulbs.
Use a smart power strip
Many electronic devices keep drawing power even when you’re not using them. This so-called phantom or vampire power drain wastes electricity 24/7 and can really add up. Continually unplugging household appliances and gadgets is one solution, but using a smart power strip is a more convenient way to reduce the load.
Most smart strips feature three outlet colors, each with a unique task. The blue outlet serves as a control plug and is ideal for a heavily used device like a TV or computer. Anything plugged into red outlets stays on—electricity to these receptacles never cuts off—making them perfect for satellite boxes or other appliances that need constant power. The remaining outlets, generally neutral or green in color, are sensitive to current flowing through the blue outlet, so turning off the TV or computer cuts power to them as well.