Keep a Piece of the Pie: Top Tips to Save Energy and Money
Understand your home energy costs and how to address them with
Lowe's and EPA ENERGY STAR(R) products
MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Now that it's October, Energy Awareness month, and you're getting your
home ready for those cold winter nights, it's important to understand
what percentage of home energy costs comes from each of the products you
use. Address some of the easy projects to help with cost savings and
then check Lowes.com/EfficientHome
for tips so you can save energy and money.
Heating and Cooling (47 percent)
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR(R)
program heating and cooling accounts for nearly half of home
energy costs. To help save up to 20 percent on those costs, simply seal
air leaks and add the appropriate amount of insulation in your home. The
Department of Energy recommends up to 19 inches of insulation
for most homes. Just use a yard stick or tape measure, and if there's
less than 19 inches, pick up Johns
Manville Formaldehyde-free(TM) Fiber Glass Insulation and achieve a
fully insulated attic in just a day or two.
"Saving energy is not only good for the environment, but it's also good
for your wallet," said Michael Chenard, Lowe's director of corporate
sustainability. "When preparing your home for the winter months, making
a few quick energy updates will go a long way toward creating a more
efficient home."
Installing more energy-efficient windows is one of the most rewarding
updates you can make. Replacing single-pane windows can save up to $500
a year on energy bills, according to EPA ENERGY STAR. The new Pella
350 series vinyl windows are up to 83 percent more energy efficient
than other vinyl windows.
Appliances and Other (27 percent)
Laundry piles up quickly in people's homes and clothes washers use about
the same amount of energy regardless of the size of the load, so run
full loads whenever possible. According to EPA ENERGY STAR, water
heating consumes about 90 percent of the energy it takes to operate a
clothes washer. Unless you're dealing with oily stains, wash in cold
water. ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers also will save about $630
over their lifetime on utility bills compared to non-ENERGY STAR
qualified models. If your appliances are more than 10 years old,
research your options with Lowe's online Appliance
Selector Tool. It might be time for an upgrade.
To further protect yourself from sky-high electric bills, plug home
devices with standby power, such as TVs and stereos, into a power strip
so you can turn them all off at once.
Water Heating (14 percent)
We all enjoy a nice hot, long shower in the morning, but water heating
bills can add up. Set the water heater thermostat at 120 degrees or
lower, and choose a gas storage water
heater that has earned the ENERGY STAR label to save yourself about
$520 over the lifetime of the water heater. Larger families can save
even more.
Lighting (12 percent)
As days grow shorter, lights in the house are on longer. The average
home has approximately 30 light fixtures. Replacing just the five
most-used light fixtures, or their bulbs, with ENERGY STAR qualified
models can save $70 a year.
When choosing a light
bulb, first look for the light output needed, listed as lumens or
brightness, and then select the one with the lowest energy usage
(wattage) to maximize energy savings.
This year, the EPA named Lowe's the winner of the ENERGY STAR Sustained
Excellence Award in Retail for the second year in a row. Lowe's is the
only company ever to win this award. The honor is Lowe's ninth
consecutive ENERGY STAR award for its leadership as a retailer of
energy-efficient products. For more ideas on how to save energy at home,
visit Lowes.com/EfficientHome.
About Lowe's
With fiscal year 2010 sales of $48.8 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is
a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 15 million
customers a week at more than 1,725 home improvement stores in the
United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in
Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement
retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
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Source: Lowe's Companies, Inc.
