12 Easy Ways to Save Energy

There are plenty of ways to save energy that take very little effort and can really save you big. For example, if your energy bill is $100 a month—and you trim your consumption by twenty percent—you can save up to $240 a year. Savings like that can really add up over time!

1. When you're at home, keep thermostats set for energy economy.
2. When you go to sleep, set thermostats for low energy use.
3. When you go out, set your thermostats for low energy use.
4. If a room is not in use, don't heat or cool it more than necessary.
5. Adjust heating and cooling systems to work more efficiently.
6. Cool your home the natural way.
7. Let the sun help heat your home in cold weather.
8. “Button up” your home to retain cool or heated air.
9. Keep your body comfortably warm or cool.
10. Use less hot water in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry.
11. Use your lights, TV, and other appliances wisely.
12. Buy more energy-efficient light bulbs.

1. When you're at home, keep thermostats set for energy economy.
   Just a few degrees of change in temperature levels can make a big difference in the amount of energy that is used.

   In the summer, set your thermostat between seventy-six and seventy-eight degrees. In the winter, set it between sixty-six and sixty-eight degrees. Make changes gradually so your body can easily adjust to the change in temperature.

   Of course, dress appropriately for the season and try using a fan during the summer. The key to comfort in hot weather is to keep the air moving.

2. When you go to sleep, set thermostats for low energy use.
   You may spend as much as one-third of your time asleep, so remember to set the air conditioning and heating controls for low energy use when you hit the pillow.

   During summer, set your thermostat between seventy-six and seventy-eight degrees at night. In the winter, set it between fifty-five and sixty degrees. Use a fan in the bedroom in the summer and plenty of blankets in the winter. The key is keeping your body warm or cool without warming or cooling your whole bedroom.

3. When you go out, set your thermostats for low energy use.
   When nobody's home, adjust the thermostat accordingly. Contrary to popular belief, it does not use more energy to bring your home back to a desired temperature once it has cooled down or heated up.

   In the summer, set your thermostat between five and ten degrees higher when you leave the house. In the winter, set it five to ten degrees lower.

4. If a room is not in use, don't heat or cool it more than necessary.
   If no one is in the room, and the heater or air conditioner is running, the only thing you're keeping comfortable is the furniture. Close the doors to rooms not in use and keep the windows closed and shades down. Nearly shutting the heating or cooling vents in these rooms can also help you save.

5. Adjust heating and cooling systems to work more efficiently.
   You can waste energy dollars by overworking your air conditioning or heating system. Here are some ways to make your systems work more efficiently. If you have a central air system:

   • CHECK THE DUCTS
     A single, central system with cool or warm air distribution ducts may be working the entire system very hard just to cool or warm a part of your home that is farthest from the central air conditioning or heating unit.

     Make sure the duct system isn't leaking by checking the ducts that carry air to different areas of your home. Close any leaks at joints, using duct tape rated for ducts if necessary, and make sure the system is “balanced.” Balancing the system involves adjusting the volume control dampers (if your system has them) and adjusting the air supply registers.

     Try making adjustments so each area of your home gets just the right amount of cool or warm air it needs. The registers farthest away from the central heater/cooler unit should be wide open and those nearer to it should be partially closed. In each room, try to adjust the registers so the air is directed to the most often used part of the room. Use ceiling fans, if you have them, to help achieve an even temperature from floor to ceiling.

     Although you can make adjustments yourself, the best way to properly balance an entire system is to call an expert who has special instruments and can make all the adjustment that may be needed.

     Caution: Most of the air supply registers on an air-conditioning or heat pump system should remain at least partially open, to avoid damage to your system.

   • CLEAN OR REPLACE FILTERS; CLEAN THE COIL
     A filter on your heating or cooling unit may be blocked by the dust and dirt it has screened out of the air. A clogged filter will make the unit run longer and use more energy. Some filters can be washed; others need to be replaced every one to two months. On an outdoor heat pump or air conditioning unit, cleaning the coil is also important to ensure efficient operation.

   • CLOSE FRESH AIR INTAKES IF YOU HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONER
     An air conditioner that is always drawing in and cooling fresh, warm outside air uses more electricity than one that merely re-cools the air already in your home. Especially in the hottest weather, try closing the fresh air intake at least part of the time and see if the air in your home remains fresh enough for your comfort.

   • MOVE OBSTRUCTIONS
     Move any furniture, draperies, or other obstructions that may be blocking the flow of heated or cooled air from registers or from individual heating or air-conditioning units.

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