Advanced Tips
Here are some more resources to vanquish the ghouls of Halloween from haunting your house with high energy bills this winter.
Heating and Cooling:
- Weatherstrip and caulk your windows and doors
- Seal and insulate your home
- Consider installing a Geothermal Heat Pump to heat and cool your home, save up to 70% on your heating and cooling costs.
- 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
Saving Water:
- Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120F or less (or until using little to no cold water in the bath/shower)
- Install a low flow shower head (there are some nice ones out now-a-days)
- Solar hot water heaters can reduce your hot water heating bill
- 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 a shorter shower
Computing Equipment:
- Learn how to set power management on your computer
- Download the Google Desktop Power Management Gadget
- Buy a Climate Savers certified energy efficient computer
- Plug your computer peripherals (printer, scanner, speakers, fax machine) into a powerstrip and power down when not in use.
Electronics and Home Appliances:
- Turn down the brightness on your TV and computer monitor
- Look for and purchase ENERGY STAR appliances and electronics
- Consider replacing that old, second refrigerator in the basement - This calculator determines how much energy your refrigerator is using
- Plug home electronics into a powerstrip 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:
- Grist: 7 ways to cut your energy use
- Alliance to Save Energy: No-Cost Low-Cost Tips for Saving Money & Energy
- Department of Energy: Additional No-Cost / Low Cost Tips to Save Energy
- Carbon footprint calculator
- ACEEE: Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
- Home Energy Savers: Calculate your home's energy footprint
- Get a home energy audit
Government Programs:
- Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program
- Map of government and utility programs that provide incentives for energy efficiency investments