Appliances
In the market for new appliances? Get the most savings for the least cost by selecting the right appliance. In general, you can save a lot on your energy bill and pay back your initial investment, if any, very quickly. Simply compare the purchase cost of your choices with annual cost to operate (on the yellow Energy Guide Label found on all new appliances). In some cases you can save $50/year in energy bills with a less expensive option; this was the case with The Energy Guy's recent purchase of a new refrigerator! Check out the links below for more information -

- New Featured Site -
Top-Rated Energy-Efficient Appliances
New from ACEEE - find the top-rated Refrigerators, Dishwashers, Clothes Washers , Room Air Conditioners, Central Air Conditioners, and Conventional (Air-Source) Heat Pumps.

$ $ - REBATES FOR CALIFORNIA ENERGY USERS - $ $

Auditing
A comprehensive building audit will tell you what you will gain from an energy retrofit as well as how much the installation will cost.

A simple, "do it yourself approach," to an energy audit -

EnergyBill.com
EnergyBill.com is a website that actually allows you, the consumer, to manager your energy bill. Utility websites can give you tips and advice on how to conserve energy and money, and that's fine. In fact, we offer the same information here. The difference is that now you can find out how good that advice is! It's common sense that if you buy a more energy efficient air-conditioner, you will save money. But how much will you save? And is that worth the extra money you pay for a more energy efficient appliance? With EnergyBill.com you have a way to find out.

Other Auditing-Related Links

The Energy Guy's Auditing Links Page

Ducts
It's a little known fact that heating and/or cooling ducts are, on average, only about 65% efficient due to leakage, poor insulation and other factors. It costs only $150-$300 more to install a new duct system that is 85% efficient (costs are higher when retrofitting existing systems).

How much can you save? If your furnace is 95% efficient (about as high as they go) and your duct system is just 65% efficient, your overal "system efficiency" is just 62% (0.95x0.65=0.62)! With an 85% efficient duct system you would be saving about 23% on your heating and/or cooling bills (0.95x0.85=0.81). In new construction, the savings "payback" period is generally less than three years!

Home
The untapped potential for homes to save energy, cost effectively, is staggering. Although the economic investment opportunities may be staggering, the environmental, comfort, productivity and health benefits are pretty impressive too.

One of the easiest things you can do right off the bat is purchase Green Power or, better yet, make your own! Other fairly easy things you can deal with on your own are appliances and lighting, covered on this page. Beyond that, it's important to keep in mind that every home is a little different. Many factors need to be weighed in, such as the climate, your current building configuration, the range of alternatives and associated costs, and a variety of other things. This is why Professional Assistance. is recommended for home design, heating/cooling system design, and other such complex decisions. For some idea of your potential to save money, energy, and the environment, check out the following links:

Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
Links to Energy-Efficient Products from ACEEE (The American Council for an Energy Efficient Environment)

Potential For Cost Effective Savings In Your Home

Star Performers
A new product label helps you save energy and money. Article by Jon Howland; The Magazine of the Union of Concerned Scientists Vol. 20 No. 3 Fall 1998.

$ $ - REBATES FOR CALIFORNIA ENERGY USERS - $ $

Lighting
Save up to 75% on your lighting costs! The energy savings can range from $24 to $50 over the life of the bulb (at 10 cents per kilowatt-hour). Because Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) products cost just $8 - $20 over typical incandescent bulbs, they offer you a way to make a great return on your investment with a very small initial cost.

South Facing Windows
Want to know the best kept secret in buying a home? If the largest area of glass in the home faces south, you could save a lot of money and be more comfortable at the same time! In Sacramento, CA, it would save you about 25% on your heating bill and 34% on your cooling bill compared to a home with the large area of glass facing some other direction. Check out the link below for more information.

Transportation
Cars not only "money pits," but they're responsible for a majority of our environmental problems like climate change. To make a really huge contribution to the environment, not to mention your pocketbook, choose transportation with the highest miles per gallon rating (on the side windows for a new car). Or consider alternatives, like electric or hybrid powered vehicles (most peoples second car doesn't need to go more than 40-100 miles per day). If you'd like to know a whole lot more, check out the links below for more information!

Water Heating
Water heating is a big part of a typical family energy bill, on average about a quarter to a third of the total. Like appliances, big savings can be had at a modest additional cost, providing a payback within just a few years. For example, a high efficiency 40 or 50 gallon gas water heater with an energy factor of 0.62 is only a few hundred dollars more expensive than one with an energy factor of 0.54. It's easy to compare the annual operating cost on the Energy Guide Label of a new, high efficiency "0.62" water heater with the cost of a "0.54" model - try it, and prove to yourself the high efficiency model is the smarter choice. There are lots of other water heating choices available too, so check out these links -

Alliance To Save Energy - Consumer Page
Alliance To Save Energy

Adbusters
Adbusters Magazine covers issues of interest to consumer advocates.

Consumer information
Includes a number of links to consumer organizations. Founded in 1982 by Ralph Nader, Essential Information is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. They are involved in a variety of projects to encourage citizens to become active and engaged in their communities. They provide provocative information to the public on important topics neglected by the mass media and policy makers. Essential Information publishes a monthly magazine, books and reports, sponsors investigative journalism conferences, provides writers with grants to pursue investigations and operate clearing houses which disseminate information to grassroots organizations in the United States and the Third World.

The Corporate Accountability Project
Of the world's 100 largest economies, 51 are now global corporations, rather than countries! This site has pages covering corporate dirt, corporate welfare, and a variety of related information.

Grist Magazine
Grist Magazine covers issues of interest to consumer advocates.

Earth Communications Office
Their mission is to use the power of communication to improve the global environment. This is the sort of Public Service Announcement material The Energy Guy has been praying for!

Energy Guide
A guide for purchasing energy efficient products, evaluating energy efficient options in your home and choosing an energy supplier.

Energy Savers
From the U.S. Department of Energy

Home Sweet Home Television Spot
Alliance To Save Energy