Ways to Save Energy

The Flaming Lips are working with OG&E to promote watching your energy use. There are plenty of ways to save on energy costs and help the environment.

Wednesday, March 11th 2009, 6:13 pm

By: News 9


By Amy McRee, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Flaming Lips are working with OG&E to promote watching your energy use. There are plenty of ways to save on energy costs and help the environment.

The Hatfield family recently worked with the Community Action Agency to make subtle changes in their home so they could waste less energy and better handle the constant change in weather.

Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission said it's the littlest alterations, at no cost to you that can make the biggest impact on energy usage.

"The issue is how do you live? What's your lifestyle? How many times do you go out your front door? How many times do you go out your back door? How many times do you crack a window open? How many times do you use your garage if it's attached? All these things add up," Skinner said.

By noting what you waste and finding how energy is escaping on its own, like through cracks, outlets, windows and doors, you can caulk those cracks or add extra insulation to start saving now. Insulating your hot water tank can have a huge impact because it won't lose heat as quickly.

Swap out old appliances. The Hatfields got a smaller "Energy Star" labeled refrigerator, which uses less energy to run. They also replaced light bulbs with CFL or (compact florescence light bulbs) which last longer and give you additional savings.

Stephen Hatfield said these changes translated into a lower electric bill, $38 less a month.

A few more things to consider include getting a programmable AC unit, that you can set, Also, check electronics, some stay in "ready" mode and run all the time, so get a management device to help. And lastly, make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector, you'll need after your homes sealed up tight.

Click here for a checklist on ways you can save energy.

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