Energy Saving Tips for No-Cost Ways to Save Energy & Money

The cost of energy, both fossil fuel natural gas and electricity, is soaring. While there’s very little that we can do about it, there are a number of ways that we can make our homes and lifestyles more energy-efficient, generating tremendous savings in the process. By employing these helpful tips, you could reduce your energy bill by as much as 25%!

No-Cost Ways to Save Energy & Money

• Check the furnace or air conditioner (AC) filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing your energy bill and shortening the equipment’s life.
• During hot months, keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows.  In winter, let the sun in.
• Glass fireplace doors help stop heat from being lost up the chimney.  Also, close the fireplace damper when not in use.
• Dress appropriately for the weather, and set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting. On winter nights, put an extra blanket on the bed and turn down your thermostat more.
• In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of AC, and ventilate at night this way when practical. Using fans to supplement AC allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy. Fans cost less to use than AC.
• About 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths. Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher. Use cold water for laundry and save up to $63 a year—detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater. It should be set at “warm,” so that a thermometer held under running water reads no more than 120 degrees.
• Only heat or cool the rooms you need—close vents and doors of unused rooms.

• Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use.
• Seal and weatherstrip your windows and doors to ensure that you're not wasting energy on heat or air conditioning that escapes through leaks to the outdoors.
• A water tank insulation wrap costs about $20 and helps hold the heat inside. Add pre-cut pipe insulation to exposed pipes going into your water heater—it is cheap and easy to install. If you’re starting with an uninsulated tank, the energy savings should pay for the improvements in just a few months.
• Duct tape works well on lots of things, but it often fails when used on ductwork! Use mastic (a gooey substance applied with a paintbrush) to seal all exposed ductwork joints in areas such as the attic, crawlspace, or basement. Insulate ducts to improve your heating system’s efficiency and your own comfort.
• Storm windows can reduce heat lost by single-paned windows by 25–50 percent during the winter. As an alternative, you can improve your windows temporarily with plastic sheeting installed on the inside.
• When buying new products, look for the ENERGY STAR® label, found on more than 40 different products, including furnaces and air conditioners.