Energy-saving Tips

If your home has electric baseboard heating, keep furniture and draperies away from the heaters and leave at least a three-inch clearance under the heating unit.

During the winter, remove window air conditioners and seal the windows with caulk and weather stripping. You might also want to cover the central air compressor with a tarp to keep it clean.

Set your thermostat to “auto” so that the blower fan will not operate continuously. A 1/2 HP blower fan consumes 3850 kWh annually if run around the clock. It may only need to run a third or less if set on “auto.”

If drafts sneak in under exterior doors, replace the threshold. If that’s not practical, block the drafts with a rolled-up towel or blanket.

In the winter, keep curtains and blinds closed at night to keep cold air out. Open them during the day to let the sun warm the room.

If your home has a large, single-pane picture window, use heavy draperies during the winter to help keep out cold air.

Don’t set the thermostat higher than you actually want it. It won’t heat your home any faster, and it will keep your furnace running longer than necessary.

Install a Wi-Fi / smart thermostat. If you set your thermostat a little lower during winter months, you’ll reduce your heating costs about 3% for each degree of adjustment. Changing the temperature from 72°F to 68°F could lower your energy bill by up to 10%.

Avoid using space heaters, including electric, kerosene or propane models. Not only are they expensive to operate, but they’re also very dangerous.

If you have hardwood or tile floors, add area rugs to keep your feet warm.

Change or clean your furnace filter once a month. Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts, making your furnace run harder and eventually break down.

Set your thermostat to “auto” so that the blower fan will not operate continuously. A 1/2 HP blower fan consumes 3850 kWh annually if run around the clock. It may only need to run a third or less if set on “auto.”

If you’ll be going on vacation, lower the thermostat to 55°F. This will save energy while preventing water pipes from freezing.

Vacuum registers and vents regularly, and don’t let furniture and draperies block the airflow. Inexpensive plastic deflectors can direct air under tables and chairs.

Install a Wi-Fi / smart thermostat. If you set your thermostat a little lower during winter months, you’ll reduce your heating costs about 3% for each degree of adjustment. Changing the temperature from 72°F to 68°F could lower your energy bill by up to 10%.

Have your heating system inspected regularly. A $50-$100 annual tune-up can help reduce your heating costs by up to 5%.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned and inspected regularly. Burn only fully dried hardwoods to produce the most heat output.

If you have a chimney, add fireproof caulk where the chimney meets the wall, inside and outside.

When using the fireplace, lower the thermostat to 55°F. If you don’t, all the warm air from the furnace will go right up the chimney, wasting energy and money.

Check the seal on the fireplace damper by closing it and holding a piece of tissue paper inside the firebox. If drafts blow the tissue around, repair or replace the damper.

During the winter, remove window air conditioners and seal the windows with caulk and weather stripping. You might also want to cover the central air compressor with a tarp to keep it clean.

When using loose-fill insulation, be sure to distribute evenly. Any inconsistencies in depth can reduce the insulating value.

Choose the new “no-itch” or poly-wrapped insulation products. They’re much easier to handle and safer to work with – making them worth the extra cost.

In the winter, keep curtains and blinds closed at night to keep cold air out. Open them during the day to let the sun warm the room.

Have a leaky roof repaired and make sure your basement is waterproofed. Wet insulation is worthless.

Check insulation levels throughout your house. Measure attic insulation with a ruler and check behind switch plates for sidewall insulation. Be safe, remember to turn off circuit breakers before removing switch plate and outlet covers.

Install more attic insulation. Upgrading from three inches to 12 inches, and doing proper attic sealing, can cut heating and cooling costs up to 20%.

While shopping for insulation, remember that R-value measures the amount of thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

Increase your attic insulation if joists are showing.

Install a cover above your attic hole, or remove the hole and just use a hatch.

Never cover attic vents or recessed light fixtures with insulation. To prevent overheating and avoid the risk of fire, allow a three-inch clearance around chimneys and flue pipes.

Add pieces of batt insulation to the rim joists – the area along the top of the foundation where it meets the exterior walls.

If your basement is unheated, install blanket insulation in between exposed floor joists.

Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce your heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%, particularly if you have single pane windows.

Install additional attic insulation at right angles to the previous layer. You don’t need to use the same type of insulation. It’s fine to use batts or blankets over loose-fill, or vice versa.

During the winter, remove window air conditioners and seal the windows with caulk and weather stripping. You might also want to cover the central air compressor with a tarp to keep it clean.

Seal doors and windows with caulk, weather stripping and plastic film. An investment of $50 in weatherproofing supplies can reduce heating costs by two to three times that much. Don’t forget the basement windows!

If your home has a large, single-pane picture window, use heavy draperies during the winter to help keep out cold air.

Choose the right kind of caulk for the job. Use latex or acrylic caulk inside – it’s easy to clean and more forgiving if you’re a beginner. Silicone caulk is great for outside use because it lasts longer and seals virtually any type of surface.

Check the exterior of your home for air leaks, especially around openings for water spigots, air conditioner hoses, dryer vents and gas pipes. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal spaces.

Seal the edges of unused doors and windows with rope caulk. Don’t permanently seal them shut; you might need quick ventilation or escape during an emergency.

Don’t forget to weatherproof the attic access. Secure batt insulation to the back of the hatch or door and use weather stripping to seal the opening.

Add foam gaskets behind all outlet covers and switch plates. Use safety plugs in all unused outlets. These are prime places for outside air to leak into your home. Be safe, remember to turn off circuit breakers before removing switch plate and outlet covers.

If drafts sneak in under exterior doors, replace the threshold. If that’s not practical, block the drafts with a rolled-up towel or blanket.

Check windowpanes to see if they need new glazing. If the glass is loose, replace the putty holding the pane in place. Most types of window glazing require painting for a proper seal.

Safely repair and/or apply weather stripping to air leaks in the home. Up to 25% of energy used to heat / cool homes escapes via air leaks. Areas to check include dropped ceilings, recessed lighting, attic entrances, ducts, doorframes, electrical outlets and switches, window frames and plumbing/utility access.

Take showers, not baths. A five-minute shower will use about 7.5 gallons of hot water, while filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.

If your water heater is more than 15 years old, install an insulating blanket wrap to reduce “standby” heat loss. Insulate hot water pipes where they’re accessible.

Lower your hot water heater temperature to 120°F. Some are originally set at 140°F. This can save hundreds of dollars a year.

Take shorter showers; they require less hot water.

Install a water-saving showerhead. Don’t worry – it won’t reduce your water pressure. A family of four, each taking a five-minute shower a day, can save $250 a year in water heating costs by switching to an energy-efficient showerhead.

Fix leaky faucets, especially if it’s a hot water faucet. One drop per second can add up to 165 gallons a month! That’s more than one person uses in two weeks.

Use aerators on kitchen and bathroom sink faucets. If you have hard water, clean aerators and showerheads with vinegar regularly to reduce deposits and build-up.

Keep the grease plates under range burners clean to reflect heat more efficiently.

Use smaller kitchen appliances whenever possible. Microwaves, toaster ovens and slow-cookers can use 75% less energy than a large electric oven.

Use your oven’s self-cleaning feature immediately after cooking, while the oven is still hot. This will reduce a lengthy warm-up time.

Use lids on pots and pans to reduce cooking times, and don’t put a small pan on a large burner.

Check the seal on your refrigerator door by closing it on a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, it’s time to replace the gaskets. You can purchase a replacement kit from an appliance dealer or a home center.

As your mother always told you, don’t leave the refrigerator door open. Every time it’s opened, up to 30% of the cooled air can escape. The same rule holds for the oven, too.

Vacuum the refrigerator coils about twice a year to keep the compressor running efficiently.

Run the dishwasher only with full loads and use the air-dry cycle. You could save $30-$40 per week washing two loads per week instead of four loads per week.

Make sure the refrigerator is level so the door automatically swings shut. If the floor isn’t level, use shims to prop up the front of the refrigerator.

Don’t worry about placing hot leftovers in the refrigerator. It won’t affect energy use significantly, and cooling food to room temperature first can increase the chance of food-borne illnesses.

If your dishwasher has a “booster” water heater, use it; this will heat the water to the 140°F recommended by manufacturers while maintaining an energy-saving 120°F on your water heater.

Keep the refrigerator temperature about 36-38°F and the freezer at 0-5°F.

Don’t overload the refrigerator. The cold air needs to circulate freely to keep foods at the proper temperature.

Remove clothes from the dryer while they’re still damp and hang them up. This will save energy, prevent static and reduce wrinkles and shrinkage.

Use hot water only for very dirty loads. Always use cold water for the rinse cycle.

Dry one load of clothes immediately after another. This will minimize heat loss, reducing warm-up and drying times.

Clean the lint screen on the dryer every time you use the machine. A clogged lint screen can make your dryer use up to 30% more energy – and it can be a fire hazard.

Use solar lights to light walkways, patios and decks. The soft light will also attract fewer annoying insects.

Learn how to read the label on the bulb to make sure you are buying the bulb you need. A basic understanding of Lumens (Brightness) and Color Temperature (Light Appearance) can help you more effectively light your home.

Use only a single bulb in a multi-socket fixture. Be sure to check the maximum wattage the fixture allows.

Decorate with pale colors on walls, ceilings and floors. Soft tones reflect more light, so you can use lower wattage bulbs and delay turning on lights until later in the day. Using high-gloss paint can help as well.

Dust light fixtures/bulbs regularly. A heavy coat of dust can block up to 50% of the light output.

Keep lamps away from thermostats; the heat produced can cause your furnace to run less than needed or your air conditioner more than needed.

Replace an incandescent outdoor light or high-intensity floodlight with a high-pressure sodium fixture or LED bulb. The bulbs will last longer and use less energy.

Use lighting control devices like dimmers, motion detectors, occupancy sensors and timers to provide light only when you need it.

When decorating for the holidays, use LED strands of lights.

Switch to LED bulbs. LEDs use 90% less energy than typical incandescent bulbs and last 25x longer. Replacing just five bulbs can save $75 a year.

Keep the refrigerator door closed as much as possible.

Get rid of spare refrigerators or freezers. An extra appliance can add more than $150 to your energy bills every year, and it’s a safety hazard for small children.

Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely. In just 1 hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed or cooled air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.

Turn off lights in empty rooms and when they are not needed.

Unplug any electrical device that’s not being used. Many appliances draw power even when turned off. It’s called “phantom” or “vampire energy.”

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.

When you go on 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.

If your home has no sidewall insulation, place heavy furniture like bookshelves, armoires and sofas along exterior walls. Also, use decorative quilts as wall hangings. This will help block cold air.

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.

If you need a new lawnmower, consider an electric model. They’re less expensive to operate, 75% quieter and they significantly reduce toxic emissions.

Keep the garage door closed, especially during the winter.

Try an electric outdoor grill. They’re more economical and more convenient—you will never run out of fuel.

Smart Power Strips help reduce “phantom” energy usage by automatically turning off standby power on electronics (Cable boxes, DVD players, video game consoles) when a main electronic device, like a TV, is off.

Replace inefficient appliances – even if they’re still working. An aging water heater or refrigerator could be costing you much more than you think. If your central air conditioner is more than 10 years old, replacing it with a high-efficiency new unit will cut your summer electric bills by about one-third.

Choose the capacity that’s right for your family. Whether it’s a furnace or a refrigerator, it doesn’t pay to purchase a unit that’s too large or too small.

Always read the Energy Guide label carefully, and make sure you’re comparing “apples to apples.” Energy use can range significantly even within a single brand.

Remember that it pays to invest in energy efficiency. In some cases, the money you save in energy costs can pay back the purchase price in just a few years.

Investigate new technology carefully. Some innovations, like convection ovens or argon-filled windows, may save energy and make life more convenient; others, such as commercial-grade kitchen appliances, might be merely expensive cosmetic enhancements.

Look for the ENERGY STAR logo. This designation from the Environmental Protection Agency means that the appliance exceeds minimum federal energy-use standards, usually by a significant amount.