Energy and Resource Conservation Tips

Legend You'll save energy ! Free A small expense is involved $0-$20 A moderate expense is involved $20-$500 A large expense is involved $500- Personal effort required A handy homeowner can accomplish this Tools required You might want to call a contractor

Quick Links Appliances Computers Cooking Driving Electronics Fireplace Heating, Cooling Hot Water Laundry Lighting Refrigerators and Freezers Windows

Example Format
		Energy saving tips, most are free, many can be performed by the average person.
Electricity
Computers		A computer, printer and monitor can use 50-100 watts of electricity even when turned off due to wake up function on the computer and power transformers on the other components.
		Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.
		Plug home computers into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.
		There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy.
		Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
		ENERGY STAR computers and monitors save energy only when the power management features are activated, so make sure power management is activated on your computer.
		To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off, the transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter.
		If you must leave your computer on for most of the day, you can use some hardware and software to automatically turn the PC on and off on a set schedule. This can work in the home, business or school environements. I-T managers should implement these features and tune their networks to do updates at 6 am rather than 12 midnight. Leaving PC's on all night for these updates is bad form ! . Click on the links to find out how to implement this strategy.
Electronics		All electronics that have a remote control use energy even when turned off. Things like Digital Recorders can use a lot of energy when not in use.
		Studies have shown that using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries. If you must use throwaways, check with your trash removal company about safe disposal options.
		Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
		Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.
		"Phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 25% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
		Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances, electronics and other products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Lighting
		Replace as many lights as you can with Compact Fluorescent (CFL's) bulbs. This "spiral bulbs" come in many sizes and shapes to fit into your existing lamps and fixtures.
		Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use CFLs because of their long life. A CFL placed in a outdoor light with a timer lasted 13,000 hours, recovered its cost four fold and saved a great deal of energy and pollution.
		Turn off decorative outdoor natural gas lamps; just eight such lamps burning year-round use as much natural gas as it takes to heat an average-size home during an entire winter.
		Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some of the larger CFLs.
		Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor so they will turn on only at night or when someone is present. A combined photocell and motion sensor will increase your energy savings even more.
		If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, consider replacing them with compact fluorescent torchieres. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy, can produce more light (lumens), and do not get as hot as the halogen torchieres. Halogen torchieres are a fire risk because of the high temperature of the halogen bulb.
		Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
		Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.
		Consider three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not necessary.
		Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops under cabinets.
		Turn off the lights in any room you're not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.
		Use dimmers, motion sensors, or occupancy sensors to automatically turn on or off lighting as needed and prevent energy waste.
		Install fluorescent light fixtures for all ceiling- and wall-mounted fixtures that will be on for more than 2 hours each day.
		Use ENERGY STAR labeled lighting fixtures.
		Consider light wall colors to minimize the need for artificial lighting.
		Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs to save about 50 percent on your lighting costs. CFLs use only one-fourth the energy and last up to 10 times longer.
		Turn your lights off when you leave a room. Standard, incandescent light bulbs should be turned off whenever they are not needed. Fluorescent lights should be turned off whenever you'll be away for 15 minutes or more.
		During winter, open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows
		Installing a skylight can provide your home with daylighting and warmth. When properly selected and installed, an energy-efficient skylight can help minimize your heating, cooling, and lighting costs.
		Did you ever notice that when you put two bulbs in a fixture you don't get 'twice the illumination". You don't, but you do use twice the energy. In a light fixture that holds two bulbs, rather than use two small wattage bulbs, use a single larger wattage bulb. For example, rather than use two 60 watt bulbs (120 watts), use a single 100 watt bulb. Don't exceed the allowable wattage for a fixtures as stated by the manufacturer on the fixture. Your savings are even more when using CFL's.
Appliances
Dish washer		Do you know, your dishes are as only clean as the inside of the dishwasher. All of the rinse water fills the tub before it is sprayed on the dishes. The "clean" rinse water goes past the strainer/grinder in the bottom guts of the dishwasher. If all of what you didn't rinse off the dishes has not been completely purged from the bottom, it contaminates the rinse cycle.
		Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
		Rather than use the very long pot and pan cycle, scrub really dirty stuff before putting in the dishwaser.
		Only run when there is a full load.
Laundry
		When shopping for a new clothes dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, it will save wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying.
		Consider line-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks. Air-drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics.
		Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages.
		Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
		Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
		Don't over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.
		Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes. Line-dry towels, the rougher texture acts as an exfoliating device.
		Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
Refrigerators & Freezers
		Don't open the door very often. Plan what you need to get out. When putting things away, stock the return items on the counter nearby and open the door just once.
		For older appliances, use a power controlling device to reduce the energy consumption of the appliance's electric motor. Green Plug originated this type of device.
		Clean the coils under or behind the regrigerators and freezer. It is their job to shed heat from the inside, they do this better when air can freely move around the coils.
		Some refrigerators and freezers do not have coils that you can clean, the coils are right under the metal outer 'skin' of the refrigerator. If your refrigerator has a warm outer skin you can help its performance by making sure it has good air flow around the outside. This is comon in chest freezers. Make sure there is at least 3" clearance all around the freezer so air can move.
		Make sure there is good air circulation inside of the refrigerator so cold air can move around. The cold air often enters the refrigerator near the top. Make sure it can 'fall' down through the shelves.
		Set the temperature as low as you can so the food is still kept well cold or frozen.
Cooking
		When cooking, you can often turn the oven or burner off before the cooking complete.
		Don't open the oven while cooking, 40% of the heat can be lost.
		A pressure cooker can cut cooking time and energy use by as much as 70%.
		When considering a new cooktop, the type of cooktop determines it's energy efficiency as measured by how much energy is consumed compared to how much is transferred into the food through the burner and pan etc. A gas burner only transfers about 60% of the energy into the food. An electric ceramnic type is about 80% efficient and the new induction elements are about 86% efficient.
Heating		Explore ways to save energy and improve the environment by taking simple steps around your home.
		Heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill. Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. Look for the ENERGY STAR label when replacing your system.
		Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss of up to 60 percent at the registers.
		Install a programmable thermostat that can adjust the temperature according to your schedule. These thermostats have proven to save more than $1200 over their life and they only cost $40 and are easily installed. In some cases, especially with air conditioning, they can save their cost in the first year. If there is any one recommendation for saving heating and cooling expense, this is it !
		Turn off kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing to retain heated air.
		Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. There is a little device out there called a filter whistle. It starts to whistle when your filter is getting clogged.
		Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
		Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
		If you have baseboard electric heat (not very energy efficient because it puts a high temperature right at the wall and has higher heat losses), sometimes it is more efficient to use portable electric heaters in the midddle of the room, especially if you have a lot of stuff near the baseboard unit that prevents good circulation.
		During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
		Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when home.
		By resetting your programmable thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent.
		Weatherize your home, caulk and weatherstrip any doors and windows that leak air.
		Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.
Cooling
		Use fans during the summer to create a wind chill effect that will make your home more comfortable. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4F with no reduction in comfort.Note, the cooling effect occurs when your in the room and the air is moving over your skin. When your not in the room, there is very little cooling effect and the fan is adding heat to the room.
		When using fans, the energy they consume is related to the speed. In general with things that move, the energy they consume is proportional to the square of the speed. Going from 'speed one' setting to 'speed two' may actually quadruple the energy consumption. Use the lowest speed you can and turn it off when your not around.
		In warm climates, where summertime heat gain is the main concern, look for windows with double glazing and spectrally selective coatings that reduce heat gain.
		If your air conditioner is old, consider purchasing a new, energy-efficient model. You could save up to 50% on your utility bill for cooling. Look for the ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide labels.
		Keep in mind that insulation and sealing air leaks will help your energy performance in the summertime by keeping the cool air inside.
		Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units but not to block the airflow. Place your room air conditioner on the north side of the house. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
		Plant trees or shrubs to shade the house, especially on the west side as the summertime afternoon sun can add a great deal of heat to a house late in the day.
		Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
		Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
		Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.
		Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
		Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They are effective when operated at night and when the outside air is cooler than the inside.
		For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners.
		During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
Hot Water
		Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes to prevent heatloss.
		ENERGY STAR labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent. Find retailers near you at http://www.energystar.gov/ when you’re ready to replace your heating and cooling systems, as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics.
		Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
		Take short showers instead of baths. Shower by getting wet, turn off the water while you lather and scrub, then turn the water back on to rinse.
		Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120F.
		You might qualify for tax credits or rebates for buying a solar water heater.
		Heat pump water heaters are very economical in some areas.
		Consider natural-gas on-demand or tankless water heaters. Researchers have found savings can be up to 30% compared with a standard natural-gas storage tank water heater.
		Consider installing a drain water waste heat recovery system. A recent DOE study showed energy savings of 25% to about 30% for water heating using such a system.
		Buy a new energy-efficient water heater. While it may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. Look for the EnergyGuide label.
		Although most water heaters last 10-15 years, it's best to start shopping for a new one if yours is more than 7 years old. Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately meets your needs.
		Drain a gallon of water from your water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater. The type of water tank you have determines the steps to take, so follow the manufacturer's advice.
		Install heat traps on the hot and cold pipes at the water heater to prevent heat loss. Some new water heaters have built in heat traps.
		If you are in the market for a new dishwasher or clothes washer, consider buying an efficient, water-saving ENERGY STAR model to reduce hot water use.
		Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater.
		Insulate your natural gas or oil hot-water storage tank, but be careful not to cover the water heater's top, bottom, thermostat, or burner compartment. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations; when in doubt, get professional help.
		Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank, but be careful not to cover the thermostat. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
		Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household.
		Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.
		Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads.
		Select a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) for maximum water efficiency. Before 1992, some showerheads had flow rates of 5.5 gpm, so you might want to replace them if you're not sure of their flow rates.
		Insulate your hot water pipes, which will reduce heat loss and can raise water temperature 2 to 4F hotter than uninsulated pipes. This allows for a lower water temperature setting.
		If heating a swimming pool, consider a swimming pool cover. Evaporation is by far the largest source of energy loss in swimming pools.
		Install dual handle faucets. When a single handle faucet is used, the user moves the handle straight up, dispencing an equal amount of cold and hot water. But becasue the water in the hot pipe has cooled off, you don't get the hot water but cold water is moving into the hot water heater and costing money.
Transportation
Driving
		Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
		Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient vehicle. A fuel-efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative fuel vehicle could save you a lot at the gas pump and help the environment. See the Fuel Economy Guide for more on buying a new fuel-efficient car or truck.
		Many Toyota Prius cars are reselling for nearly their original price after three years. Without a big decline in value, the savings associated with driving a hybrid are huge.
		Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
		When planning your errands, route yourself in a clockwise route. By always taking right turns you will not have to wait for left hand turn lights and often you can stop and proceed without waiting for a light.
		Replace clogged air filters to improve gas mileage by as much as 10% and protect your engine. There is a new product out called a KN permanent filter. It claims to improve gas mileage by 5-15% and is cleaned in the sink rather than thrown away. Cost is about $30.
		Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks to avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or transmission problems.
		Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%.
		Use the grade of motor oil recommended by your car's manufacturer. Using a different motor oil can lower your gasoline mileage by 1%-2%.
		Check into telecommuting, carpooling and public transit to cut mileage and car maintenance costs.
		Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%.
		Clear out your car; extra weight decreases gas mileage.
		Use air conditioning only when necessary. Also, turn your AC on in the winter once or twice to help keep the seals moist.
		Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
		When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces wear.
		Avoid high speeds. Above 60 mph, gas mileage drops rapidly. The http://fueleconomy.gov/ Web site shows how driving speed affects gas mileage.
		Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.
		Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon. The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days is needed. Anything more simply wastes fuel and increases emissions.
Buildings
Windows		Remember, the lower the U-value, the better the insulation. In colder climates, a U-value of 0.35 or below is recommended. These windows have at least double glazing and a low-e coating.
		Select windows with air leakage ratings of 0.3 cubic feet per minute or less.
		When you're shopping for new windows, look for the National Fenestration Rating Council label; it means the window's performance is certified.
		Installing new, high-performance windows will improve your home's energy performance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of added comfort and improved aesthetics and functionality may make the investment worth it to you.
		Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar gain.
		Install awnings on south- and west-facing windows.
		Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.
		Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.
		Repair and weatherize your current storm windows, if necessary.
		Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Storm windows should have weatherstripping at all moveable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.
		Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to let in the winter sun.
		Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.
		Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
		You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Remember, the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
		Conduct an energy audit of your home to find air leaks and to check for the proper level of insulation. Common sources of air leaks include cracks around windows and doors, gaps along baseboard, mail chutes, cracks in brick, siding, stucco or foundation, or where any external lines (phone, cable, electric, and gas) enter the home.
		To test for air leaks on your own, on a windy day, hold a lit candle next to windows, doors, electrical outlets, or light fixtures to test for leaks. Also, tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of your window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present.
		Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping to save 10 percent or more on your energy bill.
		Adequate insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces, as recommended for your geographical area, can save you up to 30 percent on home energy bills.
		Installing storm windows over single-pane windows or replacing them with ENERGY STAR windows can reduce heat loss from air leakage, and reflect heat back into the room during the winter months to save even more energy.
		In cold climates, ENERGY STAR windows can reduce your heating bills by 30 to 40 percent compared to uncoated, single-pane windows, according to the Efficient Windows Collaborative.
Fireplace
		Close fireplace dampers when not in use. A chimney is designed for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes.