PART 2 – CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY…

2. Water Consumption

Dollar Savings $400

If you’re not already aware of your household’s water use, you will be soon.  Almost four in five states anticipate water shortages by 2013, which could lead to steeper rates and penalties for excessive use.  When it comes to showering and washing dishes and clothes, you’re also paying to heat the water.

Stop Drips

It’s the fastest way to conserve, saving the average household about $70 a year.  Next, upgrade to water-efficient fixtures.  Low-flow showerheads can save as much as $265 per year on water bills.  ”A $30 showerhead can save more money than $3,000 worth of solar panels,” says Charlie Szoradi, of Green and Save, a company based in Devon, Pa., that analyzes the payback of energy-efficiency projects.  Switching to a low-flow toilet, which uses 1.28 gallons per flush compared with the 3.5 to 5 gallons of a 15-year-old or older model, can save $90.  Also check for utility rebates.

Watch the Water Heater

Lower the temperature to 120° F and insulate your hot-water pipes.  If your unit is more than a decade old, do your research now.  That way you’ll get a new unit that has a long warranty and is sized appropriately, not whatever’s on the truck of the only plumber who calls you back when your old heater breaks.

Easy, Low-Cost Solutions

Insulate your water heater.  Don’t prerinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. Add an aerator to faucets.

Energy All-Stars

Kohler’s Cimarron K-3609 toilet, $300, excelled in our solid and liquid tests and used 1.28 gallons per flush.

Our testers described the watersaving American Standard FlowWise Dual Function 1660.717 showerhead, $50, as refreshing and stimulating.  The Moen Inspire 21777, also $50, used slightly more water but has more settings.

3. Recycling

Dollar Savings $250

Though recycling saves the least money, it generated some of the highest results in our survey.  Two-thirds of people said they recycle paper and plastic, and over half recycle metal and glass — proof that being green isn’t just about saving green.

Rewards and Penalties Initiated

RecycleBank, which is now used by a million people across 20 states, lets you put all of your recyclables in one container instead of separating them by type.  Then it weighs the container and issues rewards or points redeemable at local retailers.  The average household gets $250 worth.  ”Pay As You Throw” programs, in 7,100 communities nationwide according to Skumatz Economic Research Associates of Superior, Colo., treat trash like a utility: Homeowners are charged for the garbage they throw out.  And if you’re not redeeming bottle deposits, you’re not alone. Millions of dollars are unclaimed every year.

Nontraditional Recycling Is Low

Our survey revealed less widespread recycling rates for items such as batteries (32 percent), printer cartridges (30 percent), small electronics (17 percent), CFLs (16 percent), and large electronics (12 percent).  Some of the most common reasons for throwing items away instead of recycling them were that people didn’t think the item could be recycled or they didn’t have enough information to do so.  But just about everything that comes into the home can be recycled. The Web site Earth911.com lists more than 100,000 recycling locations, which can be searched by material and ZIP code. If you come up empty there, contact your department of solid-waste management.

A large percentage of respondents told us they donated or otherwise gave away certain household items, including furniture (29 percent), small appliances (28 percent), and major appliances (21 percent).  If you go that route, first check with the Better Business Bureau (www.give.org) or Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) to make sure you’re giving to a worthy cause.

Easy, Low-Cost Solutions

Start a compost bin for organic food scraps or ask whether the local farmers market will take them.  Trade household items on sites such as freecycle.org.  Invest in a reusable water container to cut down on your household’s use of plastic water bottles.  Take spent CFLs to a Home Depot for recycling.

Energy All-Stars

Whole Foods Recycled Foldable Tote, $4, was especially good at containing leaks and isn’t as bulky as most bags.  Its $1 cousin, A Better Bag, held the most and can be returned if it rips.  But it absorbed leaks, so spills are a bit harder to clean.

4. Electricity Use

Annual Savings $300

Between lights, electronics, and appliances, electricity accounts for almost 40 percent of the average home’s energy use.  But there are ways to cut back in each category without sacrificing.

By changing 10 bulbs and replacing three major appliances with energy-efficient models, you can save hundreds per year.  As our survey found, many American are already taking advantage of those savings.  Almost two-thirds have replaced an incandescent lightbulb with a CFL.  As for appliances, 34 percent of respondents told us they’ve upgraded to an energy-efficient model.  It doesn’t make sense to pitch a perfectly good appliance or electronic item, but if you’re in the market for a new one, the type you choose can make a difference.  For example, side-by-side refrigerators use more energy than top- or bottom-mounts, top-loading washers use more electricity and water than front-loaders, and plasma TVs use more electricity than LCD sets.

Easy, Low-Cost Solutions

Plug electronics into power strips with built-in sensors that automatically shut off devices that aren’t in use.  Set your computer to hibernate.  Use LED holiday string lights. Turn off lights when you leave a room.

Energy All-Stars

The EcoSmart 423-599 240EDXO-14 compact fluorescent bulb was the top performer in our tests.  It replaces a 60-watt standard incandescent bulb and costs only $1.50.

The GE WCVH6800J, an $800 front-loading washer, scored excellent in both water and energy efficiencies, saving up to $125 per year over a traditional top-loader.

Good News: You’re Being Audited!

Unlike the IRS version, a home-energy audit can save you money.  It provides a comprehensive assessment of your home’s heating, cooling, and distribution systems; an insulation checkup; and a review of your energy bills.  A well-trained auditor will also interview you to correct any inefficient behaviors.  Audits have proven so effective at curbing energy use that Austin, Texas, requires home sellers to share their results with buyers.

Costs Vary

Certified auditors charge from $300 to $800.  Or consider doing it yourself, especially if you think your home is relatively efficient.  The Department of Energy’s Web site, at www.energysavers.gov, has detailed information on do-it-yourself energy audits and links to finding local auditors.   If the results of your DIY audit look bad, hire a professional for a more detailed assessment..

Bottom Line

Not all energy-saving projects are equal.  So have the auditor prioritize any suggested work by savings and payback time.

Also remember that not everyone who hangs a green shingle has the training to identify inefficiencies.  There are eco-consultants, who might charge $99 for a 60-minute walk-through of your home, pointing out leaky faucets and inefficient lightbulbs.  Then there are general contractors who see energy efficiency as the one bright spot in an otherwise shrinking industry.  Last but not least are single-product salespeople.  ”Homeowners have been hearing forever that replacing their windows can save 40 percent,” says Chandler von Schrader, head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Home Performance with Energy Star program.  ”These claims aren’t justified and they create a false expectation.”