Energy Tips for Reducing Your Footprint

Use a programmable thermostat

A smarter thermostat can save a home that spends about $2,000 yearly on energy about $180 per year. Unlike a manual thermostat, which is typically set to one constant temperature, a programmable thermostat can be set back during times when no one is in the home, cutting the time the heating or cooling system turns on. Some even come with a vacation setting. Recycle your old thermostat at a hazardous waste recycling facility, as it may contain a significant amount of mercury.

Use compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs

Lighting can account for up to 40% of the electric bill of a typical home. Switching incandescent and halogen bulbs, which are only 10% efficient, to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) or LED light bulbs can reduce electricity use without sacrificing light quality. These bulbs also give off less heat, reducing the cooling load. Though compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED light bulbs are more expensive up front, the 66-90% reduction in electricity use and long life (roughly 10 times longer than an incandescent) allow these bulbs to recoup that cost in under a year. And yes, both CFLs and LEDs can be used with dimming switches (special dimmable CFLs must be purchased).

Put Hi-Fi Components on a Power Strip

The increased use of home electronics over the last several years has led to an increase in wasted energy. Televisions, DVD players, stereos, DVRs, and cable/satellite boxes all use electricity when plugged in, regardless if they are on. This load, known as standby power, phantom power or, more aptly, vampire power, can be as much as 15 watts per unit and is estimated to be up to 5% of the total residential electricity use, costing consumers roughly $3 billion per year. Putting these units on a power strip will allow them to be off when not in use – simply flip the switch on the power strip. Anything with an external transformer or a continually running digital interface, such as unused cell phone and laptop chargers, should be unplugged as well.

Many people are surprised to find that HD television sets use more electricity than older CRT sets. This is because they are larger and often back lit by fluorescent or LED lighting. Have your set "balanced" by the store before taking it home, and purchase Energy Star qualified sets.

Weatherize Your Existing Home

As heating costs rise to levels not seen since the 1970s, more and more homeowners are taking steps to air seal and insulate their homes. This can not only improve comfort, but can drastically reduce energy bills and pay for itself in as little as 4 years in both natural gas or heating oil and electricity savings. There are important tips to remember, however:

• Make sure your heating and safety systems are well maintained before weatherizing. An overly tight house can create safety and comfort issues, and many unsafe heating problems are masked by a drafty house. Have a qualified HVAC contractor clean and tune your system and ensure that your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in good working order. Insulate heating ducts in unconditioned spaces. Air seal all heating ducts, especially in unconditioned spaces, with mastic and/or UL-181 metal tape. Insulate hot water pipes where feasible.


• Hire a contractor that specializes in weatherization. The contractor should use a blower door either during the air sealing process or before and after to meet specific targets. A blower door depressurizes the house and measures the pressure difference between the inside and outside. The contractor should pay particular attention to thermal bypasses, gaps and holes where air can leak directly from the conditioned space to the unconditioned space. These are not always easily seen in an existing building, typically where plumbing and soil stacks, electrical, or duct work are running between the outside and inside wall, or where different building components meet, such as around the rim or band joist of the house, or in a cantilevered porch. After sealing these bypasses, insulation can be added to the attic and walls to slow conductive heat loss. Unsafe or hazardous situations, such as applying insulation over canned lights, should be accounted for. Window and door weather stripping, or in some cases replacement, should usually be performed last.


• Replace windows and doors. Though usually the last consideration with weatherization, replacing windows and doors and properly weather stripping them can improve comfort and save energy. Use double pane windows. Spring for low-e windows if it doesn’t break the budget, especially on south and east exposed walls. Low-e windows keep heat out during the summer and keep it in during the winter. Above all, hire a window contractor that can properly install them. Ensure that the hollow casings where an old window’s lead weights hung are properly filled with insulation, and that the rough opening around the window is air sealed – otherwise, you will have a drafty window. For doors, make sure exterior doors are used where enclosed, but unconditioned spaces, such as back steps or porches, meet conditioned spaces.

When Purchasing New Appliances, Always Purchase High Efficiency ENERGY STAR® Certified Appliances

The largest electricity users in a typical home are the central air conditioner (if installed) and a refrigerator. Both of these appliances have become more efficient since the 2001 energy efficiency standards of the Department of Energy were adopted. A typical refrigerator from the early 1990s uses twice the electricity per year of an Energy Star qualified refrigerator sold today – the incremental cost of Energy Star, therefore, is quickly paid back. An Energy Star central air conditioner must have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 14 – a vast improvement over 10- to 15-year old 10 SEER central air conditioners. Room air conditioners are also a source of savings – to increase their effectiveness, take the time to properly air seal around them or have an installer permanently install them. Energy Star clothes washers and dishwashers are designed to significantly save water. If you wash your clothes in warm or hot water especially, this can increase the savings.

For new heating appliances, spend the extra money for a higher efficiency furnace or boiler, or if feasible, get a geothermal heat pump installed. The payback is typically under 7 years, and the savings can continue to be collected for the life of the furnace, sometimes up to 30 years. If you don’t plan to be in the home that long, the efficiency of the heating unit can be used as a selling point.

As a conservation measure, using ceiling fans or a whole house fan can significantly cut down on electricity costs in the summer.

Lower/Raise Your Thermostat and Hot Water Heater When You Leave Town.

Take a few minutes before leaving town to lower or raise your thermostat and hot water heater when leaving town, or program the vacation setting of your programmable thermostat. 55 degrees F is a safe temperature in the winter to avoid freezing the pipes, and 80 degrees F is a safe temperature in the summer to avoid moisture buildup. Though the heating and cooling in a house is primarily for the occupants, it is not recommended to turn off these systems, you can reasonably expect the home to stay below 85 degrees F with the windows open in the summer. Turn your hot water heater to the pilot or vacation setting (remember to turn it back on before that first shower).

Save Water, Save Energy

Saving water reduces the need to heat it, thus saving either gas or electricity, depending on your hot water heater type. Use low flow shower fixtures, from 1.6 to 2.5 gallons per minute. Use aerators on faucets. Reduce your hot water heater to the warm setting, about 120 degrees F. Wash your clothes in cold water.