| Free or Low Cost Tips
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- Replace
standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs
(CFLs) and save 75% of lighting costs.
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- Unplug
electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use.
Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your
refrigerator.
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- Take
steps to cut water use such as installing faucet aerators, low-flow
showerheads, and low-flush toilets. As much as 19% of California
electricity is used to pump, transport and treat water.
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- A
5° higher setting on your air conditioning thermostat will save
about 10% on cooling costs.
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- Always
buy ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment - they're up to 40%
more efficient.
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- Find
rebates and incentives in your area using our rebate finder.
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- Turn
your water heater down to 120° or the "Normal" setting when home,
and to the lowest setting when away.
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- Water
heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs.
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- Reduce
air conditioning costs by using fans, keeping windows and doors shut
and closing shades during the day.
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- Turn
off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with CFLs
instead of overhead lights.
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- Enable
"power management" on all computers and make sure to turn them off at
night. A laptop computer uses up to 90% less energy than bigger desktop
models.
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- When
possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy use in a
clothes washer goes to water heating.
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- Run
your dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded. Fewer loads
reduce energy and water use.
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- Make
sure your dryer's outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after
every load.
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- When
shopping for a new dryer look for one with a moisture sensor that
automatically shuts off when clothes are dry.
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- Test
for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors,
electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling
fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible
air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you
have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather
stripping.
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|
Good Investment Tips
|
- Install
an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat away from natural cool and hot
spots. An ENERGY STAR thermostat can save as much as $115 per year,
provide more flexibility than standard models.
|
- Seal
your home's envelope – walls, floor, ceiling and roof – to save up to
10% on your annual energy bill:
-Add weather stripping around windows and
doors to reduce drafts.
-Use caulking to seal around ducts, plumbing
and any other openings in walls, floors and ceilings to reduce air
leakage. Begin in the attic, a common place for warm air to escape.
-Seal larger gaps that cannot be covered with
caulk with expanding foam.
|
- After
air sealing, determine the current level of insulation. In the attic,
measure the depth of existing insulation using a ruler. If there is
less than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of
cellulose) you could probably benefit by adding more. Most U.S. homes
should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Insulating
ceilings, walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces and basements to
recommended standards can reduce heating and cooling costs by 5% to
25%.
|
- Install
fireplace inserts or wood stoves into an existing fireplace. The
inserts are equipped with glass or metal doors, outside combustion air
vents and heat circulation blowers.
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- Fireplace
inserts dramatically improve fireplace efficiency by blowing heat from
the fire into the room and limiting the amount of heat and conditioned
air lost up the chimney.
|
- Fireplace
inserts are recommended for fireplaces that are regularly used. Before
installing a fireplace insert, be sure to check the manufacturer's
safety specifications and make sure the fireplace insert is compatible
with the existing chimney or vent flue.
|
- Replace
heating equipment more than 15 years old with new ENERGY STAR qualified
models. Equipment must be sized and installed properly.
-Old furnaces cost more to operate per year
than new, ENERGY STAR qualified models that are 15% more efficient than
standard models.
-An ENERGY STAR qualified geothermal heat pump
is 30% more efficient than comparable new equipment and can save you as
much as $200 annually. A qualified electric heat pump is 20% more
efficient and can save you about $130 annually.
-An ENERGY STAR qualified boiler uses features
like electric ignition and new combustion technologies that extract
more heat from the same amount of fuel, to be 10% more efficient than a
new, standard model.
|
- Install
high efficiency windows, which are 40% more efficient than standard
windows. Consider replacing single-pane windows with double-pane
windows that are gas-filled with high performance glass (e.g., low
emissivity or "low-e" glass). ENERGY STAR windows may help reduce your
heating and cooling costs by up to 15%. The windows must be sized and
installed properly. Note: Some measures may not be relevant depending
on climate, the age of your home and appliances and past improvements
made to your home.
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| Information Courtesy of Flex Your Power |
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