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Things That Pay Off In Energy Savings Over Time

Big Things That Pay Off

Electricity use increases every day. The average residential customer today uses 16 percent more electricity than in 1991. That means more power plants and transmission lines are needed. The cost of fuel used to produce electricity has grown, too. Investing in energy efficiency will cut the need to build plants and set poles. It saves resources and lowers your bill.

  • Install double-paned replacement windows, ENERGY STAR qualified Low-E windows or storm windows. They will greatly reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. They also will help decrease the outside noise that enters your home.
  • Consider installing storm doors. Storm doors create a pocket of insulated air space between the door and the storm door, helping to reduce heat transfer into and out of the home.
  • Make sure your attic, walls and floors are properly insulated. We recommend R30-R49 for the attic, R-19 for floors and R-13 for walls. (Homes built after 1978 should have wall insulation.)
  • If your water heater is electric, insulate the water tank and pipes. This will reduce the amount of heat lost by water stored in the tank (consult your warranty before insulating your water heater).
  • If your water heater is old, install a newer, more efficient unit. Today’s water heaters are usually insulated better and have heat traps that reduce heat loss.
  • If your heating and cooling system is older, install a more efficient system with a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). ENERGY STAR qualified heat pumps and air conditioners are about 20% more efficient than current standard models and could be as much as 50% more efficient than units installed prior to 1993. Consider installing an electric heat pump. In the summer, the heat pump is an efficient air conditioner. In the winter, a heat pump works like an air conditioner in reverse. It can extract heat from the outside air—even at freezing temperatures—and transfer the heat into your home.