Columbia (WLTX) -- Kermit the Frog once said, "It's not easy being green," but there are plenty of low to no-cost ways you make your home more energy efficient.
"Right now, there is a big concern on greenhouse gases and the effects it has on our planet, and by being more energy efficient and conserving energy, we use less energy. And we can do more with less," said Mike Smith, Manager of Energy with Central Electric Power Cooperative.
Smith realizes that saving the environment and saving money are two issues that concern most people in the Palmetto State.
"The easiest thing is just to maintain the equipment that you already have," according to Smith.
Smith recommends setting your thermostats to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 in the winter, he also suggests keeping an eye on your duct work in your house.
According to Smith, "Once a month, you should change the air filters in your home, it will make your equipment last longer and save energy."
Smith says you should always turn off unnecessary lights and change out to newer, more energy efficient, lighting.
"You get the same light output from this 13 watt C.F.L. as you do from this 60 watt incalescent bulb, so for the quarter of the energy you have the same light," according to Smith.
But it's not just the air conditioner and lighting that can help make your home more earth friendly, simple things like setting your water heater no higher than 120 degrees, taking showers no longer than seven minutes and fixing dripping faucets can help a lot.
According to Smith, "You don't have to do things necessarily that are big, you don't have to have a windmill in your yard, there are little things that you can do to save energy."
For 101 Low-Cost to No-Cost energy saving tips from Touchstone Energy Cooperatives go to http://www.peedeeelectric.com/content_clientimgs/PDEC%20101%20Savings%20Measures.pdf.
4/22/2009 7:56:00 PM
