Energy Saving Tips
During Winter
Lowering the temperature by one degree during any 24-hour period decreases your heating bill by up to 3%, but do not turn off your furnace - it will use more gas to return to a warmer temperature. Instead, try setting your thermostat to these temperatures:
When you're home: 68 degrees
When you're away: 60 degrees
Let in the Sunshine. Keep draperies and shades open during the day but remember to close them at night to reduce chill from cold windows.
General
Install a programmable thermostat. This allows you to save energy by setting your home to a lower temperature during the evening and when you're away.
Insulate pipes, walls, attic, crawl spaces, basement and floors, as well as ventilator ducts and water pipes that pass through unheated areas such as the garage, basement, and attic. Note: When purchasing insulation, higher 'R-values' represent better insulation.
Inspect heating and air ducts. Ensure ducts in conditioned areas are as clean as possible. In unconditioned areas, such as an attic or vented crawl space, seal your ducts to prevent leaks.
Seal cracks and leaks on doors and windows. Caulk and weather-strip around doors and windows to reduce air flow and energy loss.
Lower water temperature. Save between 3%-5% in energy costs for each 10ºF reduction of your water heater temperature. Consider setting water heater to 120º, and switching to "vacation" when you're away.
Replace older appliances with ones that have high energy-efficiency ratings. Note: these may be eligible for federal tax credits or rebates.
Run full laundry loads on a cold or warm water setting. Minimize unnecessary loads and save on heating costs.
Install a low-flow showerhead. Traditional showerheads deliver between 5-8 gallons of water per minute (gpm). The current standard for low flow showerheads is 2.5 (gpm) at the same water pressure, so an investment of as little as $5 can cut the cost of a hot shower by 50%.
Repair leaks in showers and faucets. A single faucet that drips just once every second wastes 8.6 gallons per day, or almost 260 gallons per month.
Adjust dishwasher settings. Use the "energy saver" switch on your dishwasher; set it on the low temperature setting when feasible.
Rearrange furniture or shorten draperies to unblock registers and air returns.
Change furnace and A/C unit filters a minimum of three times a year or more to ensure maximum air flow and cooling efficiency.
When it's hot outside, set your thermostat to 78 degrees or warmer with the fan switched to auto. For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you're away.
Additional Helpful Links
Top 10 Energy Saving Tips, energy saving tips
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, http://www.eere.energy.gov/
Alliance to Save Energy, http://www.ase.org/
Energy Star, http://www.energystar.gov/