As you know, energy costs continue to rise. But you can do something about it to help ease that ever climbing energy bill. Below are a couple of checklists of tips and some additional information sites that have been proven to reduce energy costs with spending little to no money.

Energy Saving Tips

Heating and Cooling:

• Weatherstrip and caulk your windows and doors
• Seal and insulate your home
• Consider installing a Geothermal Heat Pump to heat and cool your home, save up to 70% on your heating and cooling costs.
• Clean your A/C and heating furnace’s filter monthly
• Consider buying an ENERGY STAR furnace or air conditioner, insulating and sealing ducts and relocating heating and air conditioning vents.
• Cover your hot water heater with an insulation blanket
• Consider installing energy efficient windows or storm windows
• Follow the 10-10 Rule. Lowering your thermostat in the winter by 10 percent (like from 74° to 67°) for 8 hours can shave 10 percent off your heating bill. Try it at night and use extra blankets when sleeping.

Saving Water:

• Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120F or less (or until using little to no cold water in the bath/shower)
• Install a low flow shower head (there are some nice ones out now-a-days)
• Solar hot water heaters can reduce your hot water heating bill
• Run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Use the cold water setting when possible. Most dishwashers will preheat the water for sanitizing.  If available, use the energy savings settings on your dishwasher and washing machine
• Clean the clothes dryer’s lint filter cleaner after every load.
• Consider air drying your clothes. saves energy, money and keeps your clothes lasting longer.
• Take a shorter shower and use newly designed shower heads which use your water more efficiently.

Computing Equipment:

• Learn how to set the power management on your computer.
• Download Google’s Desktop Power Management Gadget
• Plug your computer peripherals (printer, scanner, speakers, fax machine) into a powerstrip and power down when not in use.

Electronics and Home Appliances:

• Turn down the brightness on your TV and computer monitor
• Look for and purchase ENERGY STAR appliances and electronics
• Consider replacing that old, second refrigerator in the basement – This calculator determines how much energy your refrigerator is using
• Plug home electronics into a powerstrip and turn off when not in use. Or unplug appliances that you rarely use – when was the last time you used that VCR?
• Don’t keep your refrigerator and freezer too cold. Set temperature between 36-38 degrees F and freezers at 0-5 degrees.
• Turn off kitchen and bathroom ventilating fans when you’re done. If left on for an hour, they can suck all the heat out of the house not to mention all the unnecessary energy use doing so.

Other Energy-saving Tips:

• Use Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) in areas like basements, hallways and outside lights that need to be kept on for longer periods of time.
• Alliance to Save Energy: No-Cost Low-Cost Tips for Saving Money & Energy
• Department of Energy: Additional No-Cost / Low Cost Tips to Save Energy
• Carbon footprint calculator
• ACEEE: Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
• Home Energy Savers: Calculate your home’s energy footprint
• Get a home energy audit

Government Programs:

• Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program
• Map of government and utility programs that provide incentives for energy wise upgrades
• This site www.amconservationgroup.com offers numerous low cost utility company supplemented energy savings materials. Go to the bottom of the offering to look for your respective utilities program offering.

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