Home Energy Savings: 10 Money-Smart Solutions

Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves.

Hey, Wondering Why You Should Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient?

• Your wallet will thank you! Running an energy-efficient home means more money stays in your pocket each month instead of going to utility bills.
• You’ll feel way more comfortable at home – no more freezing winters or sweltering summers indoors.
• It’s a win for Mother Earth! The less energy we use, the less pollution ends up in our air, soil, and water from power plants.
• You’ll be doing your part to fight climate change. Let’s face it – scientists tell us burning too many fossil fuels is heating up our planet.
• Free money alert! From tax breaks to rebates, there are tons of sweet deals out there for U.S. homeowners who make energy-smart upgrades. Why not get paid to save energy?

1. Smart Ways to Heat & Cool Your Home (Without Breaking the Bank!)

Let’s talk about heating and cooling – it’s eating up about half of your home’s energy use! Here are some simple tricks to slash those bills:

• Get yourself a ceiling fan! They use way less juice than running the AC and can make a huge difference.
• Don’t forget the basics – swap out those dusty air filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly.
• Play it smart with your thermostat! Drop it a few degrees when you’re sleeping or out of the house. Here’s a cool fact: for every degree you lower it (for 8+ hours), you’re looking at about 2% savings. So going from 75° to 70° could save you a sweet 10% on heating!
• Level up with a programmable thermostat – it’s like having a money-saving assistant! It automatically adjusts temps when you’re out or sleeping, and in some areas, you could pocket up to $150 a year. Plus, they’re mercury-free!
• Consider going old school (but efficient) with a wood or pellet stove – they’ll heat your space better than traditional furnaces.
• Easy nighttime hack: pull those curtains closed! It’s like adding an extra blanket to your windows.

2. Switch to a Tankless Water Heater – Hot Water When You Need It!

Say goodbye to that old tank in your basement! Tankless water heaters are the smart way to go – they only heat water when you’re actually using it. No more wasting energy keeping a huge tank hot 24/7! Here’s the cool part: when you turn on the hot water tap, cold water zips through the heater and gets warmed up instantly by either gas or electricity. That means endless hot showers (yes, really!) and no more waiting for a tank to refill. Talk about a win-win!

3. Time to Ditch Those Old-School Light Bulbs!

Here’s a shocking fact: about 11% of your energy bill goes straight to keeping the lights on. And those old incandescent bulbs? They’re basically tiny heaters – only 10% of their energy actually becomes light, while the rest is just wasted heat! But don’t worry, there’s a brighter solution.

Let’s talk about the new kids on the block – LEDs and CFLs:

• CFLs are energy-saving superstars: they use 75% less power and last 10 times longer than those old bulbs
• LEDs are even better! They’ll outlast CFLs and sip even less energy
• Bonus points for LEDs: unlike CFLs, they’re mercury-free and have no moving parts to break

Want to save even more? Modern lighting controls help you avoid paying for lights nobody’s using. Smart, right?

4. Seal the Leaks & Wrap Your Home in a Cozy Blanket!

Want a comfy home and lower bills? Sealing and insulating is your DIY ticket to both! It’s like giving your house a snug sweater that keeps the good air in and the bad air out. Plus, it’s one of the most budget-friendly upgrades you can make. Need a pro’s eye? An energy auditor can spot those sneaky leaks and show you how to fix them.

Here’s where your house might be playing hide and seek with air leaks:

• power outlets
• that old mail slot
• anywhere pipes and wires sneak through walls
• window AC units
• your attic entrance
• that fireplace damper you forgot about
• doors with worn-out weatherstripping
• gaps along baseboards
• drafty window frames
• light switch plates

Here’s the scoop on your attic (because hey, hot air loves to party up there!). Here’s what you can do about it:

• Tackle the big stuff first! Check where walls meet the attic floor, behind those knee walls, and anywhere the ceiling dips down. These are like open windows to your wallet!
• Play detective with the small holes. Pro tip: look for dark spots in your insulation – that’s where dusty air is sneaking through. In winter, frost is your clue, and in summer, water stains tell the tale. Got some holes? Grab some expanding foam or caulk, seal those bad boys up, and cover them back up with insulation.
• Don’t forget that attic door! Weatherstrip it like you mean it. Better yet, cut some insulation to match the hatch size and glue it right on there. Got one of those pull-down stairs or a regular door? Same deal – seal it up tight!

5. Save Water (and Money!) with Smart Bathroom Upgrades

Ready to make your bathroom more eco-friendly? Check out these water-saving superstars:

• Fancy showerheads that don’t waste water: These bad boys come with different flow settings, and some even have a cool “pause” button – perfect for when you’re soaping up! Less water, same great shower.
• Smart toilets that sip instead of gulp: Did you know your toilet is the biggest water hog in your house? It’s drinking up 30-40% of your water! But here’s the good news – swap out that old 3.5-gallon water guzzler for a neat 1.6-gallon model, and boom – you’re saving 12,000 gallons a year! (Look for “1.6 GPF” behind the seat or in the tank to spot these water-savers.)
• Vacuum-assist toilets: These clever toilets use a vacuum trick to get the job done with less water. Think of it like a mini-tornado that helps clean the bowl. Plus, they’re super quiet – no more waking up the house with middle-of-the-night flushes!
• The two-button wonder: Dual-flush toilets: Already a hit in Europe and Australia, these smart cookies are catching on here too. They’re like having two toilets in one – press the small button for liquid waste (1 gallon or less), and the big button for everything else (1.6 gallons). Talk about working smarter, not harder – these can cut your toilet’s water use by another 30%!

6. Smart Ways to Use Your Gadgets & Appliances

Did you know your electronics eat up about 20% of your energy bill? Here’s how to keep those power-hungry devices in check:

• Play matchmaker with your kitchen layout! Keep your fridge away from hot spots like your stove, dishwasher, or heating vents. And no sunbathing for fridges – direct sunlight makes them work harder to stay cool.
• Give your computer a break! Power it down when you’re done scrolling. If you’ve got to leave it running, at least turn off the monitor. Fun fact: computers are such energy hogs they use up 3% of all power in the U.S.!
• Look for the ENERGY STAR sticker when shopping! From TVs to speakers, these government-approved gadgets are the cool kids of energy efficiency. Here’s a mind-blowing fact: if just 10% of homes went energy-efficient, it’d be like planting 1.7 million acres of trees!
• Those sneaky chargers are secret energy vampires! When your phone or laptop isn’t charging, unplug them completely.
• Pro tip: Laptops are way more energy-friendly than desktop computers.

7. Let the Sunshine In: Natural Lighting Tricks

Why flip on lights when you can use free sunshine? Here’s how to bring that natural glow inside:

• Skylights: Go for double-pane to get your money’s worth. Just make sure they’re installed right – nobody likes a leaky ceiling!
• Light shelves: These clever platforms bounce sunlight deep into your rooms. Inside or outside, they can shoot light 2½ times the window height into your space. The fancy ones? They can do four times that!
• Clerestory windows: These high-riding windows are like sunlight ninjas. The roof blocks harsh summer rays but lets in cozy winter light.
• Light tubes: Think of these as sun tunnels on steroids! They catch light with special lenses that work magic with even weak sunlight, then shoot it down a super-reflective tube. The light spreads out nice and even when it hits your room.

8. Stop Your Windows & Doors from Playing Temperature Tag!

Heads up – about a third of your heated or cooled air is playing escape artist through windows and doors! Here’s how to keep that precious air where it belongs:

• Start with the easy fix: rope caulk around window edges and cracks. It’s cheap, it’s simple, and it works!
• Level up with weatherstripping – slide it between your window and frame like you’re giving it a snug jacket. For doors, go all the way around with weatherstripping, and don’t forget those door sweeps at the bottom. No more drafty gaps!
• Still rocking single-pane windows? Add storm windows – they’re like putting a warm coat on your house. Just pop the glass frame over your existing window.
• Got windows throwing a tantrum? If you’re seeing rotted wood, cracked glass, missing putty, sashes that won’t behave, or locks that are on strike, it’s time for repairs or replacements.

9. Kitchen Hacks to Save Energy

Your kitchen could be eating up more energy than your dinner! Here’s how to cook smarter:

• Team Convection Oven for the win! These smart ovens use fans to spread the heat evenly, cooking at lower temps and using 20% less juice than old-school ovens.
• Microwaves are the energy-saving champions – they use a whopping 80% less power than regular ovens. Now that’s impressive!
• Size matters! Match your pots and pans to the right size burner. It’s like giving your food a perfect dance partner.
• Pop a lid on it! Covered pots and pans cook faster than going topless in the kitchen.
• Pressure cookers are like time machines for your food – same delicious results in way less time.
• Using a regular oven? Think like hot air – put your food on the top rack where it’s warmest. Your dinner will cook faster!

10. Change the way you do laundry.

• Do not use the medium setting on your washer. Wait until you have a full load of clothes, as the medium setting saves less than half of the water and energy used for a full load.
• Avoid using high-temperature settings when clothes are not very soiled. Water that is 140° F uses far more energy than 103° F for the warm-water setting, but 140° F isn’t that much more effective for getting clothes clean.
• Clean the lint trap every time before you use the dryer. Not only is excess lint a fire hazard, but it will prolong the amount of time required for your clothes to dry.
• If possible, air-dry your clothes on lines and racks.
• Spin-dry or wring clothes out before putting them into a dryer. 

Homeowners who take the initiative to make these changes usually discover that the energy savings are more than worth the effort.