近年来，随着人们对全球变暖问题的日益重视，加上能源成本的不断上涨，越来越多的人开始问，他们能做些什么来让自己的家更节能。 节约能源很简单，比如晚上拉上窗帘，换一个灯泡，调低恒温器的温度，或者关上壁炉的风门。 许多最便宜的解决方案很快就能节省成本，当你收到电费账单时，你最终会从中受益。

One of the biggest ways you can conserve energy is to take advantage of “off-peak” hours. 这是每个人都可以采取的步骤，因为它只需要改变你的主要电器的电力使用，比如洗衣机、烘干机和洗碗机。 Puget Sound Energy recommends using these appliances outside of peak hours—peak hours are between 6am-10am and 5pm-9pm. 研究表明，悦博体育通过改变你的一部分能源使用，消费者可以显著降低批发电价，从长远来看，这为每个人都节省了钱。

另一种节约能源的方法是用冷水洗衣服，并且只开满负荷。 使用烘干机时，在衣服里放几条干毛巾，这样可以加快干燥过程。 It’s also important to clean the lint trap in your dryer after every load and make sure the dryer hose and vent are clear.

There are several steps you can follow to reduce your home’s demand on heating during the winter months. 传统的措施，如调回恒温器，在减少能源消耗方面是有效的。 建议你在冬季将恒温器设置在65到72华氏度之间。 请记住，只要把恒温器降低一度，你的炉子就会减少7%的能源消耗。 It’s also important to clean your furnace filter frequently—doing so will enable your heating system to run more efficiently and cost-effectively.

It’s estimated that lighting accounts for 10 percent of your overall home energy bill, so another way you can conserve is by using energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs, known as CFL light bulbs. 紧凑型节能灯使用的能量大约是同等白炽灯泡的四分之一，它们发出温暖的间接光，而且它们的寿命是普通灯泡的十倍。 When shopping for CFLs, look for those with the Energy Star label on them—this ensures that you’re purchasing a product that has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

For more information about energy conservation, please visit www.energystar.org.