Great Energy Habits to Adopt
Make it a habit to shut off lights, computers, and other appliances when you’re not using them.- Switch to LED lightbulbs.
- Use motion detectors to turn on outdoor lights rather than leaving them on all night.
- Close your fireplace damper when there’s no fire.
- Close off and don’t heat unoccupied rooms.
- Take showers with low-flow showerheads (they use 50% less hot water) instead of baths.
- Set your water heater at 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which is comfortable for most uses. Turn your water heater off when you go on vacation.
- Wrap your water heater in R11 insulated wrap but don’t cover the thermostat.
- Run only full loads in your dishwashers and clothes washers – and wash in warm or cold water.
- Wash and dry clothes on weekends when energy use isn’t high.
- Air dry your dishes. In nicer weather air dry your clothes.
- Clean your furnace and heat pump filters to keep them operating efficiently.
- Limit the use of kitchen and bathroom fans since they pull air out of the house.
- Cover all windows at night in winter.
- Weather strip around your doors and windows and anywhere you feel a draft.
- Set your refrigerator between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Keep your refrigerator well-stocked. It takes more energy to cool an empty fridge.
- Clean lint out of refrigerator coils and out of dryers.
- Use a microwave toaster oven for cooking and heating small portions.
- Check ceiling and crawl spaces to ensure there’s adequate insulation.
- Seal or fix broken basement windows.
- Fix broken ducts and replace cracked or peeling tape on ducts. Use tape with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) logo.
- For long-term savings, choose and use energy-efficient appliances. Compare energy rating labels before you buy.