DENVER—Despite the recession, consumers have even more incentive to take control over those budget-busting energy bills this summer.
Homeowners can take advantage of federal, state and municipal government tax credits and utility rebates.
You can spend nothing or tens of thousands of dollars.
First, find out where most of your energy dollars go to determine where your biggest savings lie. There are several Web site calculators that can do the job, or you can hire a professional.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
Free of Charge
Cold-water laundry—Savings: At least $40 a year if you have an electric water heater and $30 a year if you use natural gas. Time to recoup cost: none.
Air-dry dishes: Savings: Estimated to cut a dishwasher’s energy use by nearly 50 percent. Time to recoup cost: none.
Faucet, showerhead and pipe repairs—Savings: A leak of a drip per second can cost as much as $1 per month. Time to recoup cost: none.
Adjust Thermostat—Savings: Up to 5 percent in energy costs by raising the thermostat a degree or two in the summer. Time to recoup cost: none.
$300 or Less
Water heater insulation blanket—Cost: $30 or less. Savings: Up to 9 percent of the water heater’s electricity costs per year. What it does: If your water heater is warm to the touch, an insulating blanket can cut the heat loss. Time to recoup cost: Varies.
Programmable thermostat—Cost: $30 to $100. Savings: About 10 percent of heating and cooling costs per year. What it does: Presets temperatures for different times of the day. Time to recoup cost: Varies.
Power strips—Cost: As little as $5. Savings: Up to $110 a year according to the think tank SmartPower. What it does: Televisions, computers and similar appliances use energy even when they are powered off. You can disconnect entirely by using centralized power strips. Recoup time: Varies.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs—Cost $3.50 each (13-watt). Savings: About $9 a year per bulb. What it does: A CFL bulb uses less energy and lasts longer than an incandescent light bulb. Time to recoup cost: About three months.
Caulking—Cost: About $8 or less. What it does: Seals drafty windows, doors, light switches and vents.
Weather-stripping—Cost: $3 to $15 depending on materials needed. Time to recoup cost: Varies. What it does: Blocks leaks around doors and windows. Time to recoup cost: Varies.
Insulation—Cost: Varies depending on utility rates, individual home needs and climate. Use this Energy Department calculator to determine what would suit your needs. 7/8roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html What it does: Stops air leaks in attics, basements and crawl spaces. Time to recoup cost: Varies.
(The Environmental Protection Agency estimates insulation, caulking and weather-stripping can save 10 percent of the total energy cost). Time to recoup cost: Varies.
$1,000 and Up
Energy-efficient windows—Cost: The Efficient Windows Collaborative Web site explains each type of window and offers a calculator to determine what would work best for a consumer. Savings: $126 to $465 a year if single-pane windows are replaced with Energy Star-certified windows. Time to recoup cost: Varies.
Solar System—Cost: $51,000 for 6.5 kilowatt system. Savings: A 6.5 kilowatt system can cut monthly bills by about 85 percent. Time to recoup cost: In New Jersey, a state with generous incentives, about five years.
Appliances—Cost: Varies depending on model. Savings: 10 percent to 50 percent less energy and water than conventional models. Time to recoup cost: Varies.
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Sources: The Energy Department; Energy Information Administration; Alliance to Save Energy; SmartPower; American Council on Energy-Efficient Economy; Environmental Protection Agency; Efficient Windows Collaborative; Geogenix solar systems.
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AP energy writers Ernest Scheyder and Chris Kahn contributed to this report.
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On the Net:
Department of Energy’s energy efficiency program:
Energy Information Administration:
Government’s energy start program:
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency:
Alliance to Save Energy:
SmartPower:
