There are a few simple things you can do to make your home more energy efficient and save on your utility bills. Here are ten tips for improving energy efficiency in your home:
1. Use solar energy to heat water (or at least some of it). Solar power is free and clean, so why not use it? If you don’t have the money or space to install a full solar heating system, you can still use the sun’s rays to help out. Set up a solar hot water system and you could reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1.5 tons per year according to Energy Star. And if you already have a solar hot water heater but want more hot water, there are ways to increase your supply on the cheap.
2. Install a programmable thermostat or turn down the heat when you’re sleeping or away from home. If you’re like most Americans and set the thermostat for 68 degrees in winter, try turning it down by just one degree and save about 1% on your heating bill each year according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Set it lower still and the savings will increase proportionally; if you can stand 62 degrees at night, you could save up to 10%. Even better than turning down
There are many ways to increase energy efficiency in your home:
Install insulation in walls and attics.
Use energy-efficient light bulbs.
Buy new, Energy Star-rated appliances.
Unplug appliances when they are not in use, or use a power strip.
Adjust your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.
Hang dry clothes on a line instead of using the dryer.
Turn off lights when you leave a room.
Replace windows with double-glazed, low-emissivity (low-e) models.
Replace doors with thicker, insulated versions.
1. Turn off lights when you leave a room.
2. Use power strips for all your electronics to turn them on and off at once.
3. Wash your clothes in cold water.
4. Dry your clothes on a line instead of using an electric dryer.
5. Unplug electronics you’re not using (or use a smart plug).
6. Replace your incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs (they last longer!). 8. Seal up drafts around windows and doors in the winter and summer with weather stripping or caulk. 9. Insulate your home with additional insulation, window treatments, etc., to prevent air leakage and keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer. 10. Switch to green energy if you can!
In our never-ending quest to help homeowners make more informed decisions about their household appliances, we spent hundreds of hours researching and reviewing dishwashers. We’ve looked at some of the best models on the market and consulted with experts to give you a solid set of recommendations.
1. Replace your old dishwasher.
It’s important to replace an old dishwasher if you want to increase efficiency in your home. The older models use a lot more water and energy than newer models that comply with Energy Star guidelines. In fact, even if you buy a used Energy Star model, it will be more efficient than the average 10-year-old unit!
2. Use less water – and save money too!
If you have an older dishwasher that uses more than 12 gallons of water per wash cycle, consider replacing it with a new one that uses less than 5 gallons. This is not only better for the environment – it will also save you money on your utility bill every month!
1. Clean or replace filters on furnaces and air-conditioning units. Dirty filters slow airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool–wasting energy. If you have central air conditioning, clean air filters once a month.
2. Clean out refrigerator coils. Coils that are covered in dust don’t dissipate heat well and your compressor has to work harder, which uses more energy. Check your owner’s manual for how to access and clean the coils.
3. Clean lint filters in dryers. Lint buildup reduces dryer efficiency, which wastes energy and can lead to dangerous overheating–and even fires!
4. Replace furnace humidifier filter (if applicable). Dirty humidifier filters can cause the humidifier to work harder than it should, wasting energy.
5. Find and seal air leaks around windows and doors using caulk, spray foam, weather stripping or other materials found at your local hardware store (see our blog about door seals here).
6. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature when you’re asleep or away from home (see our blog about thermostats here).
7. Install low-flow shower heads to reduce water usage while maintaining water pressure (see our
Before you buy a dishwasher, consider the following points:
– Don’t buy an Energy Star dishwasher unless you run it at least twice a week. If you’re like most Americans and run your dishwasher just once every two or three days, then Energy Star models offer little value over conventional models. The most efficient conventional models are available at very low prices and they use significantly less electricity than even the least efficient Energy Star model. The efficiency gain from the Energy Star model is not enough to compensate for all of the additional electricity used when washing dishes by hand. My dishwasher cost about $50 on Craigslist.
– Consider buying a portable dishwasher instead of a built-in model. These units are more efficient, have less capacity, and are generally quieter than their built-in counterparts, but they do take up some counter space when in use. If you have room for one of these appliances in your kitchen, they can be an excellent option if you don’t want to spend money remodeling your kitchen to accommodate a built-in model.
– Avoid the sanitize cycle on your dishwasher if you don’t need it. The sanitizing cycle uses lots of extra energy and water and can actually increase bacteria on your dishes if used
In recent years, the price of dishwashers have decreased dramatically. At the same time, they have gotten much better at cleaning your dishes. The Energy Star rating program was initiated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy to help consumers identify products that use less energy, save money on utility bills, and help protect the environment.
The EPA has identified dishwashers as a major component of home energy consumption and recommends that consumers purchase an Energy Star-rated machine. But what about their overall efficiency? Are all Energy Star-rated machines created equal in terms of efficiency? To answer that question, we consulted our friends at Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports recently published their findings in a report titled “Dishwasher Efficiency: A Look at How Much Water and Energy They Really Use.” In it, they discuss how much water and energy is actually being used by these appliances while they’re running. They found that some appliances are using more water and energy than others in order to effectively clean your dishes. Some of this extra usage can be attributed to manufacturers trying to keep up with new regulations that require them to meet certain standards for water and energy usage in order to earn an Energy Star rating.
Manufacturers are also trying to make their dishwas