Energy Saving Tips Lighting | Cooling | Refrigerator | Laundry Heating | Water | Dishwasher | Cooking Lighting 1 Lighting accounts for about 15% of your home’s electric use. New screw-in fluorescent bulbs, called Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL), can replace the incandescent ones most of us use. Fluorescent bulbs are more expensive initially, but they last 10 times longer and use 75% less electricity. 2 If you prefer incandescent bulbs, try to use “energy saver” bulbs. These bulbs use halogen gases that allow the filament to burn brighter while consuming less electricity. 3 Match as closely as possible light bulb wattage to lighting needs. For example, a high wattage reading light in a hallway or alcove is not energy efficient. Keep this practice in mind for your outdoor fixtures too. Fixtures that cast their light downward help to reduce the effects of light pollution and provide more light where you want it. Be mindful of the impact outdoor lighting can have on your neighbors and the environment. 4 Inside your home, lighting controls or timers can help save energy. Timers can be set to turn lights on or off at predetermined times. Photocell controls are sensitive to light and turn lamps on and off at sundown and sunrise. Dimmers can vary the level of illumination according to how much light you may want in a given situation. Outdoors, motion detectors can save energy while providing a high degree of security, while timers will turn off your outdoor fixtures automatically at predetermined times. 5 Consider “task lighting” (lighting directed at a specific area) instead of overhead or general lighting, which may light unused areas of your home. 6 Keeping lights and fixtures clean can improve efficiency as much as 20%. Take advantage of reflected light by keeping portable fixtures as close as possible to light colored walls or other surfaces. These easy steps may reduce the number and wattage of bulbs you need and help you save on your energy bills. 7 You can increase your energy savings by installing fluorescent bulbs in your outdoor fixtures too. Just make sure your fluorescent light fixture has electronic ballast and has been approved for outdoor use by the Underwriters Laboratory or similar organization. Use sky-friendly fixtures that reduce sky glow and light trespass on your neighbors property. back to top Cooling 8 Make sure your air conditioner is the proper size for the area you are cooling. The wrong size air conditioner will use more electricity and increase your energy bills.A unit that is too large for a given area will cool the area too quickly, causing the air conditioner to frequently turn itself on and off. If a unit shuts off quickly, chances are it hasn’t been running long enough to reduce the room’s humidity and you’ll be uncomfortable. If your air conditioner is too small, it will run constantly on hot days without ever getting good results. 9 The location of your air conditioner has a lot to do with how efficient it will be. If you have a choice, locate your units on the north, east or the best-shaded side of your home. If the unit is exposed to direct sunlight, it has to work much harder and use more energy to cool your home. Keep shrubbery away from your air conditioner since it blocks vents and reduces the unit’s ability to exhaust air. 10 Regular maintenance will insure that your air conditioner operates efficiently throughout the summer. Check the filter once a month by holding it up to a bright light. If you can’t see through it, it’s time to clean or replace the filter. You can also check your owner’s guide to find out how to safely clean the condenser coils and fins on the outside of the unit. 11 On very hot days, you can save energy by closing the fresh air intake on your unit. Cooling fresh, warm outside air requires more electricity than re-cooling the air that is already circulating in your home. 12 You can save energy on cooling by avoiding cooling rooms that are not occupied. If you like your home to be cool when you come home at the end of the day, special automatic timers for air conditioners are available that will turn the unit on before you arrive home. 13 On hot summer days, the temperature in your attic can reach 150 degrees. Improving the ventilation in your attic will lower the temperature of the entire house and make your air conditioner’s job much easier. Installing an attic fan that is controlled by a thermostat to exhaust the hot air can greatly improve the comfort of your home. 14 Depending on the size of your home, you can save 3% on your cooling costs for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer. Raising the thermostat from 73 to 78 degrees can mean savings of up to 15% in cooling costs. 15 Fans can make your air conditioner’s job easier. Pedestal and ceiling fans improve the air circulation in your home, allowing you to raise the air conditioner’s thermostat. In moderate heat, fans can sometimes completely replace air conditioners. Ceiling fans use only about one tenth the electricity of a typical home air conditioner, and therefore cost only one-tenth as much to operate. 16 To stay most comfortable during the hottest hours of the day, do your cooking, laundry and bathing in the early morning or late evenings. These activities all increase the level of humidity in your home, making it less comfortable. If other heat generating appliances, such as irons, ovens and blow dryers are used only in the early morning or late evening, your home will stay cooler. 17 Drapes, shades and awnings shield windows from the hot sun and keep your home cooler. If you have air conditioning, your storm windows also come in handy during the summer since they keep cool air in and hot air out. Weather-stripping and caulking windows and door frames will also keep cool air from leaking out. Certain reflective films can be used on windows to screen out the hot rays of the sun without reducing the amount of light you receive. And, when doors and windows are shut, your air conditioner will operate more efficiently. back to top Refrigerator & Freezer Tips 18 Like other appliances that heat and cool, refrigerators are big energy users. If your refrigerator door does not shut tightly, check the door seal to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. A door leak allows cool air to escape, forcing your refrigerator to use more energy to keep food cold. 19 Cleaning the condenser coils found in the back or bottom of the refrigerator will maximize its efficiency. A brush or vacuum can be used. Be sure to unplug the refrigerator before you start cleaning. 20 Keep the refrigerator away from appliances that create heat, such as ovens and dishwashers; windows; and heating ducts. Direct exposure to heat forces the unit to work harder and use more energy. 21 When purchasing a new refrigerator, consider a high efficiency model. Compare yellow EnergyGuide labels and choose the unit that uses the least amount of electricity. 22 A freezer’s efficiency is increased by keeping its compartment full. Be careful not to block the fan that allows cold air to circulate. 23 Although automatic defrost refrigerators are convenient, their defrosting features use a lot of electricity.A manual defrost refrigerator typically uses 36% less energy. 24 Check temperature settings for the most efficient appliance operation. Refrigerator temperature should be 36-38 degrees and freezer temperature should be 0-5 degrees. back to top Laundry Tips 25 Ninety percent of the energy your washer uses goes toward heating water. You can save energy dollars by using hot water only for heavily soiled laundry. Today, detergents are specially formulated to work just as well in cold water. If you must use hot water, you can save by using cold water rinses. 26 Run the washer only when you have a full load of laundry to save energy and water. 27 If you have more than one load of clothes to dry, try to do each load immediately after the one before to use the heat left over from the previous cycle and increase the efficiency of the dryer. 28 If you’re in the market for a new clothes dryer, consider purchasing one with a “moisture sensing” device that shuts off automatically when your clothes are dry so the dryer doesn’t run longer than needed. 29 You can reduce drying time and energy use by setting your timer carefully. Drying your clothes longer than necessary wastes energy and shortens the life of the fabric. Other side effects include shrinkage and static cling. 30 Dry heavy and light fabrics separately to keep drying time to a minimum. Mixing different weight fabrics causes the dryer to run longer than necessary. 31 Remember to check the lint filter before each load. Lint buildup blocks air flow and lengthens drying time, and can be a fire hazard as well. back to top Heating Tips 32 Check the filters in your warm air heating system monthly and replace or clean them when they become dirty. Have your heating system checked periodically by a licensed professional. 33 Proper insulation in walls, ceilings and floors also significantly reduces the loss of heat to the outdoors. Insulation will pay for itself in fuel cost savings and home comfort. 34 Storm windows and doors are big energy and money savers. They can reduce heating costs by as much as 15% by preventing warm air from escaping to the outside. Double glazed and thermopane windows or even clear plastic across windows can minimize heat escape. 35 The many small openings in a home can add up to big heat losses. Caulking and weather-stripping cracks in walls and floors, windows and doors will save fuel and money. Keeping the fireplace damper closed tightly when not in use will also result in heating cost savings. 36 Letting sunlight in by opening curtains, blinds and shades over windows facing the sun helps keep your home warm and reduces heating needs. At night or when the sky is overcast, keeping drapes and curtains closed will help keep the warmth indoors. 37 Dry air makes you feel colder than moist air at the same temperature. Maintaining home humidity will produce personal comfort at a lower thermostat setting and save money. Shallow pans of water on radiator tops or near warm air vents, or a room humidifier, will help raise humidity levels. 38 Insulate heating hot air ducts and hot water pipes that provide heat to the rooms in your home. This will reduce heat loss in uninsulated areas and will help your heating system work more efficiently. 39 Keeping your heating thermostat at the lowest temperature comfortable for you will save on heating costs back to top Water Tips 40 The water heater is the second largest energy consumer in the home. Using it efficiently can add up to big savings. For families with an automatic dishwasher, the hot water heater setting can safely be lowered to 130-140 degrees. If the automatic dishwasher has a water temperature booster, the water heater temperature can be set to 110-120 degrees. If your house will be vacant for two or more days, you can lower the temperature of your water heater even more until you return. If you have a new water heater, drain a few gallons from your tank every six months to remove sediment that accumulates and reduces the heater’s efficiency. 41 Leaky faucets can add to your hot water bill so repair them as soon as possible. The constant drip wastes water, energy and money. You can also save by installing an inexpensive “flow control” device in shower heads and faucets. 42 Wrapping a fiberglass blanket around your water heater and securing it with duct tape, or installing a ready-made insulation kit can save up to 10% on water heating costs. Most new water heaters are already insulated, so this tip is most effective for heaters that are more than five years old. Also, insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss as the hot water is flowing to your faucets. 43 Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period. back to top Dishwasher Tips 44 Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded. Don't use the "rinse hold" on your Machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it. 45 Washing dishes by hand may not save energy or money. In fact, you can probably save energy using the dishwasher since hand washing usually requires more hot water. 46 When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for models that require less hot water. Dishwashers differ in the number of gallons of hot water used in the wash cycle. The manufacturer's specifications or the EnergyGuide label should list this information. 47 Many new dishwashers have an internal water heater that raises the temperature of the incoming water to 140 degrees. This device allows you to turn down the temperature on the water heater in your home and still have your dishes washed thoroughly. 48 Take advantage of the energy saving control on many dishwashers. It turns off the heat during the drying cycle. Opening the dishwasher after the rinse cycle and letting the dishes air dry is another way to save energy. back to top Cooking Tips 49 A microwave oven is an energy-efficient alternative to a conventional oven. It cooks food more quickly and it uses 70-80% less electricity than a regular oven. 50 When you’re cooking on top of the range, use pots and pans that are properly sized to “fit” the burners. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy and can be a safety hazard. Cookware with flat bottoms and tight covers is your best choice. Always cook with lids on your pans, to keep the heat inside and speed up cooking time. 51 If you do use a conventional oven, try to avoid “peeking” by opening the oven door. Each “peek” can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees. Use a toaster oven to cook small items. 52 Although often recommended, it’s not really necessary to preheat the oven for foods with a cooking time of over one hour. Using glass pans allows you to set the oven 25 degrees lower because glass retains heat. 53 When preparing a meal in your oven, try to use foods that are cooked at about the same temperature. That way your oven can cook several dishes at the same time. back to top The Sierra Club is a nonprofit member-supported, public interest organization that promotes conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions -- legislative, administrative, legal, and electoral. Up to Top