Tips to Save Energy and Money at Home
Lights and Electronics
Install LEDs in your most frequently used lights to save the most on energy costs—kitchens and bathrooms are a great place to start. Look for the Energy Trust logo at participating retailers
Turn off lights when not needed and Use motion sensors for outdoor lights
Unplug battery chargers for mobile phones, tablets, laptops and other devices when not in use—they use energy even when they’re not actively charging anything
Group office and entertainment equipment on easily accessible power strips that can be switched off
Use a Kill a Watt® energy monitor to see where you can further cut your electricity use
Staying Comfortable
Add weather stripping to drafty doors and windows and Close storm windows during cold months, or install simple interior storm window kits
Caulk small holes and cracks around ducts, pipes, exhaust fans, vents, sink and bathtub drains, fireplace and under countertops
Vacuum registers and avoid blocking them to keep air flowing freely
Turn down the thermostat to 65-68 degrees during the day and 58-60 degrees at night during cooler months. If you have a heat pump, turn the thermostat down no more than three degrees at night. In warm weather, set your heat pump or air conditioner to 72-75 degrees
Clean or replace filters regularly to help your heater or air conditioner work at peak efficiency
Plant deciduous trees or shrubs to provide shade on the sunniest sides of your home
Combine fans with air conditioning–a fan lets you raise the thermostat and still stay comfortable
Use a window fan to pull cool air in on the shady side of your house and blow hot air out on the opposite side of the house
Cover bare floors with rugs to add comfort and retain heat
Heat your home in winter with help from the sun by leaving window shades or blinds open during the daytime; close window coverings at night to help keep the heat in
Close fireplace and wood stove dampers when not in use, but wait until the fire is out and the ashes are cold
Use ceiling fans to push hot air down in winter and circulate air in summer
In the kitchen and bathroom
Use the water-saving setting on your dishwasher and Scrape food off plates instead of rinsing
Use the energy-saver drying option on your dishwasher or let dishes air dry
Install efficient showerheads and kitchen and bathroom aerators
Keep your freezer and fridge full to help perform better—containers filled with water do the trick
Let hot foods cool before putting them in the fridge or freezer to they don’t have to work as hard
Avoid covering oven racks with foil. Food cooks more quickly when air moves freely around it
Shorten showers to cut hot water costs—using a timer can help you reduce shower time
Check your water pipes, toilets and faucets for leaks and repair any you find
Looking for bigger savings? Evaluate your home to find out where Energy Trust can help you can save even more!
Tips to Save Energy and Money at Work
Lighting
Turn off lights in unoccupied areas like conference rooms or storage areas, or when natural daylight is sufficient. This can reduce lighting expenses by 10 to 40 percent.
Use occupancy controls and daylight dimmers to manage lights. Cash incentives may apply.
Upgrade lighting with new energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures to save energy and improve lighting quality. Cash incentives may apply.
Heating and Cooling Systems
Keep exterior doors closed during operating hours to avoid wasting hot or cool air.
Use shades and blinds to control direct sun through windows in both summer and winter to help heat or cool your space.
Change or clean HVAC filters regularly. Dirty filters overwork equipment, using more energy, and lowering indoor air quality.
Set back thermostats for evening and weekend hours, and adjust temperatures seasonally. Or even better, install programmable thermostats to automatically reduce heating and air conditioning during closed hours.
Seal cracks around windows, doors and window HVAC units, and weather-strip doors and operable windows, to reduce the loss of heated or cooled air.
Seal heating and cooling ducts to improve the efficiency of the HVAC system.
Schedule a regular checkup of your heating and cooling equipment to ensure systems operate at peak efficiency.
Workplace Behaviors
Educate your employees about how workplace habits and behaviors affect energy use.
Appoint and empower an employee to lead sustainability efforts.
Equipment and Processes
Turn equipment off when you leave for the day.
Keep compressed air systems them well-maintained to improve efficiency, decrease air leakage and save energy.
Use an advanced power strip to shut down equipment when it’s not in use. Cash incentives may apply.
Consolidate stand-alone office equipment to be shared by multiple users. Typical cost savings can reach 30 to 40 percent for electricity, hardware, supplies, and maintenance.
Look for ENERGY STAR® certified refrigerators and freezers, which can save energy over time.
Looking for bigger savings? Check out our cash incentive list to see where Energy Trust can help you can save even more!