How to Save Energy in Your Home

Your home’s electricity use plays a big part in your personal carbon footprint. Taking steps to reduce the amount of energy you use in your home is one of the most important and effective ways you can reduce your impact on the environment. Here are some ways you can reduce your energy usage to lessen your impact (and save money):

1. Manage your thermostat wisely. Don’t use more heat or AC than you need to. Take advantage of the sun to help warm up your home on chilly days and the natural breeze to cool your home on nicer days. Adjust your thermostat when you’re out of the house, when you’re on vacation, and even at night to save energy and money. 

2. Invest in a smart thermostat. By allowing you to adjust the temperature from your smartphone and automatically self-adjusting based on the current weather, smart thermostats can help keep you comfortable when you’re home and save energy when you’re not.

3. Switch to Energy Star appliances. Increase your home's energy efficiency by upgrading to an Energy Star-certified dishwasher, refrigerator, or dryer. Check out energystar.gov to find products and rebates.

4. Switch to energy-efficient lighting. Did you know LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescents? Swapping out your incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs can save a ton of energy and money over time. 

5. Turn down your water heater. Water heating accounts for 18% of the average utility bill. Turning down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F) can help reduce your energy consumption.

6. Don’t waste energy while doing the dishes or your laundry. Use cold water to wash your clothes, hang your laundry to dry instead of using the dryer, and turn off the heated drying setting on your dishwasher to save a surprising amount of energy.

7. Replace your air filters to improve airflow and increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. This simple step could lower your energy consumption by up to 15%! 

8. Clean your air ducts and vents. Cleaning out all the dust and dirt that has accumulated makes things easier for both your lungs and your heating and cooling systems. You’ll save energy and may even increase the system’s lifespan.

9. Seal any air leaks. Caulking, sealing, and weather-stripping cracks and openings around your windows, doors, or any other openings can help keep air from leaking out of or into your home, helping your heating and cooling systems run at maximum efficiency.

10. Have your HVAC system serviced. Having your heating and cooling system inspected, cleaned, and serviced at least once a year helps ensure it’s working at maximum efficiency. 

11. Seal your air ducts. Leaky air ducts can reduce the efficiency of heating and cooling systems by up to 30%. Sealing and insulating ducts can prevent you from wasting a significant amount of energy and money.

12. Change the direction of your ceiling fans every summer and winter. Switch your ceiling fan’s blades to rotate clockwise in the winter (to help push warm air down) and counter-clockwise in the summer (to help push cool air down). This simple step can help you save on heating and cooling costs!

13. During the summer, use ceiling fans and portable fans to help keep your home cool instead of using AC.  

14. Avoid using your oven during the summer to help keep your whole home cooler. Use your microwave, toaster oven, or grill whenever you can.

15. Install window treatments to combat the strong summer sun. Try energy-efficient window treatments or coverings such as blinds, shades, or films to naturally keep your home cooler during the summer.

16. During the winter, let sunlight in. Allow the sunlight to naturally warm the rooms that receive direct sunlight during the day in the cold winter months.

17. Update the insulation of your attic, doors, windows, floors, roof, and walls to help prevent heat from escaping your home, helping your heating system run more efficiently.

18. Use rugs to insulate floors during the winter. Putting rugs in rooms with hardwood or tile floors can help make the rooms feel warmer, allowing you to keep the thermostat a bit lower.

19. Only heat necessary places during the winter. Try to avoid heating areas of your home that don’t need to be heated (and might not be insulated), such as your garage, attic, basement, or crawlspace.

20. Utilize your blankets and sweatshirts in the colder months. Getting more comfortable with bundling up inside your home can help you keep your thermostat lower.

21. Make sure you turn off the lights every time you leave a room. Developing this simple habit can add up to a big impact over time!

22. Unplug and get outside! Give your electronics a rest and enjoy fresh air as often as you can.

Once you take all of these steps to reduce your energy usage, make sure the energy you do use comes from clean, green sources. By choosing CleanChoice Energy for your home, you can play a role in fighting climate change and creating a cleaner planet for us all. Sign up for 100% clean, renewable energy from wind and solar sources today!