15 Top Energy Savings, CO2 Reducing Investments

1. Install a programmable thermostat, which can lower heating costs by as much as 20% and pay for itself in the first year.
   
   
2. Replace single-pane windows with energy-efficient ones. In cold climates, the savings can be considerable.
   
   
3. Consider a hybrid car for your next vehicle purchase.
   
   
4. Hire an energy auditor. A penny's worth of expertise can save you dollars in the long run.
   
   
5. Replace spent incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, which use a fraction of the energy. Good candidates for replacement are 60-100w bulbs that are on several hours a day.
   
   
6. Buy bulbs with the Energy Star label. Bulbs absorb only 5-10% of your total lighting costs (the rest is the electricity they use). So paying a little more up front pays for itself over time.
   
   
7. Consider buying a front-loading washer. These reduce energy use by 50%, use less water and require less detergent. Front loaders handle clothes more gently and spin them drier.
   
   
8. Plant a tree or two - If every American household planted just one tree, we'd cut global CO2 by a billion pounds a year. Bonus effect, trees offer shade for a home in warm months which can cut AC bills!
   
   
9. A ceiling fan uses 1/10 of the electricity of an air conditioner, and puts a positive spin on your electric bill.
   
   
10. Install aerators in faucets and showerheads. Aerators decrease the flow of water and can reduce your hot water consumption by half.
    
    
11. Install a low flow showerhead, which can save you as much as 15,000 gallons of water per year.
    
    
12. Insulate your hot water tank and pipes to prevent heat loss. You can save up to $50 a year if it's an older model. Newer tanks have enough built-in insulation and don't need any more.
    
    
13. Consider investing in newer energy efficient appliances. Newer refrigerator models use 1/3 of the energy of 15-20 year old models and pay for themselves quickly.
    
    
14. Buy local - choosing food that is grown, raised or caught within a few hundred miles of where you live lowers CO2 produced by transporting it.
    
    
15. Sign up for a carbon offsetting program for your home. "Green" offset funds, such as those that bankroll renewable energy projects, sell offsets to individuals and companies. "Buying" one means giving money to a group that is working to reduce CO2 by funding renewable energy projects.

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