Although most homeowners would like to be more energy-efficient and save money, the effort often feels overwhelming because many folks don’t know where to start.
How can the average family use less energy, lower their utility bill and still meet their daily energy needs?
To help jump-start the effort, it’s useful to identify the top energy users in your home. The top five, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration:
- Air conditioner: 17%
- Heater: 15%
- Water heater: 14%
- Lights: 10%
- Refrigeration: 7%
Together, these five constitute 63% of the average American home’s energy bill. By adjusting household habits around each energy user, you can start conserving and saving.
Adjust the Temperature
Combined, home heating and cooling use the most energy and take the biggest bite out of your energy budget. You can achieve at least 10% savings by taking a few simple low-cost or no-cost steps.
- During cold weather, set your thermostat to 68 degrees. When it’s warm, set it to 78.
- Clean or replace the filters of your HVAC system to cut costs 5%–15%.
- Clean refrigerator and electric baseboard heater coils to maintain maximum efficiency.
- Caulk and weatherstrip around windows and doors to prevent indoor air from escaping to the outdoors.
- No matter the time of year, proper use of a programmable thermostat can save 10% on your utility bill.
Water Heater Efficiency
Just as it is energy-wise to insulate your roof, walls and floors, it also pays to wrap your water heater with an insulating blanket. Doing this is all the more critical
if you have an older unit, which may have less insulation than newer models.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For additional efficiency and savings, insulate exposed hot water lines and drain 1–2 gallons of water from the bottom of your tank annually to prevent sediment buildup.
Shine a Light on Savings
Take a fresh look at the lighting in your home. If you still use incandescent lighting, your light bulbs are operating at only 25% efficiency.
Replacing your home’s five most frequently used bulbs with Energy Star-certified LEDs can save you $75 per year. For another easy way to save, always turn lights off in unoccupied rooms.
Cold Cash Back in Your Wallet
If your refrigerator was purchased before 2001, chances are it uses 40% more energy than a new model. If you’re considering an appliance update, a new Energy Star-certified fridge uses at least 15% less energy than other models and 20% less energy than required by federal conservation standards.
Regardless of the age of your fridge, there are additional steps you can take to save energy and money. For example, don’t keep your refrigerator too cold. The Department of Energy recommends temperatures of 35–38 degrees for the fresh food compartment and zero degrees for separate freezers.