This one doesn't look like it offers as many prizes, but they seem to be worth more...
THE HOME DEPOT ENERGY SAVINGS CONTEST & TOP 10 TIPS
The Home Depot wants to know how you save energy in your home in its “Save
Money. Save Energy. Win Big.” energy savings video contest. Just shoot a
short video to show how you are saving money and helping the environment by
making your home more energy efficient.
Log on to www.homedepot.com/youtube to enter your video between now and
Nov. 9, 2008. The energy savings videos should focus on conserving energy
in your home and addressing issues to prevent high energy bills. The videos
will be judged on relevance to the energy savings theme, originality and
creativity.
The contest winner will receive a $5,000 The Home Depot gift card and up to
$2,000 for installed insulation or radiant barrier products from The Home
Depot Home Services. The second and third place winners will receive a
$1,500 and $500 The Home Depot gift cards, respectively.
Not sure how to save energy in your home? The Home Depot has developed its
top 10 ways to save energy – and money - in your home.
Install a programmable thermostat. You can save up to $180 a year by
installing a programmable thermostat that controls the temperature of
your home while you’re at work or asleep.
Change to CFL light bulbs. Americans could save close to $8 billion in
energy costs by replacing each home’s five most frequently used light
fixtures with CFL bulbs. CFL Bulbs use up to 90 percent less electricity
than incandescent bulbs and are now available in dimmable and spot light
bulbs.
Choose ENERGY STAR appliances. Save money and the environment by replacing
standard model appliances with ones that are ENERGY STAR-qualified.
ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances use 10-50 percent less energy and water
than standard models.
Install a storm door. Storm doors can help conserve energy by keeping cold
air out during the winter and heat out during the summer..
Update your windows. ENERGY STAR-qualified windows can reduce your energy
costs by $126-$465 per year when replacing single-pane windows or
$27-$111 a year when replacing double-pane, clear glass windows. For a
quick fix, add heat control window film to your windows and save up to
50 percent on your cooling costs.
Install dimmer switches and motion detectors. Dim the lights by 25 percent
and save an average of 15 percent a year on energy costs, and extend the
bulb life by four times. By adding motion-sensitive exterior lighting
and adding dimmer switches indoors where appropriate, you can control
the wattage, saving you on your energy bills.
Install a ceiling fan – and learn to correctly rotate it. Ceiling fans
aren’t just for when it’s hot outside. Ceiling fans can save you $10 a
year on utility bills, plus the additional air conditioning or heating
savings gained when a fan is operated properly. ENERGY STAR-qualified
ceiling fans use 50 percent less energy than standard fans and circulate
25 percent more air.
Regularly maintain your furnace and water heater. Regular maintenance on
your furnace and water heater will increase energy efficiency in your
home. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with
appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can
cut your energy use for heating and cooling, and reduce environmental
emissions, from 20 percent to 50 percent. Regular maintenance will help
make these investments in your home last longer and be more energy
efficient.
Seal your home from heat and cold. Allowing air to escape through gaps and
cracks is like throwing your money away. By sealing your home like
caulk, sealant and weather-stripping, you can save up to 20 percent on
heating and cooling costs.
Install insulation. According to the Department of Energy, the leading
cause of energy waste in the home is inadequate insulation and air
leakage. Homeowners typically can reduce heating and cooling costs by up
to 20 percent by sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics,
floors over crawl spaces and accessible basement rim joists.
If you’re looking for more information on energy savings projects and
products, just visit homedepot.com/energy.
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