How To Save Money and Energy at Home - The Home Depot

Learn how to save money and energy with 10 helpful tips from The Home Depot. This video is filled with money and energy saving tips including information on ENERGY STAR efficient products. Saving the planet starts at home, and at The Home Depot. For more energy saving tips, visit http://www.homedepot.com/energy

Video Transcription

Save money, save energy. Save the planet. The Home Depot has a way in which you can do all three. We have put together a list of ten helpful tips to get you started. One of the easiest and fastest ways to increase your energy efficiency is by changing your incandescent light to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs. You will use up to 75% less electricity and save about $30 or more over the life of the bulb. CFLs are easy to find, inexpensive to buy and lasts up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs and yes, some CFLs are even dimmable and speaking of dimmers, dimmers are a great option for saving energy in rooms when you may also want to create a mood. Dimming the light by 25% can save you 20% of the electricity used to light your home. You can go even greener with your light by installing Energy Star qualified motion lighting outside your home. By turning on only when it senses movement you won't be wasting energy. Motion detectors are convenient source of security lights and the savings really add up when flood light are running all night long. Another smart energy saving tip is to install a programmable thermostat. Your heating and cooling systems are the bulk of your energy budget, consuming more than half the energy in your home. By using a programmable thermostat you can regulate these systems and maintain an even indoor temperature throughout the day. The pay off, the average saving using an Energy Star qualified programmable thermostat, is about $180 a year. Energy efficiency also means getting most on your current systems. Check in your phones filter every month, changing it at least every three months and keeping your air conditioner coils clean helps to add years. Water heater maintenance is easy to overlook. Check it periodically for leaks and drains once a year to remove sediments. Adding a water heater jacket will stop even more heat loss. Saving up to $30 per year in gas or electric cost. Two very important energy and money saving projects that go hand in hand are insulating and sealing your home from cold and heat. Sealing, corking and insulating the shell of your home, the outer walls, ceiling, windows doors and floors are the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. You will feel the benefits immediately and super saving every year by lowering your heating and cooling cost by up to 20%. We talk a lot about Energy Star but what exactly does that mean? Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, helping us all save money and protecting environment with energy efficient products and practices. Products that earn the Energy Star label prevent green house gas emissions and meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. So when buying products for your home always look for the Energy Star logo and the yellow energy guard. That label estimates how much energy an appliance uses. Compare the energy use of similar products and list the approximate annual operating cost. It's a very useful tool when comparing different models. Getting ready to remodel the kitchen. Replacing standard appliances with those that are Energy Star qualify, can save you up to $68 a year in energy cost. In addition, you will use 10-50% less energy and water. Better materials and technology equals better energy efficiency. Save up to 15% on your heating and cooling costs by using ceiling fans with your thermostat. Work your thermostat a little less and save more energy in your home. Updating windows and doors reduces heat loss and greatly increase energy savings. A draft free home stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. So besides improving comfort levels, you also improve the look and value of your home. So there you have it. Our top ten ways to save money and energy. These are smart practices that really work because saving the planet starts at home and at the Home Depot.