• Block the sun to avoid overheating your home. Plant trees and shrubs on the sunny side of your home to provide shade during the heat of the summer and reduce the toll on your air conditioning system. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, shading an air conditioner can boost its efficiency by as much as 10%.
• Install awnings over sliding doors or windows on the sunny side of the house to help keep your home cooler in the summer.
• Give your heat pump’s outdoor unit the space it needs to work most efficiently. Never stack anything against it or drape anything over it and be sure to keep it free of debris.
• Consider installing a solar hot water system. You’ll save up to 85 % on your hot water costs. Electric water heaters are one of the top three energy users in the home. A solar water heater can save customers up to $300 per year for a family of four, if the backup element is kept at 122 degrees Fahrenheit. If you participate in the EnergyWise? Home program, Progress Energy will provide a $450 credit to help cover costs and you may be eligible for federal tax credits of up to 30 percent of the cost of the unit and installation. In addition, if you participate in EnergyWise, you’ll be eligible for up to an additional $60 a year in credits if you have a solar hot water system.
• Replacing your roof? Consider a reflective roof. By reflecting the sun's heat off of the roof, the heat coming into your home is reduced, which reduces the amount of time your air conditioner runs. Progress Energy customers can qualify for up to $150 toward the installation of ENERGY STAR reflective roof material. In addition, federal tax credits of up to $1,500 are available through 2010.
Progress Energy offers a wide variety of energy-saving information and rebates to help customers with the cost of some energy-saving home improvements. To participate, the first step is to complete a free Home Energy Check. Customers can call 1.877.574.0340 to schedule an in-home visit by a Progress Energy energy advisor or they can complete a check over the phone or by mail. An online evaluation is also available at www.savethewatts.com. Following a Home Energy Check, each customer receives an analysis of the home’s energy use and a list of customized energy-saving recommendations.
[image-1]Progress Energy leads the nation in energy efficiency programs with more than 100 energy efficiency measures. Since 1981, our customers have saved more than $1 billion through our energy-efficiency programs – or enough to power the city of St Petersburg for more than 5 years. These programs have helped eliminate more than 8 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equal to removing nearly 2 million cars off the road every year or planting over 2 million acres of trees. Customer participation in our energy-efficiency programs has reduced demand by more than 1,575 megawatts, thus eliminating the need for 17 peaking power plants.
Energy efficiency is critical to meeting our state’s long-term energy needs. It is the quickest, easiest and most environmentally-friendly way to reduce energy use.
When considering ways to lower home energy use and save on your electric bill, don’t forget to evaluate your home’s exterior. Progress Energy Florida encourages customers to think “outside the box” to cash in on energy savings by following tips for outdoor spaces.
• Install motion sensors on outdoor light fixtures and you won’t have to remember to turn off the porch light before you go to bed. The outdoor porch or post lamp is one of the most used home light fixtures, and is the perfect place to install energy-efficient lighting products.
• Replace the bulbs in exterior fixtures with energy-efficient compact florescent bulbs (CFLs). Not only do they use 75 % less energy, compact florescent bulbs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Try LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs for even more energy savings. A typical LED bulb uses less than 0.1 watt to operate and will last 50 times longer than an incandescent bulb – up to 10 years when used 12 hours a day.
