Ten simple ways to save energy (and money)

Energy conservation

  • 92 percent of consumers agree that business, government, and consumers have an equal responsibility to reduce energy use. Alliance to Save Energy, 2003 Consumer Market Research.
  • Your energy bill is one bill you can control: In 2005, the average household spent almost $1,900 on home energy bills. Save up to 50 percent each year by making smart energy choices.
  • 90 percent of the energy that goes into an incandescent light bulb is wasted as heat—that’s why they are hot to the touch.
  • Families that replace the four most-used 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs can save more than 2000 kilowatt hours and $190 over the life of the bulbs. If all U.S. households did this, it would save as much energy as is consumed by some 38 million cars in one year!
  • Laptop computers typically use less than half the power of a desktop model.
  • Using your microwave instead of a conventional oven or cook top can reduce energy consumption by 70 percent.
  1. Use your windows. Opening drapes and curtains on sunny days can help warm your home in the winter and opening windows at night can help cool your home in the summer.
  2. Cover your food. Food cooks faster on the stove with lids, and refrigerators need to work harder to cool humid air from steaming food. Allow food to cool for a few minutes before you put it in the refrigerator.
  3. Replace and clean your filters. Furnaces, air conditioners, and dryers all work harder and use more energy with dirty filters and lint traps.
  4. Insulate hot water pipes. You’ll save energy and use less water waiting for a hot shower.
  5. Repair water leaks. Leaking faucets can waste up to 400 gallons of water along with the energy used to clean and heat it.
  6. Clean your refrigerator coils. Dirty coils on the back of your refrigerator can cause the compressor to run longer and work harder.
  7. Use ceiling fans. Most fans use about as much power as a light bulb, and fans that can be run in reverse actually can be used to pull warm air down from the ceiling in winter.
  8. Install a water heater blanket. You can find them at most home improvement and hardware stores and they only take minutes to install.
  9. Use a programmable thermostat. You can also adjust your thermostat manually when you leave for the day or at night when you are less active.
  10. Use compact florescent light bulbs. They more than pay for themselves in energy savings and they last longer. Three-way bulbs or dimmer switches also can save energy by allowing you to choose only the amount of light you need.