How To Save Energy Around The House

  1. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LED Bulbs. CFLs will save you up to 75% of lighting costs and will save the environment from approximately 1,3000 pounds of carbon dioxide over the course of its lifetime. This is because CFLs use one-quarter to one-third as much electricity as incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer.
  2. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Turn off lights that you don’t need (for example, if you are sitting at a desk reading, use a desk lamp instead of the overhead light).
  3. Unplug electronics and battery chargers when you are not using them. Even when these items are turned off, they still draw electricity. This is called vampire power and all your small household electronics can draw power as your refrigerator.
  4. Get an energy audit. Hire someone to come find the "weak spots" in your home and figure out how to improve them to save energy and save money on your energy bills. Try RESNET to locate a rater (NHER if you’re in the UK) or U.S. Department of Energy for instructions on how to perform a DIY energy audit.
  5. Install low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and high efficiency toilets. This will of course save water, but it will also save energy in the pumping, transporting, and treating of your water.
  6. Lower your thermostat a few degrees in the winter. An ideal temperature for a home is 68 degrees. If you leave the house for a prolonged period of time in the winter, turn the thermostat down more. This can save you between $10 and $30 per month on your heating bill. By turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours, you can save about 5 to 15% a year on heating bills. If you have an air-conditioning system, turn your thermostat up in summer (78 degrees when you’re home, 85 when you’re not). Install a programmable thermostat to schedule changes in temperature according to your schedule. These can save up to $115 annually on your energy bills.
  7. Close your curtains or window shades during the night to keep in heat and open them during the day to let the sun warm your room and reduce heating needs. In the winter, opening curtains and shades in the day can let in sunshine and heat up your home. Closing curtains at night will prevent some heat from escaping and will reduce the chill from windows. In the summer, keep curtains and shades closed in the day to prevent unnecessary heat gain (especially if you are not at home).
  8. When you are buying new appliances, go for Energy Star. They’re up to 40% more efficient than other models. You can even find rebates online with the Energy Star rebate finder.
  9. If your heating equipment is over 15 years old, try Energy Star furnaces, boilers, etc. New furnaces are generally 15% more efficient than older models. Getting properly sized equipment is also crucial.
  10. When you’re home, turn your water heater down to 120 degrees. When you’re away, turn it to its lowest setting.
  11. Wash your clothes in cold water. 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes to heating water.
  12. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer only when they are fully loaded.
  13. Line dry your clothes as much as possible, especially in the summer. When you use your dryer, make sure the outside vent is clear and the lint filter is clean. If you need a new dryer, try to find one with a moisture sensor in order to turn off the dryer automatically when your clothes are dry.
  14. Check for air gaps and fix any leaky spots with weather stripping and caulking.
  15. Properly insulate your home. You can check how much insulation you have by measuring the depth with a ruler. 7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of cellulose mean you have a level of R-22. If you have less than this level, it would be good to add more insulation. This can save 5 to 25% on your heating and cooling costs.
  16. Consider installing high efficiency windows. These windows, such as those with double panes of high performance glass, are 40% more efficient than standard windows. If your windows are operable, make sure you know how to use them properly for natural ventilation.

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