STRETCHINGpeas foam insulation costs some $6, yet can save up to $500 a year. Fix a leaky toilet. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water a day, according to the EPA. The kit to fix the leak costs about $12. Potential annual savings: $400. To cut yourelectric bill by more than $300 over five years, plug electronic devices with standby power, such as TVs and stereos, into a powerstrip so you can turn them all off at once. Install a programmable thermostat. One that costs less than $30 can save you around $180 per year when usedcorrectly by changing the temperature for you when you are at work or on vacation. eChange yourair filters. Filters in forced-air systems can get clogged enough to slow down airflow and hurtefficiency. A new one starts at about $9 and can save you up to $100 a year. Insulate your water heater. If you have an older electric water heater, improve its insulation by wrapping it with an insulating jacket for about $19 and save more than $30 a year in excess heat loss. Look for the ENERGY STAR or WaterSense labels. Products have to undergo the EPA’s stringent testing to earn the ENERGY STAR | = eee| _ aaa re : . = o es ——— as et ee ee (NAPSA)—Spending little on improving your home may help you save a lot of your money. Savvy investing of a few dollars in small changes can help you save hundreds of dollars in energy costs. At the same time, you can make your home more comfortable to live in now and do yourpart in helping the environment. Here are a few hints on how: eInsulate your home. If you can insert a playing card between your door- or window jamb, you need to add weather stripping or caulk. Using expanding spray ' Easy Ways To Save Money Around Your Home _@ A few simple, easy, inexpensive changes around the house— such as replacing air filters—can help you save energy and money. or WaterSense label. The programs are sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to make it easy for Americans to save water and protect the environment. Products that meet these standards assure consumer savings. The EPA says the average American household can save more than 600 gallons of water a year by installing a WaterSensecertified bathroom sink faucet. For the average household, that means an annual savings of $11 on your water bill. At about $25 for the faucet, it can pay for itself in under three years. Here are more low- or no-cost tips from the “Efficient Home” experts at Lowe’s: eSave on water. Turn the water off when shaving or brushing yourteeth. lLower the water temperature setting on your water heater to between 115 and 120 degrees— every 10-degree reduction saves 3 to 5 percent of hot-watercosts. Learn More You can learn more moneysaving tips from Lowe’s at lowes.com/efficienthome.
