FTC Offers the Inside Story on Conserving Energy and Increasing Fuel Efficiency

The Federal Trade Commission now has two Web sites available in Spanish to help consumers save money. One offers energy conservation tips to help consumers save money in every room of the house. The other offers tips for improving fuel efficiency from bumper to bumper on a car.

The Web site, Saving Starts @ Home: The Insider Story on Conserving Energy, in Spanish at www.ftc.gov/ahorraenergia, offers information on cutting utility costs:

• In the Attic. Choosing the right insulation can mean lower energy costs year-round. Saving Starts @ Home gives tips on attic energy savers.
  
• In the Kitchen. When buying new appliances, the price tag is only one consideration. The FTC shows consumers how the EnergyGuide label can help them select the most energy-efficient option.
  
• In the Living Room. Saving Starts @ Home sheds light on how consumers can save energy when lighting their home.
  
• In the Utility Room. The FTC offers information on buying furnaces and air conditioners and maintaining them at their energy-efficient best.
  
• In the Trash Room. Saving Starts @ Home explains phrases like “recyclable” and “biodegradable” and the meanings of common recycling symbols.
  
• In the Garage. Consumers can get tips on saving money in the garage, at the pump, and on the road by visiting Saving Starts @ Home.

Consumers should know that every car’s estimated gas mileage is just that – an estimate. Important variables, such as how drivers fuel, drive, and maintain their car, can offer increased fuel efficiency, saving money at the pump. The FTC’s new Web site in Spanish at www.ftc.gov/ahorregasolina offers tips for each part of the car, including the trunk, gas tank, tires, driver’s seat, steering wheel, and under the hood.

The FTC also has a new update for its gasoline column, available in English. The column is designed to give consumers clear information on the issues surrounding the price of gasoline and what they can do to get the most out of every gallon they buy.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.