- Conservation
- Business
- Commissioning-Large Buildings
- Government
- Homes
- Homes-New Construction
- Building Codes
- School
- Renewable Energy
- Alternative Energy Loan
- Biomass/biofuels
- Net Metering & Easement
- Solar/Geothermal
- Tax and Other Incentives
- Wind Energy
Energy Conservation... In Your Home
Appliances
Many improvements in the energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers and other appliances have been made in the past 10 years. New refrigerators, for example, use as little as 1/3 of the energy of older models thus reducing the cost of operation from $120 - $180 per year to $40 - $60 per year. When shopping for energy efficient appliances, look for the energy use label to compare costs. An ENERGY STAR designation is a quick way to know that an appliance is efficient and will result in low energy consumption and costs. (For more information see the Montana Energy Savers Guidebook, Chapter 7.)
Here are some other sources for appliance information:
- Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR and you can save $80 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy prepares a list each year of the most energy efficient appliances.
- Visit the Consumer Reports appliance section to learn how to select the most efficient appliances for your home.
- Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association provides efficiency ratings for all sorts of gas appliances.
- Appliances provides information on selection and operating tips on energy efficient appliances.
- ENERGY STAR: visit their For Your Home section. Energy Star is sponsored by EPA
Water Heating
Water heating makes up the second largest energy usage in most homes, after heating. A few simple home fixes can reduce your water heating cost. Make sure the temperature on the hot water tank is set to 120 degrees F. Fix any leaks in the plumbing system. You can also install water-saving shower heads to reduce the biggest hot-water user. Insulate your water heater if it is more than 10 years old. (For more information see Montana Energy Savers Guidebook, Chapter 6)
How to Read the Energy Guide Label
The Energy Guide label gives you two important pieces of information you can use to compare different brands and models when shopping for a new appliance. Test results are printed on yellow Energy Guide labels, which manufacturers are required to display on many appliances. This label estimates how much energy the appliance uses, compares energy use of similar products, and lists approximate annual operating costs.
- Estimated energy consumption on a scale showing a range for similar models.
- Estimated yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity.
