Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Making a home more energy efficient can lower utility bills and make living spaces more comfortable year-round. While major upgrades like new windows or heating systems can be expensive, many effective improvements are low-cost and can be done in an afternoon.
Find where energy is lost
Drafts are one of the most common sources of wasted heating and cooling. On a windy day, hold your hand or a lit incense stick near window frames, doors, electrical outlets on exterior walls, and attic hatches. If you feel air movement or see the smoke waver, you have found a leak. Some utilities offer free or discounted home energy audits that use specialized tools to locate problems.
Seal gaps and drafts
- Apply weatherstripping around doors and operable windows.
- Use caulk to seal fixed gaps around window frames and baseboards.
- Add a door sweep to the bottom of exterior doors.
- Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
These materials are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores.
Use your thermostat wisely
Heating and cooling usually account for a large share of home energy use. Adjusting your thermostat by a few degrees while you sleep or are away can produce meaningful savings. A programmable or smart thermostat automates this so you do not have to remember. Ceiling fans can also help: in summer, they make a room feel cooler, and many have a reverse setting for winter to push warm air down.
Upgrade lighting
LED bulbs use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer. Replacing the bulbs you use most often, such as in the kitchen and living room, delivers the biggest benefit. Make a habit of turning off lights in empty rooms, or use motion sensors in places like closets and garages.
Cut standby power
Many electronics draw power even when turned off. Televisions, game consoles, chargers, and computer equipment are common examples. Plugging them into a power strip that you switch off, or using smart plugs with schedules, can eliminate this hidden use.
Be smart with appliances
- Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
- Wash clothes in cold water when possible.
- Clean the dryer's lint filter after every load.
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer at recommended temperatures and check door seals.
- Let hot food cool slightly before refrigerating.
When replacing an appliance, compare energy ratings, as efficient models can cost less to run over their lifetime.
Manage sunlight
Window coverings are an easy way to regulate temperature. Close blinds or curtains on sunny summer afternoons to keep heat out, and open them on winter days to let sunlight warm the room. Close them again at night in winter to hold in heat.
Look at water heating
Water heating is another significant energy cost. Lowering the water heater temperature to a moderate setting, fixing dripping taps, and installing low-flow showerheads can all reduce energy and water use.
Start small
You do not need to tackle everything at once. Pick two or three of these steps this month, notice the difference in comfort and bills, and build from there.