Save Energy and Cash at Home

Oct. 17, 2006 — -- High energy costs and a barrage of environmental warnings have prompted many to think about simple ways their household can save money and save the planet.

ABC News' Chris Cuomo and his wife invited "Good Morning America" to tour their home and shared some of their environmentally friendly ideas.

Becky Worley, "Good Morning America's" technology contributor, sat down with Cuomo to discuss his energy-saving tactics and what he -- and everyone -- can do to be more environmentally savvy.

The Laundry Room

Because washing and drying clothes employs electricity, water and chemicals all at once, Cuomo recently got new appliances that are known to save energy. When washing clothes, he and his wife stay away from hot water so they can conserve electricity. The same goes for the dryer -- they stick to the lower-temperature settings.

For people looking to conserve energy in the laundry room, Worley said it was worthwhile looking into a tankless water heater, which can be beneficial throughout the home.

"Today, manufacturers are making tankless water heaters that allow you to heat water on demand. These are the most efficient systems," she said.

Buying a new water heater isn't the only way to conserve.

An insulation jacket can be fitted over a traditional tank water heater to keep extra heat inside the tank from escaping. Adding insulation to pipes can add up to extra savings.

Worley offered another insulation tip that can be used everywhere in the house: By sealing leaks around windows, doors and sliding doors, consumers can shave up to 10 percent off their energy bill.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is Cuomo's favorite room in the house.

To make the most of time he spends there with food and family, he invested in new appliances that are also energy friendly.

His stove is built to be super efficient; his fridge door is designed to seal in coldness. And his wife stocks up on organic food, which is good for the environment and the body.

Worley says that in the kitchen, sometimes more appliances can be beneficial than fewer. While some people might try to save energy by washing dishes by hand, Worley advised against it.

"I know this sounds counterintuitive -- washing dishes by hand does not save water or energy," she said. "There are some fantastic energy-saving dishwashers on the market."

Still to maximize savings, it's worthwhile to scrape dishes in the sink before putting them in the dishwasher.

The Living Room

Cuomo admits he's not an energy saint everywhere in the house.

He loves his big, flat-screen TV, though he knows it sucks energy.

He keeps his cable box plugged in all the time so that he can record shows when he's too busy to sit in front of the tube.

His living room, like most of the rooms in his house, is lit with electricity-consuming incandescent light bulbs.

Worley said Cuomo could make small modifications to cut down on his energy consumption, like replacing his incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones, also known as CFLs.

"These have been out for a while and save a tremendous amount of energy, but they have been panned because the lighting is not too bright and not as warm as incandescent," Worley said. "New bulbs are being developed that save energy and offer more inviting light."

Many of these energy-saving products can be found at homedepot.com. Visit energystar.gov to find out more about ways to conserve energy at home. Check out ConsumerReports.org for information on how to be an environmentally-friendly consumer.