Seal Those Leaks



After finding your leaks, use caulking, weather stripping, and insulation to block them. This can reduce your energy bill up to 20 percent.

Clean That A/C Unit

Keeping your air conditioner clean can be a huge energy saver. You not only need to check the filters once a month, but also check the outside of the unit for dust or dirt. Keeping this outer part clean can help you air conditioner run more

efficiently.

Dust Those Coils

Keeping your refrigerator condenser coils clean is another energy saver. The condenser coils are on the squiggly shaped metal tubing on the back of most fridges. These can collect dust, and make your refrigerator work much harder.

Use Ceiling Fans

Smartly placed ceiling fans can really help with cooling and heating cost. For instance, in a stairwell, a ceiling fan can push hot air down in winter, and pull cool air up in summer. This can save energy for you because your heater and air conditioner aren't working so hard.

Unplug Those Appliances

Many appliances continue to drain power even after you turn them off. Just a few examples include VCR's, microwaves, DVD players, coffee makers, basically anything with a clock or timer. A good idea is to plug these kinds of appliances can into a power strip, so you can just flip the switch instead of unplugging them.

Insulate That Water Heater

Most people don't think of this, but keeping your water heater warm can be a big saver, because it keeps the water in it warmer longer. An insulation blanket costs only about $10 and it will quickly pays for itself.

Change Those Showerheads

Installing water-saving showerheads in your home can cut the cost of your showers in half. Some of the newer models deliver a full spray using less than three gallons a minute. They aren't very expensive and are easy to install. You also won't run out of hot water as often.

Take Shorter Showers

Yet another no-brainer, taking shorter showers can save you a bundle. Just cutting your shower by five minutes can save up to 25 gallons a month. You can also save by not turning on your shower full force.

Turn That Computer Off

Many people shut down their computer at the end of the day to conserve energy. This is great, but sometimes they forget about their monitors, printers, speakers, etc. Making sure ALL your hardware is turned off can save energy.

Turn off That Water

Turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving can save you a bundle. Leaving the water running while you brush uses 2-4 gallons of water. If you only turn it on while rinsing, it only uses a few cups.

Dry Like Clothes Together

When washing and drying clothes, keep in mind that not all clothes take the same time to dry. For instance, a cotton shirt will take less time to dry than a pair of jeans. So it's a good idea to wash all cottons together and all jeans together. That way, you're not letting a load that's mostly dry run longer just because of 1 pair of jeans.

Use Energy Saver Settings

Most newer refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers have energy saver settings. By simply having them all switched to the energy saver setting, you can save up to $400/year.