Citizens Action Coalition Education Fund

The average household will spend almost $2,100 on home energy costs in 2007. Of a typical residence's total energy consumption, heating accounts for the largest portion, representing almost 50% of a household's annual energy bill.

• By making adjusting your thermostat and dressing appropriately in your household, you can generate considerable cost savings on your heating bills and significantly reduce your CO2 footprint. "People who live in colder climates and heat their homes typically generate 8,800 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. You can turn down your thermostat and still be quite comfortable."


• "During the day when people are at home, set your thermostat at ‘sweater' temperature: between 65º - 68ºF. Before going to bed at night or when everyone is out of the house set the thermostat to 'blanket' temperature: 55º - 58ºF. Consider installing a programmable thermostat so you make sure the heat is always at the temperature you wish. This can reduce your heating bill by up to 20%."


• By simply adjusting your thermostat down just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer, you could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Dress appropriately for the weather, and set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting. On winter nights, put an extra blanket on the bed and turn down your thermostat more.

• Alliance to Save Energy, found at www.energyhog.org/adult/pdf/EnergyFacts.pdf .
• Energy Star, Where Does My Money Go?, found at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_pie .
• Source: An Inconvenient Truth: Ten Things To Do, found at http://www.climatecrisis.net/pdf/10things.pdf .