Home Energy Efficiency Tips

Most of us don’t associate our homes with performance (as we might when we compare which car to purchase). But with the proper understanding, along with the right strategies, your new home can be transformed from an ol’ rusty clunker into an uber-energy efficient, high-performance place of comfort all year long. Besides, becoming more energy efficient is the fastest way to cut expensive energy bills and reduce impacts on carbon pollution.

Top 4 Home Energy Efficiency Tips

1. Increase Energy Awareness

Home energy efficiency starts by recognizing what’s happening in our homes and why. When it comes to energy use, many homeowners have been carrying the same bad habits for years and it may not be until they receive their first electricity bill in a new home that they begin to think about energy efficiencies.

An average household uses energy that releases almost 21,000 lbs. of CO2 per year. To put this number in perspective, the average household is responsible for releasing more than twice as much CO2 emissions as the average car per year. When we simply open our eyes to energy usage around the house, we can make a big impact.

Did you leave lights on that need to be?
Is the furnace pilot light still on in the summer months?
Are your computer’s energy-saving features turned on?
Is your HVAC unit older than 10 years?
Do appliances have standby loads that are always consuming power? (see #2)

2. Slay the Vampires

Now that you have your eyes open to the problems in front of you, take a look at one of these bad habits which comes in the form of “vampires.” Nearly one-quarter of home energy use is consumed by devices and appliances that secretly suck up electricity (even when switched off). That’s a lot of wasted energy. And wasted money.

Thankfully, there are several things you can do right now to fight the energy-sucking vampires. Start by getting a power strip. TVs, speakers and other digital gadgets consume a lot of electricity even when they’re not being used. When you plug them into a power strip, you can flip them all off in a split second!

Consider using a timer on devices such as computers to power down the machine automatically. Use them without hesitation.

3. Research Products Before You Need Them

If your appliances are over 10 years old, it’s likely the energy technology to run them has improved and updating an outdated appliance might make good energy sense. When replacing old appliances, do your research and use only the most efficient models you can find. Shop smarter.

Plan ahead so if an appliance breaks down unexpectedly, you won’t be caught too far off guard. The last thing you’ll want to do is buy a unit just because it’s on sale and have it end up being an energy hog. ENERGY STAR is a good resource that lists thousands of appliances that use advanced technologies to ensure anywhere from 10 to 50 percent less energy usage than standard appliances.

Looking for a new computer? Be aware that laptops use significantly less energy than desktop versions and can be hooked up to external monitors and keyboards if you need the big-screen experience.

Remodeling your bathroom? Replace old inefficient showerheads with new low-flow designs and low-flow aerators on faucets to prevent excess hot water (and the energy used to heat it) from going down the drain.

4. Adopt Efficient Habits

Make some changes around the house that don’t use any energy at all. Adopt simple things like using taking advantage of nighttime air to cool your house with open windows and fans, then strategically closing the windows and shades before the air warms up the next day, unplugging cell phone chargers and buying smarter LED light bulbs. LEDs use up to 85 percent less energy to deliver the same amount of light as incandescents; over their lifetime, they can save more than $100!

A few other changes around the house include changing the temperature of your refrigerator between 28 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer between 0 and 5. Remember to fill the dishwasher before running it and wash clothes (except for the dirties loads) in cold water.

Check the temperature settings on your gas or electric water heater, too. If it’s set higher than you really need, it’s working harder than necessary — and costing you more money — to make sure hot water is always ready for you. Set it no higher than 120 degrees. Consider using solar-heated water.

And finally, air-dry clothing when possible. The clothing dryer is one of the largest energy users in the home. It can consume as much as a refrigerator, dishwasher AND clothes washer combined.

Sustainability for Homeowners

Beyond the energy and cost savings, a more sustainable home delivers tremendous environmental benefits.

Suddenly, you’re part of the solution and saving big bucks. Feels good, right?