Energy used to heat your home and power your TV is not too different from the energy your body gets when you eat a slice of pizza. Your body is like a powerhouse, turning food (fuel) into usable energy and waste byproducts.

A power plant does the same thing: Coal, oil, or natural gas (nonrenewable fossil fuels) goes in and gets burned up to power a big generator that sends energy to your house, with carbon dioxide, some noxious gases, and/or sludge as waste byproducts. The problem: fossil fuels (from fossils, or remains, of dead animals and plants) take millions of years to make. The volume of byproducts created when we burn fossil fuels is not easily reprocessed in our environment and causes pollution and related health problems.

FACT
Energy production and use account for nearly 80 percent of air pollution, more than 83 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and more environmental damage than any other human activity.

The Power is in Your Hands

If you replaced just four 75-watt incandescent bulbs that burn four or more hours a day in your home with four 23-watt fluorescent bulbs, you’d get as much light and save more than 2,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and $190 over the 10,000-hour life of the bulbs. If all our nation’s households did the same, we’d save as much energy as is consumed by some 38 million cars in one year.

Gain the Power$mart^SM edge—the knowledge and power to make energy-efficient choices—and utilize the power that is in your hands. This brochure highlights efficient technologies and approaches, while its Power$mart Tips provide the best energy smart practices. Together, they produce maximum results.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION

Energy efficiency and conservation means getting the most from every energy unit. Energy efficiency involves investment in state-of-the-art technologies and regular maintenance of energy-using equipment. Energy efficiency measures range from installing lighting control systems to maintaining proper tire pressures. Energy conservation usually involves changes in habits and other no-cost actions, such as turning off lights when not in use, reducing hot water heater temperatures, car-pooling and combining shopping trips. Energy efficiency and conservation are the cheapest, cleanest way to reduce energy use, energy prices, and pollution, and extend our nation’s energy supplies.

Q:
WHICH REPRESENTS ENERGY EFFICIENCY—TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE A ROOM OR USING COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS?

A:
Compact fluorescent bulbs save energy through technology. They use about one third of the energy of typical incandescent bulbs, last up to ten times longer, and generally pay back their higher purchase price in two years through lower utility bills. Turning off lights represents good energy conservation practices. Doing both is smart.

BECOME POWER$MART

The average household in the U.S. spends about $1,500 each year on home energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Volatile energy prices in 2005 boosted that home energy figure to nearly $1,900 and to more than $4,000 total including gasoline. What if you could save up to a third of that using the tips in this booklet? You could go away for a fabulous long weekend, save for college, or buy the latest video games, attire, and those cool shoes.

Power$mart Tips : Put the Power in Your Hands

Look for home and office products that have earned the ENERGY STAR®. These products have met energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE). The ENERGY STAR® can be found on more than 40 product categories in your home, such as appliances, heating and cooling equipment, consumer electronics, office equipment, lighting fixtures and bulbs and new homes.

FACT
Households that replace existing equipment with ENERGY STAR® qualified products can cut annual energy bills by 30 percent, or more than $450 per year.