Tips designed to help you save energy in your home with little or no out-of-pocket costs.
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Low-Cost and No-Cost Actions to Save Home Energy and Money
Tips designed to help you save energy in your home with little or no out-of-pocket costs.
Photo of a home heating system
Heating
- Set thermostats no higher than 72ºF when people are home. You save about 1-3% on your heating bill for every 1º that you lower the thermostat setting. For example, if you keep your thermostat set at 75ºF all of the time, and you lower it by 3º (to 72ºF), you will save about 3-9% on your heating bill, or about 9 cents for every dollar you spend on heating costs. The longer the temperature adjustment period, the more you save.
- Lower the thermostat when you sleep. Lowering the thermostat from 72ºF to 65ºF at night will save another approximately 7 cents for every heating dollar you spend. Some people turn their thermostats down to 60º at night (or when sleeping) to save even more energy.
- To ensure the heat gets to where it is supposed to go, use mastic or foil-faced tape to seal the seams and any cracks in air handling ducts.
- Have the heating system serviced each year to ensure efficient operation.
- Clean or replace furnace filters. Dirty filters reduce the efficiency of the furnace or heating system and waste valuable fuel. Clean or replace the filter(s) as directed by the manufacturer.
- Do not place furniture and curtains over or around the heat registers or in front of cold air returns. These items will block the airflow.
- Put on a sweater or warmer clothing for comfort, and lower the thermostat even more. Layer clothing. Closed or tighter cuffs and collars help to retain body heat.
- Never use the stove for additional heat. It is dangerous. Besides causing a fire hazard, fumes given off by combustion from gas appliances can result in increased carbon monoxide levels.
- On sunny days, open blinds, shades, and curtains, especially if your windows face south. At night, close the blinds, shades, and curtains to help keep heat in your home.
Cooling
- During the day, keep window shades or blinds down and closed, especially on east and west facing windows. In the evening and early morning, open windows if the temperature and humidity are lower.
- Turn the air conditioning control to higher temperatures when no one is home for a period of about eight hours. This will reduce energy use. For heat pumps, follow the manufacturers recommendations or adjust slightly higher. In humid weather, air conditioning helps reduce humidity levels in the home.
- If you have a window air conditioner, place it in a window that is shaded or on the north side. This will help it perform more efficiently. Weatherstrip around the air conditioner.
- When the cooling system is operating, close and lock all windows and doors. Close exterior sliding storm windows. Locking doors and windows creates at tighter seal and reduces air leaks. During less humid warm days, open the windows in the mornings and evening to allow fresh air to help cool the home.
- Correctly positioned shade trees and awnings reduce the heat gain in the home during the warm and hot days.
- Use towels or a draft stopper to block air coming in under doors that lead to the outdoors, or buy a door sweep. If the door leaks around the entire frame, install foam weatherstripping between the door and the frame.
- Use blinds, shades, and lined curtains or draperies to block heat gain during the summer. If your curtains or draperies aren’t lined, use a sheet, or purchase tightly woven heavier fabric. Create a casing on the top end and attach to a rod behind the window treatment.
- Use overhead fans or fans to cool the body in locations most often used. The air conditioning system can be set at a higher temperature when fans are cooling the body.
Windows and Doors
- Close and lock all windows and doors when heating and cooling systems are in use. Close exterior sliding storm windows. Locking doors and windows creates a tighter seal and reduces air leaks.
- Stop air leaks under doors. Use a draft stopper or towels to block air coming in under doors from the outdoors and heat escape. For a more permanent solution, buy a quality door sweep to attach to the bottom of the door. Repair or replace threshold gaskets. If the door leaks around the entire door opening, install weather stripping between the door and the frame.
- Weatherstrip the moving parts of the doors and windows. Choose a more durable product to avoid early replacement. Products are made for the channels or window glides, for the window bottom, and for use where double hung windows meet.
- Use a paintable caulk to caulk around the window frame where the interior window frame meets the wall. Use an appropriate caulk for the materials on the exterior where the window frame meets the house siding (exterior wall). This prevents air currents into the wall itself.
- Use blinds, shades, and lined curtains or draperies to reduce heat loss in the winter. If your curtains or draperies aren’t lined, use a sheet, or purchase a tightly woven heavier fabric. Create a casing on the top end, and attach to a second rod behind the window treatment.
- When the sun is shining in the winter, open window treatments to allow the radiant energy to come into the home through the windows where the sun streams in.
Water
- If you have a water heater set at 140ºF, turn the temperature down to 120ºF (medium setting on a gas heater dial), and you’ll cut your water heating costs by 6-10%. For exceptionally soiled clothing, diapers, or when someone is ill, you may want to turn it back up when laundering.
- Turn the water heater down further if you are away for an extended time.
- Insulate the hot and cold water pipes at the water heater for at least 6-10 feet. Insulate all exposed water pipes for even more efficiency to prevent heat loss and heat gain.
- Front loading washers are usually more energy efficient than top loaders. Look for the ENERGY STAR® and/or Water Wise logos when purchasing new.
- Install low-flow faucets and shower heads and take shorter showers.
- Fix faucet leaks. One drip can waste up to about 48 gallons of water per week and waste energy from hot water.
Range (Stove) and Oven
- Use the broiler or microwave when possible. The broiler uses less energy, and does not need to be preheated.
- Use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking to reduce moisture problems and pollutants.
- Don't use the oven to help heat your home. Besides causing a fire hazard, the fumes given off by the flames over an extended period can result in increasing carbon monoxide levels.
- Use lids on pans and pans that fit burners to reduce heat loss.
Refrigerator
- Refrigerators cost about $5 to $8 or more per month to operate consuming 3-5% of your total energy use. Keep the refrigerator at 36-38ºF and the freezer at 0ºF.
- Check the gasket (soft plastic piece that seals the door to the body of the refrigerator) for gaps and improper fit. The door should close firmly against the gasket. Check the tightness of the door by placing a dollar bill between the gasket and the door. You should feel a slight drag when you pull it out.
- Do not locate an oven or heating appliance close to a refrigerator, as the refrigerator will have to work harder to keep items cool. Do not put refrigerators in unconditioned rooms such as garages or porches.
- Try not to keep the door open longer than necessary. If accessible, vacuum coils and keep drain trays clean.
Dishwasher
- Run the dishwasher only when it's full.
- Many dishwashers have energy-saving settings, such as a setting for partial loads (which uses less hot water) or energy efficient drying cycles.
Photo of front load washing machine
Washer and Dryer
- Use hot water only for very dirty clothes and diapers, if there is an illness in the family, or if someone has a suppressed immune system. Refer to the washing instructions on the clothing labels and on the washing machine. Wash in cold or warm water using cold water detergents whenever possible.
- Full loads of laundry in the washer save both energy and water. Adjust water levels for smaller loads.
- Clean the lint from the dryer's filter after every load.
- Operate the dryer like the washer: Don't overload it. Overloading uses excess energy, because the items take longer to dry. Hang items to dry outside if possible.
Lighting
Photo of Compact Fluorescent Lamp/Lightbulb laying on coins
- Use screw-in compact fluorescent lamps/lightbulbs (CFLs).
- Turn off lights when rooms are not occupied.
- Use natural light as much as possible.
- Use one higher wattage bulb (lamp) instead of several lower watt bulbs when possible. A 100-watt bulb gives off about 20% more light than two 60-watt bulbs. Do not use a higher than recommended wattage bulb in a light fixture.
- Dust lightbulbs. Dusty bulbs can emit 20% less light.
- Use fluorescent fixtures and bulbs. They use about one-fourth of the energy of an incandescent bulb for the same amount of light. They are now available in various shapes and fixtures.
- Install outlet and switch foam gaskets to stop air leakage. Follow safety instructions and turn off the power at the breaker box before installation. Use safety precautions.
Small Appliances and Electronics
- Disconnect unnecessary or unused equipment.
- Completely power down or shut off electronics (e.g. computers, TVs, printers, etc.) when not in use. Use a power strip to completely shut off the power supply to electronic equipment. Ready-on features, clocks, and other devices continue to use power even in the off position.
- Unplug chargers when phones, computers, and other items are fully charged, as chargers will continue to use electricity when plugged in.
Shirley Niemeyer, Extension Specialist, Housing & Environment, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
