ENERGY STAR Video Podcast

June 5, 2008

FINAL Transcript

Welcome to the ENERGY STAR video podcast.

Hi, I'm Tom Kraeutler, host of The Money Pit home improvement radio show. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program has asked me to show you some changes you can make around the house to save energy and money.

I'm visiting energystar.gov to get some help from the interactive tool, ENERGY STAR @ home which offers energy saving tips for every room of the house. Today we're bringing it to life and taking you on a room-by-room tour.

The energy used in the average home can be responsible for more than twice the greenhouse gas emissions of the average car. By using less energy at home, you reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help protect the environment from the risks of global warming.

We all spend a lot of time in our kitchens so it's very important to make sure our appliances are energy-efficient.

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators like this one use only half as much energy as older models. Save even more by recycling that old refrigerator you're keeping in your garage or basement.

You don't always need a new appliance to be energy efficient, little things like keeping your gas burners clean can help save energy too.

Here's what we call an energy vampire, you probably have a few of them around your house. Did you know many power adapters like this cell phone charger use energy even when they're not connected to the phone? It's an easy fix — just unplug it when you're done charging!

It's important to check for gaps around doors so you're not letting heat out and cool air in.

A little bit of weather stripping to block a leaky spot and you'll be more comfortable and save energy at the same time.

This may be an entertainment dream come true, it's an energy nightmare. All those electronics we love - TVs, DVD players - they use A LOT of energy - even when they are in the off position. The solution - plug everything into a power strip and turn it off when you're not using it.

And take it up a notch with energy-efficient electronics. The next time you're shopping for a TV or DVD player make sure to choose one that's earned the ENERGY STAR.

One of the areas where heat leaves your house in the winter and gets in during the summer is right here around these windows. Check for gaps and cracks and seal them up you'll save energy and money at the same time.

One of the simplest things you can do is change out your old incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, that have earned the government's ENERGY STAR. If every American replaced their 5 most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save close to $8 billion a year in energy costs.

Another easy fix: consider installing a programmable thermostat. When used properly, it can save you up to $150 a year.

Your attic can allow the heat or AC to leak right out the top of your house.

Weather-strip or insulate your attic hatch or door to prevent the air from escaping and maximize the efficiency of your attic insulation.

Adding insulation is one of the best ways to increase the energy efficiency of your entire home. An R value of 38 or higher is going to make that insulation as efficient as possible.

This little guy's room gets really warm in the summer time. Replacing this light with a ceiling fan can help; it's a year-round energy saver. In the summer fans can keep you cool and in the winter you can use the reverse setting to keep you warm and cozy all winter long.

And don't forget as you leave a room to turn off that light switch - turning that switch off saves 15 dollars a year in energy costs!

Keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer requires lots of energy, but there are things you can do. Schedule a pre-season check up on your HVAC system each spring and fall to make sure its working at maximum efficiency and remember to change your filter every three months.

If you want to know even more about making changes in your house check out the ENERGY STAR web site at www.energystar.gov. There you'll find the ENERGY STAR @ home tool, and lots of helpful information to make your home more energy efficient. And remember even a few small changes at home can make a big difference in helping us win the fight against global warming.

On behalf of ENERGY STAR, I'm Tom Kraeutler, thanks for watching.