Save Energy Project
/Perusing ways to conserve energy and reduce
's carbon footprint, I came across a stellar article by Gary Reysa, a retired aircraft engineer and contributor to
, a fab magazine covering all things green and sustainable.
Reysa and his family set out to cut their total energy use, energy costs, and greenhouse gas emissions in half. They met that goal by executing a few simple home projects, ranging in complexity from bubble-wrapping windows to
(he promises it's not as daunting as it sounds). The Reysas cut their energy from 93,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year to 38,000 kWh per year—an annual savings of $4,500 in energy costs, and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 17 tons.
Wowee!
Check out his full article
for details on the following energy-saving projects.
The Top Eight Projects
Initial
Cost
Savings
per Year
Energy
Reduction
per Year
CO
2
Reduction
per Year
Personal Computer Power Management
$20
$178
1,780 kWh
3,560 lbs
Install Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
$50
$117
1,170 kWh
2,340 lbs
Seal and Insulate Heating Ducts
$20
$75
940 kWh
480 lbs
Reduce Infiltration Losses From House/Seal Leaks
$50
$156
1,980 kWh
1,010 lbs
Vent Dryer to Inside During Winter
$5
$63
630 kWh
286 lbs
Insulate Windows With Bubble Wrap
$38
$75
960 kWh
490 lbs
Eliminate Phantom Electrical Loads
$70
$57
570 kWh
1,140 lbs
Use an Electric Mattress Pad
$125
$186
2,320 kWh
1,150 lbs
Totals
$378
$907
10,350 kWh
10,456 lbs
