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Air and Heat
Turn your thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer. This small adjustment makes a big difference— by doing so you can save emitting about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Install a programmable thermostat on your heating and cooling system. Programmable thermostats can be set to automatically adjust temperatures when you are away or asleep, saving money and resources.
Replace the filters in your furnace and air conditioner on a regular basis. Dirty filters can emit much more carbon dioxide a year and cause your unit to run inefficiently.
Put on a sweater and hat before you bump up the thermostat, and heat only the rooms you use.
Electronics
Turn off electronic devices you’re not using. Turning off your television, stereo, lights, computer, etc., when you’re not using them is a simple and good energy saving habit to get into.
Unplug electronics when you’re not using them. Even when turned off, electrical items use energy, in fact, the constant energy used to light display clocks alone accounts for 5% of the total U.S. energy consumption.
Faucets
Repair leaky faucets as soon as they begin to leak. A leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time, and when a faucet begins to leak don’t just let it go down the drain, capture the water in a pan and use it to boil tea or water plants.
Insulate
Insulate your attic. Insulation can save 25% of your home heating bill, and when you insulate, there are government tax credits offered as well. Check with your local utility company or the IRS to see if you can qualify.
Caulk windows, weatherproof doors, and seal up drafts. The worst drafts are usually not from windows and doors, but areas where pipes and electrical wiring enters the house. All of these hidden spaces may add up to as much energy loss as an open window or door. Tip: when you caulk, make sure you use paintable caulking, otherwise, the next time you paint any areas that butt up to your siding will remain noticeable.
Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
Light Bulbs
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs CFLs use 60% less energy than incandescent bulbs. If you can’t afford to replace all of your bulbs at once, start with light fixtures that you use four or more hours a day.
Recycle
You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling the reusable waste your household generates.
Shower
Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing faucet aerators, a low flow showerhead, and taking shorter showers. Set a timer to cue you it’s time to get out; taking shorter showers can save up to 600 gallons of water each month. Use a sink full of water instead of letting it run to shave legs and face.
Utilities
Get a home energy audit. Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is energy inefficient. Energy inspectors offer good advice and will let you know of any cash-back incentive programs as well. Contact your utility company to see if they offer free audits.
Switch to green power. By switching to green power you are supporting the technology that generates clean, renewable energy from sources such as the wind and the sun. You will also be creating the demand for alternative energy sources. Check with your local utility company for information on making the switch.
Washer and Dryer
Wash your clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot.
Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible. If this is inconvenient, compromise by half-drying your clothes on the line, then put them in the dryer for a few minutes to fluff them up.
Windows
Open curtains and blinds to sunny windows during the day to make use of solar heat. Close curtains when it is cold to insulate and trap heat from escaping through window glass.
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