Which GREEN Upgrades are Worth the Extra Expense?

A side-by-side comparison of five simple home upgrades, from up-front investment to lifetime savings. By Lisa Farino

Is your electric bill soaring? If so, you are not alone. Between the increase in energy-thirsty electronics and the rise in utility costs, many Americans are suffering from higher electric bills.

The good news is that by doing a simple cost-comparison can help you shop smarter and ultimately slash your monthly electric bill. But here is the catch: You have got to be lifecycle-cost sensitive not first-cost sensitive.

For those of us who were trained to simply compare price tags and reach for the least expensive product, the distinction is critical. First-cost is what you pay initially to buy a product, be it a car, a refrigerator or a pair of shoes. Lifecycle costs are your total costs related to owning and operating that object.

Take for instance, a car purchase. The first-cost sensitive person decides on what size and type of car they want and what features are important - and then chooses the least expensive make and model that meets those needs. The lifecycle-cost sensitive person, on the other hand, considers those same factors, but also considers the cost of operating the different cars that fit the bill. They look at gas mileage, repair history and the cost of insuring the vehicle, for example. As a result, they may choose a car with a higher sticker price, knowing that over time the car will actually be the less expensive one to own and operate.

Similarly, comparing the lifecycle costs of energy-consuming appliances also lead to significant savings over time. In today's energy-conscious world, there are a wide variety of energy-efficient appliances and other energy-saving devices that may cost a little bit more up front but will yield big returns over time. Here are five that can slash your electric bill, along with a side-by-side comparison of the lifecycle cost for each.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)

One of the easiest ways to slash your electric bill is to change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (those funny-looking spiral ones) use 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs of similar brightness. As the bulbs grow in popularity, prices are falling dramatically. While the initial price of the CFL bulb is slightly higher, it will last 8 to 10 times longer because they can burn for up to 10,000 hours. That alone makes them worth the extra price, even before considering the significant energy savings.

If you are put off by the slightly greater up-front cost, start by replacing the bulbs in the light fixtures you use most commonly. Here is a breakdown of the math:

Action step: Replace one 100-watt incandescent bulb with one 100-watt CFL

Up-front cost: $1 (more per bulb than an incandescent)

Time to pay off: 17 days

Potential annual savings in electricity: $22

Lifetime electrical savings: $77

Total lifetime savings: $83

*Assumptions: Calculations assume CFL bulb cost of $2 vs. $1 for an incandescent; the bulb is on an average of 8 hours per day; an electrical cost of 10 cents/kilo-watt hour (kWh); the CFL bulb last 8 times as long as an incandescent. NOTE: To calculate your potential electrical savings, multiply 770 x $0.05764 (Central Valley Electric's residential electric rate per kWh).

Power Strips

Here is a dirty little secret about your big-screen plasma TV: not only is it a real energy-guzzler when turned on, it may also be consuming substantial amounts of energy when it is turned off. That is because, like many of today's new electroni toys, off does not mean "OFF" but instead means "STANDBY."

As Penni Conner, an energy efficiency expert from the Boston-based energy firm NStar explains, "While some ENERGY STAR 42-inch plasma TVs only consume a half a watt when turned off, others can consume up to 23 watts." Larger plasma TVs can consume even more.

It is called a "phantom load" but its impact on your electric bill is all too real. The only way to cut this drag on your pocketbook is to cut the power to your TV instead of turningit off. If it is inconvenient to unplug the TV from the wall, there is one inexpensive and easy way to truly turn off power to your TV: plug it into a power strip, then turn the power strip off.

If you TV keeps the company of other known energy vampires - such as DVD players, video game consoles and cable receivers - you can save even more money by plugging those into the power strip, too. If you record TV shows while the system is not in use, be sure to plug your receiver and recording device in sparately.

Action step: Plug the components of your home entertainment system into a power strip or surge protector and turn the power strip off when the entertainment center is not in use.

Up-front cost: $10

Time to pay off: 1 year

Potential annual savings in electricity: $10

Lifetime savings: $100

*Assumptions: Calculations assume the power strip is turned off 16 hours/day; devices plugged into the power strip consume a combined total of 17 watts/hour while off, the electricity costs 10 cents per kWh and the device has a lifetime of 10 years. Acutal savings will vary depending on the phantom loads of the various devices plugged into the power strip.

Front-Loading Washing Machines

One of the biggest breakthroughs in large-appliance efficiency has come in washing machines. The front-loading European-style washing machines use 60 percent less energy and water than their top-loading counterparts. In addition, they require less detergent and inflict less wear-and-tear on the clothes than a machine with an agitator.

Because the final spin cycle is so effective at removing water, clothes washed in front-loading machines will also require significantly less time in the dryer. Consumers used to pay a substantial premium for a front-loading washing machine. However, growing demand coupled with a dramatic increase in choices means that consumers can now find energy-efficient front-loading washing machines for only a few hundred dollars more than a convential machine.

Action step: Replace your clothes washer with an energy efficient model

Cost for a top-tier WashWise front-loading washer: $650 for a 3.5 cubic foot model

Cost for a standard front-loading washer: $400 for a 3.5 cubic foot model

Time to pay off: 3 to 5 years

Potential annual savings in electricity: $50 - $90

Lifetime savings: $300 - $740

*Assumptions: Calculations assume appliance life of 11 years. The WashWise designation is broken down into three tiers based on water and energy efficiency; choosing a "top-tier" model will generally result in the highest annual savings. Savings data was calculated by Seattle Public Utilities, and includes money saved on water, electricity and dryer time, and assumes seven loads of laundry per week washed in warm water.

Aerating Showerhead

Heating water is the second largest consumer of energy in the home, second only to heating the house itself, and our daily hot showers are one of the biggest consumers of hot water.

The good news: You do not need to take shorter showers or shower less frequently in order to reduce the water and energy costs. Instead, you can reduce your hot water consumption by up to 20 percent by using an inexpensive aerating showerhead. These showerheads use only 2 gallons of water per minute instead of the 2.5 to 3.5 gallons per minute used by a typical showerhead. The difference may seem small, but over time the savings really add up.

If you choose a showerhead aerator made solely of metal, the showerhead should last indefinitely. In places with hard water, the showerhead may require some basic maintenance to eliminate scale build-up. But if you simply soak it overnight in a solution of one part white vinegar, one part wate, it will be like new.

Action step: Replace one standard showerhead with a low-flow model

Up-front cost: $10

Time to pay off: 8 to 12 months

Potential annual savings in electricity: $10 - $15

Lifetime savings: Potentially hundreds of dollars since an all-metal aerating showerhead last indefinitely

*Assumptions: Data from a study by Seattle Public Utilities, assumes a family of four, with each person showering 7-8 minutes daily using a 3.5 gallon/minutes showerhead.

Programmable Thermostat

"If you really want to focus on energy savings in your home, focus on how you heat and cool your home," says Maria Vargas, and energy efficiency expert at the EPA.

More than half your annual energy bill goes toward heating and cooling your house. Anything you can do to reduce your heating and cooling costs will have a substantial impact. That is why it makes sense to choose energy-efficient central heating and air-conditioning systems when it is time for a replacement.

One cheap and easy way to reduce your heat and cooling costs is to invest in a programmable thermostat. They allow you to spend energy heating and cooling your home only when you need it. Special vacation, sleep and workday setting automatically adjust the thermostat temperature to a lower-cost setting at times when you are away or asleep.

The trick with these thermostats is to program them according to your temperature needs and lifestyle. "A programmable thermostat is not energy efficient just because you have installed it," says Vargas. "It only works as well as you program it."

Action step: Replace and properly program a programmable thermostat

Up-front cost: $100

Time to pay off: Less than one year

Potential annual savings in electricity: $150

Lifetime savings: At least $2,000, since these thermostats will generally last at least 15 years

*Assumptions: Assumes thermostat is used year-round with central heating and central air-conditioning