10 Actions to Save Money & Energy at Home

Saving Energy = Saving Money.

Here are 10 simple ways to save both energy and money at home.

 1. Change incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs. CFLs use 75% less energy and last 10 times as long. 

2. Unplug vampire loads. Also called phantom loads, these are items that use power even when off, such as cell phone chargers and anything with a light, clock or standby mode. These are called vampire loads because they ‘draw’ power 24/7/365. Unplugging items you’re not using can save you up to 10% on your power bill.

 3. Make your own Toilet Tummy. Clean out an empty half-gallon milk jug. Fill it with a few rocks and water all the way to the top. Cap it and put it in your toilet tank. This will save a half-gallon of water every time you flush.

 4. Install low-flow aerators on sinks and low-flow showerheads in the bathroom. You’ll reduce your water use by 40% when upgrading from 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) to 1.5 gpm fixtures!

 5. Caulk or weatherstrip windows and doors. Materials for the average twelve-window, two-door house cost about $25, but the savings in annual energy costs can amount to more than 10% of your yearly heating bill.

 6. Install a hot water heater blanket. This will allow your water to stay warmer while using less energy. Also set your water heater to 120ºF.

 7. Install an ENERGY STAR rated thermostat. ENERGY STAR thermostats allow for setbacks while sleeping and while away from home during the day or on vacation to save money.

 8. When replacing appliances, purchase ENERGY STAR and WaterSense items. These items have been benchmarked against all other appliances in the industry and use significantly less water and energy than other products.

 9. Rethink clothes drying. For the most energy savings, hang your up clothes to dry. You’ll reduce CO2 emissions, and your clothes will last longer! When you do use your dryer, clean the lint filter before each load and use a moisture sensor or the cool-down cycle, which uses residual heat to complete the drying process.

10. Cancel junk mail. The average American household receives over 41 pounds of junk mail each year. Visit CatalogChoice.org, ProQuo.com, DMAChoice.org, or GreenDimes.com to find out how you can get rid of unwanted catalogs and mass mailings.