May 18, 2007 3:05 pm US/Eastern
Going Green To Save Money On Home Energy Bills
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Some small changes at home, like switching to flourescent lightbulbs, can help the environment and your budget. (File)
You've heard about many of the new "going green" crazes, but how serious are you taking it? WCBS has learned some tips on how to go green with your home utilities--and save you some serious green in your wallet.
Many of us unintentionally become energy hogs when we forget to turn off the lights, or have children who like to keep the television on in each room they're in. It turns out the average family spends about $1,900 each year on electricity, but some small changes can add up to major savings.
To shine a little light on the situation, how about replacing your lightbulbs with compact flourescents? They use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than regular lightbults, and at a savings of $15 per bulb per year, the savings can add up fast.
How about a kitchen makeover? Try switching to Energy Star appliances. They eat up 20 to 40 percent less electricity and you could save as much as $400 each year!
Got a manual thermostat? Turns out that's a major energy offender, so it's time to go digital and switch to a programmable thermostat, slicing your utility bill by $150 a year.
And if you're heard the rumor that keeping appliances you're not using unplugged saves energy, well, you're right! All those little gadgets you keep plugged in, such as cell phone and iPod chargers or even the old coffee pot, all of them sap energy, so it's best to unplug them!
You could shave nearly $100 a year from your bill
Add up all these ideas and you'll see savings of about $740 annually. That chunk of change is plenty to take you out of your home and send you on a nice, green vacation.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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