Energy Saving Tips And Ideas

There are so many energy saving tips that I doubt if anyone will try to implement all of them. There's a list later on, but I thought we should first review how to determine which energy saving ideas you might be most interested in. One way is to have an audit done by your local utility company.

In the event your utility company doesn't offer this service, you could engage an independent auditor to perform a comprehensive examination of your home. Once you identify where your home is losing energy, you should create a plan, using several of these energy saving tips, and assigning priorities.

Making A Plan

You should ask yourself these questions:

* How long will we be in our home?

* How much time and money can we afford to spend on these energy saving ideas?

* Which of our energy-related bills are the largest?

* How long will it take for the costs to be recovered in savings?

* Which government incentives and tax credits might apply to the proposed work?

You might find the following national averages useful:

* 34% of energy use is for space heating

* 34% is for lighting and appliances (other than refrigerator)

* 11% is for electrical use and air conditioning

* refrigerator uses 8% by itself

* 13% is for the water heater

Once you've gotten all of this information together, along with the recommendations of the auditor who examined your house, assign priorities and create a plan. This plan should include strategies for completing those energy saving ideas that will save the most money.

A few energy saving tips you can make use of right away are:

* Check the attic insulation

* Check for air leaks around windows, doors, outlets, & other openings along exterior walls

* Make sure the fireplace dampers are closed

* Have a maintenance agreement for your heating and cooling equipment

* See if your lighting use can be diminished by use of sensors, dimmers, or timers

* Replace bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps

The following list of energy saving tips was published by the Washington State University Energy Program, and the research was funded by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

No-Cost or Low-Cost things to do

* Lower the thermostat at night or when no one is home by 10 degrees.

* Lower the thermostat by 1 to 3 degrees and dress warmer. The savings will surprise you.

* Lower the temperature on your electric water heater to 120 F degrees. Turn it off when leaving for extended periods.

* Set refrigerator to 40 degrees and keep it stocked. It takes more energy to cool an empty refrigerator. If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, it's probably using 3 times the energy of new models.

* Wash full loads of dishes and air dry.

* When washing clothes, use warm or cold water and rinse with cold. Air dry the clothes outdoors. Indoors could create moisture problems.

* Shut off lights, computers and electronic appliances when not in use. Using the sleep mode setting will greatly reduce energy consumption.

* Always use the bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans while showering or cooking to avoid potential moisture problems.

* Use a microwave or toaster oven for smaller items.

* Install a low-flow shower head. Showers use less water than baths.

* Make sure your fireplace dampers are shut. If you can seal the opening, all the better.

* During the colder months, open the south-facing window coverings (drapes, blinds, etc.) during the day. Close those coverings at night to keep heat in.

* Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets & switches located in exterior walls.

* Adjust or install weatherstripping, sweeps and thresholds at doors.

<<>>

Energy saving ideas that pay for themselves in 2 years or less

* Install an automatic setback thermostat and adjust room temperature according to your daily schedule. Heat pumps have special thermostats designed especially for them.

* Install storm windows wherever they might be missing.

* Use motion sensors or timers for outdoor lighting.

* Have annual maintenance performed on your furnace.

* Replace furnace filters. This is also essential for heat pumps.

* Add insulation around hot water pipes and your water heater tank. Don't cover the thermostat or (for natural gas models) the air inlets.

Steps that pay for themselves in 2 to 5 years

* Increase attic insulation to R 38 (the current requirement for new homes).

* Insulate floors over crawl spaces or unheated basements to R 19.

* Insulate and seal ducts in attics, crawl spaces and other unheated areas (big savings).

* Install a fireplace cover (usually glass doors), especially if the damper is not tight.

* Use whole house fans instead of air conditioners. For more about how to use whole house fans, click here.

Energy saving tips that pay for themselves in more than 5 years

* When replacing appliances, buy energy star models.

* When buying windows, buy energy star models.

* When buying electronic equipment, buy energy star models.

* Install window treatments which cover the windows, where there are none.

* Consider adding blown-in wall insulation from the outside to raise your R value.

* When replacing a furnace, heat pump, oil burner, water heater, buy high efficiency models.

* Install a solar water heater.

* Install a wood burning stove in the fireplace.

You can find information about home replacement windows by clicking here.

There's some information about solar roof shingles you can access by clicking here.

For a comprehensive checklist of energy saving tips for both new homes and existing ones, click here.

There's some tips about keeping home heating costs down that you can access by clicking here.

And here is some information about Ceiling Fans.

And there's even more about home insulation here.

For more green solutions and alternative energy techniques, I recommend a visit to: Simple Green Solutions.

Find information about wind energy by clicking here.

For several tips specifically about saving electricity, click here.

I'll bet you didn't realize there were so many energy saving tips you could use. If you have questions about any energy saving tips, contact me here.

If you wish to subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter, Remodeling News & Views, submit your subscription here.