April 18, 2008

As the nation observes Earth Day on April 22, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is encouraging Michiganians to reduce their energy bills by taking the next step in energy efficiency.

"Now is the time to cut energy bills further by taking the next energy efficient steps," said MPSC Commissioner Monica Martinez. "Becoming more energy efficient is the 'gift that keeps on giving' because the savings continue for years to come, and pollution from power plants is reduced. And that's something to celebrate on Earth Day and every day."

To help people become more energy efficient, Energy Star is kicking off a year-long effort on Earth Day to promote the use of Energy Star-qualified appliances.

With summer around the corner, consider replacing an older dehumidifier with a new Energy Star-rated one. Switching can save consumers roughly $30 per year. This can add up to $300 or more over the life of the unit. That's enough to pay for the dehumidifier.

If your refrigerator was purchased in 2001 or earlier, consider a new, Energy Star-qualified refrigerator. Today's models use 40 percent less energy than older, conventional ones. Be sure to recycle your old refrigerator. Many retailers offer this service with purchase of a new model. Local organizaitons also provide this service.

Energy Star-approved programmable thermostats help cut bills because they automatically adjust the temperature while you are away or sleeping.

Also recommended are several simple actions that easily cut energy bills, including:

• Plugging in home electronics - such as televisions and DVD players - into power strips, and turning the power strips off when the equipment is not in use. Even in stand-by mode, these items use several watts of power.
• Using the power management features on your computer. This saves $25 to $75 annually on your electric bill. This feature - standard in Windows and Macintosh operating systems - places monitors and computers into a low-power "sleep" mode after a period of inactivity. This simple action saves energy, money and helps protect the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends setting computers to enter system standby or hibernate after 30 to 60 minutes of inactivity. To save even more, set monitors to enter sleep mode after five to 20 minutes of inactivity. On laptops, be sure to activate these settings in the AC power profile - not just the DC (battery power) profile.

These are just a few of the many suggestions on the Energy Star Web site: energystar.gov.

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products as well as new homes. Products that have earned the Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved more than $16 billion on their utility bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.