Consumer Guide to Home
Energy Savings: Condensed Online Version
Home
Energy Checklist for Action
Download Printable Version 
To Do Today
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Turn
down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).
You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands |
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Start
using energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing
machines, and clothes dryers. |
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Survey
your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them with
compact fluorescents (CFLs). These lamps can save three-quarters
of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are 60-100W
bulbs used several hours a day. New CFLs come in many sizes and
styles to fit in most standard fixtures. |
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Check
the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator.
You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before
it dies. |
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Clean
or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters. |
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If
you have one of those silent guzzlers, a waterbed, make your bed
today. The covers will insulate it, and save up to one-third of
the energy it uses. |
This Week
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Visit
the hardware store. Buy low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and
compact fluorescent light bulbs, as needed. These can be purchased
from any hardware or home improvement store. CFLs are now sold at
some drug stores and grocery stores. |
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If
your water heater is old enough that its insulation is fiberglass
instead of foam, it clearly will benefit from a water heater blanket
from the local hardware or home supplies store. (To tell the difference,
check at the pilot light access (gas). For electric water heaters,
the best access is probably at the thermostat, but be sure to turn
off the power before checking.) |
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Rope
caulk very leaky windows. |
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Assess
your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are
justified, or whether you should retrofit them to make them work
more efficiently to provide the same comfort (or better) for less
energy. |
This Month
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Collect
your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target
the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies. |
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Crawl
into your attic or crawlspace and inspect for insulation. Is there
any? How much? |
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Insulate
hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas. |
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Seal
up the largest air leaks in your house—the ones that whistle
on windy days, or feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not
windows and doors, but utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing
penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in
insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
Better yet, hire an energy auditor with a blower door to point out
where the worst cracks are. All the little, invisible cracks and
holes may add up to as much as an open window or door, without you
ever knowing it! |
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Set
your thermostat back (forward) when you can accept cooler (warmer)
conditions. This generally includes night time and whenever you
leave your home for several hours. Many people find it easier to
use an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat that will automatically
adjust the thermostat based on your time-of-day instructions. |
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Schedule
an energy audit for more expert advice on your home as a whole,
or learn how to conduct your own by visiting the Home
Energy Saver Web site. A directory of available energy audit
services by state is available at RESNET. |
This Year
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Insulate.
If your walls aren't insulated have an insulation contractor blow
cellulose into the walls. Bring your attic insulation level up to
snuff. |
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Replace
aging, inefficient appliances. Even if the appliance has a few useful
years left, replacing it with a top-efficiency model is generally
a good investment. |
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Upgrade
leaky windows. It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient
models or to boost their efficiency with weatherstripping and storm
windows. |
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Have
your heating and cooling systems tuned up in the fall and spring,
respectively. Duct sealing can also improve the energy efficiency
and overall performance of your system (warm-air furnace and central
air conditioners). |
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Know
that you are making a difference! |
Page last
updated August, 2007
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