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Test for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.
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Install motion sensors on light switches.
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Check for leaky toilets – put a drop of food coloring in the tank; if color appear in the bowl without flushing, there is a leak that should be fixed and a possible savings of 400 gallons per month!!
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Get rid of spare refrigerators or freezers. An extra appliance can add more than $100 to your energy bills every year, and it’s a safety hazard for small children.
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Install patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens to shade your home from the sun. For additional future savings, use strategically planted trees, shrubs and vines to shade your home.
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During the heating season, keep the draperies and blinds on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight and heat to enter your home.
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Use your oven instead of your cook top to cut cooking costs. Surface units heat continuously, but an insulated oven normally heats one-third of the time it’s in use.
- Cooking temperatures can drop as much as 50º every time the oven door is opened, causing the oven to reheat.
- Use the oven’s self-cleaning cycle only for big cleaning jobs. Start the cycle while the oven is still hot from baking.
- Use small appliances such as crock pots, electric frying pans, toaster ovens, and microwave ovens to save when cooking.
- Take short showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower uses about half as much water as a bath.
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Keep outdoor hot tubs covered when not in use. If you have a pool, use a solar cover to use the natural warmth of the sun to heat the water.
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Turn your water heater down to 120° or the "Normal" setting when home, and to the lowest setting when away. Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs
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Repaint building exterior with light colors. More sunlight will be reflected away from the building, thus lowering air-conditioning expenses. This is especially true for your roof.
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Take steps to cut water use such as installing faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and low-flush toilets.
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Keep waterbeds covered with quilts or blankets to help retain their heat. You might also want to insulate the bottom with a sheet of rigid foam insulation.
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Consider planting a deciduous tree on the south side of your lawn to block the sun during the summer, and let in solar energy during the winter when it sheds its leaves.
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Enable "power management" on all computers and make sure to turn them off at night. A laptop computer uses up to 90% less energy than bigger desktop models.
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Keep the garage door closed, especially during the winter.
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If you need a new lawn mower, consider an electric model. They’re less expensive to operate (about three cents of electricity per use), 75 percent quieter, and they significantly reduce toxic emissions.
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Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and take shorter showers! Faucets generate 3-7 gallons per minute and showers generate even more.
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Reduce air conditioning costs by using fans, keeping windows and doors shut and closing shades during the day.
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Instead of air-polluting and expensive charcoal or propane, try an electric or natural gas grill. They’re more economical and more convenient – you’ll never run out of fuel.
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Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator. Remember that many appliances, especially computers, televisions and VCRs draw power even when turned off.
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Place humidifiers and dehumidifiers away from walls and bulky furniture. These appliances work best when air circulates freely around them. Be sure to clean the unit often to prevent unhealthy mold and bacteria from developing.
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Close off unoccupied rooms.
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If your home has no sidewall insulation, place heavy furniture like bookshelves, armoires and sofas along exterior walls, and use decorative quilts as wall hangings. This will help block cold air.
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When you take a vacation, don’t forget to give your appliances a rest too. Turn off and unplug everything you can, set your water heater to the lowest setting and shut off the water supply to the dishwasher and washing machine.
