| While we often think of energy efficiency as | | | | choice of products that are energy efficient |
| the way to save our environment, we also | | | | is one of the best ways you can reduce your |
| often consider it a costly endeavor. Did you | | | | consumption of energy and thus your |
| realize, however, that your homes energy bill | | | | distribution of harmful emissions of |
| might be reduced by up to 30 percent through | | | | greenhouse gas. Any household that buys |
| energy-efficiency that includes the purchase | | | | equipment designed for energy efficiency puts |
| or energy efficient appliances and other | | | | a big dent in harmful emissions of carbon |
| products? In other words, you can save | | | | dioxide. |
| yourself money while you do your part to save | | | | |
| the planet. | | | | In fact, over the lifetime of one of these |
| | | | energy efficient appliances or other products |
| Every time you buy a new air conditioning | | | | you will have reduced pollution the |
| unit, a new washer or dryer, a new | | | | equivalent of what would be saved by one |
| refrigerator, microwave, or piece of office | | | | fewer vehicle for seven years. The use of |
| equipment, you are affecting the environment, | | | | energy efficient household products reduces |
| either positively or negatively depending on | | | | nitrogen oxides too, which contribute |
| your choices. Smart choices of products | | | | extensively to acid rain and smog. |
| designed for energy efficiency help the air | | | | |
| we all breathe and reduce your energy bill | | | | The average U.S. household spends about 1500 |
| each month. | | | | each year on energy. Energy-efficiency can |
| | | | reduce this bill by 400-450 annually. If |
| Here is some basic information about how | | | | youre concerned about energy efficiency and |
| energy efficiency works and why its helpful. | | | | wish to not only save the environment but |
| A great deal of the energy you consume in | | | | save yourself some money it will help to know |
| your home is produced by local power plants | | | | which appliances account for what portion of |
| that must burn fossil fuel to create the | | | | your energy use and bill. |
| energy. These fossil fuels might be natural | | | | |
| gas, coal or oil. | | | | The biggest, which probably comes as no |
| | | | surprise, is your heat and air conditioning. |
| These fossil fuels also create pollution. | | | | This is a whopping 45 percent of your energy |
| This pollution harms not only the environment | | | | bill. Your water heater uses up 11 percent of |
| but ultimately the people, as it causes smog, | | | | your energy, and your washer and dryer 10 |
| acid rain and respiratory diseases. Fossil | | | | percent. The lighting for your home is seven |
| fuel pollution is also a strong factor in | | | | percent of your energy costs, while your |
| changing the climate of the globe. | | | | refrigerator is six percent of your bill. |
| | | | |
| While we hear a lot about the harmful gas | | | | Your dishwasher, computer, monitor, TV, VCR, |
| emissions that emanate from vehicles, what we | | | | DVD player and similar equipment each use up |
| dont hear much about is the fact that your | | | | about two percent of your total energy |
| home probably produces twice as much of these | | | | consumption. Stoves, microwaves and other |
| emissions as the average automobile. | | | | smaller appliances generally account for the |
| | | | rest, though at less than two percent of the |
| Opting for energy efficiency through your | | | | total each. |