Cool Ways To Lower Energy Bills (NAPSA)—If energy costs are getting you hot underthecollar, consider these hints: Install a programmable thermostat you can turn down when youre not home. Use compact fluorescent lightbulbs. e Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Plug homeelectronics, such as TVs and DVDplayers, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use. (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power.) Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120F. Take short showersinstead of baths. Washonly full loads of dishes and clothes. Keep your homecooling costs from going through the roof by installing a cool roof that can help reduce energy use. Steel shingles are not only energy efficient, they can reduce roof heat by 100 degrees. A cool roof reflects and emits the sun’s heat back to the sky instead of transferring it to the building below. Benefits of a cool roof can include: Energy savings Improved occupant comfort A possible tax savings. If your roof tiles are Energy Star—qualified by the U.S. Depart- ment of Energy and the Environ- mental Protection Agency, you may qualify for tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It provides up to $1,500 in tax credits for installing a qualified energy-efficient roof Installing a “cool” metal root may reduce the energy required to heat your house and mayalsobeeligible for federal tax credits. before the end of 2010. The tax credit applies only to existing principal residences. Your tax professional can determine if you qualify. Qualified roof products reflect more of the sun’s rays, decreasing the amount of heat transferred into your home. The amount of energy savings, if any, depends on the building’s design, location and various other factors. Fortunately, you can get cool metal rooftiles in a variety of styles and colors, including slate and cedarlooks. The MetalWorks Cool Color Steel Shingles from TAMKO Building Products, Inc., one of the largest roofing manufacturers in the U.S., are impact andfire resistant and come with a 50-year limited warranty. For Learn More more information on Energy Star—qualified products and the possibility of earning tax credits, see your tax professional and the “ARRA Tax Credits” link on the bottom of the Web site www.TAMKO.com. You can also learn morebycall- ing (800) 641-4691.
