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Energy Efficiency Saves Money. But How Much? You already know that almost any investment you make to improve your energy efficiency will save you money. But how soon? What purchases pay back the fastest? Find out how much you know -- and don't know -- about the potential savings from efficiency: [You can find the answers by taking the quiz, or if you don't like playing games, you can go directly to our answer page.] 1. You spend $40 to replace 10 incandescent bulbs with CFLs. How much will you save in electricity in one year? In five years? one year: $26, five years: $164 one year: $48, five years: $304 one year: $92, five years: $582 Ten bulbs? I read with my headlamp and wake with the sun. 2. If all U.S. households in the United States replaced 10 incandescents with CFLs, how much money and CO2 would we save in one year? $1.2 billion and 500,000 tons of CO2 $10.4 billion and 81 million tons of CO2 $25.6 billion and 50 billion tons of CO2 Enough to light our way to a clean energy future 3. You spend $10-$20 on a clothesline or rack and hang your clothes to dry in the sun. How much will you save in energy costs? one year: $80, five years: $508 one year: $40, five years: $254 one year: $110, five years: $698 Hang them? I put them on wet and take a walk in the sun. 4. Most modern electronics in your house today don't completely shut off when you press the off button on your remote, but go into "standby mode." How much does standby mode cost Americans each year? $400,000 $4,000,000 $4,000,000,000 I'm unplugging all my electronics right now. 5. You buy a new hybrid for $23,000 instead of a sedan that cost $19,000 and gets 22.5 miles per gallon. How long before you’ve recouped your additional costs? 3.4 years 5.3 years 7.1 years Doesn't matter. I'd buy a hybrid even if there weren't a payback. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club