Energy Efficiency Tips

To save the most energy and money, replace your highest used fixtures or the light bulbs in them with energy-efficient models.

By replacing the five most frequently used light fixtures in your home with ENERGY STAR qualified models, you can save more than $65 each year in energy costs.

Light fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR combine quality and attractive design with the highest levels of energy efficiency available today.

 

Replace a refrigerator older than 15 years with one that is Energy Star-rated by the EPA.

ENERGY STAR compact refrigerators and freezers use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards. Compacts are models with volumes less than 7.75 cubic feet.

Residential electricity use by consumer electronic products is responsible for more than 25% of household electricity use.

Even when home electronic products are turned off, they use energy to power features like clock displays and remote controls. Those that have earned the ENERGY STAR use as much as 60% less energy to perform these functions, while providing the same performance at the same price as less-efficient models. Less energy means you pay less on your energy bill.

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Change your air filter regularly.
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

Use Programmable Thermostats.
Programmable thermostats automatically adjust your home's temperature settings, allowing you to save energy while you're away or sleeping.

They:

• are more convenient and accurate than manual thermostats and improve your home's comfort
• contain no mercury
• save energy and save money on utility bills — when used properly, about $150/year
• are better for the environment, since using less energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production

Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly.
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating and cooling units can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs.

Sealing and insulating the "envelope" or "shell" of your home — its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors — is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort.

ENERGY STAR estimates that a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating.

To Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR:

• Seal air leaks throughout the home to stop drafts,
• Add insulation to block heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer,
• Choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows when replacing windows.

Make pool filters your first line of defense. Consider these energy-saving tips.

Remove floating debris from your pool to prevent damage to pool pump and motor.

• Use your skimmer to remove floating debris, which can clog your filter and make the pump work harder, using more energy than is required.
• Make sure drains and intakes are unclogged.

Install an automatic timer on your pool pump.

• If you own a pool, consider adding an automatic timer to your pool pump to help reduce energy usage while making your life easier.
• Reduce the run time of your pool pump to 8 hours versus 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Try running your pool pump during the off peak times; usually after 9:00 pm and before 5:00 am. This will reduce your monthly electric costs.

Should a need to replace your pool pump arise, consider a model with an energy-efficient pump motor.

• There are advanced materials in these pumps, which will increase motor efficiency and help you save money.

Keep filters clean to allow your pool pump to work efficiently.

• Back washing on a weekly basis keeps sand filters clean.