Home Energy Saving Tips

1. Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun - Even though it is cold outside the sun is emitting heat.  Open up the curtains during the day, especially on south-facing windows, and shut them at night.

2. Seal Drafty Windows - One of the quickest ways to lose heat is through a poorly sealed window.  Cover the window with a clear plastic, heavy duty, sheet during the cold months.  Ensure the plastic is sealed tightly to reduce infiltration.  You can also add caulk to seal air leaks around windows.

3. Find and Seal Leaks - Every home has what is called "plumbing penetrations" which are utility cuts for piping.  You can save energy by sealing the air leaks around them.  Also seal air leaks around chimneys, recessed lights, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.  Doors too, offer a great escape for heat.  Add caulk or weather-stripping to seal air leaks around doors.

4. Maintain your Furnace - Not all heating systems are the same and depending on the brand, age, etc it may require a different maintenance schedule to keep it running efficiently.  Schedule service for your heating system according to your documentation, usually at least once a year.  Replace or clean your furnace filter once a month or as needed.  The furnace will consume less energy if it is able to "breathe" easily.

5. Adjust the Thermostat - When you are at home and you and your family are awake you should adjust your thermostat to a comfortable level, 68º to 70º is a good starting point.  When out of the house or sleeping reduce the temperature 4º or so, this can make a significant difference in your energy consumption.  Avoid changing your thermostat frequently, this can be tricky if you have teenagers in the home.

6. Don't Block Heating Vents - Allow heat to flow freely through your home by not obstructing or covering heating vents. Avoid closing too many doors or vents because this can restrict air movement and cause your furnace to run inefficiently.

7. Limit Your Use of Appliances - It can be tempting to run a load of laundry to get that one shirt but this can be very wasteful.  Use appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryer, and dishwashers only when they are full.  Another thing to remember is that many of the electronics and gizmos that you have around the home are using energy when they are "off" or in standby mode.  You can even further reduce your energy consumption by plugging these into a power strip and turning it off when they are not in use.  This includes items like your TV, dvd player, stereo, etc.  However, if you have custom setting or a clock it will be reset and the information lost.

8. Replace Old Appliances - At some point we need to replace an old appliance.  When that time comes consider replacing it with units that require less energy and look for the Energy Star logo.  Products that have earned the Energy Star meet strict efficiency guidelines.

9. Lower your Water Heating Costs - Heating water accounts for 15%-25% of the energy consumed in the home. You can easily and quickly start saving energy and money by turning down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting of 120ºF.  Also make sure your hot water pipes are insulated where they pass through unheated areas of your home.

10. Lighting - Lighting a home can account for up to 10% or more of your electric bill.  Cut those costs by replacing high wattage bulbs with lower wattage ones, better yet replace all your old bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL).  CFL bulbs use about 75% less energy to produce the same amount of light than a regular light bulb and they last a lot longer.  Standard light bulbs waste most of their energy on heat, where only 10% is used as light.  Lastly, if you aren't in the room then turn off the light, no matter what kind of bulb you are using.

Where Does the Energy Go?

Additional Home Energy Saving Resources

	Home-Made Renewable Solar And Wind Energy energysavers.gov

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