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Getting Ready for Summer: Tips to Save Energy and Fight Climate Change

Release Date: 05/21/2009
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – May 21, 2009) – With summer and the high costs of cooling right around the corner, EPA is offering advice to help New Englanders reduce both energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions by one third through Energy Star. The energy used in an average home costs more than $2,200 a year and contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than a typical car.

“By making a few simple changes, families can make big reductions in high summer electric bills – while also helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Conserving energy is plain Yankee common sense: it saves us money, and it helps keep our air cleaner and confronts climate change.”

Here are some tips to save energy and help protect the environment at home and at work:

- Set your programmable thermostat to save while you are away or asleep. Using it properly can save up to $180 per year in energy costs.

- Run ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect that will make you “feel” cooler. Remember that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms -- so turn them off when you leave the room.

- Inspect your duct system for obvious signs of leaks and disconnections (most houses leak 20 percent or more). Seal any leaks with foil tape or a special sealant called “duct mastic.” Also consider insulating ducts in unconditioned areas (like the attic, basement or crawlspace).

- Seal air leaks around your home to keep the heat out and the cool air in. The biggest air leaks are usually found in the attic or basement, but also come in around doors, windows, vents, pipes and electrical outlets. Use caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to seal the leaks. And add more insulation to keep your home cooler this summer.

- Maintain your cooling system. Check your system’s air filter every month at a minimum and change the filter every 3 months. Remove leaves, dirt and other debris from around the outdoor components to improve air flow and efficiency. Have a qualified professional tune-up your system with a pre-season maintenance checkup and, if it’s time to replace your old system, look for models that have earned EPA's Energy Star.

- Turn off office lights and equipment when not in use so they don’t generate unnecessary heat.

- Replace incandescent light bulbs in your desk lamp with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs which use two-thirds less energy and generate less heat than conventional bulbs.

More Information:

- Save energy at home (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_solutions)
- Save energy at work (www.energystar.gov/bizcooling)
- Hot tips for a cool summer (www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-summer.htm)

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