No Cost/ Low Cost Ways To Save

Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Only heat or cool the rooms you need—close vents and doors of unused rooms. Run your dishwasher and laundry only when fully loaded. Switch to cold water washing of laundry in top-loading, energy-inefficient washing machines to save energy—detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean. Make sure your dryer's outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after every load. When shopping for a new dryer look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off when clothes are dry. Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioner filters regularly, following manufacturer's instructions. Set the water heater thermostat at 140 degrees or "normal." If you have a dishwasher. Otherwise, set it at 120 degrees or "low." Check your dishwasher to see if you can use 120 degree water. Reduce air conditioning costs by using fans, keeping windows and doors shut and closing shades during the day. Set the furnace thermostat at 68 degrees or lower, and the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting. 3 percent to 5 percent more energy is used for each degree the furnace is set above 68 degrees and for each degree the air conditioner is set below 78 degrees. Fix defective plumbing or dripping faucets. A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. That not only increases water bills, but also increases the gas or electric bill for heating the water. Defrost refrigerators and freezers before ice buildup becomes 1/4-inch thick. Close the damper when the fireplace is not being used. Try not to use the fireplace and central heating system at the same time. Enable "power management" on all computers and make sure to turn them off at night. A laptop computer uses up to 90% less energy than bigger desktop models. Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use. A water tank insulation wrap costs about $20 and helps hold the heat inside. Add pre-cut pipe insulation to exposed pipes going into your water heater—it is cheap and easy to install. If you’re starting with an uninsulated tank, the energy savings should pay for the improvements in just a few months. Caulk windows, doors and anywhere air leaks in or out. Do not caulk around water heater and furnace exhaust pipes. According to ENERGY STAR a typical household spends about $1,900 a year on energy bills and contributes twice the amount of greenhouse gases to the environment as an average car. Click on the ENERGY STAR Home Advisor icon and get customized recommendations for home improvement projects that you can implement to increase your homes energy efficiency and comfort. Check out the EGIA Energy Store for a large selection of low-cost "Do-It-Yourself" energy efficient products.