1) Caulk and seal area where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring penetrate through exterior walls, floors or ceilings.
2) If you have a fireplace, keep the flue tightly closed when the fireplace is not in use to prevent warm air from escaping.
3) Install seals behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
4) Add insulation in easily accessible areas. Attics are usually under insulated and adding blown-in material or batting can help stem heat loss through the ceiling. Insulate hot water pipes to reduce cooling.
Lighting
As the days become shorter, your lighting usage will increase and so will your energy bills.
“Compact flurescent bulbs use one-third of the energy that regular bulbs use and can last up to five years,” Manfredini said. “So just switching the bulbs you can save you money. Here are other lighting suggestions:
Install motion sensor lights that come on only when someone approaches your home.
Turn off lights in any room not in use to reduce the amount of time lights are on. On sunny days, take advantage of natural light as much as possible. Not only will opening the blinds let the sun brighten your home, but as mentioned above, it will also help heat the room.
Rather than lighting an entire room, use task lighting to illuminate the area you’re in. Under-cabinet lighting above countertops is a prime example.
Three-way lamps give you the option of using a lower setting if bright light isn’t required.
Appliances
The biggest appliance energy guzzler in your home may come as a surprise – your refrigerator. Nearly 10 percent of your home’s overall energy usage is consumed by this appliance, with other applicances throughout the home contributing an additional 10 percent. As with your heater, using the most energy efficient appliances possible can drastically reduce your overall energy costs. But, if you’d like to make the pieces you have more efficient, here are a few suggestions:
1) Vacuum the coils on your refrigerator at least once a year, as this will allow it to run for shorter periods of time.
2) Look at the temperature settings in your fridge and freezer. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your fresh food compartment between 37 degrees and 40 degrees F, with the freezer set at 5 degrees F.
3) Inspect and clean your dryer vent. Also, clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
Whenever possible, wash your clothes in cold water to help save the energy used to heat water. Even switching from hot to warm water can cut each load’s energy use in half.
To maximize your diswasher’s efficiency, only wash when you have a full (but not overstuffed) load of dishes. Rather than using the dryer feature, allow dishes to air dry instead.
LinkedIn
