Alliance to Save Energy Offers Consumers Money $aving Tips To Cut Energy Bills, Help Increase National Security

As the nation grapples with energy security, a depressed economy, and potential oil and other energy price fluctuations, what's a perplexed consumer to do to cut energy bills and divert that money for other needs, maintain comfort, and help extend our nation's energy supply?

"Energy efficiency-combined with basic energy consciousness - is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to extend our nation's energy supply in these difficult times," emphasizes Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow. "An energy-efficient home and car/SUV/light truck reduce energy use and contribute to our nation's energy security."

During October Energy Awareness Month, the Alliance offers consumers winter energy tips to fit individual pocketbooks and needs, ranging from no cost/low-cost tips to money-saving investments in energy-efficiency improvements in their homes and vehicles.

Energy Efficiency Investments

• Refinancing your home because of lower interest rates? Consider wrapping in energy-efficiency home improvements that would reduce your monthly energy bills, or consider a home equity loan. Interest could be tax deductible.
• Earn 50 percent returns on your investment by installing insulation and weather stripping to cut your heating and air conditioning costs, advises PARADE magazine's personal finance editor in "How To Invest In Uncertain Times." If the appropriate insulation were used in all U.S. homes, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association estimates that the energy saved would be equivalent to a 46-day supply of gasoline for the entire United States!
• To cut your utility bills by 30 percent, look for the ENERGY STAR label, the symbol for energy efficiency, when shopping for heating and cooling systems, major appliances, lighting, windows, and home electronics. Find retailers near you at www.energystar.gov.
• Cooling and heating account for almost half of the average family's energy bill. Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives a professional "tune-up" each year. Clean or replace air filters in your forced air heating system once a month and help your unit run more efficiently.
• Plug surprising energy "leaks." Your idle (turned off) electronics and appliances - TVs, VCRs, cable boxes, CD players, cassette decks, and microwaves - continue to consume electricity to keep display clocks lit and memory chips and remote controls working - costing consumers $3 billion annually. When replacing items, look for the ENERGY STAR label.
• Thinking of upgrading those rattling windows? Ask your supplier for energy-efficient windows with double panes and low-emissivity coatings so you can star gaze in comfort this winter. (For specifics to meet your climate and needs visit www.efficientwindows.org)
• Buying a new home or vehicle? ENERGY STAR homes can improve your home's resale value by $20 for every $1 reduction in utility costs and reduce pollution. Find participating builders and developers in your area at www.energystar.gov/homes. Select fuel-efficient cars and the most fuel efficient SUVs at www.fueleconomy.com.

No Cost or Low-Cost Tips

• Tired of awakening to a chilly bedroom every winter morning? A programmable thermostat will automatically coordinate your home temperature with your daily and weekend patterns to increase comfort and monetary savings.
• Don't like coming home to a dark house on those short winter days? Instead of leaving lights on, put timers on a few of the lights in your home, or install motion detectors on exterior floodlights to improve your home security. After you get inside, the sensor will "remember" to turn the lights off.
• Let nature do its work and allow the sun to help heat your home by keeping blinds or drapes of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night to conserve heat. Close all unoccupied areas and reduce heat. Close the damper on fireplaces when not in use.
• "4 for the Planet." Just replace your four most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with four comparable 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs to save $82 over three years. If all U.S. households did this, we'd save as much energy as is produced by 30 power plants annually.
• Consider safer, more efficient ENERGY STAR torchiere lamps over popular halogen torchiere lamps, which can CAUSE FIRES, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. While relatively inexpensive to purchase, they are expensive to operate.
• Listen to your mother. ("What do you think, we own the power company?") Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers.
• Car tips. Properly inflate tires. Under inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by six percent. Avoid jack-rabbit starts: accelerate slowly when starting from a dead start. Combine your errands into one trip to save on fuel. Keep your car properly tuned up and change your air filter.