Reducing home

energy usage can add comfort, provide long-term financial gains for consumers

and cut down on monthly bills. "Energy conservation" means taking

steps and adopting habits that decrease the amount of energy used to operate

one's home. "Energy efficiency" means using improved technology

to decrease energy demand. Both of these ideas offer homeowners ways to

reduce their energy bills - ranging from very simple efforts like closing

windows and turning off lights to installing new, high-efficiency heating

and cooling equipment and using energy-efficient appliances.

According to

the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, the

typical U.S. household spends $1,000 to $1,500 each year on utility bills.

Of this total, energy usage breaks down this way:

* Heating

and cooling (50 percent of energy usage)

* Appliances

and lighting (one-third of usage)

* Water heating

(one-eighth of usage)

The NAHB Research

Center suggests some conservation and efficiency improvements that most

homeowners can undertake this summer:

Set your thermostat

to a higher temperature in the summer. Or, install a programmable thermostat

($40-$100) that you can program to match the heating and cooling of your

home to your own personal schedule. These units typically offer savings

of 10 to 15 percent without compromising comfort.

Check and change

air filters regularly. Dirty filters can reduce heating, ventilation,

and air conditioning (HVAC) system efficiency. In the event you need to

replace your central air conditioning unit, ensure that the new unit has

at least a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) 12 rating. For room

air conditioners, look for units that have a high Energy Efficiency Ratio

(EER). For both types of air conditioners, the higher the SEER or EER

rating, the more energy efficient the unit.

Replace high-use

lights with compact fluorescent lamps. Light fixtures used more than two

hours per day on average are good candidates for replacement with compact

fluorescent lamps. The energy bill savings will more than pay for the

extra cost of the lamps over their lifetime, and you will have to replace

fewer lamps because fluorescent lamps last ten times longer than ordinary

light bulbs. Installing motion sensors or timers on outdoor lights, instead

of leaving the lights on during nighttime hours, can also help to reduce

the electricity bill.

Look for sources

of air leakage in your house. Outdoor air leakage comprises up to 30 percent

of the overall heating and cooling load, so cutting down on air leakage

offers significant savings for a job that requires little in the way of

costs. Common products like weather stripping can be used to plug leaks

from cracks and holes in door frames, windows and attic access hatches.

Check insulation

levels and possibly add additional insulation in attics and crawlspaces.

Local utilities or Home Builder Associations can help you determine the

recommended insulation levels for your area. This conservation effort

decreases heating and cooling costs and increases comfort. (For information

about the NAHB Research Center's Insulation Contractor Certification program,

visit www.nahbrc.org.)

Check ducts.

For homes with forced-air heating/cooling systems, seal duct joints with

mastic or high-quality, UL-listed foil-backed duct tape and insulate ducts

in unconditioned spaces like attics and crawlspaces.

Consider alternatives

to help keep your home cool. Fans and dehumidifiers use less energy than

air conditioners and can help to make the home comfortable during warm

months.

When buying

or replacing appliances, choose energy efficient models. Manufacturers

have made great strides over the past 15 years in improving the performance

of refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers. Read the

appliance's EnergyGuide label, as it will provide an estimate of the unit's

annual operating costs.

Weatherize

your windows and consider replacing single-pane windows. Buying and installing

double-pane windows that have high-performance glass (e.g., low-emissivity

"low-e," coated or solar control spectrally selective) and are

filled with gas may help you downsize your home's heating and cooling

equipment since energy efficient windows help reduce heat loss in the

winter and heat gain in summer.

Use less hot

water. Water heating typically accounts for 10 to 25 percent of the energy

used in the home. The less hot water you use, the less your water heater

has to work. To accomplish this, turn down the water heater's thermostat

setting to 115 to 120 F; buy an energy efficient water heater; install

non-aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads; use the "warm"

or "cold" water setting on your clothes washer instead of "hot";

and set your dishwasher to "energy saver" or "water saver."

Consider using

the sun's energy to heat water and help reduce your utility bills. If

you are in the market for a new water heater, solar water heaters can

meet a home's hot water needs in areas of the country that receive a great

deal of sunlight during the year. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are being

used in some parts of the U.S. to convert sunlight into electricity.

Strategically

place trees and shrubs. Deciduous trees planted on the west and south

sides of your home help to keep your house shaded during the day's peak

heating times.

Practice conservation

habits to save energy. Turn off lights that aren't being used, take shorter

showers, and run the dishwasher only for full loads. All of these small

steps can have a big impact on utility bills.

For more information

on energy efficiency, as well as green building activities, visit the

NAHB Research Center's Web site at www.nahbrc.org.

(John Hayes,

who is with Torrey Homes, is president of the Home Builders Association

of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 461 builders

and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Heard and Meriwether

counties.)

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