- Shop for Cost-saving Appliances
Shop for Cost-saving Appliances
Be energy-efficient savvy when buying household items.
Federal Trade Commission
Need a new home appliance? The best buy may not necessarily be the one that costs the least. Energy efficiency should be part of your decision-making process.
You are on a budget and you need a new appliance, such as a kitchen refrigerator. Is the best buy the one with the lowest price? Not necessarily.
How much an appliance costs depends on three things: purchase price, repair & maintenance expenses, and energy costs. To estimate how much you will spend over time, you have to consider all these costs. Energy efficiency is an important part of any decision.
All new home appliances must meet government energy conservation standards. Many appliances exceed those standards and can save you even more money.
Even if two models look the same, certain features on the inside can mean a big difference in energy bills.
Look for the EnergyGuide label. Manufacturers must use standard tests that let you compare the annual energy use of different models. The law requires manufacturers to put those labels on the outside or inside of many types of appliances. (Labels are not required on dryers, ranges, and microwaves.)
The EnergyGuide label can tell you:
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Capacity
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Estimated annual operating costs (for refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, and water heaters)
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Range of estimated annual costs of similar appliances
Even a small benefit in energy efficiency can have a big payoff over the life of the appliance.
When shopping, look for the Energy Star logo. To earn the logo, appliances must meet efficiency standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Department of Energy.
Qualified appliances that carry the Energy Star designation incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models. Look for energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners, and dehumidifiers that have earned the Energy Star label.
For more information, visit the Department of Energy’s Web Site at www.energysavers.gov.
Created for NEA members and their families, the NEA Member Benefits Web Site informs, assists, and keeps you up-to-date. Each month you will find members-only offerings, discounts, and giveaways. You will also find interactive tools to help you manage your resources. Visit www.neamb.com today and take full advantage of your Association membership.
- Find Where Your Home Has Air Leaks
Find Where Your Home Has Air Leaks
Save energy by doing detective work on leakages.
U.S. Department of Energy
Your home can be more energy efficient if you figure out where air is leaking to the outside. There are some simple tests you can use to become your own household detective and to save on fuel costs.
Your house may have leaks, increasing your fuel bill. It will pay to find the source of those leaks.
You may already know where some air leakage occurs in your home, such as an under-the-door draft, but you will need to find the less obvious gaps to properly air seal a home.
For a thorough and accurate measurement of air leakage in your home, you can hire a qualified technician to conduct an energy audit, particularly a blower door test. A blower door test, which depressurizes a home, can reveal the location of many leaks. A complete energy audit will also help determine areas in your home that need more insulation.
Be your own household detective. There are ways to find some air leaks yourself without a blower door test:
First, look for places where different materials meet, such as between brick and wood siding, between foundation and walls, and between the chimney and siding.
Inspect around the following areas for any cracks and gaps that could cause air leaks:
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Door and window frames
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Mail chutes
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Electrical and gas service entrances
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Cable TV and phone lines
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Outdoor water faucets
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Where dryer vents pass through walls
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Bricks, siding, stucco, and foundation
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Air conditioners
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Vents and fans
You can also depressurize your home yourself to detect leaks. Here’s how:
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Turn off your furnace on a cool, very windy day.
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Shut all windows and doors.
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Turn on all exhaust fans that blow air outside, such as bathroom fans or stove vents.
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Light an incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak sites. Wherever the smoke is sucked out of or blown into the room, there's a draft.
If you don't want to turn off your furnace, you can just turn on all your exhaust fans to depressurize your home.
Other air-leak detection methods include the following:
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Shining a flashlight at night over all potential gaps while a partner observes the house from outside. Large cracks will show up as rays of light. However, this is not a good way to detect small cracks.
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Shutting a door or window on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out without tearing it, you're losing energy.
Created for NEA members and their families, the NEA Member Benefits Web Site informs, assists, and keeps you up-to-date. Each month you will find members-only offerings, discounts, and giveaways. You will also find interactive tools to help you manage your resources. Visit www.neamb.com today and take full advantage of your Association membership.
- Travel Tips for Airports
Travel tips for Airports
Know the rules for getting through airport security during the holidays.
Transportation Security Administration
As you prepare for holiday air travel, it pays to know the procedures for getting through security checkpoints smoothly and quickly. In particular, know what “3-1-1” means.
As you prepare for holiday air travel, it pays to know the procedures for getting through security checkpoints smoothly and quickly. In particular, know what “3-1-1” means.
The Transportation Security Administration’s “3-1-1” program:
- Liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers three ounces or less,
- Items must be put in a one quart, clear plastic zip-top bag, and
- Only one zip-top bag per passenger.
Here are holiday travel tips from TSA:
Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, the official may have to unwrap your gift. Wrap gifts after arriving at your destination.
Apply 3-1-1 to gifts. “3-1-1” is not just about shampoo and toothpaste. Food items such as jams, salsas, sauces, syrups and dips will not be allowed through the checkpoint unless they are in containers three ounces or less and in the passengers one quart zip-top bag. This applies to gift items including lotions, creams, scented oil, liquid soaps, perfumes, and even snow globes, that are in excess of three ounces ─ even if they are in sealed gift packs. TSA suggests that you ship these items prior to your trip or put them in your checked baggage.
Any of these items WILL be allowed on the plane IF you purchase them after the security checkpoint. TSA allows liquid items purchased after the checkpoint onto planes because these items have been previously screened.
Know what items are prohibited on planes. A gift you plan to bring in your carry-on bag might be on TSA's Prohibited Item list. These items delay the screening process for you and other passengers. If you are not sure which items are allowed, click here to see the list of prohibited items.
Arrive on time. Check with your carrier for suggested arrival times. You must have a boarding pass and valid government photo ID to enter the security checkpoint. Give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
Dress the part. Metal in your clothing may set off the walk-through metal detector. Pack coins, keys, jewelry, belt buckles and other metal items in your carry-on bag. Shoes must be removed and screened by TSA, so wear shoes you can easily take on and off to speed the process. Winter coats, blazers, suit jackets and bulky sweaters also must be removed and put in the bin for screening. Learn more about the screening experience, dressing the part, and what to expect.
Be considerate and save jokes for after the checkpoint. TSA says “our security officers are working to keep bombs off of airplanes. Please follow their directions. Belligerent behavior, inap
