Cooperative Living January/February 2022 - 26

ENERGY SENSE
A dirty air filter will cost you more
in heating and cooling costs.
Update your lighting to LEDs for a
low-cost, simple way to save energy.
You can save year-round by
adjusting your thermostat.
The Power of Energy Efficiency
by Miranda Boutelle, Contributing Columnist
Small changes can add up to a big difference
Q:
E
Do energy-saving measures
in my home make a big
difference?
nergy keeps us comfortable in our
homes, and our monthly bill is the
associated cost for this energy use.
To make energy-saving measures work in
your home, it comes down to preventing
energy waste, while maintaining personal
comfort in your home.
Let's take it back to the basics and see
if we can find opportunities to save
energy in your home. Filters, LEDs and
thermostat settings are great places to
start.
DITCH THE DIR
If your home has a forced-air system,
you have a filter. The filter needs to be
checked regularly and replaced when it's
dirty. A dirty filter can cause heating and
air-conditioning systems to use 15% more
energy, according to the U.S. Department
of Energy. Since heating and air
conditioning make up almost half of your
energy use, replacing your filter when it
looks dirty is a habit that can reduce
energy waste.
24 ● Cooperative Living ●
A: For the average household, it depends on your home's efficiency and your habits.
Your energy use is based on your home's equipment and how you use it. You may
already have an efficient home and good energy-use habits, or you might have
room for improvement.
HAVE A BRIGHT IDEA
Upgrading your lighting to LEDs is a
simple, low-cost way to cut energy use.
Depending on your budget, you can do it
all at once or change bulbs out over time.
If you are going to replace a few at a time,
prioritize the lights you use the most.
There are many LED options
available. One major variation is the color
temperature, which is listed on the
packaging in Kelvin. I recommend
2700K because it is similar to
incandescent lighting. I also suggest
Energy Star-rated products because they
meet strict quality and efficiency
standards, use up to 90% less energy and
last 15 times longer than standard bulbs.
CRANK IT UP - OR DO
It's amazing how much difference a
few degrees can make. By adjusting your
thermostat to your home habits, you can
save year-round on heating and cooling
costs.
For winter months, the Department
January-February 2022
of Energy recommends setting your
thermostat to 68 degrees when you are
home and dialing it back 8 to 10 degrees
when you leave the house or go to sleep.
For summer, the recommendation is
78 degrees when you are home and
8 to 10 degrees warmer when you are
away. Using a programmable or smart
thermostat will allow you to set it
according to your schedule.
Making these small changes in your
routine will help improve your energy
efficiency while maintaining comfort
in your home. 
For additional tips, visit
collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips.
Miranda Boutelle of
Efficiency Services Group
writes on energy-efficiency
topics for the National
Rural Electric Cooperative
Association.
co-opliving.com
http://www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living January/February 2022

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