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Test Your Energy IQ

1. What percentage of electricity use in your home is due to consumer electronics?

1%
5%
15%
20%

2. By merely shutting off home electronics, you automatically discontinue electricity
consumption.

True
False

QUICK TIP: Look for the ENERGY STAR on consumer electronics products. Qualified products use less energy without sacrificing quality or performance. Many consumer electronics products use energy even when switched off. Electronics equipment that have earned the ENERGY STAR help save energy when off, while maintaining features like clock displays, channel settings, and remote control functions.

3. In most households, what is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen
appliance?

Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove

QUICK TIP: Don't be fooled by frost in your refrigerator freezer. It's not keeping the food colder. It's just a waste of energy and money. To be energy efficient, your appliances need to run at maximum efficiency. This means regularly dusting the coils, cleaning the oven and range, as well as defrosting refrigerator freezers. This will help them to run at their specified calibrations, therefore saving you money.

4. How much less energy do ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators really use?

5%
30%
50%

5. What is the more energy efficient way to cook?

Gas
Electric

6. What's the single easiest thing you can do in your bedroom to save energy?

Replace my current light bulbs with energy efficient ones.
Stay in bed all day and sleep.
That's none of your business.

QUICK TIP: Lighting is one of the easiest places to start saving energy. Replacing your five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR qualified lights can save over $60 a year in energy costs. ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures feature stylish designs and are available in a variety of models, such as table lamps. ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) provide high-quality light output, use less energy, and last 6-10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs, saving money on energy bills and replacement costs.

7. What is the commonly quoted return on investment on energy efficient lighting?

$1.50 for every dollar spent.
$4.00 for every dollar spent.
$2.00 for every dollar spent.
$2.50 for every dollar spent.

QUICK TIP: Most folks don't realize that the efficient light bulb has come a long way. They are no longer "squiggly florescent" bulbs. Rather, the latest technology looks more like traditional light bulbs, can work on dimmers, and are even made for chandelier and sconce lighting.

8. Is it possible to actually "overdry" your clothes?

Yes
No

QUICK TIP: The simplest way to improve dryer efficiency is to clean the lint trap before every load. Also: Try to only dry full loads, or else reduce drying time for partial loads.

9. How much of the energy consumed by your washing machine goes toward
electricity to power the washer motor?

All of it. 100%
50%
10%
None of it. 0%

QUICK TIP: Many households can effectively switch to washing most loads in cold water by using the correct detergents. If you have an electric water heater, this can save you up to $400 a year. The savings if you have a gas water heater can reach $300 annually.

10. What is the ideal temperature for the thermostat on your hot water heater?

120 degrees Fahrenheit
140 degrees
212 degrees
110 degrees

QUICK TIP: You can save up to 5 gal. of hot water by taking a shower instead of a bath.

11. How much money could you be losing by having energy inefficient windows
in your bedroom?

Nothing. Plus, I enjoy the cold, blustery draft coming through my windows in
January.
Less than $10.
Maybe a few hundred dollars. But replacing them would be much more
expensive.
Over $500 a year.

12. Leaky pipes are irritating and run up your water bill, but they have nothing
to do with wasting energy.

True
False

QUICK TIP: Fixing drips is an easy and cost effective way to save yourself some money on your electric bills. And it can also help save your sanity by eliminating the sound of water dripping in the middle of the night.

13. Now that you are remodeling the bathroom that you've had since you bought
your house in 1986, what is the one thing you should replace to save some
energy and money in the bathroom?

The lime green and hot pink tile, of course.
The mirror. I want one of those new ones that don't fog up when I am trying
to blow dry my hair.
The shower head.
The shag carpet my wife really loved when we first got married.

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