No-Cost or Low-Cost:

• Lower your thermostat at night and whenever the house is unoccupied. Lower heat in unoccupied rooms (unless you have a heat pump). If you consistently set your thermostat back at night 10 degrees Fahrenheit, you may reduce your heating bill by 10-20 percent.

• Lower the thermostat and dress warmer. As little as 1 to 3 degrees (F) makes a noteworthy difference in energy consumption.

• Lower the temperature on your electric  water heater to 120 (F) degrees. Turn it off when leaving for extended periods of time. Electric water heaters can be set on timers; gas heaters must be set manually.

• Set refrigerator temperatures between 37 and 40 degrees (F). Clean the coils. Keep the refrigerator stocked; it takes more energy to cool an empty refrigerator.

• Consider replacing your older model refrigerator, especially if older than 10 years.  Older models can often use over 3 times the energy of newer models.

• Wash full  loads of dishes and air dry.

• When washing clothes, use warm or cold water and rinse with cold. Air dry clothes, but not indoors as this creates unwanted mold and moisture problems.

• Shut off lights, computers and other electronic appliances when you’re not using them. Many computer monitors have a sleep mode setting which, when activated, greatly reduces energy consumption.

• Always use the bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans while showering or cooking and baking to avoid potential moisture problems.

• Use a microwave or toaster oven for smaller items.

• Install a low-flow showerhead. Showers use less hot water than baths; also consider taking shorter showers.

• Close your fireplace damper and seal the opening shut when not in use.

• During the heating season, open south-facing window coverings (e.g. drapes, blinds, etc.) during the day. Close all window coverings at night to keep the heat in.

• Install foam gaskets behind electric-outlet and switch-plate covers.

• Examine and adjust, if necessary, weather stripping, door sweeps, and thresholds.

Steps that cost more, but pay for themselves

in two years or less:

• Install an automatic setback thermostat that adjusts room temperature according to your daily schedule. If you have a heat pump, be certain to use a special thermostat designed specifically for heat pumps.

• Install do-it-yourself weather stripping and caulking to seal air leaks. Seal all perimeter wall penetrations and ceiling and floor penetrations to stop all air movement between heated and unheated spaces.

• Install do-it-yourself storm windows that cost less than $1/sq.ft. such as flexible vinyl glazing.

• Use motion sensors or timers for outdoor lighting. You’ll still have security and save energy.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs in common areas (where lights are on most of the time) with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). They use about a quarter of the energy, a 20 watt CFL is equivalent to a 100 watt incandescent bulb. If you want dimmable, outdoor or daylight bulbs, make sure the package says that on it.

• Replace the halogen torchiere floor lamp with a CFL model. They’re safer, use 70 percent less electricity and produce as much, if not more, light.

• Tune up the furnace annually.

• Replace furnace filters. The dirtier they are, the harder the fan furnace works. Clean filters are essential for heat pumps – airflow is critical and can add years to the life of your heat pump.

• Add water heater tank and hot water pipe insulation especially if in an unheated space. Don’t cover the thermostat or, for natural gas models, the air inlets.

• Install a sheet metal fireplace cover, especially if the flue damper does not fit tightly.

Home energy improvements that pay for themselves

in two to five years:

• Install Solatubes to eliminate daytime lighting costs, increase attic ventilation with SolarStar Solar-Powered Attic Fan to make heating/cooling more efficient.

• Increase attic insulation to R-40 (the current requirement for new homes).

• Insulate floors over unheated spaces to R-40.

• Insulate and seal ducts in attics, crawl spaces, garages and other unheated areas-potential big energy savings!!

• Install do-it-yourself storm windows that cost less than $3/sq.ft. such as rigid acrylic glazing or plastic shrink.

• Perform low-cost fireplace modifications, such as fluetop damper or inexpensive glass doors.

Home improvements that take more than five

years to pay for themselves: