Energy Saving Tips

For a home energy audit, visit Home Energy Saver.

Weatherizing & insulating:

Tiny cracks and leaks in a typical home can add up to a hole the size of a wide-open window. You can seal these leaks with a few inexpensive items from your local hardware or home supply store.

On a windy day feel for leaks around windows, air conditioners, and door frames. Also check any areas where wiring or plumbing goes through floors, ceilings, or exterior walls.

Use weatherstripping around air conditioners, doors, and window frames. Use silicon caulk where window frames meet the wall or where wiring or plumbing cut through ceilings or walls.

If windows need replacing, consider energy-efficient windows, which can cut energy loss by 50% or more. These include double-paned storm windows and low emissivity (low-E) glass with special coatings.

Insulating:

Insulation's effectiveness is measured by its R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation keeps heat out in summer and in during winter.

Insulate all air ducts that pass through areas that aren't heated or cooled.

Insulating attics, basements, and crawl spaces could be do-it-yourself projects, but be sure leaks are sealed first.

Improving attic insulation can save 10 to 50% of your heating and cooling costs.

Heating & Cooling:

Heating and cooling have the potential for big energy savings. After weatherproofing and insulating, make sure the heating and cooling systems are running efficiently and central systems are serviced yearly by a professional.

To keep equipment running well and make indoor air cleaner, keep heating and cooling air ducts clean and outdoor equipment free of dirt and debris.

If your furnace or air conditioner filter is too dirty to see much light through it, it's time to clean or replace it.

When you go away for the day in the summer, close windows, doors, and draperies, and set your cooling system thermostat 10 degrees warmer. In cold weather, set heat to 59 degrees or lower. Reset to the desired temperature when you return. You'll use less energy to restore the house to a normal temperature when you return than if you keep systems running while you're gone.

If your heating or cooling equipment is more than 10 years old, you can reduce your energy use significantly with new high-efficiency unit.

During winter, for every degree you lower your heat (within the range of 60 degrees to 72 degrees) you save about 3% of your heating consumption.

During summer, for every degree you raise your air conditioner thermostat setting (within the range of 70 to 80 degrees) you cut cooling consumption 3% to 4%.

Water Heating

Use less water-especially less hot water-to keep bills down.

Save energy by setting your water heater temperature at 120 degrees F. (140 degrees F may be necessary if your dishes need hotter water to get clean or your dishwasher doesn't have a booster heater.) If you have an electric water heater, turn off the power before changing the setting.

Wash only full loads in your dishwasher. A dishwasher uses even more energy to dry dishes than to wash them. Save by selecting no-heat dry.

Use cold or warm water to wash all but the most heavily soiled clothes. Rinse only with cold. Match water level to load size.

Changing to low-flow shower-heads can save 40% to 60% of annual water heating costs for showering.

Major Appliances

Use your microwave whenever possible-it's the most energy-efficient way to cook or heat small amounts of food.

Don't use your oven to heat the kitchen-it's inefficient and can be unsafe.

Turn off your electric range a few minutes before cooking is finished. Retained heat will complete the job.

Clean your clothes dryer lint filter after each load. Check dryer exhaust ducts for leaks or plugging and make sure they're vented outside in the summer.

Don't overdry-it harms clothes and wastes energy. If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it to automatically turn off the unit when clothes are dry.

Don't forget the clothes line. It's the most energy-efficient dryer of all.

Turn It Off, Switch It Off, or Unplug It

Turn off lights when they're not being used.
Unplug infrequently used televisions, VCRs, and other electronic devices, especially those with digital time and date displays.
Switch off the water heater in an unused waterbed.

When you think about it, turning something off saves all the energy it was burning-100%. Therefore, you'll never save more money than when something is turned off or unplugged.

A Brighter Idea

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) use up to 75% less electricity than standard bulbs, can last up to 10 times longer, and produce the same amount of light. They cost more initially, but pay for themselves in lower bills and fewer replacements.

Facts about CFLs

Resources:

Energy Conservation Brochure

Use Energy Wisely

Home Energy Savings Guide