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There are many ways you can take action and help save – your pocketbook and the environment.

Here are some of the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective steps you can take right away:

  • Replace your incandescent bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (aka CFLs)
  • Turn off lights not being used
  • Install energy efficient showerheads
  • Set your furnace fan to "Auto" rather than "On"
  • Install a programmable thermostat

 

Whole Housequick Tips: Room-by-room

There are a multitude of reasons why you may be getting high energy bills each month. Ask yourself:

  1. Does your home seem excessively hot or cold in a particular room?
  2. Do you have a furnace, air conditioner, or duct work in your attic, garage, or crawl space?
  3. Does you house have one or more of the following: an attached or tuck-under garage, a roofed porch, multiple attic spaces, kneewalls, split levels, or floor overhangs?

If you are looking for the causes of the most common energy efficiency problems, the Home Assessment section contains a lot of good information. If you are looking for common solutions for each areas of your home, read on! Jump to a particular room by clicking on a link below:

outside of your house

1) Lighting:

  • Replace external lights with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights). You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use ENERGY STAR ® fixture for your porch light &/or install a motion sensor that turns the light on only when someone is present or a timer that turns the light on at night and off in the morning.

2) Heating & cooling:

  • Buy the right sized heating and cooling unit for your house. An oversized unit will be less efficient and unnecessarily noisy. Home Assessments

3) Thermal boundary:

  • Seal and insulate your house’s enclosure or shell, i.e. the outer walls, ceiling, windows and floor. This could save you up to 40 percent on heating and cooling costs. Home Assessments

  • Replacing your windows can be costly and not give you the energy efficiency gains you expect, even though it may increase resale value, aesthetics or convenience. Consider exploring more cost effective ways, such as sealing and insulating, if your primary motivation is to reduce your energy consumption.

attic

Attic1) Home sealing:

  • Seal and insulate your attic. Because it’s accessible, the job won’t be difficult if you are a do-it-yourselfer. This can make a big difference in your home’s overall comfort. Home Assessments

  • Weather strip and insulate your home’s attic hatch or door. Use weatherizing materials and insulation or a pre-made attic cover.

  • Seal gaps where plumbing pipes, ducts, or wires enter the attic through the ceiling using caulk or spray foam. For holes up to three inches in diameter, use spray foam. For larger spaces, use a foam board and seal with foam.

  • Inspect your ducts for holes, tears and other signs of leaks. Seal them using mastic or metal foil tape - never duct tape. Insulate the ducts you can access, including those in the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage.

  • Seal air leaks around your chimney or furnace flue. Look for gaps around the chimney that allow air from your home to escape into the attic. Seal with metal flashing. Caulk small gaps with a product designed to withstand high temperatures.

2) In general:

  • Make sure your attic is properly vented. Make sure attic soffit vents and gable vents are not blocked.

bedroom

1) Lighting:

  • Replace lights, especially ones that are used frequently, with CFLs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use  ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures and electronics (e.g. television).

  • Use task lighting when appropriate, so you’re not lighting the whole room just to relax in bed and read.

Bedroom2) Heating & cooling:

  • If you use a room air conditioner, make sure it’s an ENERGY STAR ® model. If it’s a window unit, insulate in the winter with a tight-fitting A/C unit cover or remove the unit during cold months. Make sure the unit fits tightly in the window. For a large window unit, use a separate electrical circuit to prevent overload.

  • Make sure all air registers and vents are unobstructed by rugs and furniture.



3) Home sealing:

  • Sealing and insulating the "enclosure" or "shell" of your home — its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors — is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. Home Assessments

  • Replace window screens with storm windows in the winter months. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors.

bathroom

Bathroom1) Lighting:

  • Replace light fixtures with ENERGY STAR ® models. The bathroom vanity can be one of the most used light fixtures in the home, so compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) can really pay off. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.
  • Control humidity by running fan during and 15 minutes after bathing. Install a properly sized ENERGY STAR ® ventilation fan to control moisture as well as mold and mildew. Be sure the fan duct leads outside.

2) Showerheads:

  • Installing an energy efficient showerhead is inexpensive and can save you up to $145 each year on water heating costs.

3) Home sealing:

  • Use spray foam or caulk to seal holes around pipes, wiring, vents or recessed lights. Home Assessments
  • Replace window screens with storm windows in the winter months. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and door frames.

office

1) Lighting:

  • Replace lights, especially ones that are used frequently, with CFLs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures.

  • Use task lighting when appropriate, and be sure to turn off lights when not in use.

Office2) Electronics

  • Household electronics are often up to 15 percent of your electric use and can use energy when they are plugged in, even if they are turned "off." A power strip for all your electronics allows you one easy place to turn everything off when you are done.

  • Unplug battery chargers or power adapters when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from the charger.

  • Use a timer (set up in software or device menu) to automatically put computers and office equipment to sleep when not in use.

3) Heating and cooling:

  • Buying ENERGY STAR ® labeled office equipment and turning off equipment/ lighting when not in use reduces cooling costs as well as electricity used by the equipment.

  • Make sure all vents are unobstructed by rugs and furniture.


living room

Living Room1) Lighting: 

  • Replace lights, especially ones that are used frequently, with CFLs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures.

  • Use task lighting when appropriate, and be sure to turn off lights when not in use.

2) Heating & cooling:

  • During hot months, use ENERGY STAR ® labeled ceiling fans to make your home more comfortable and reduce dependence on air conditioning.

  • Use your energy-efficient ceiling fan in the winter by reversing the direction of the blade, creating a gentle updraft that mixes warm air without blowing down on people.

  • Always turn fan off when not in room.

  • If you have a radiator, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls, so you’re heating the room and not the wall.

  • Most wood or gas fireplaces are not a net contribution to heating. It's ok to use your fireplace occasionally for ambience, but get an efficient stove insert if you want to heat the house with it.

  • Use drapes to control temperature by opening during daylight hours during cold months and closing them in summer to keep heat out.

3) Home sealing:

  • Sealing and insulating the "enclosure" or "shell" of your home — its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors — is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. Home Assessments

  • Replace window screens with storm windows in the winter months. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors.

  • Close the fireplace flue damper tightly when not in use.  

  • Seal holes with caulk or spray foam where pipes or TV cable wires enter or exit your home.

4) Electronics

  • Choose ENERGY STAR ® products when selecting electronics for your home theater. Household  electronics are often up to 15 percent of your electric use and can use energy when they are plugged in, even if they are turned "off."

  • Unplug battery chargers or power adapters when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from the charger.

  • A power strip for all your electronics allows you one easy place to turn everything off when you are done.
Kitchen

kitchen

1) Lighting:

  • Replace lights, especially ones that are used frequently, with CFLs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures.

2) Heating & cooling:

  • If your home has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls so you’re heating the room, not the wall.

  • Make sure all air registers and floor vents are clear of furniture and appliances.

3) Home sealing:

  • Replace window screens with storm windows in the winter months. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and door frames.

4) Appliances:

  • Consider replacing an outdated refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR ® product. The new models will pay for themselves quickly through increased efficiency.

  • Scrape dishes instead of rinsing before loading the dishwasher, and use a high quality dishwasher soap. Run dishwasher only only when full. Use air-dry option.

  • Use your microwave or toaster to reheat or cook small portions.

  • Use pots that are the same size as your stove burners and keep burners clean. If you have a gas range, blue flames mean good combustion, yellow flames mean you may need service to ensure gas is burning efficiently.

  • Always buy ENERGY STAR ® appliances when replacing a dishwasher, refrigerator or freezer.

HALLWAY

1) Lighting:

  • Replace lights, especially ones that are used frequently, with CFLs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures.

2) Heating & cooling:

  • Install a programmable thermostat so that heating and cooling can be turned back when you are away or sleeping. This can save you up to $180 every year in energy costs.

  • Make sure all air registers and vents are unobstructed by rugs.

BASEMENT:

Basement1) Lighting:

  • Replace lights, especially ones that are used frequently, with CFLs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures.

2) Heating & cooling:

  • Check your HVAC system’s air filter monthly and replace it at least every three months. Have a pre-season check-up of your system by a licensed contractor every 2-3 years (gas heat) or annually (oil heat).

  • Keep stored items away from the furnace and water heater for safety and proper air circulation.

  • Make sure all air registers and floor vents are clear of furniture and appliances.

3) Home sealing:

  • Check along the top of the basement wall, where cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame. Known as the rim joist or band joist, this is a common area of air leakage. Seal with expanding foam or caulk. Seal penetrations such as pipes and wiring.

  • Make sure holes for dryer vent, ducts and electrical wires are sealed. Seal small gaps with caulk and holes up to three inches in diameter with spray foam. Cover spaces larger than three inches with foam board and seal with spray foam.

4) Appliances:

  • Choose an ENERGY STAR ® clothes washer. Wash clothes in cold water when possible, and always wash a full load.

  • Don’t over dry clothes. Match the cycle length to the size and weight of the clothes. Sheets, for example, dry quickly.

  • Clean lint filter after each use.

  • Be sure the dryer vent is clear and unubstructed. Replace coiled plastic dryer hose with smooth metal vent pipe.

  • Use an indoor or outdoor clothes line or rack for some or all of your laundry.

GarageGARAGE

1) Lighting:

  • Replace lights, especially ones that are used frequently, with CFLs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs online at EFI.org.

  • Use ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures.

  • If you have a furnace, air conditioner, or duct work in the garage, be sure the ducts are sealed and well insulated.

2) Home sealing:

  • Weatherstrip the door between your garage and house, or replace with an insulated exterior door.

  • An attached or tuck-under garage is commonly a large source of air leakage into the home, through large openings hidden inside the floor and wall framing. Get a home assessment to check for big savings opportunities. Home Assessments

3) Cars:

  • The garage is meant to house cars, so let your car live in the garage as much as possible. Consider alternative forms of transportation, such as bikes, subway systems and carpooling.

  • Keep your car well-maintained to maximize fuel efficiency, safety and reliability. This includes checking tire pressure regularly to avoid wear-and-tear and decreased gas mileage.

***Source: Business.gov Energy Saving Tips
**Source: Cut Your Energy Bills Now, Bruce Harley
*Source: ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency & U.S. Department of Energy

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