How Conservation Helps You Save $$$ Now

Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 by LISA TAKEUCHI CULLEN (www.time.com)

Conserving energy helps save the planet, but it also saves you money. The average household of four to five family members now spends around RM4550 a year to power the home and RM9800 keeping its two cars fueled up. But prices keep rising: gasoline is up 25% from a year ago. Here's how to save 10% to 50% of your green by going green.

Your Car

• SLOW DOWN. Cars are designed to drive most efficiently at around 100 km/h; efficiency drops 7% to 23% for every 8 km/h over that. At gas prices that averaged RM10 per gallon, speeding by 8 km/h can cost as much as RM2 per gallon, say the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy (DOE) of USA. Gunning the engine and jamming on the brakes can lower gas mileage 5% to 33%, or as much as RM3 per gallon.
• DOWNGRADE. Most cars don't need premium gas, which costs RM10 per gallon—RM0.8 cents more than regular.
• TUNE UP. Cleaning your clogged air filters improves mileage 10%, for a savings of RM1 per gallon. Fixing a faulty exhaust-pipe oxygen sensor, which monitors the fuel-to-air ratio in your engine, can save 40%, or RM3.8 per gallon. Properly pumping up tires can inflate mileage 3%, or RM0.28 per gallon.
• GO HYBRID. An SUV will glug RM6408 on average at the pump this year, and a sedan will ring up RM5085, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. Meanwhile, a hybrid will swallow as little as RM2061.

Your Lights

EcoKnights urge you to sacrifice "four for the planet"--four incandescent 100-watt bulbs, to be replaced with 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs. A 100-watter burns through RM123 in energy over three years, while a 23-watter costs RM28. A fluorescent bulb costs RM38.5 compared with RM2.60 for an incandescent but lasts more than 13 times as long. Total annual savings for switching four lights, counting the cost of the bulbs: RM78.10.

Your Air Conditioning

Cooling costs the average homeowner around RM2100 a year. To trim 3% to 5% from your bill, set the thermostat/temperature at 78ºC. Padding the house with proper insulation can save 30%. Switching old heating and cooling appliances for those with the eco-friendly label could cut energy bills 20%.

Your Kitchen

Your attempts to emulate Rachael Ray burn a lot of power, never mind garlic. The refrigerator alone accounts for at least 9% of a home's energy usage, or RM409 a year. Cover food to avoid moisture buildup, which makes the fridge work harder, and close the door quickly. As for the range, match the pot to the burner. Better yet, use the microwave instead, to cut energy two-thirds.

Your Computer

A buck a day doesn't sound like much to keep your PC revved for a 24/7 Google or YouTube fix. But powering down to sleep mode between, say, 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. could save RM2.60 a day—or RM958 a year.

Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1122033,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar