BobVila.com's Top 5 Energy-Saving Ideas for 2008

BOSTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Home improvement expert Bob Vila has been on the presidential campaign trail talking about energy efficiency. His popular web site shares five earth-friendly projects -- both large and small -- for your home in 2008.

1. Use energy-saving appliances. Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioning units and water heaters all have high- efficiency models. Before buying a new appliance, compare labels to find one that uses the least amount of energy and water with the lowest operating costs. Appliances with the Energy Star label are up to 50 percent more efficient than standard models, saving you up to 30 percent on your electric bill. "I've been promoting Energy Star appliances for over a decade," Bob Vila says, "and it still makes sense to invest in them because of the energy savings you'll get."

2. Mind the gaps. By sealing gaps and leakages around your home, you'll keep warm air in and cold air out, ensuring a lower energy bill and less waste. Some of the worst air leakage areas in the average home are exterior wall outlets, the soleplate, the duct system, exterior windows and doors, and fireplaces. Use storm windows, which can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent, and storm doors. Add weatherstripping and caulking around doors and windows, including attic entryways. Install door sweeps to inside doors adjacent to the garage and the outside. Stop cold air infiltration from electric outlets and switches by using draft blockers. Add caulk around foundation walls, pipe outlets, clothes dryer vents, exterior faucets and any other gaps on the outside of your house. Use it around baseboards and where walls meet other walls or the ceiling or floor.

3. Turn it off. In a typical residential utility bill, lighting accounts for 15 percent and electronics for over 25 percent of usage. "The simple things will get you the biggest savings on utility costs," Vila says. "It's just like Mom said: turn off the light when you leave the room!" Gadgets like MP3 players and cell phones draw electricity even when not connected, so they should be unplugged once charged. "Nowadays we have tons of chargers in our lives that sap power in small amounts that add up to big bills," Vila adds, "so it makes sense to monitor them and end the waste." Anything with a standby light, like a TV, should be plugged into a power strip and shut down when not in use. And make sure to activate the "sleep" feature of equipment so it automatically powers down.

4. Pick the right light. Compact florescent lighting, or CFLs, are safer, use 70 percent less electricity, produce as much light and last up to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. "If you're still waiting for the incandescent light bulbs in your house to burn out before replacing them it's time to wise up," Vila says, "just do it!"

5. Insulate. More than half the energy used for heating is lost through walls, floors, ceilings and attics that are not insulated. With spray foam insulation, liquid polyurethane is pumped through pressurized spray nozzles and expands on surfaces to form an insulating barrier. Unlike traditional insulating materials, spray foam insulation can seal tiny cracks and seams you can't even see. "If you're in an old house with inadequate levels of insulation in the attic you should really consider a spray-up job," Vila says. "It's safe and economical and probably the most efficient insulation you can get for a remodel."

Based in Boston, BobVila.com is the leading site for the do-it-yourself community from the most trusted name in home improvement. It offers homeowners valuable, factual information to solve their problems and answer their questions at every stage of the home improvement, remodeling and repair process -- usually for a specific project they are undertaking. Content contains: articles, how to videos with step by step instructions, videos from Bob Vila shows, tips, a glossary of terms, forums, blogs and fix it guides. Podcasts and contests add an element of fun to the site.

For more energy-saving and conservation tips, visit http://www.bobvila.com/green. For daily blog entries on green building and other home improvement topics, visit http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/.