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Welcome Home Magazine
79 Spyglass Drive
Littleton, Colorado 80123-6657
Phone: (303) 797-8400
Email: jim@welcomehomemag.com
Copyright 2009 Welcome Home Magazine

10 Ways to Save and Earn Tax Incentives
From the Governor’s Energy Office
ow that you have purchased your home, you can take steps to be energy efficient and use clean, renewable energy resources. Within your home, you have ample opportunity to save energy and money by making smart decisions. The Governor’s Energy Office suggests the following measures to save energy and money while keeping you comfortable in your home.
In addition to these 10 ways to save, there are certain tax incentives to consider. Every symbol corresponds to a possible tax incentive. Go to www.colorado.gov/energy for tax incentive information.
Set ThermostatsNo cost
Refrigerator/Freezer
Set your refrigerator temperature between 35°–40°so that food stays fresh—too low uses too much energy, too high and your food will go bad. The same is true for freezers, the ideal temperature is between 0°–5°, any lower and energy is wasted.
Water Heater
You can reduce your water heating costs by lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater. For each10ºF reduction in average water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs. In most households, water heaters only need to be set at 120°F.
Heating & Cooling
You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home—an energy cost savings of up to 1% per degree. If it gets chilly, put on sweater instead of turning up the thermostat. In the summer, you can follow the same strategy with air conditioning, beekeeping your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 78°F only when you are at home and cooling is needed. Programmable thermostats can help by adjusting temperatures automatically.
Check Insulation and Air Sealing
You can reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs through proper insulation and air sealing. Use of these techniques will also make your home more comfortable. Any air sealing efforts will complement your insulation efforts, and vice versa.
Install Energy-Efficient LightingLow cost
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) use 25%–35% of the energy used by traditional incandescent bulbs and provide the same amount of light from the same fixture. They also last about 10 times longer. As general rule, be sure to turnoff fixtures with CFLs if you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. *Be sure to recycle all expired CFLs, visitwww.colorado.gov/ energy for more information.
Fixtures with incandescent bulbs should be turned off whenever they are not needed. Most of the electricity they use is wasted in heat. Turning them off will also keep a room cooler in the summer.
Install Water-Efficient ShowerheadsLow cost
You can reduce your monthly bills by using a water-efficient showerhead that uses 1.5 Gallons Per Minute (GPM). This can help you save up to 6% on the cost of heating water. Also, install aerators on your faucets that will reduce your consumption as well as your water bill.
Use Cold WaterNo cost
Sinks
Use cold water at the sink whenever possible. Be sure to place the kitchen sink faucet lever in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.
Laundry
Use cold water for most laundry loads instead of hot. Inefficient clothes washers can cost three times more to operate than energy-efficient ones. Select a new machine that allows you to adjust the water level and temperature for different loads. These clothes washers spin-dry your clothes more effectively while saving energy and protecting your clothes from damage. Also, frontloading machines use less water and even less energy.
Use a ClotheslineLow cost
Utilize the power of the sun by using a clothesline instead of a clothes dryer, reducing your cost and energy consumption from your gas or electric dryer.
Set the DryerNo cost
If you are going to use a gas or electric clothes dryer, use the automatic sensor setting to ensure that you are not wasting energy. To maximize efficiency, dry loads back to back while the dryer is still hot, but be sure to clean the lint trap.
Buy ENERGY STAR Products
When it comes to shopping for appliances and home electronics, look for the ENERGY STAR label. The label appears on products that meet strict energy-efficiency criteria established by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Check out the Home Energy Yardstick and more ideas as www.energystar.gov.
Use the Sun’s EnergyNo cost
When the sun is shining, use it to heat your home by opening only the drapes/blinds on south-facing windows of your home in the winter. In the summer, keep the drapes/blinds on the south facing side closed to keep your home cooler while opening others during the day instead of turning on lights.
Check Your Home While Heating / CoolingLow cost
Be sure that furniture is not blocking baseboards, vents and registers. Also, be sure that all doors and windows are shut tight. If gaps exist, install weather-stripping, storm windows, or a cover that will prevent drafts through your home.
Bring the New Energy Economy Home
By taking these steps in your home, you will save money on your utility bills and help Colorado reduce its overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks for doing your part to advance Colorado’s New Energy Economy. To learn more about energy efficiency and renewable energy, visit www.colorado.gov/energy.