How To Become More Energy Efficient at Home

Choose appliances with the ENERGY STAR label, indicating they meet energy efficiency guidelines. This includes refrigerators, washing machines, and other household devices.

Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs or LED tubes. They use less energy, last longer, and contribute to lower electricity bills.

Unplug chargers and electronic devices when not in use to prevent "phantom" energy consumption. Alternatively, use smart power strips to cut off power to multiple devices at once.

Ensure your home is well-insulated to prevent heat loss in winter and cool air loss in summer. Seal gaps around windows, doors, and other openings to improve energy efficiency. Consider getting a professional home energy audit, see: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-energy-assessments

Use a programmable thermostat to regulate your home's temperature. Set it to lower temperatures in winter and higher temperatures in summer when you're away or sleeping.community. For example see: https://amzn.to/4bmupRT

Use water-saving fixtures, fix leaks promptly, and consider installing a low-flow toilet, or convert your existing toilet to a water saving dual-flush with a conversion kit. Heating water consumes energy, so reducing hot water usage contributes to energy efficiency, or converting to instant tankless water heaters.

Regularly service and clean your heating and cooling systems. Replace air filters as recommended, and consider upgrading to more energy-efficient models or the very efficient heat pump. 

Install energy-efficient windows to improve insulation and reduce the need for heating or cooling. Look for windows with low-emissivity coatings and good insulation properties.

Be mindful of your thermostat settings. Lower the temperature in winter and raise it in summer to reduce the load on heating and cooling systems. You can do this by setting your thermostat to 68°F or lower in the winter and 78°F in the summer, and doing so for eight hours a day. You can also save up to 10% per year by adjusting your thermostat by 7–10°F from its standard setting.

Plant trees strategically to provide shade to your home, reducing cooling costs. Additionally, choose drought-tolerant plants to minimize water usage for landscaping.

Explore local or national energy efficiency programs that offer incentives, rebates, or       discounts for energy-efficient upgrades.