Carpooling Is Fun
Plan a carpool to your next event or activity. You’ll save money in fuel costs, prevent pollution, and have more fun along the way!
Reduce Water Heater Temperature
Set your water heater thermostat to no higher than 125 degrees. Lowering the water heater thermostat by 10ºF can save you 3%–5% in energy costs. When you are going on vacation, turn the temperature down to the lowest setting.
Maintain Your Car
With proper maintenance you can reduce your car's emissions and improve gas mileage by up to 5 percent (or up to 35¢ per gallon): Check your tire pressure, replace air filters, avoid overfilling the gas tank, pay attention to the check engine light and avoid idling in drive-through or pick-up lines.
Use Three-Way Lamps
When choosing a new lamp, buy three-way lamps. They make it easy to keep lighting levels low when intense light is not necessary, and that saves electricity. Use the high switch only for reading or other activities that require brighter light.
Use Your Microwave
When cooking, use your microwave oven instead of your regular oven range. This saves up to 75% of the energy.
Don’t Let Your Car Idle Too Long
Stay warm and by all means defrost the windows, but don’t let your car idle for long periods of time. Condense your Holiday errands into one larger trip. This will allow the engine to remain relatively warm and avoid idling or unnecessary cold starts. By doing this you will save money and reduce unnecessary pollution.
Air Dry The Dishes
When washing dishes, select the “air dry” cycle or simply turn the washer off after dishes have been washed. They will be just as clean and you will save energy.
Use Fluorescent Bulbs
Switch to fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs. They use 50-70 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, give the same or greater light output, and last ten times longer.
Replace Your Furnace Filter
Clean or replace furnace filters every 30-60 days. Dirty filters use more energy and decrease system life.
Insulate Your Crawlspace
Take some time to close and insulate your crawlspace during winter months, and watch your heating costs go down.
Annual HVAC Inspections
A poorly operating and maintained system wastes energy. Have your heating and cooling system inspected annually to avoid this problem.
Keep Your Attic Insulated
Add insulation to your attic to reduce energy loss through the roof – the single greatest area of energy loss in most homes. Insulate your attic to R-38 for the best energy efficiency value. An insulation depth of 12-inches should provide an insulating value of R-38. Adequate insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces, can save you up to 30 percent on home energy bills.
Do You Have Air Leaks?
Weather-strip or caulk around windows, doorframes and where baseboards meet walls. By sealing these air leaks, homeowners can save 10 % or more on energy bill and reduce drafts inside the home.
Drying Clothes And Saving Energy
When drying clothes, you need to clean the lint filter before every load. Check and clean the dryer vent hose at least once a year. Don’t waste energy by overloading the dryer, which just creates lint and causes wrinkles. Use the lowest possible heat setting. Do not over dry!
Use Fans During The Summer
Use fans during the summer to create a wind chill effect that will make your home more comfortable. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4 degrees F with no reduction in comfort.
Don’t Leave Your Computer On
It's a myth that leaving a computer on will extend its life. When you're done using it, turn it off. The same logic goes for televisions, stereos and other equipment.
Install A Programmable Thermostat
Save energy by installing a programmable thermostat that can be programmed to adjust the temperature according to your schedule.
Unplug Appliances To Save Money
Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These "phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics and appliances is consumed while the products are turned off. Save money by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
Plan Your Lighting
Plan your lighting. Not every room needs the same amount of general light. Plan within a room to provide general background lighting and supplementary task lighting. A good lighting plan can reduce lighting costs and still provide all the light you need.
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