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Energy Conservation Checklist


Home Energy Conservation.

With the rise in energy and fuel costs, preparing our homes for winter is now even more important. The following is a list of items to help make your home more energy efficient.

Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F), and you will not only save energy, you’ll avoid scalding your hands.
Install an insulating blanket on your water heater. An insulating blanket will pay for itself with the first year’s energy savings.
If you have a waterbed, keep the bed made or put an additional blanket on the bed. Keeping the waterbed covered will save up to one-third the energy it uses
Wash clothes in warm or cold water and remember to adjust the water level setting for the size of the load.
Run your dishwasher only when fully loaded with dishes and use the air dry setting.
Repair leaky faucets and install low-flow showerheads.
Insulate hot water pipes and air ducts wherever they are exposed to unheated areas in your home.
Always use the energy-saving settings on your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer.
Check the age and condition of your major appliances, older appliances can consume twice the energy of today’s energy efficient models. 
Clean or replace your filters. Old or dirty furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters can reduce the efficiency and increase the energy used by these units. Replace furnace filter monthly during the heating season.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs. CF bulbs use one-half to three-quarters the electricity of incandescent bulbs. Start with 60-100 watt bulbs which are used several hours a day.
Remember to turn off televisions, computers, stereos, and lights when not being used.
Check windows and doors for leaks or drafts and seal with rope caulk or other weather-stripping. Also, check the places where pipes and wires enter your house or pass through ceilings and floors. Sealing up leaks around telephone wires, cable lines, gas lines, and outdoor water spouts can put a stop to those cold drafts you been feeling and help reduce your heating costs.
Set your thermostats one or two degrees lower during the winter and wear a sweatshirt and socks if you feel a chill. The temperature suggested for an occupied home is 65-68°F. If the home will be unoccupied for 24 hours or longer, set the thermostat back to 50-55°F.
Dial back your thermostat at night, or install a programmable thermostat to automatically set it back. The recommended over-night setback is 5-10°F.
Setback your thermostat if your home is unoccupied during the day, too.
Install insulating foam gaskets behind the cover plates of your wall outlets and wall switches, especially those on exterior walls of your home.
Keep your heating registers clean and clear of obstructions. Don’t block the registers with furniture.
Reduce the heat to unused rooms in the house – close doors and turn down heat registers.
Close fireplace dampers when not in use. Install and keep fireplace doors closed when a fire is burning.
Install storms windows over all single pane windows, or replace with energy efficient double pane windows.
Close curtains and shades at night.
 

Many of these tips are taken from: Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings and Federal Energy Management Program

More Resources

ENERGY Guide
Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
Federal Energy Management Program
Energy Federation Incorporated
Consumer Energy Center
Home Energy Saver Answer Desk
Power House Kids
DIY Network Home Energy Efficiency
Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency
Edison Electric Institute's Wise Energy Use

 

 

 

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Last modified: May 01, 2008
Water is Power

Serving Since 1892