How to save energy around the house

From shutting down the electronics and picking up a book (gasp!) to closing your curtains at the right time, here are 21 simple things you can do to save energy, and cash, in your home:

1. Institute periodic Pioneer Days in your house.
2. Lower your thermostat a few degrees in the winter. An ideal temperature for a home is 68 degrees. If you leave the house for a prolonged period of time in the winter, turn the thermostat down more. This can save you between $10 and $30 per month on your heating bill. By turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours, you can save about 5 to 15% a year on heating bills. If you have an air-conditioning system, turn your thermostat up in summer (78 degrees when you're home, 85 when you're not). Install a programmable thermostat to schedule changes in temperature according to your schedule. These can save up to $115 annually on your energy bills.
3. Close your curtains or window shades during the night to keep in heat and open them during the day to let the sun warm your room and reduce heating needs. In the winter, opening curtains and shades in the day can let in sunshine and heat up your home. Closing curtains at night will prevent some heat from escaping and will reduce the chill from windows. In the summer, keep curtains and shades closed in the day to prevent unnecessary heat gain (especially if you are not at home).
4. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LED Bulbs. CFLs will save you up to 75% of lighting costs and will save the environment from approximately 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide over the course of its lifetime. This is because CFLs use one-quarter to one-third as much electricity as incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer.
5. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Turn off lights that you don't need (for example, if you are sitting at a desk reading, use a desk lamp instead of the overhead light).
   
6. Unplug electronics and battery chargers when you are not using them. Even when these items are turned off, they still draw electricity. This is called vampire power and all your small household electronics can draw power as your refrigerator.
7. Get an energy audit. Hire someone to come find the "weak spots" in your home and figure out how to improve them to save energy and save money on your energy bills. Try RESNET to locate a rater (NHER if you're in the UK) or U.S. Department of Energy for instructions on how to perform a DIY energy audit.
8. Install low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and high efficiency toilets. This will of course save water, but it will also save energy in the pumping, transporting, and treating of your water.
   
9. When you are buying new appliances, go for Energy Star. They're up to 40% more efficient than other models. You can even find rebates online with the Energy Star rebate finder.
10. If your heating equipment is more than 15 years old, try Energy Star furnaces, boilers, etc. New furnaces are generally 15% more efficient than older models. Getting properly sized equipment is also crucial.
11. When you're home, turn your water heater down to 120 degrees. When you're away, turn it to its lowest setting.
12. Wash your clothes in cold water. 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes to heating water.
13. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer only when they are fully loaded.
14. Line dry your clothes as much as possible, especially in the summer. When you use your dryer, make sure the outside vent is clear and the lint filter is clean. If you need a new dryer, try to find one with a moisture sensor in order to turn off the dryer automatically when your clothes are dry.
15. Check for air gaps and fix any leaky spots with weather stripping and caulking.
16. Properly insulate your home. You can check how much insulation you have by measuring the depth with a ruler. 7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of cellulose mean you have a level of R-22. If you have less than this level, it would be good to add more insulation. This can save 5 to 25% on your heating and cooling costs.
17. Consider installing high efficiency windows. These windows, such as those with double panes of high performance glass, are 40% more efficient than standard windows. If your windows are operable, make sure you know how to use them properly for natural ventilation.
18. Use Light Timers. (Is there a better name for these?) You can use timers for more than just lights. Plug all of your cell phone chargers into one timer and set it to turn off when you're not at home. Set your TV, sound system, DVD, etc. to turn off late at night when no one's using them. You can even plug your extra freezer into a timer and set it to turn off for four-six hours every night (when no one will open the door). The freezer's thick insulation (and frozen food) keep everything cold until morning. If you're not sure, put a thermometer in there and try it out; add half an hour each night for a week or two until you settle on the perfect length of time. The person who shared that tip with me saved a lot of money, and so far none of their food has defrosted. The best part is, timers are cheap and automated. Just augment them to your schedule. If you want to go high tech, try a smart power strip.
19. Plant a tree for passive solar. If you have a yard, and your windows face south, consider planting a leafy tree. During hot seasons the leaves will provide shade and help keep your house cooler. During the winter (if you live far enough north), the tree will drop its leaves and let in the light - keeping your house warmer. You might be surprised by how much money you'll save on heating/cooling costs just by providing a little shade for your house.
20. Check for drafts in an unfinished basement or crawl space by looking for spider webs ... if there is a web, there is a draft. A large amount of heat is lost from uninsulated basement walls so be sure to insulate or at least fix the drafts
21. Do some energy-saving landscaping. Flower gardens with tall plants help retain moisture, and gardens require less water (and energy to mow) than your lawn. Low-growing evergreens planted around the basement help keep warmth in and wind out. A trellis draped with vines or climbing perennials can cool ground floor windows facing west.

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