10 Tips for Home Energy Efficiency

Follow these simple energy-saving tips to reduce your dependency on energy and help reduce your energy bills.

Tighten up your home by sealing up leaks around doors and windows. Also check your attic, basement and ductwork for leaks. Caulk, weather-stripping and expanding foam are easy and affordable ways to tighten up your home and save big money on wasted energy.
Once you've sealed your home, make sure the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior walls, floors and crawl space are adequate.
Watch that thermostat. Consider a programmable thermostat that will adjust your home's temperature automatically.
- Wintertime: Consider setting the thermostat for 68 degrees when you're awake, and lower when you're sleeping or out of the house.
- Summertime: Consider setting the thermostat for 78 degrees and higher when away during the day. When weather is mild, use fans instead of the air conditioner.
Match a light bulb's wattage to its purpose in your home. There is no need to have high wattage bulbs in places where you do not need them.
Run your dishwasher and washer/dryer only when you have a full load to clean. Also, avoid using the heated drying function of your dishwasher and/or let your dishes air dry.
Use ceiling fans to your advantage.
- Wintertime: Turn fans to the reverse setting so they push warm air down and even out the heat in a room. This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings.
- Summertime: In warm weather, run the ceiling fan and the air conditioner at the same time, but set the air conditioner a few degrees higher - to 80 or 81 degrees. With the breeze from the ceiling fan, you should feel as cool as you would at 78 degrees with no fan, but you'll significantly reduce your costs.
Turn off lights when leaving the room and unplug equipment that is not in use. Electric chargers, televisions and audio/video equipment use electricity even when they are not in use.
Check the temperature on your water heater. Many water heaters are automatically set at 140 degrees. Lowering the temperature to between 120 and 125 degrees will be more than adequate for the average home.
Use nature to your advantage. Plant deciduous trees like oak, maple, gum, ash and dogwood to the south of your home to provide valuable shade during the summer. During the winter, keep your south-facing drapes and shades open to take advantage of the sunlight, and use passive solar as a way to heat your home during the day.
Keep up with your heating and cooling systems. Have them serviced regularly and be sure to check your filters.

For more information on saving energy, visit the Energy Star website or the U.S. Department of Energy.