How To Help Your Friends and Neighbors Save Money on Energy

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Spread the word: It's easy to reduce energy consumption! By sharing these tips, you'll help friends and family use less energy and save money.

To complete this How-To you will need:

An energy-saving checklist
The willingness to help others
An energy-saving checklist
The willingness to help others

Step 1: Get the facts

Download a full checklist of energy-saving tips at CreateTheGood.org.

Step 2: Offer to do a walk-through

Offer to do a walk-through of friends' homes, so you can help them identify ways they can reduce their energy spending. Start by closing vents and doors in rooms that aren't being used.

Step 3: Clean heat and A/C sources

Make sure radiators, vents, and baseboard heaters aren't blocked by curtains, furniture, or carpeting. If any heat or air-conditioning source is dirty, help clean it.

Step 4: Check their water heater

Look at their water heater and suggest lowering the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Reducing the temperature by 20 degrees can save nearly $50 per year without sacrificing comfort.

Step 5: Look for drafts

Check for drafts. Improperly sealed ducts in attics and garages alone can boost utility bills by 25 percent. And look for gaps around windows, doors, and pipes that connect to the house from the outside. If they have a window air-conditioning unit, encourage them to either remove or cover it during the winter.

Tip: They may need professional assistance to seal gaps, but the price for the service can be worth the long-term savings.

Step 6: Explain the 10-10 Rule

Explain the 10-10 rule: Lowering their thermostat in winter by 10 percent for eight hours, like while they sleep, can shave 10 percent off their heating bill.

Tip: People age 65 and older should consider local public-health directives and weather warnings before adjusting their thermostats.

Step 7: Ask about air filters

Ask when they last cleaned or replaced their furnace or A/C air filter. A clean one can save 10 percent on their energy costs.

Step 8: Use efficient bulbs

Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy, and last up to 10 times longer. That can translate into savings of up to $30 over one fluorescent bulb's lifetime!

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HotHowTos
• AARP
• saving
• money
• friends
• neighbors
• getting
• helping
• reducing
• environment
• using
• less
• bills

[librano]

these 'friends' just look for all the weak spots in your house... and then rob you at night. dont let them in!

[zachismxn]

they left the door open at 1:17

[zibiaozheng]

?Do you know fluorescent light bulb is also very radio active? It's powder inside is mercury very radio active, can cause skin cancer. more importantly if it break and u breath into it, lung cancer...

[ProductTesting]

Look up on youtube Get anything REALLY, REALLY CHEAP!

[skinnybishiwish]

the lames...

[Volcomstone000095]

This is a good way to make yourself look like a jackass to your neighbors.

[skandskate69]

umm you can barely seet it, i thought it was like upkirt boo lame!

[AngelGurl4Ev]

her panties at 1:20

[LaughYourAss]

you think i have time to do this shiitt

[SecretUser2000]

This video is trash! Helping your neighbors save money is like giving them money for free except this video instructs you to carry it out in the form of time.

[KPODIK]

U guys are getting so fucking lame!!!