Recent Green Weeks:
October 10:
Repair Instead of Replacing
October 3:
Program Your Thermostat
September 26:
Dispose of Prescription Drugs Safely
September 19:
Give Carpooling a Try
September 12:
Set the Water Heater to 120 Degrees
September 5:
Cook More Efficiently
August 29:
Use Cold Water for Laundry
August 22:
Find New Uses for Old Phones
August 8:
"Bee" Kind to Pollinators: Limit or Avoid Pesticide Use
August 1:
Reduce Waste: End Junk Mail!
July 25:
Encourage Pollination: Help Bees!
July 18:
Use Less Oil: Walk or Bike at Least Once this Week Instead of Driving
July 11:
Water Lawns and Outdoor Plants in the Morning or Evening Only
July 4:
Practice Safe Souvenir Buying
June 20:
Reuse Paper Scraps
June 13:
Safely Dispose of Hazardous Wastes
June 6:
Give New Life to Old Stuff
May 30:
Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners
May 23:
Find Ways to Consume Less
May 16:
Reuse your food scraps and yard waste: make compost!
May 9:
Make Sure Your Seafood's Sustainable
May 2:
Use a Low Flow Showerhead
April 25:
Reduce Weight in your Vehicle
April 18:
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
April 11:
Switch to Fluorescent Bulbs
April 4:
Buy in Bulk
March 28:
Unplug Your Appliances When They're Not in Use!
March 21:
Turn Off Your Engine Instead of Idling Your Car
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Program Your Thermostat
What to do:
Now that fall is here, it's time for many of us to start thinking about heating. Heating and cooling is usually the biggest source of home energy use, so anything that can be done to make your system more efficient will have a big impact. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce energy use even if you're not able to switch to a more efficient heating or air conditioning unit.
A programmed thermostat changes the temperature throughout the day to match your needs. Once it's programmed, it will follow your schedule and automatically adjust the temperature accordingly. Energy Star's Programmable Thermostat Page provides a sample thermostat program, temperature guidelines, how to videos, and also a savings calculator.
If you don't have a programmable thermostat, you can purchase one for as little as 30 dollars. Installation is usually not particularly difficult: if you can change a light fixture, you can probably change a thermostat, too. Energy Star's site also provides installation guidelines.
Why it Helps the Earth:
The fossil fuel burning power plants that produce most of the United States' electricity are one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gasses. So the more energy you save, the more emissions and pollution you prevent.
What the Research Says:
Heating and cooling homes accounts for 45 percent of total household energy use, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute's Home Energy Brief 4: Space Heating and Cooling and a 2001 study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Rocky Mountain Institute' brief also draws on U.S. Department of Energy research to estimate that a programmable thermostat saves 80 to 100 dollars each year. Energy Star estimates that yearly savings from a programmable thermostat could be as high as 180 dollars each year.
Why it Helps You:
Because a properly programmed thermostat could keep you from throwing away as much as 180 dollars yearly! As years of heating and cooling go by, figures like that add up to considerable savings. Also, a programmed thermostat saves you from the hassle of wondering whether or not you remembered to turn the heat or air conditioning off.
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Last Revision: October 3, 2010