Plug home electronics into power strips with surge protection.
Turn the strip off when the equipment is not in use.
Raise the thermostat to 78 degrees.
Replace regular light bulbs with ENERGY STAR® Compact
Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). CFLs use up to 75% less energy.
Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your
home to block the afternoon and evening sun.
Be more eco-efficient. Use a mug or glass instead of styrofoam
or paper cups.
Write with refillable pens made from recycled plastic.
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances
and products. ENERGY STAR® products meet strict efficiency guidelines
set by the EPA.
Consider electric mowers and trimmers. For smaller yards,
try a reel mower.
Consider solar-powered accent lighting for yard and garden.
For fax machines and printers, use refillable ink cartridges
and recycle old ones.
Activate your computer’s sleep mode when you leave
your desk. This reduces electricity consumption to less than 5 percent of
full power.
Install low-flow showerheads and faucets. They’re
inexpensive, easy to install and reduce energy and hot water use.
Conserve by only printing what you really need.
Only wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher and use
the energy-saving setting for the drying cycle (or let dishes air dry).
Look for a dry cleaning service with “clean and green”
processes, including reuse of hangers and garment bags.
To save on water heating costs, use cold water to wash
dishes and run the garbage disposal.
Carpool or use public transportation. If you own a business,
encourage carpooling or allow telecommuting to reduce carbon emissions.
When building a new home, consider energy-efficient building
materials.
Save water by repairing leaky faucets. Even a slow leak
wastes more than you realize.
Shade air conditioning units with trees or shrubs, helping
the unit run up to 10% more efficient.
Defrost your manual unit freezer regularly. Frost buildup
increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running.
Weather-strip and caulk around doors and windows to rid
your house of drafts and prevent leaking of heated and cooled air.
Try to buy items that are reusable or come in reusable
packaging – and make sure to reuse them.
Look for natural furnishings that have been or can be recycled.
Use rechargeable batteries; they can last up to twice as
long as disposables.
Take your lunch to work in a reusable container.
Install lighting occupancy sensors or timers in rooms that
aren’t used often.
Choose energy efficient office machines to reduce costs
and carbon emissions.
Conduct an online home energy audit and get personalized
energy-saving tips.
Repair, seal and add insulation to existing heating and
cooling ducts to prevent heating and cooling loss.
If your primary refrigerator is at least 10 years old,
consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR® qualified model.
Use warm or cold water for washing clothes and always use
cold water for rinsing.
Seal around holes from pipes and wires that enter or exit
your home’s living space.
Consider replacing old windows with new high-performance,
dual-pane windows.
Have your cooling system checked by a professional to make
sure it’s operating at peak efficiency.
Add insulation to the attic. Your home should have a minimum
R-30 insulation in the ceiling or attic.
Use dimmer switches or timers on lights.
Don’t keep your refrigerator too cold. The ideal
temperature is between 32°-39°.
Use task lighting when possible. Focus light where it’s
needed rather than lighting an entire room.
Use three-way lamps. They make it easier to keep lighting
levels low when bright light is not necessary.
Need a new roof? Choose lighter-colored roofing to reduce
heat absorption from the sun.
Turn off running water when shaving or brushing your teeth.
Consider using a gas range or oven as they cost less to
operate than electric units.
Vacuum refrigerator coils often to keep the unit running
efficiently.
Consider having a professional energy audit performed on
your home or business.
Thinking about a new car? Consider a hybrid vehicle.
Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight.
Turn off lights when you leave a room.
Open crawl space vents to keep air moving and the space
dry.
Place the washing machine near the hot water heater because
water loses heat as it flows through pipes.
Use a fan to help your air conditioner spread cooled air
more effectively through your home without greatly increasing energy use.
Make sure you’ve insulated around recessed lights,
attic doors and other places where outdoor air can sneak into your home.
Save on air conditioning by closing supply vents in unused
rooms. (Note: If you have a heat pump, vents should be left open.)
If you have a pool, cover it when not in use to minimize
heating costs.
Always wash full load of clothes or adjust the water level
for smaller loads.
A healthy lawn is like an additional air conditioner, keep
the grass green and lush.
Insulate water pipes coming from the water heater.
Draw shades or drapes to block sunlight during the hottest
part of the day.
When you’ll be away from home for more than four
hours, raise the thermostat 5-10 degrees or more.
Install a programmable thermostat and set it to adjust
the temperature throughout the day.
For bathrooms, hallways or bedrooms consider installing
LED night lights equipped with photo sensors to keep them off during daylight
hours.
Wrap your water heater with a water heater blanket, especially
if it’s in an unheated area of your home.
Don’t let kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans run longer
than necessary.
Use the energy-saving feature on computers, monitors, printers,
copiers and other business equipment. Turn them off at the end of the day.
Save paper, energy and money. Take the time to remove your
name from mailing lists for reading materials you don’t need.
Lower your water heater to the optimal temperature of 120–125
degrees.
Clean or replace furnace/air-conditioning filters every
month.
Dry only full loads of laundry and keep the dryer’s
lint filter clean so it operates at maximum efficiency.
Create less heat in your home by drying clothes in the
early morning or later in the evening.
Take showers instead of baths to save water. Use cooler
water to save energy.
Make sure drapes and furniture aren’t blocking the
air supply vents in your home.
Clean light bulbs regularly. Grime from cooking and dust
can make a light bulb dirty, reducing the light it gives off.
Use an automatic clothes-drying cycle instead of a timed
cycle. Put in the next load quickly to make use of leftover heat.
Fill a dishpan with rinse water instead of letting the
faucet run while you do dishes by hand.
Need a new dishwasher? Look for ENERGY STAR® qualified
models.
Use a pot or pan that completely covers the stove’s
heating element. When any part of the element is exposed, you’re wasting
heat and energy.
When considering the layout of your kitchen, don’t
place the refrigerator near an oven or other heat source so it will run more
efficiently.
Take it easy on the road. Aggressive driving wastes gasoline.
When cooking small meals, try using a small toaster oven
as opposed to a large conventional oven.
Get the kids to turn off the gaming console electronics
when they’re not using them.
Like to fall asleep with the TV on? Put the TV on a sleep
timer to save energy when you’re no longer awake.
Close the damper on your fireplace when you’re not
burning a fire.
Use a rake instead of a leaf blower to tidy up your yard.
Take reusable cloth bags with you to the grocery store
to carry your groceries home in.
Use less paper by printing and copying on both sides.
Keep the oven door closed while cooking your meals. Each
time you open the oven door, it drops the temperature 25 degrees, requiring
more energy to cook your meal.
Keep your freezer stocked (with food or even frozen bottles
of water). Freezers work more efficiently when they’re full than empty.
Get a ‘water butt’ or bucket to collect rain
water which you can later use to water your plants.
Make an effort to run all your errands at once, eliminating
trips back and forth from your home.
Before you open the refrigerator or freezer door, decide
what you want to eat so you’re not letting cold air escape.
Look into online banking and bill paying which could help
lower your carbon footprint and save money on stamps.
Remove your AC window unit at the end of each season to
prevent heating loss during the winter months.
When purchasing holiday lights, look for LCD lights because
they use less energy than traditional light strings.
When you purchase your next computer, consider a laptop
over a desktop as laptops use less energy.
When it’s warm outside, grill out. Cooking outside
keeps the heat outside and the cool air inside.
Keep your range burners clean (and the reflectors) as clean
burners utilize energy more efficiently.
It takes less energy to reheat meals than when cooking
them for the first time. Try cooking larger meals and reheating the leftovers.
Consider placing solar film on your home windows. This can help keep the hot sun out.
When boiling water, make sure to place the lid on the pot.
