Save Energy. Save Money.
Take the power into your own hands! Browse our collection of Energy Efficiency Tips to keep your home operating efficiently so you can save energy and money.
Home Efficiency Tips
- Replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs, which last up to 10 times longer and use 75 percent less energy.
- Use natural lighting whenever possible.
- Use timers and dimmers to lower light levels and reduce energy use.
- Turn off unnecessary lighting when not in use.
- During hot months, keep window coverings closed on south, east and west windows.
- Keep windows and doors closed when using an air conditioner or heater.
- Caulk and weather strip doors and windows.
- Consider installing low-emissivity windows, which can reduce heat loss by up to 50 percent.
- Open your refrigerator door as seldom as possible.
- When washing clothes, wash a full load and use cold water whenever possible.
- Hang your clothes to dry when possible to save energy.
- Wait until you have a full load to run the dishwasher and let your dishes air dry.
- Set your water heater temperature to 120-125 degrees and install a timer that shuts off the unit during times you don’t need hot water.
- Use a slow cooker or outdoor grill in summer months to keep your kitchen cooler.
- Move lamps, TVs and other appliances away from your thermostat. The heat they generate can cause the AC to run longer.
- In the winter, set your thermostat between 65 and 68 degrees when at home and 60 to 65 degrees when away. If you have a heat pump, don’t increase the temperature by more than 2 degrees at a time.
- Use electric space heaters for area heating in rooms that tend to be cooler than others or if you’re only occupying a small area of your home. Turn space heaters off when leaving the room.
- Open drapes and shades on sunny days to naturally heat up your home.
- Keep the fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
- In the summer, set your thermostat between 75 and 78 degrees when at home and above 80 degrees when away.
- Turn off ceiling fans when leaving the room. Fans cool people, not spaces.
- Install exterior solar screens on windows that receive direct sunlight.
- Close shades and drapes during the day.
- Turn off bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans 15 minutes after a task is completed.
Tips to Save Year Round
- There’s no better time to examine seals on doors and windows to check for air leaks. Caulk and weatherstrip as needed to seal in warm air and energy savings. Similarly, examine electrical outlets for air leaks, and where necessary, install foam gaskets behind them to prevent drafts.
- During the day, open curtains or drapes on south-facing windows to let sunlight heat your home naturally. Close window treatments at night for an added layer of window insulation.
- At the change in seasons, schedule a service appointment for your heating system to ensure that it can operate at an optimal level.
- Low-cost or no-cost steps for energy savings include taping or affixing heavy, clear plastic to the insides of your windowpanes to create an additional barrier against cold air. Ensure that the plastic is sealed tightly to the pane to help reduce infiltration.
- Use a programmable thermostat to set the temperature as low as is comfortable when you are home (ideally around 68 degrees). When you are asleep or away, turn the temperature down even lower. A downward adjustment of 10–15 degrees over long periods can save about 10% a year on heating and cooling costs, according to the Department of Energy.
- Close blinds and drapes during the day to keep the sun’s warming rays at bay. Where practical, plant trees and shrubs that provide shade in summer and sunlight in winter.
- In extremely hot weather, your cooling system works harder to close the gap between the high outdoor temperature and the cool indoor thermostat setting. To lessen the difference and lower cooling costs, set the thermostat as high as you can while maintaining your comfort level. Employ a programmable thermostat to adjust the settings a few degrees higher when no one is home or your family is sleeping.
- Using a ceiling fan in conjunction with your air conditioning can allow you to increase the thermostat setting by about 4 degrees with no reduction in comfort. Just make sure to turn ceiling fans off when no one’s in the room.
- During the hottest months, it’s all the more critical to replace any remaining incandescent lightbulbs with LED bulbs. The wasted heat from the old bulbs affects energy use and creates wasteful and unwanted heat.
- Clean or replace air filters once a month to keep your HVAC running efficiently.
- Install a programmable or smart thermostat to manage your heating and cooling more efficiently.
- Turn off kitchen, bath and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you're finished cooking or bathing.
- Use a garden hose to remove debris from the outdoor unit of your HVAC system.
Federal Tax Credits
For those not eligible for federally funded programs, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 revived energy-efficiency tax credits to help offset the cost of home upgrades. This includes highly efficient water heaters and heat pumps, central air conditioners, building insulation, windows, and roofs.
This marks the third extension of the incentive initiated by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2011 – the last round expired in 2011. The new legislation covers 2012 upgrades along with projects undertaken in 2013 and completed by December 31, 2013. If you’ve already received an energy tax credit, you may not qualify – there’s a lifetime cap of $500. For full details on qualifying upgrades and individual caps, view the Energy Star Tax Credits website.
Weatherization
Weatherization is the process of sealing air leaks and properly insulating a home. The Department of Energy (DOE) created the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to provide financial assistance for weatherizing homes to help low-income customers control their energy costs through installation of weatherization materials and education. To qualify for help with expenses, individuals must fall within a certain income range. Learn more at Energy.gov.