Save Energy and the Planet with ENERGY STAR Tips

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Tom Kraeutler : Welcome to the Energy Star Video Podcast. I am Tom Kraeutler, host of the Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show.

And the US Environmental Protection Agency?s Energy Star Program was asked me to show you some changes you can make around the house to save energy and money.

I am visiting energystar.gov to get some help from interactive tool energy star at home, which offers energy saving tips for every room in the house.

Today, we are bringing it to life and taking you on a room-by-room tour.

The energy used in the average home can be responsible for more than twice the green house gas imitions of the average car. By using less energy at home, you reduce green gas imitions in help protect the environment from the risk of global warming.

We all spent a lot of time in our kitchens so it is very important to make sure our appliances are energy efficient.

Energy Star qualified refrigerators like this one use only half as much energy as older models. Save even more by recycling that older refrigerator your keeping in your garage or your basement.

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You do not always need a new appliance to be energy efficient. Little things like keeping your gas burners clean can help save energy too.

Here is what we call an energy vampire. You probably have a few of them around your house. Did you know many power duffers like this cellphone charger used energy even when they are not connected to the phone? It is an easy fix. Just unplug it when you are done charging.

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It is important for gaps around doors. You are not letting heat get out and cool air get in.

A little bit of weather stripping the block and leaking spot and you will be more comfortable and save energy at the same time.

This might be an entertainment dream come true but it is an energy nightmare. All those electronics we love; TV?s, DVD players, they used a lot of energy, even when they are in the off position.

The solution? Plug everything into a power strip, and turn it off when you are not using it.

And taken up a notch with energy efficient electronics,

The next time you are shopping for a TV or DVD player, make sure to choose one that is earned the Energy Star.

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One of the areas where heat leaves your house in the winter and gets in the summer is right here around these windows. Check for gaps and cracks, and then seal them up. You will save energy and money at the same time.

One of the simplest things that you can do is to change your old condescent bulbs to compact florescent light or CFL that have earned the Government?s Energy Star.

If ever American replace their 5 most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with one?s that have earned the Energy Star, we would say plus to $8 Billion a year in energy cost.

Another easy fix consider installing a programmable thermostat, when used properly, can save you up to a $150.00 a year.

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Your attic can allow your heat or air conditioning to leak right out of the topping of your house.

Weather strip or insolate your attic, patch or door to prevent air from escaping and maximize the efficiency on your attic insulation.

Adding insulation is one of the best ways to increase the energy efficiency of your entire home. And our value of 38 or higher is going to make that insulation as efficient as possible.

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This little guy?s room gets really warm in the summer time. Replacing this light with a ceiling fan can help.

It is a year around energy saver and the summer the fans can keep you cool and in the winter, you can use the reverse setting to keep you warm in cozy all winter long.

And do not forget, as you leave your room, turn off that light switch. Turn that switch off saves $15.00 a year in energy cost.

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Keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer requires lots of energy, but they are things you can do. Schedule a free season check-up on your HVAC system, each spring and fall to make sure it is working at maximum efficiency. And remember to change your filter every 3 months.

If you want to know even more about making changes in your house, check out the energy star website at energystar.gov. There, you will find the energy star at home tool and lots of helpful information to make your home more energy efficient.

And remember: even a few small changes at home, can make a big difference in helping us win the fight against global warming.

On behalf of energy start, I am Tom Kraeutler, and thanks for watching.

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