How to Save Energy Around the House

Even if you are careful about using energy in your home, there are probably still some things you can do to conserve more. A few savings here and there can really add up at the end of the month, and with the cost of energy going up every year, any savings are welcome. Most of our home energy use is a matter of habit and necessity. Sometimes modifying our habits in small ways can reap small but steady rewards. Here are some helpful tips for conservation.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Turn down your thermostat a couple of degrees. Taking a hit of a couple of degrees will save money and still not impact your comfort too much. To offset the hit, install a couple of ceiling fans. By simply adjusting the direction of the blades, ceiling fans in the areas where you spend the most time will help to keep the environment warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

2. Maintain good airflow around your air conditioner by keeping shrubs cut back.

3. Clean your air conditioning filter often. A dirty filter uses more power.

4. Vacuum the condenser coils on the back or bottom of your refrigerator. Keeping the coils clean will help your refrigerator operate more efficiently, using less energy.

5. Save more energy in and around your refrigerator by checking the gasket on the door to make sure it's making a good seal. Replace loose gaskets that can't hold a piece of paper in place. Maximize the efficiency of your gasket by keeping it clean. A monthly scrubbing with a sponge and warm soapy water should do it.

6. Group your visits to the refrigerator and never leave the door open longer than you have to. Standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to eat is an example of a wasteful practice that is easy to curtail.

7. Keep your stove's burner reflectors clean. These are the bowls that the stove top elements sit on. Dirty reflectors waste energy. The same goes for your oven, which uses more energy to maintain temperature when the walls are dirty.

8. Use an oven thermometer to calibrate your oven's operating temperature and adjust the display accordingly. Most ovens are off a few degrees. The next time you cook, you'll only be using the energy you need (and your food will probably turn out better too).

9. Use a slow cooker, microwave or pressure cooker, instead of your oven. Chances are that the smaller appliance will use less energy than your oven and prepare the food just as well or better.

10. Dry clothes more efficiently by washing and drying loads one after another. As you dry one load of clothes, remove the whole load and refill the dryer immediately with a new load from the washer. The dryer will already be hot, saving the time and energy to heat it up again.

[budgetmom]

on 5/6/2009 Great tips! It makes sense to dry clothes one after another to make use of the residual heat. Of course my favorite way is hanging out doors in the nice weather and on racks indoors on cold or rainy days.

[CCrock]

on 5/6/2009 great ideas for saving energy! My last power bill was a lot more than I had anticipated! I'll be employing as many of these tips as i can!