Cutting Costs in a Fuel-Scarce World

With gas pump prices shooting up to almost three dollars a gallon in the wake of fuel disruptions caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, George W. Bush has called for the Federal government and citizens to cut back on unnecessary car trips and flights. But our energy problems aren't just on the road or in the skies: Rising fuel costs this winter will also starve the pocketbook, especially given that the average family of four already spends more than $1,800 annually on home energy costs. That's not only money plucked from your wallet, but greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from fossil-fuel burning power plants. Recognizing these costs, Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman followed up Bush's advice with a call for Americans to drive 55 rather than 65 miles per hour on highways, insulate their homes, and set thermostats lower when away this winter.

It's not just about savings: The more energy we use, the more pressure from industry to open up wildlife reserves such as Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to fuel exploration. Yet, conserving energy is no more difficult than closing the damper in your fireplace or replacing a few incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. And as fuel costs rise, buying the ripe, Fall harvest of locally-grown foods not only supports nearby small farmers, but skips higher shipping costs of trucked-in food.

Gradual Greening

Don't get overwhelmed! To save money while you save energy, conserve gradually doing the small, cheap projects first like washing clothes in cool water, bussing to work and turning down the heat or the air conditioner. These will give you almost immediate savings you can apply to compact fluorescent bulbs, low-flow showerheads or a programmable thermostat. Then set some time aside to seal your home, adding insulation where needed, and before you know it, you'll have set aside enough to help take a trip away from the cold weather. And don't forget that many energy utilities offer rebates for purchasing green items; to see if yours does, check here: www.energystar.gov.

The Best Things in Life are Free

Launder clothes on the warm or cold water setting for washing and always use cold water to rinse clothes. Hang clothes to dry whenever you can. Doing all of these will shave up to 9 percent from your energy bill (that's an average of $162 savings annually for a family of four). For a wood drying rack, see www.gaiam.com ($59) and www.abundantearth.com ($29.95-$75.95).

Keep an eye on heating costs by turning down your thermostat, saving yourself 5 percent on heating costs for every degree lower between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Also close vents and doors of vacant rooms.

Keep your fireplace damper closed to avoid losing up to 8 percent of your home's heated or cooled air.

And when the hot days roll around again and energy prices spike as they do every summer, turn off the air conditioner and use a ceiling fan to keep your room temperature comfortable. A/C can account for as much as half of your summer energy bill.