Arizonans can take a few simple steps to conserve energy in the home. The same is true as employees. By taking an active role in practicing energy conservation in the office, employees can cut business costs and help ensure an abundance of reliable electricity, especially during the peak summer months. Here are seven easy tips to save energy in the workplace:

• Turn off lights or install occupancy sensors in areas that are often unoccupied including storage areas, conference rooms and offices.
• Shut off or use energy-saver settings on non-essential computers and office equipment like copiers and scanners when not in use.
• Set office thermostats slightly higher. For every degree higher, your business will save two to three percent on cooling costs. Set office thermostats 6-8 degrees higher when unoccupied.
• Use the steps rather than the elevator. Not only will you save energy, this will be good for your health!
• Investigate energy saving measures such as high efficiency lighting that can save on your energy and where you can receive APS energy conservation incentives. (See aps.com for more information).
• Put together an employee team to brainstorm innovative ways to reduce the amount of electricity your business uses. Utilize company communication resources to spread the word about being energy smart at work and at home.
• Visit APS.com to learn more about reducing your energy usage and to perform a free energy efficiency survey for your business.

APS, Arizona's largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 1 million customers in 11 of the state's 15 counties.

Get additional information from Arizona Public Services

By following simple energy-saving tips as we reach the height of summer time temperatures, you can do your part to not only keep your electricity bill down, but also help conserve energy. Some tips recently release by ComEd include:

• While at home, keep the thermostat at a constant, comfortable level such as 76 to 78 degrees. Lowering the thermostat below the desired temperature will not cool the home faster.


• Run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or evening hours when it's cooler outside.


• Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Blinds and curtains act as a layer of insulation that helps keep the home cool.


• Place window air conditioning units on the north or shady side of the home to avoid overworking the unit in the hot daytime sun.

Intel and Google recently announced that they are joining with Dell, EDS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, PG&E, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and more than 25 additional organizations for the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. The goal of the new environmental effort is to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting aggressive new targets for energy-efficient computers and components, and promoting the adoption of energy-efficient computers and power management tools worldwide.

"Today, the average desktop PC wastes nearly half of its power, and the average server wastes one-third of its power," said Urs Hölzle, senior vice president, Operations & Google Fellow. "The Climate Savers Computing Initiative is setting a new 90 percent efficiency target for power supplies, which if achieved, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54 million tons per year—and save more than $5.5 billion in energy costs.

"We are asking businesses and individuals throughout the world to join with us to institute better power management of their computing equipment and purchase energy-efficient computers," Hölzle added.

Initial companies who intend to participate in the initiative represent both the demand and supply side of the computer industry, including computer manufacturers and chip makers, as well as environmental groups, energy companies, retailers, government agencies and more. The group will formalize its membership in coming weeks.

"By 2010, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative will cut greenhouse gas emissions in an amount equal to removing more than 11 million cars from the road or shutting down 20 500-megawatt coal-fired power plants—a significant step in reducing the emissions affecting our planet," said Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group.

"Computers have helped us make huge strides toward a more efficient world today, with reduced travel, more productivity, online transactions and more," Gelsinger added. "But with today's latest energy-efficient technologies, we can do even more. The commitment of the member companies that are here with us today is a firm statement to the collective resolve to make an enormous impact."

Computer and computer component manufacturers who support the initiative are committed to building energy-efficient products that meet or surpass the EPA's Energy Star® guidelines. Businesses must also commit to requiring high efficiency systems for the majority of their corporate desktop PCs and volume server purchases, and to deploy and use power management tools on desktop PCs.

Individual consumers can also support the Climate Savers Computing Initiative by signing up at www.climatesaverscomputing.org, where they will be able to pledge to purchase an initiative-certified system. The Web site will also help consumers learn how to take advantage of their existing computer's power-saving capabilities such as sleep and hibernate modes, which can reduce the amount of energy consumed by up to 60 percent.

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative licensed its name from the WWF Climate Savers program, which involves several leading companies working to reduce their carbon footprint.

"This is the first time our Climate Savers program has been applied to an entire sector, engaging manufacturers, retailers and consumers," said John Donoghue, senior vice president for the World Wildlife Fund. "We are pleased to join these industry leaders to provide solutions to address climate change."

The initiative's energy efficiency benchmarks will initially follow the EPA's Energy Star guidelines; but with increasing requirements during the next several years. For example, 2007 Energy Star specifications require that PC power supplies meet at least 80 percent minimum efficiency. The initiative would require a minimum of 90 percent by 2010. In addition, the initiative sets a higher efficiency target in the power supply for volume servers (1U and 2U single-socket and dual-socket systems): an increase from 85 percent to 92 percent efficiency by 2010. For a complete description of the requirements, see www.climatesaverscomputing.org.

Memorial Day Weekend unofficially marks the start of summer, with hotter days and family road trips following close behind. Since the costs of cooling your home and filling up your car can add up, the Federal Trade Commission is offering tips to save you money.

Saving Starts @ Home: The Insider Story on Conserving Energy offers energy conservation tips to help consumers save money in every room of the house, from the attic to the garage:

• Win With Windows - If you're in the market for new windows, consider high-efficiency alternatives. Look for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label, an independent industry rating system for the energy performance of windows, doors, and skylights.
• Water Heater 120 - Make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees. Some thermostats are preset to 140 degrees, which can cost you more money.
• Be a Fan of Energy Efficiency - Consider a "whole-house" fan. In the summer, it circulates cool air through the house and vents warm air through the attic. It works best at night and when the air outside is cooler than inside.

For more tips, check out the Savings Starts @ Home site. The site is also available in Spanish.

Worried about your impact on the environment? The National Forest Foundation has developed a Carbon Calculator to help estimate your carbon footprint, or the amount of carbon dioxide that your daily activities release into the atmosphere through the combustion of fossil fuels. Plug your numbers into the Carbon Calculator to see how you compare to the average American.

Once you've calculated your footprint, one of the ways you can reduce it is to get green renewable energy through GreenEnergyChoice.com. Enter your address to see what environmentally-friendly electricity is available for your home now.

In honor of Earth Day, Business Week devoted it's weekly "Five for the Money" to a few quiet ways to make homes more energy-efficient. The magazine focused it's tips on the ways that homeowners can make smaller investments that over the course of months or years can recoup up-front costs.

Here are a few of their suggestions:

Follow the EnergyStar
A joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Dept., EnergyStar is probably the easiest way to pick out energy-saving appliances. According to the program, a family using approved appliances can save up to a third on its energy bill—complemented by a similar reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Since the EPA began the program in 1992 with products that included computers and monitors it has expanded to consumer goods ranging from lights to refrigerators. The program aims to endorse products that have equivalent performance to their more wasteful counterparts.

Watch Your Water
Anyone can take shorter showers or run the dishwasher less often, but there are also devices that can help. For one thing, inexpensive flow reducers can reduce a faucet or shower head's output without sacrificing water pressure.

Less known is a device called the Metlund Hot Water D'MAND System put out by Costa Mesa (Calif.)-based Advanced Conservation Technology. The device recirculates water from the hot water pipes to ensure that bathers are never running the faucet waiting for hot water. As with so many tricks in the green arena, the savings are gradual but, Johnston says, real.

Dual flush toilets could also become more common. Available from several manufacturers, they allow users to decide flush intensity depending on their needs. Even with the amount of water expended per flush shrinking in normal toilets, Smith says families will quickly recoup their money with one of these commodes.

For more tips, check out the full article Five Green Fixes for Your Home.

According to ENERGY STAR, the average family spends $1,900 a year on energy bills, much of which goes to heating and cooling. To help you reduce your energy use this summer, they've created the ENERGY STAR @ home Interactive Tool that gives advice and energy-efficient home improvement ideas. By following EPA's recommendations for home sealing, proper use of a programmable thermostat, and a well-maintained, energy-efficient heating and cooling system, you can save as much as 20 percent annually on total energy costs, while reducing your home's energy consumption and environmental impact.

Individual actions at home can add up to a lot of savings—in terms of energy, money, and greenhouse gas emissions. ENERGY STAR recommends these five simple steps to help Cool Your World this summer:

1. RAISE YOUR "COOL" IQ
Learning how energy is used in your home is an important step toward cutting energy costs, improving your home's energy efficiency and protecting the environment. Raise your "cool" IQ by visiting ENERGY STAR @ home Interactive Tool for energy-efficient home improvement ideas and energy saving tips and advice for your entire house.

2. GET A CHECKUP
Dirt and neglect are the primary causes of system failure. Schedule an annual, pre-season maintenance checkup with a licensed contractor to ensure your cooling system is operating efficiently and safely. Be sure to clean or change your system's air filter according to the filter's instructions—generally once a month. Keep it clean to keep it efficient.

3. SEAL THE DEAL
Don't let the hot air in and your cool air out. Find and seal air leaks that cause drafts and make your cooling system work overtime. You or a licensed contractor can follow ENERGY STAR Home Sealing recommendations to tighten your home's "envelope"—outer walls, ceiling, windows, and floors.

4. GET WITH THE PROGRAM
Save energy by taking advantage of periods in the day when your home doesn't need to be kept as cool. A programmable thermostat, set and used properly, can save up to $150 in energy costs each year. Ceiling fans can also cut home energy use—turn the thermostat up several degrees while using the fans to deliver the extra cooling comfort.

By combining these tips with renewable energy from companies available through GreenEnergyChoice, you can save money and help save the environment. Enter your address to see what's available for your home now.