Lower your energy costs

Top 10 No-Cost Steps You Can Take Right Now

Turn down your heating system’s thermostat to 68°F during the day. Turn it down even lower when no one is home for several days.
Lower your water heater temperature to 120°F and reduce hot water use by taking shorter showers and using cold water for laundry whenever possible.
Turn off lights, televisions, and computers when not in use.
Remove and recycle your second refrigerator.
Keep curtains open on the south side of the house and closed on the north side during the day.
Clean refrigerator coils and set the temperature to 36° to 39°F and the freezer to 0° to 5°F.
Make sure the fireplace damper is closed when not in use. Don’t send warm air up the chimney.
Match the size of your pot or pan to the size of the stove burner and cover it with a lid when cooking.
Once a year, drain about one gallon of water from your water heater to remove sediment.
Air-dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s heat drying option.

Caulk and weatherstrip around windows and doors to stop air leaks. Seal any gaps in floors and walls around pipes and electrical wiring.
Change filters monthly, or install a “filter whistle” to let you know when to change them.
3. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.
Repair air leaks and seal and insulate heating system ductwork.
Add insulation to your attic, crawl space, and any accessible exterior walls. Add pipe insulation to the first five feet of water pipe coming from your water heater. Install light switch and electrical outlet seals on exterior walls.
Install an ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat appropriate for your type of heating system and set it at 68°F for heating.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label when replacing large or small appliances.
Wrap your water heater with insulation or install an insulating blanket.
Install aerating low-flow faucets and showerheads and repair leaky faucets.
Use power strips for home electronics, and turn off power strips when equipment is not in use. TVs and DVD players, etc., still use power when turned off.

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