You might not think that replacing a lightbulb or turning the thermostat down a few degrees will significantly reduce your energy bill or protect the environment, but every little bit helps. Here are some simple ways to reduce your home energy use:
| Energy Usage |
Potential Savings |
| Stove |
Cover pots when boiling water or soup and they will heat up more quickly.
Keeping burner grease plates clean will help reflect heat more evenly.
|
| Kitchen appliances |
Slow cookers, toaster ovens, and microwaves use up to 75 percent less energy than an electric oven. |
| Refrigerator |
Each time you open the refrigerator door, up to 30 percent of the cold air escapes, so minimize the amount of time the doors are open.
Check the seal on your refrigerator door by closing it on a piece of paper. If you can easily remove the paper, the gaskets may need to be replaced.
Don’t overload your refrigerator or freezer, air must circulate to keep foods at proper temperatures. |
| Dishwasher |
Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying cycle, and wash only full loads. |
| Thermostat |
Install a programmable thermostat. Setting the temperature back by 10 degrees for eight hours every night will lower your heating bills by 10%. A digital thermostat can pay for itself in less than a year.
Set your thermostat at 68 degrees during winter days, and 78 degrees in summer. |
| Heating and cooling |
In winter, keep curtains and blinds closed at night to keep cold air out but open them during the day to let the sun warm the room. |
| Air conditioning |
Make sure your window air conditioner is the proper size – it is better to have a unit that is too small than one that is too large. A larger unit will cycle on and off more frequently. |
| Fans |
An attic fan draws hot air out of the house, potentially lowering the temperature by five degrees in less than 10 minutes. Attic fans cost less than 25 cents a day to operate. |
| Fireplace |
Keep the flue closed unless you are using the fireplace. Leaving the flue open is like having a six-inch hole in your house. |
| Hot water heater |
Make sure your hot water heater is insulated and set the thermostat at 120 degrees. |
| Insulation |
Upgrading from 3 to 12 inches of attic insulation can cut heating costs by 20 percent, and cooling costs by 10 percent.
If your home has no wall insulation, position heavy furniture along exterior walls to block heat loss. |
| Lighting |
Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Select a wattage that is 1/3 of the incandescent wattage you previously used. |
| Computers |
Turn off computers and monitors when not in use. Screen savers do not save energy. |
| Home electronics |
Up to 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed when the devices are turned off. Plug TVs, DVD players, etc., into power strips and turn off the power strip when not in use. |
| Clothes Washer |
Switching to warm or cold water instead of hot can cut the energy use by half. Wash only full loads.
New front-loading Energy Star appliances cost more when you buy, but will save money and energy in the long run. |
| Clothes dryer |
Clean the lint filter after every load to improve air circulation. A clogged screen makes your dryer use up to 30 percent more energy, and can also be a fire hazard. |
| Low flow showerheads |
While these devices won’t reduce your water pressure, they can save up to $250/year in water heating costs. |
| Doors and Windows |
Storm doors keep your home sealed so there are fewer drafts. Place weather-stripping around windows and doors. |
| Outdoor lighting |
Replace incandescent floodlights with high-pressure sodium fixtures. They use less energy, last longer, and can better handle temperature extremes. |
| Landscaping |
Use trees and plants to provide shade and act as windbreaks. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a house needs for cooling. |