Start Your Journey Toward Energy Efficiency With The Following Tips:
Insulate Your Home:
Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. You can reduce the load on your heating and cooling equipment by as much as 30 percent by investing in insulation.
Draft-Proof Windows, Doors and Other Air Leaks:
Move a lit candle around the frames and sashes of your windows. If the flame flickers, you may need caulking and/or weather stripping.
Open Your Blinds or Shades:
During winter months, open blinds to let the sun warm your home. Close blinds or shades for large windows situated in the east or west sides of your home during the summer months.
Wrap Your Water Heater in an Insulation Blanket:
Heating water accounts for about 20 percent of all home energy usage.
Keep Your Indoor Thermostat at 68 Degrees in the Winter:
Wearing a heavy, long-sleeved sweater will make it feel about 3.7 degrees warmer.
Unplug Electronics:
Unplug phone chargers and electronic devices and turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Plugged-in electronics continue to use electricity.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances:
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, appliances account for about 20 percent of your household's energy consumption with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list.
Learn Your Family's Lighting Needs:
Look for ways to reduce lighting use and use lighting controls like occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers. Replace standard incandescent light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.
Conduct a Home Energy Audit:
A home energy audit will suggest the most effective measures for cutting energy costs.
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