Air Leaks
Air Leak Test
A simple way to find air leaks in your home is to use a piece of thread or an incense stick. Hold the thread or smoking stick carefully near windows, doors or anywhere you think air might leak. If there is a leak, they will be blown away from or sucked into the leaking area. Losing conditioned air can make utility bills higher.
A blower door test can be performed on your house and cooling and heating system to find air leaks.
Seal Leaks
Seal any air leaks and insulate heating and cooling system ducts.
Seal air leaks around windows and doors with weather stripping. Choose a type that is durable enough to handle temperature changes and wear and tear.
Ventilation
An airtight home can seal in moist and stale indoor air. Ventilation helps control moisture and brings in fresh air.
Appliances
Energy Test
Use a power meter to find out how much electricity appliances are using. You will find out if it needs to be replaced or just turned off when not in use. For example, if an older air conditioner is using a lot more power than it was when it was new, you may save money by cleaning it or replacing it with a more energy efficient model.
Power Off
Turn off computer, printer, monitor and other home office appliances when not in use. You can use the standby or hibernate options on your computer instead of turning it off. Plug electronic devices that use standby power into power strips so they can be turned off at night or when going on vacation.
Ways to save energy.
- Eliminate phantom loads.
- Use energy efficient appliances.
- Use compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs.
- Install a programmable thermostat.
- Use fans for circulating cool and warm air.
- Seal air leaks around windows and doors.
- Make windows and doors more efficient.
- Improve insulation.
- Conserve water.
- Plant trees and shrubs for shade and wind breaks.
Washing and Drying Cloths
Wash cloths in warm or cold water and air dry them on a clothesline instead of using a cloths dryer. Dryers use a lot of electricity and can heat up the inside of a home, costing more to cool it.
eHow.com
Water Heater
Tank-less water heaters reduce energy use and make hot water on demand only when needed. There's no tank of water to be heated over and over if its not being used.
Lower water heater temperature to 120'F.
Insulate an electric water heater with an insulation blanket. When installing the blanket, make a cutout where safety information and operational specifications are printed on the water heater so plumbers, electricians and others can read this information. Leaving these labels uncovered will allow the manufacturer's warranty to remain in effect. Also insulate water pipes exposed to the outside. Even insulating pipes inside a house can reduce energy consumption.
Clean Appliances
Cleaning appliances can reduce energy costs, lessens the risk of a fire and can lower maintenance cost.
Heating and Cooling
Windows
Control heat transfer through windows with high-reflectivity window film.
Passive Heating and Cooling
Passive solar heating and cooling is to allow natural heat from the sun in winter inside to warm your house and using shade and wind in the summer to cool your house. Open curtains to let the sun warm your house in winter and plant deciduous trees that will shade your house in the summer. Leave plenty of room around trees and shrubs for good air circulation.
Air Circulation
Portable fans and ceiling fans help to circulate warm or cool air.
Whole house fans and attic fans will exhaust stale hot air and bring in cool fresh air during cool seasons.
Thermostat
Add a programmable thermostat to heating and cooling system.
If you are going to be away from home for long periods of time and you don't have a programmable thermostat, turn your a/c up a few degrees in summer and down a few degrees in winter until you get home.
Air Filter
Clean or replace air filters in your air conditioning and heating unit at least once a month.
Insulation
Reduce Noise
Insulation can reduce noises coming in from outside.
Control Heat Flow
Insulate attics, walls and floors to keep hot air out in the summer and warm air in during the winter.
Lighting
Compact Fluorescent Lights
Use (CFL) compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout your house to save money on electric bills. Fluorescent bulbs are four times more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs. They provide as much light as regular incandescent bulbs while using only one-fourth of the energy. A 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent light bulb. Compact fluorescent light bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs, usually about 10,000 hours.
LEDs
Small LED 44 in dark rooms and hallways will light your way at night for very little money.
Skylights
Tubular skylights brings in natural light and reduces energy usage for lighting.
Water
Conserve Water
Using an aerator on faucet spouts reduces the amount of water used and makes water flow more smoothly without splashing.
Low flow shower heads in showers reduce water usage and save money.
