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We must act now |
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Climate change will affect the Midwest. We need to head off the worst effects. |
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Go the Distance - Spend More |
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Ready to update your home or buy an energy-efficient vehicle? Big changes can mean big savings. If your assets are energy-efficient, then they will save you money as energy costs rise.
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Do energy efficiency in style:
NEW! Many of these tips now qualify for federal tax credits available at EnergyStar.Gov.
Transportation.
- Buying a new car? Look for one with good gas mileage and low emissions. You could save $700 per year in fuel costs. Use EERE’s Find-A-Car.
- Consider a hybrid, electric, or flex-fuel vehicle. These vehicles will help you wean your dependence on fossil fuels. Many also qualify for tax incentives.
- Try to cut down on air travel. A typical flight across the U.S. produces almost three tons of CO2 per passenger. Take a vacation using the train instead.
Home
- Replace all your old appliances with EnergyStar models. Kitchen appliances make up almost 27% of household electricity use (the equivalent output of almost 90 coal-fired power plants across the U.S.). Refrigerators and freezers make up almost 66% of this usage.
- Replace home heating and cooling systems. A properly installed EnergyStar furnace can save 20% per year on heating bills.
- If you have single pane and/or leaky windows, replace them with the most energy-efficient ones you can afford – double paned with a low U value and low-emissivity (low-e) glass.
- Are you remodeling? Learn about LEED, the national standards for green building. You might not be able to complete every step, but the LEED standards will provide you and your contractor a helpful road map toward energy efficiency.
- For even more good ideas, take an online tour of a new EnergyStar Home.
Alternative Energy
- More and more homeowners are incorporating alternative energy systems into their homes. Some systems are grid-tied, others are off-grid. If your state offers net metering, a grid-tied system allows you to sell energy back to your utility.
- Interested in solar power? You can start out small, with just a few photovoltaic tiles on your roof. Or install a solar water heater – it will save 2,500 lbs. of CO2 emissions per year. EERE can help you learn more about solar technologies, and Findsolar.com is a commercial service that can help you estimate the costs of your system and locate a solar installer in your area.
- Depending on the average winds at your site, you may be a good candidate for small wind. EERE can help you learn more about wind technology, and also offers a state guide for Kansas wind consumers.
- Geothermal heat pumps, which use the constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature, may be a way for you to save on your energy bills. They are appropriate for many residential and commercial applications – learn more from EERE.
- Through your utility, some states allow you to purchase energy from only renewable sources.
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Resources and Sources:
- American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
http://www.aceee.org/Consumer/index.htm
- Buildinggreen.com, List of Green Building Products
http://www.buildinggreen.com/menus/index.cfm
- DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), A Consumer’s Guide
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/
- DOE, EERE Designing and Remodeling a Home
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10080
- DOE, EERE Fuel Economy/ Find and Compare Cars, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
- EnergyStar - http://www.energystar.gov/
Kansas State University Engineering Extension, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy, FAQs (great tips for homeowners who want to insulate, weatherstrip, remodel, etc.)
http://www.engext.ksu.edu/home.asp
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED rating systems
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222 |
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