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There are several things you can do today to make your home more energy efficient. Not only will you be saving money, but, you will also be helping the environment. Have you ever wondered what you could do on your own to save energy and money, without calling in a ton of professionals to help? Here is a list of things you can do on your own.

Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).

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Make sure 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). ENERGY STAR lights can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. New CFLs come in many sizes and styles to fit in most standard fixtures.

Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator.

Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters.

Buy a water-heater blanket and low-flow showerheads.

Rope caulk leaky windows.

Assess your heating and cooling systems.

Determine if replacing your heating and cooling systems are justified, or whether you should retrofit them to make them work more efficiently to provide the same comfort, or better, for less energy.

Collect your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.

Check 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 feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors, but utility cut-throughs for pipes (”plumbing penetrations”), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.

Install a digital thermostat to set your thermostat back automatically at night.

If your walls aren’t insulated or have inadequate insulation, call a contractor to blow cellulose into the walls. Bring your attic insulation level up to snuff.

Replace inefficient appliances.

Upgrade leaky windows. It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or to boost their efficiency with weatherstripping and storm windows.

Have your heating and cooling systems tuned up in the fall and spring.
Duct sealing can also improve the energy efficiency and overall performance of your system (warm-air furnace and central air conditioners).

Reduce air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house.

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