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Save Energy Save the Earth: Our Energy Waste is Polluting Our Planet

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

FOSSIL FUELS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Our earth is surrounded by a blanket of gases that acts like a giant greenhouse to keep us warm. Unfortunately, our use of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, has contributed an excess of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to our atmosphere. Many scientists fear that greenhouse gases will warm the atmosphere and drastically alter world weather patterns.

 

If we continue to waste energy, experts predict an increase of 3 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit in the Earth's temperature over the next 50 years. Although that may seem small, consider that the temperature has risen only about 7 degrees since the last Ice Age when huge glaciers covered much of the United States.

PLANET PROTECTION PLAN

Conserving energy in our homes and automobiles is the most important action we can take to stop climate change. We must all work together today before it is too late to leave a healthy planet for future generations.

SAVING ENERGY

• protects the environment
• saves you money
• strengthens your local economy
• helps our nation become energy independent

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE SOUTHEAST

Climate change could substantially change our region. Rainfall patterns will change, damaging crops and forests. Sea level rise will flood coastal areas. Our wasteful use of energy contributes to air pollution problems such as low-level ozone, smog, and acid rain. The average family's energy waste dumps over 11,200 pounds of pollutants into the atmosphere each year. The good news is that we, as individuals, can stop this pollution.

10 STEPS TO SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCE POLLUTION

1. Stop Air Leaks. In winter, air leaks rob your house of heat and can make ft too dry. In summer, air leaks can make your house too humid and drive up air conditioning bills. As much as 40% of your heating and cooling costs can be due to air leaks.
   1. Seal the biggest sources of air leaks first: attic doors, whole house fans, holes in the floor and ceiling for plumbing and wiring, electrical coverplates, and gaps in the wall.
2. Insulate Your Home. Insulating the ceiling, walls and floor of your home will cut energy waste, lower utility bills and improve comfort.
   1. If there is less than 6 inches (R-19) of ceiling insulation, bring levels up to a minimum of 10 inches (R-30). Before insulating, be sure to use caulk or expanding foam sealant to stop air leaks between the house and attic.
   2. Adding insulation to outside wall cavities can reduce heat flow and air leaks. Consult with a knowledgeable professional about blowing insulation into the wall cavities.
   3. Install insulation (R-11 to R-19) between floor joists and place a plastic ground cover over bare earth underneath your home to reduce moisture in the crawl space. Also insulate hot and cold water pipes in the crawl space for freeze protection.
3. Cut Hot Water Bills. Hot water costs can be over $400 a year for the average family. Simple conservation measures can often trim that bill by 30%.
   1. Wrap an insulation jacket around the water heater. Also insulate all hot water pipes and the two feet of cold water pipe nearest the tank.
   2. Set the water heater temperature at 120° to 140° Fahrenheit (Low to Medium). This saves energy and reduces the risk of scalding.
   3. Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. These provide a forceful spray, yet reduce the water wasted down the drain.
4. Seal and Insulate Ducts. Many homes lose as much as 30% of their heated and cooled air through duct leaks. When located in the attic or crawl space, duct leaks can also be a source of harmful dust, mold, excess humidity, and toxins such as pesticides and radon.
   1. Use a smoke pencil or incense to find duct leaks. Seal leaks with mastic or an approved duct tape. Insulate ducts in unheated areas after sealing leaks.
   2. If your furnace or heat pump is located in an interior closet, make certain that there are not air leaks between the return air plenum and the attic or crawl space.
5. Tighten Up Windows. In winter, windows let heat out; in summer, they let sunlight and heat inside.
   1. Stop air leaks around the edges of windows and doors by caulking the trim to the wall, then weatherstrip the sashes.
   2. Adding storms over single-pane windows further reduces heat loss. Be certain to weatherize the primary windows before adding storms. Storm doors are not generally recommended for energy savings.
6. Shade Your Home. Shading a house keeps it cooler in summer, saving on air conditioning costs. Shading the outside air conditioning unit helps it run more efficiently, but don't block airflow to the equipment.
   1. You'll also save by preventing sunlight from passing through windows. Consider using a trellis, awning, or sunscreen. Sunscreens, similar to insect screening, have a special weave that blocks sunlight. They are ideal for shading east, south, and west windows. Closing curtains and shades during summer days will also keep your house cooler.
   2. A tree can reduce your home's need for air conditioning by keeping it shaded and by cooling the surrounding air through evaporation of moisture. Trees also absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide (C0₂) - as much as 30 pounds per tree each year.
   3. Deciduous trees shade summer sun, and in winter drop their leaves and allow sunlight to warm the house. Trees help save energy, protect the environment, provide homes for wildlife, and increase property values up to 15%.
7. Buy Efficient Appliances. When you buy appliances, make certain they are energy efficient. An efficient model may cost more to buy, but its energy savings will quickly repay the extra cost. Energy efficient appliances also give off less waste heat, which will keep your home cooler in summer.
   1. Use the EnergyGuide label to compare appliances and to choose an appliance that is energy efficient.
   2. Consider replacing an old, inefficient refrigerator. High efficiency models can lower your electric bills up to $150 each year.
8. Trim Lighting Costs. While lighting costs for homes are usually less than for heating, cooling, and hot water, you can still cut energy waste. Start with lights that are used for four or more hours each day - usually security lights and those in the kitchen or family room.
   1. Use fluorescent lights whenever possible in areas where general lighting is needed, such as kitchens, family rooms, and baths. A compact fluorescent is a special light bulb that screws into a standard incandescent socket but which lasts 10 times longer, saves over $40 in electricity costs, and eliminates 500 pounds of atmospheric pollutants.
   2. Outside security lighting can be expensive. Two 150-watt floodlights cost over $60 more each year to operate than an energy efficient high pressure sodium outdoor light.
9. Heat and Cool Wisely. Keeping your heating and cooling equipment serviced and operating it properly saves energy and extends its life.
   1. Programmable thermostats, automatically adjust the temperature setting and can save you energy and money. Choose a model which suits your lifestyle and particular heating and cooling equipment.
   2. When you have to replace equipment, select energy efficient models that are the correct size for your home. Consult with your local utility or state energy office.
10. Save Energy on the Road. The average American automobile spews its weight in pollutants into the atmosphere each year. More than 80% of auto travel is for trips of less than 3 miles. Walk, ride a bicycle, use mass transit, and group errands to minimize driving. Auto emissions account for about 60% of ozone pollution in our cities - drive less and save our air.
    1. Keep your auto property tuned and its tires inflated to reduce pollution and save fuel. When your auto air conditioner is serviced, insist that the mechanic recycles the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS) used for the refrigerant - release of CFCs into the atmosphere contributes to the depletion of the earth's protective ozone layer.
    2. When buying a new automobile, choose a fuel efficient model. Over its life, a car that gets 35 miles per gallon will save around $3,000 and 30 tons of pollution compared to a model that gets 18 miles per gallon. Every gallon of gas you save prevents 20 pounds of C0₂ from polluting the planet.

KEEP YOUR INDOOR ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY, TOO!

Inside your home can be as polluted as outdoors. Learn to properly handle toxic chemicals such as paints, solvents, pesticides and cleaners. If you have concerns about indoor air pollution, call the EPA at 404/347-1033. You should also test your home for radon, which is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the soil and is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who do not smoke. Testing your home for radon is easy and inexpensive. If you have concerns about radon, call the EPA at 404/347-3907. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Policy, Planning, and Education Branch345 Courtland StreetAtlanta, Georgia 30365404/347-7109

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