Energy Conservation Tips

Adapted from the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

HOME ENERGY CHECKLIST FOR ACTION

To Do Today

• Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). A 10°F reduction in temperature saves 13% of your water heating costs.
  
  
• Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket will pay for itself in one year or less.
  
  
• Start using energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers.
  
  
• Survey your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents (CFLs). CFLs can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are 60-100W bulbs used several hours a day. Replacing conventional light bulbs with CFLs saves up to 80% of the energy.
  
  
• Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before it dies. Check energystar.gov for a list of efficient models.
  
  
• Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters.
  
  
• If you use a dishwasher, make sure it's full when you run it.

This Week

• Visit the hardware store. Buy a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and compact fluorescents, as needed. If you can't find compact fluorescents locally, check out www.energyguide.com.
  
  
• Caulk leaky windows.
  
  
• Assess your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are justified, or whether you should retrofit them to make them work more efficiently to provide the same comfort (or better) for less energy. Call the Ecology Center (510-548-2220 x233) for assistance.

This Month

• Crawl into your attic or crawlspace and inspect for insulation. Is there any? How much?
  
  
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
  
  
• Seal up the largest air leaks in your house—the ones that whistle on windy days, or feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors, but utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumping penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Consider hiring an energy auditor with a blower door to point out where the worst cracks are. All the little, invisible cracks and holes may add up to as much as an open window or door, without you ever knowing it.
  
  
• Install a clock thermostat to set your thermostat back automatically at night. In most homes, you can save about 2% of your heating bill for each degree (F) you lower the thermostat.
  
  
• Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole. Contact the Ecology Center for Bay Area referrals.

This Year

• Insulate. If your walls aren't insulated, consider having an insulation contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Bring your attic insulation level up to snuff.
  
  
• Replace aging, inefficient appliances. Even if the appliance has a few useful years left, replacing it with a top-efficiency model is generally a good investment. Find listings of the most efficient models at energystar.gov
  
  
• Upgrade leaky windows. It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or to boost their efficiency with weatherstripping and storm windows.
  
  
• Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house—especially on the west side.
  
  
• Consider installing a flash or on-demand water heating system. On-demand water heaters typically save 10-15% over conventional storage water heaters.
  
  
• Consider going solar. Find out more from the Northern California Solar Energy Association.

For More Information:

• Consumers Guide to Home Energy Savings by Alex Wilson, Jennifer Thorne, and John Morrill.
  In-depth info on heating, cooling, appliances, and a whole lot more.
• Ecology Center, 510-548-2220 x233
  Info desk and referrals.
• Build It Green, 510-845-0472.
  Bay Area assistance with green building materials and methods.
• www.energyguide.com
  Includes an online audit of your energy use and calculations of potential savings. Many great tips on energy saving.
• energystar.gov
  Energy efficiency information and appliance energy ratings.