Lay of the Land

Ten ways to Save Big on Energy

By Paul Rauber

While our elected officials waffle about global warming, somebody’s got to do something–and that somebody can be you. Here are the ten biggest energy-saving steps you and your family can take:

1. Make sure your next vehicle is fuel efficient. You don’t have to wait for a hydrogen-powered wonder: See page 44 for what you can buy right now.

2. Better yet, use a bike and mass transit instead of a car.

3. Insulate your home. Heating and cooling account for more than half of your energy bill. Get a ceiling fan to beat the heat, and weatherize windows and doors before next winter.

4. Move up to an on-demand or "flash" water heater, which fires up only when you need it. At least make sure your water heater is well insulated–and turn the thermostat down to 120.

5. Use less hot water. Installing a low-flow showerhead will reduce the amount of agua–and energy–it takes to scrub up.

6. Buy a new refrigerator–old ones are notorious energy hogs. (Make sure the old fridge is disposed of properly, since it might contain ozone-destroying CFCs.) Purchase a new model with the "Energy Star" label, and you may earn a rebate from your local utility.

7. Reconsider your stove. New models don’t need pilot lights blazing 24 hours a day. Not all new technologies are energy efficient, though, so be sure to check their Energy Star ratings (www.energystar.gov).

8. Wash better for less. Modern washing machines–mostly front-loaders–can get your clothes cleaner while saving large amounts of both energy and water. Plus, their vigorous spin cycles whip out excess moisture, so your clothes will dry in a snap when you . . .

9. . . use a clothesline.

10. Ditch the incandescents. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are now easy to find. When your energy-wasters burn out, consign them to the trash heap of history.