Here are some resources to help you find ways to reduce your energy use.
Heating and Cooling:
- Weatherstrip and caulk your windows and doors
- Seal and insulate your home
- Clean your furnace’s filter monthly
- Consider buying an ENERGY STAR furnace or air conditioner, insulating and sealing ducts and relocating heating and air conditioning vents.
- Cover your hot water heater with an insulation blanket
- Consider installing energy efficient windows or storm windows
- Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120F or less (or until using little to no cold water in the bath/shower)
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher
Water heating and conservation:
- Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120F or less
- Install a low flow shower head
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher
- If available, use the energy savings settings on your dishwasher and washing machine
- Consider air drying your clothes – saves energy, money and keeps your clothes lasting longer.
- Take shorter showers
Electronics and Home Appliances:
- Consider replacing that old, second refrigerator in the basement – This calculator determines how much energy your refrigerator is using
- Plug home electronics into a power strip and turn off when not in use. Or unplug appliances that you rarely use (when was the last time you used that VCR?)
- Don’t keep your refrigerator and freezer too cold. Set temperature between 36-38 degrees F and freezers at 0-5 degrees
Other Energy-saving Tips:
- Home Energy Savers: Calculate your home’s energy footprint
- Get a home energy audit
- Carbon footprint calculator
