Fact versus fiction regarding energy efficiency

Sometimes, it's hard to tell what's right and wrong when it comes to conserving energy.

Should we ditch the dishwasher and wash our dishes by hand? Is it better to turn your computer off when not in use or leave it on all day? These can be tricky questions. We've compiled a list of our favorites from an article here.

Here's a list clarifying what's true and false regarding energy conservation:

When your appliance are off, no energy is used

False. Instead, un-plug your appliances or use a power strip. When appliances are turned off, a phenomenon known as "phantom load" occurs and energy is still slowly drained.

Fill your refrigerator with food to combat energy waste

True. A full fridge is a happy fridge. The more space used inside the fridge, the less work required to keep the temperature constant.

Ditch the dishwasher and handwash your dishes

False. Get this, handwashing dishes uses more energy than loading and running your dishwasher. To save water when dishwashing, scrape the plates clean but don't bother pre-rinsing by hand.

Fill your tank only half-way with gas
True. The lighter your car, the better the fuel efficiency. If you have a lot of stuff in your car, ditch it. This will help with your gas mileage.

Buy a light colored car if you live somewhere warm

True. Darker vehicles suck in the heat, and lighter vehicles reflect. Robert Sinclair Jr. of AAA says, "It's one of those esoteric gas saving tips."

Energy-efficiency spending is on the rise

When it comes to energy efficiency, businesses are willing to put their money where their mouth is.

Johnson Controls Inc. conducted a survey of more than 1,400 executives in North America about current energy costs, energy-efficiency spending trends and mitigation plans.

The findings? According to a recent article, energy efficiency is the top priority. In fact, spending on energy efficiency will lead to lower carbon-emissions. But that's not the only reason businesses are dishing out the cash. Higher energy costs are projected for the future. There are government and utility incentives galore, as well greenhouse gas and energy efficiency regulations.

Clay Nesler, the Vice President of Global Energy and Sustainability at Johnson Controls, talks about the pressures from different sources "We often tend to think of energy and climate policy as being either national or international, but actually a lot of commitments are being made by cities and universities. Companies are also reporting to initiatives like the Carbon Disclosure Project," he says.

Businesses are ready to invest. Vice president at Dow Chemical Co., Peter Molinaro, says the company has seen a payback through its commitment, launched in 1994, to reduce its energy intensity by 20 percent by 2005. The new plan will boost the company's investment in energy-efficiency by an extra 25 percent by 2015. The company has invested $1 billion but has seen a $9 billion payback, he said.

Where is the money going? According to a Fast Company article, the money will go into a variety of places. Energy efficient lighting at 72 percent, occupancy or daylight sensors at 40 percent, trained facilities staff at 63 percent and upgraded business controls at 33 percent.