Top 10 Ways to Save Energy & Money in your Home

1

Take the Energy Star Pledge: Commit yourself to Energy Efficiency!
Learn about Energy Star Qualified Products, they are certified as the most energy efficient on the market

If you commit to Energy Efficiency you commit to Money Savings! Be smart in your daily life and in your purchasing choices!

2

Insulate your house: windows, doors, ducts, walls, ceiings. Do it yourself is so easy: check The Energy Star Guide

Reduce HVAC costs by 20%

3

Lighting: switch off lights when you leave a room, replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFL or LED lights

Reduce energy consumption by 75% (LED & CFL), CFLs last 10 times longer, LEDs last 25 times longer

4

Electronics: buy Energy Star qualified products if needed. Plug all electronics in one power strip so that you can switch them off with one click and avoid stand-by modes. Enable your computer to go to sleep when not used for a short period of time.

Save about $100 a year, i.e. the average U.S. household money spent each year for devices kept in low power mode.
Save $25-75 per computer annually following the sleeping mode guidelines.

5

Maintenance of HVAC system: dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating and cooling system inefficiency and failure. It's important to change your system's air filter regularly and have routine maintenance performed by a qualified technician. If your equipment is old consider substituting it with an Energy Star one

Cut your annual energy bill by more than $200 by replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with an Energy Star one

6

Programmable thermostat: it automatically adjusts your home's temperature settings when you are away or sleeping. Follow the Energy Star Guidelines. You can save with a manual thermostat too, every degree you set your thermostat up in hot weather or down in cold weather will help you save on your overall energy bill.

Save about $180 a year in energy costs with a programmable thermostat and the Energy Star Guidelines

7

Room Air Conditioners: if you consider purchasing a new unit, buy an Energy Star product and choose the right size. In the winter, be sure to insulate room air conditioners from the outside with a tight-fitting A/C unit cover or remove it to keep heated air from escaping outside.

Energy Star Air Conditioners use 10% less energy the conventional ones.

Removing your window air conditioners during winter saves energy and money at no cost. Be smart!

8

Clothes Washing and Drying: wash and dry only full loads, clean the dryer lint trap before every load. If needed buy Energy Star Clothes Washers, and Clothes Dryers with moisture sensors. Line dry clothes whenever possible.

Energy Star Clothes Washers use 50% less energy and water than conventional ones.

Line drying clothes costs $0.00 and saves energy and money!

9

Shower heads and faucets: change your equipment with WaterSense qualified one. Repair leaky faucets. Take shorter showers.

Save hot water means save energy and money! With a new 2.5 gallon-per-minute (low-flow) shower head, a 10-minute shower will use about 25 gallons of water, saving you 5 gallons of water over a typical bath and saving energy and money up to $145 each year.

10

Are you buying a new house? Look for the Energy Star Label and the LEED for Homes Label. You'll insure your money savings!

These certified homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.