 | 1. Keep
furnace filters clean. It is good practice to change or if re-usable, to
clean filters once every 3 months.
|
| 2. Check with your utility company for rebated whenever you install
energy-saving equipment.
|
| 3. Add more energy-efficient insulation to your attic, preferably with a
resistance rating of R-21 to R-30. Also if your home is an older home
consider having insulation blown in the walls.
|
| 4. Turn down your home thermostat two degrees and save about 24 -kilowatt
hours a month. It might not sound like much, but it adds up.
|
| 5. Buy a programmable thermostat, especially if your home is vacant most of
the day. Set it to turn on a half hour before anyone arrives home.
|
| 6. Adjust your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and wait. Turning
your thermostat up or down dramatically wasted energy and increases your
heating costs.
|
| 7. Lower you hot water thermostat 10 degrees, but no less than 120 degrees.
You'll still get all the hot water you need and save about 25-kilowatt hours
a month.
|
| 8. Fix leaky faucets. One drip a second is approximately 20 kilowatts a
month.
|
| 9. Invest in weather-stripping kits if you've got drafty doors, and windows.
|
| 10. Trade your standard incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs.
They are more energy-efficient, last for years instead of months, consume
little power and generate little heat.
|
| 11.Turn off your computer when not in use, or use the energy-saving sleep
mode.
|
| 12. Seal energy leaks. Caulk over cracks and small holes around windows and
exterior walls. Look carefully around plumbing pipes, telephone wires, dryer
vents, sink and bathroom drains and under counter tops.
|
| 13. Participate in your power company's special energy-saving program. Some
programs shut down electric appliances for short bursts of time during peak
hours. You hardly notice the difference at the time, but you will notice a
difference when you get your bill.
|
| 14. Buy major appliances that sport the "Energy Star" sticker. That shows
the appliance meets or exceeds standards set by the U.S. Department of
Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
|
| 15. Consider a front-loading washing machine. They use 50 percent less
energy and one-third less water. Plus, they remove far more water in the
rinse cycle, and that translates into big savings in dryer time.
|
| 16. When building a home or replacing a roof, select a roof based more on
energy efficiency than how it looks. Light-colored roofs, such a white,
galvanized metal or cement tile, do the best job of reflecting the sun, and
cool quickly at night.
|
| 17. If not already equipped consider double pane insulated windows with wood
or clad frames. Also for the basement, block windows are very energy
efficient & offer good security. |
