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Ways to save
Get simple ways to help you use electricity wisely, keep your costs down and improve comfort.
You can also explore usage insights for tools to pinpoint savings opportunities.
Energy-saving tips for every room in your home
Cooling your home
- Keep the thermostat at 78°F when you’re home. Use a programmable or smart thermostat and run your air conditioner when you’re home.
- Use portable and ceiling fans to keep cool. They use much less electricity than central air conditioning. Remember to turn them off when you leave the room.
- Keep air conditioner filters clean.
- Avoid using the oven, range, dishwasher and dryer during the hottest part of the day.
- Consider landscaping with leafy shade trees. Plant them on the southwest and southeast sides of your home.
Check for available discounts and rebates for cooling equipment for your state.
Heating your home
- When you are home and awake, set your thermostat at 68°F. When you're asleep or out of the house, lower the setting by several degrees.
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat to set the temperature back automatically at night and while you're away from home during the day.
- Clean or replace furnace filters once a month during use.
- Close window coverings at night. Open curtains and blinds during the day to let in the sun’s heat.
- Seal air leaks with caulk or weatherstripping.
- If you have electric heat, consider installing a heat pump or ductless heat pump to increase efficiency.
Check for available discounts and rebates on smart thermostats and heating equipment for your state.
Weatherization and insulation
Air sealing
Check for air leaks by using a damp hand to detect air movement. The most common places leaks occur are:
- Around doors and windows.
- Along sill plates and band joists at the tops of foundation walls.
- Behind electric outlets and switches – especially on exterior walls.
- Around plumbing pipes located in floors and ceilings.
- Around recessed lighting and ceiling fans.
- Along attic access hatches.
- Along chimney penetrations through insulated ceilings and exterior walls.
Seal air leaks with caulk or weatherstripping.
Insulation
Adding insulation is a great way to maximize your home's efficiency. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Determine the level of existing insulation. If there is less than 10-12 inches of insulation in your attic, more should be added. If none exists in the floors or walls, insulation is recommended.
- Decide whether you want to do the insulation work or hire a contractor.
- When purchasing insulation, check the R-value. This indicates the effectiveness of insulation. The higher the number, the higher the insulating capability.
Check for available rebates for insulation.
Water heating
- Fix leaky faucets. A dripping faucet can waste 6 to 10 gallons of water a day.
- Install energy-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators to reduce water use.
- Take a shower instead of a bath.
- Set the water heater temperature at 120°F. Consult the owner’s manual for your specific model. Caution: Turn the power off at the circuit breaker before changing the temperature!
- Insulate water pipes to help keep cold water pipes from freezing and hot water pipes hot.
Cooking and cleaning
Cooking
- Use a microwave, toaster oven or slow cooker instead of the oven.
- Recipes list preheating as the first step, but wait until 10 minutes before baking to turn your oven on to avoid wasting energy.
- Cook your meal in ceramic or glass dishes. You can lower the oven temperature by 25°F when baking with these dishes.
Refrigerators and freezers
- Set the refrigerator temperature between 37° and 40° and the freezer at 0° for top efficiency and food safety.
- Keep refrigerator coils clean and unobstructed.
- Keep your refrigerator or freezer full, but do not block the unit’s interior air vents.
- Cover all liquids stored in the refrigerator.
Dishwashers
- Only run your dishwasher when it is filled to capacity, but not overloaded.
- Choose the shortest wash cycle that will clean your dishes, and use an air-dry option on your dishwasher, if available.
Laundry
Clothes dryer
- Hang clothes outside when possible.
- Run separate loads for fast and slow-drying clothes.
- Clean the lint filter after every load. Clean out the vent at least once a year.
Clothes washer
- Wash with warm or cold water. Rinse with cold water.
- Run full loads. Reduce the water level setting for smaller loads.
Lighting
- Turn off lights every time you leave a room.
- Use energy-efficient LED bulbs to save on lighting costs. Find a list of retailers that offer discounted bulbs at wattsmart.com.
- Use task lighting so that other lights in the room can be turned off or dimmed.
- For lighting at night and/or for safety reasons, consider photocells (daylight sensors) and motion sensors. Use timers for lights to come on during a set time.
Computers and electronics
- Save energy and money by turning off electronics when not needed.
- Plug computers, printers, TVs and cell phone chargers into a power strip and turn the power strip off when your electronics are not in use. Use an advanced power strip to automatically sense when your electronics are idle and cut off the power flow to them.
Pools and spas
- Check the manufacturer’s recommendations to determine how often to run the pump. This may vary by season and geographic region.
- Use a timer to control the pump’s cycling.
- Keep pool filters and intake grates clear of debris.
- Lower the pool heater temperature 1-4 degrees to save energy.
- Cover your pool to keep heat in and debris out.
- Consider upgrading to an energy-efficient variable speed pool pump to save money.