Insight into energy consumption, savings

May 07, 2009 | 10:52 AM
This is the first in a three-part feature on going green.

Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Heating and cooling our homes uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in our home. Heating accounts for the biggest chunk of a typical utility bill.

• Did you know that you can save as much as 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours a day? You can do this automatically by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.

Arts & Lifestyles

	Ride for Life set for May
	And the winners are...
	Here come the STARS
	Making a home office do double duty
	Cooking with herbs for the thyme of your life

Extras

	comments to this article
	e-mail this article link to a friend
	letter to the editor about this article
	print this article

• Did you know that checking your home's insulation is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption? Where should you insulate? First, check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. Insulation is measured in R-values. The higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat.

• Did you know the 11 most common air leaks in your home? They are: dropped ceiling, recessed light, attic entrance, sill plates, water and furnace flues, all ducts, door frames, chimney flashing, window frames, electrical outlets and switches and plumbing and utility access.

• Did you know that the U.S. residential sector is the single largest energy consumer in the world with over 20 trillion BTUs annually?

• Did you know buildings in the U.S. are actually responsible for almost 50 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions?

• Did you know that there are economic stimulus options that would have an immediate impact on job creations? These include energy efficient buildings, energy efficient products and renewable power.

The second part of this feature on Green Living will appear in next week's Leisure section.

Jolie Powell is a real estate broker with eco-broker certification.

Green Fest in PJ

Green Fest will be held on Saturday, May 23 (Memorial Day weekend) from noon to 5 pm on East Main Street in Port Jefferson. The day will feature eco-friendly vendors, booths, demos, musicians, food, children's activities/entertainment, smart cars, electric hybrids (Toyotas and Hondas) and much more. For more info, contact the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce at 473-1414 or info@portjeffchamber.com.

Search The Site