Slide Show | September 2008

WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Have you checked your home's performance lately? If you live in an older home or a builder-grade model, chances are your appliances and heating and cooling devices are costing you more money.

In this slide show, we review six energy-efficient upgrades and the potential savings from each.

See which $19 improvement can knock off up to 30 percent from your heating and cooling bill.
The slide show begins with the navigation to the right.

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WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

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WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Programmable Thermostat

Extra Cost: $19
Annual Savings: $185
Payback Period: 2 months

This temperature-sensitive timing device modifies your home's temperature throughout the day. It can be set to heat or cool less often when the house is empty. According to Energy Star, homeowners can reduce annual heating and cooling costs by 20 to 30 percent.

Compare prices online

All estimates are for a 2,500-square-foot home built in the 1990s. Annual savings reflect national average fuel costs. Actual savings will vary by region. Source: www.energystar.gov

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Programmable Thermostat

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WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Energy Star Central Air Conditioner

Extra Cost: $104
Annual Savings: $398
Payback Period: 4 months

Cooling and heating a home makes up about half of a home's energy cost. After installing a programmable thermostat, homeowners should consider upgrading an older central cooling unit. Energy Star models are 14 percent more efficient than standard ones.

See the Energy Star guide

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Energy Star Central Air Conditioner

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WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

Extra Cost: $60
Annual Savings: $166
Payback Period: 5 months

If everyone in the country made one small change -- to replace standard lighting with energy-efficient alternatives -- we'd shave $8 billion from the nation's electric bill, according to Energy Star statistics.

Compare prices online

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Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

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WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Energy Star Oil or Gas Furnace

Extra Cost: $320
Annual Savings: $370
Payback Period: 11 months

Higher efficiency home furnace units not only reduce energy usage, but pollution as well. Energy Star qualified models are up to 15% more efficient than standard ones.

See the Energy Star Guide

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Energy Star Oil or Gas Furnace

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WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Energy Star Refrigerator

Extra Cost: $30
Annual Savings: $9
Payback Period: 3.3 years

An Energy Star-certified fridge uses half the electricity, for the same cooling job as a model from the early '90s, and it's 20 percent more efficient than a standard fridge bought new.

Compare Prices Online

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Energy Star Refrigerator

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WHAT YOU COULD SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Energy Star Clothes Washer

Extra Cost: $200
Annual Savings: $46
Payback Period: 4.4 years

Washers tweaked for energy efficiency also benefit the planet in another way: these machines reduce water usage. New technologies let you set small loads, wash for shorter periods and use less chemical detergent.

Compare prices online

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Energy Star Clothes Washer

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