How to Save Energy All Around Your Home

There are literally hundreds of ways to save energy in the home. Some are simple and inexpensive, some are complex and costly. This article touches mostly on the simple, relatively inexpensive ways to tweak-down your energy use all around the house.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• As noted in text.

1. The analysis:
   First, you need to analyze your particular home. You can probably contact your energy provider for a comprehensive, detailed report (some offer this as a free service); but if that is not available, or perhaps costs too much, you can make a reasonably educated assessment yourself. Walk around your home, taking note of:
   
   Windows and doors
   Non-structural foundation cracks
   Gutters and downspouts
   Outdoor lighting
   Inside lighting and appliances
   Switches and outlets on outside walls
   Heating-system piping
2. Caulk around windows and doors and reglaze leaky window panes. Windows and doors:
   Many windows and doors leak, especially in older homes. New technology and building materials and methods pretty much eliminates this problem in newer homes built with quality window components, but even new construction is not always perfect.
   
   Note whether the window and door frames are adequately sealed where they meet the siding components. Are there gaps where caulking has come loose?
   
   Visit the link below for "Re-sealing Windows and Doors" if you wish to tackle these repairs yourself. Otherwise, contact your local builder or home repair contractor.
3. If your windows are of the older, glazing putty type, take note of the condition of the glazing putty. Is it cracked, dried up, or have sections missing? If so, you will save energy by re-glazing those to stop outside elements from entering your home, and help keep inside heated or air-conditioned air where it belongs.
   
   Don't forget to check the basement windows for possible leaks, as well.
   
   Visit the link below for "Re-glazing Windows", if you wish to tackle this yourself. Otherwise, contact your local builder or home repair contractor.
4. Caulk and seal non-structural foundation cracks. Foundation:
   Sometimes, foundations crack as buildings settle, allowing infiltration of outside elements. This will ultimately result in added energy costs due to the need to heat additional cold air, cool additional warm air, de-humidify additional moisture, or even eliminate infiltrating ground water in some cases.
   
   Modern methods and materials help to minimize this, but it might be a common problem in older homes, especially ones with cement block or brick foundations.
   
   Visit the link below for "Repair Non-structural Foundation Cracks" if you wish to tackle this yourself. Otherwise, contact your local builder or home repair contractor.
5. Collect rainwater for recycling! Gutters and downspouts:
   If your home has gutters and downspouts, you should ensure that they are clean, so rain-water flows freely off the roof, down the downspouts, and away from your house by several feet. This helps prevent infiltration of ground water through your foundation, which could result in added energy costs for de-humidification or pump operation.
   
   Visit the link below for "Removing Musty Odors From Basements", if you wish to learn more about keeping your basement dry and comfortable.
   
   Visit the link below for "Build Your Own Rain-water Collection System", if you wish to learn how you can conserve even more energy by recycling rain water to water your garden and plants, wash your car, siding, and more.
6. Use timers, motion-sensor settings, solar power and fluorescent bulbs for outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting:
   Outdoor lighting is a desirable feature for enhancing a home's security and safety, as well as its character. In order to conserve energy, however, outdoor lighting should be incorporated with strategically planned placement, lighting type, quantity, and other practical measures.
   
   Visit the link below for "Save Energy On Your Outdoor Lighting", if you wish to learn some practical ideas for minimizing energy costs with outdoor lighting options.
7. Use power strips to turn appliances and lights on and off. Inside lighting and appliances:
   Many small appliances draw power even when they are turned off. This is known as "stand-by" power, and there are some ways to minimize that wasted energy.
   
   Visit the link below for "Save Energy On Small Appliances And Lights" to learn more about reducing "stand-by" power losses.
8. Seal up drafty switches and outlets! Switches and outlets on outside walls:
   Every switch or outlet along the outside walls of your home might be allowing outside air infiltration and/or inside air escapes.
   
   In winter, you must provide more heat, to offset any cold drafts entering through switches and outlets. In summer, you must provide more air-conditioning.
   
   Visit the link below for "Stop Drafts At Switches And Outlets On Outside Walls", for a simple, inexpensive way to eliminate this wasted energy.
9. Insulate heating system piping; save on heat losses. Heating system piping:
   If your home has hot-water baseboard heating, you can save energy by insulating the piping that distributes the hot water to the baseboard radiator units. It is not difficult or expensive, and it can save significantly.
   
   Visit the link below for "Insulate Heating System Piping", for tips and instructions to learn how to reduce heat losses from this piping, using easy to install foam insulation.

Tips & Warnings

• Check back to this article frequently, to find ongoing updates and more energy saving tips.
• Read and follow manufacturers' guidelines and instructions for safe use, handling, installation and operation of tools, equipment and products.