Ask the Expert

I want to start off the new year on the right foot, by saving some money and living more sustainably. What can I do to consume less energy and reduce my environmental footprint?

Entergy Arkansas offers the following suggestions:

Get an energy checkup.

Having a qualified auditor conduct a home energy assessment is one of the most efficient ways of discovering places in the home where savings, in terms of energy and the money spent on utilities, can be made.

"From air leaks to inadequate insulation, you'd be amazed how many ways you could be saving money on energy by implementing some simple improvements. Give an expert a chance to point them out to you," advises David Lewis, spokesman with Entergy Arkansas, adding that the utility company offers home energy assessments. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/zzpyveq.

Program the home's thermostat.

Don't rely on trying to remember each day to adjust the heat or air temperature when leaving for or returning from work, school or several hours away from the house. Instead, break out the owner's manual and program the thermostat according to your schedule.

"Don't let 'programmable' scare you," Lewis says. "If you're just a little bit handy, you can install one yourself. Then setting up the timer is a breeze, and you'll save money letting the A/C or heater relax a little when there's no one home to keep cool or warm anyway."

Make the switch to energy-efficient lighting.

With older incandescent bulbs slowly fading away, this is a good time to make the transition to high-efficiency CFLs or LEDs. Why? These bulbs, which last much longer, use less energy. LEDs offer the warm, quality light we've become used to and are easily dimmed.

"Remember Easy Bake Ovens? Their heat source is a 100-watt incandescent light bulb. Who needs 10 to 20 of those fighting against the air conditioner in the summer? CFLs and LEDs are cool and they've gotten very affordable, especially the ones

discounted through the Entergy Arkansas Energy Solutions program," Lewis says. "Look for the Entergy logo at participating retailers."

Use hot water sparingly.

Lowering the water heater's temperature to 120 degrees and switching from baths to short showers will save on energy and costs. Replacing original shower heads and faucet aerators with low-flow ones will stretch those savings even further.

"While you're at it, for about $20 buy a thermal blanket for your water heater, spend a few minutes installing it, and keep hot water hot with less energy from that day forward," Lewis says.

Wait for full loads to wash.

This philosophy applies to the dishwasher and the clothes washer. By operating them only when you have a full load, you will save water as well as energy and money.

"It takes about the same amount of energy to wash a half-empty load as a full one," Lewis notes. "So wait until you have a full one. As a bonus, it's probably less work for the operator, too, to run fewer, fuller loads."

Relinquish the power.

By turning off or unplugging computers, battery chargers, and other electronic equipment when they're not in use, energy and money can be preserved.

"It's called 'phantom power' or sometimes 'vampire power' because it is energy sucked up by certain devices even when they're turned off," Lewis says, adding that likely culprits include electronics with remote controls or instant-on features such as TVs and printers. "A study by the National Resources Defense Council revealed that the cable box on top of your TV may be consuming more electricity than your refrigerator," he says, adding that plugging devices into a power strip and then turning off that power at the strip when not in use will help.

Shoot for the stars.

When the time comes to replace older electronic equipment or appliances, look for ENERGY STAR-rated products that consume less energy than standard models, while still offering the same performance quality.

"It's a case of pay me now or pay me later," Lewis says. "If you choose to pay a little more for efficiency now, you'll more than save the difference later."

-- Linda S. Haymes

Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We'll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:

lhaymes@arkansasonline.com

HomeStyle on 01/16/2016

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