Energy-use
myths exposed
Myth:
Leaving a light on uses less energy than turning it off
and on several times.
Truth: Leaving an incandescent
light on uses more energy than turning it on and off as
needed. If you're using a compact fluorescent light, it
should be left on if it will be needed again within 15
minutes. Switching CFLs on and off frequently shortens
their lives.
Myth: Keeping your
thermostat at the same temperature day and night uses
less energy than turning it down at night and heating
your home up again in the morning.
Truth: It takes less
energy to warm up a cold home in the morning than it does
to maintain a constant temperature throughout the night.
Myth: The higher you
set your heater's thermostat, the faster your home will
warm up.
Truth: It will take
the same amount of time for the temperature to reach 70
degrees whether the thermostat is set at 70 or 90 degrees.
Setting the thermostat all the way up only wastes energy
and increases your heating costs.
Myth: Compact fluorescent
lights (CFLs) are those glaring, humming, flickering tubes
seen in some offices.
Truth: There's a whole
new generation of compact fluorescent light bulbs that
are suited for home use. They screw into the same light
bulb socket and produce the same quality of light as an
incandescent bulb. A CFL uses 70 percent less electricity
and lasts up to 10 times longer than an incandescent light
bulb.
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