Landscaping

Shade trees can reduce the need for air conditioning by seven to 40 percent, according to research by the Department of Energy. Planting dense trees and shrubs on the west and southwest sides of your home will block the hot afternoon and evening sun. A six- to eight-foot deciduous tree planted near your home can begin shading windows the first year. Depending on the tree species and the home, your roof should be shaded in five to 10 years.

Plant tall, leafy shade trees on the sunny, south side of your home to further reduce roof and wall temperatures. Use grass and other ground cover around your home instead of paving material, which can retain heat.

Small trees or shrubs can help shade outside air conditioning equipment and improve its performance and efficiency by as much as 10 percent. But be sure to allow for proper airflow and access; plants should be at least three feet away from the outside A/C condensing unit. And remember to plant large trees at least 30 to 40 feet away from your home’s foundation, while medium-sized trees should be at least 20 feet away.

• Plant dense trees and shrubs on the west and southwest sides of your home
• Plant tall, leafy shade trees on the south side of your home
• By shading your outside A/C equipment, you can increase its efficiency by 10 percent

Caulking

Caulk can seal air leaks in a variety of places throughout your home. Caulk forms a flexible seal around cracks, gaps or joints less than one-quarter-inch wide. In addition to sealing air leaks, caulking can also prevent water damage inside and outside of the home when applied around faucets, ceiling fixtures, water pipes, drains, bathtubs and other plumbing fixtures.

To find air leaks, look at areas where different materials meet, such as where doors meet flooring or where brick meets wood siding. Also inspect around the following areas for any cracks and gaps that could cause air leaks:

• Door and window frames
• Mail chutes
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Cable TV and phone lines
• Outdoor water faucets
• Dryer vents
• Bricks, siding, stucco and foundation
• Air conditioners
• Vents and fans

For a thorough and accurate measurement of air leakage in your home, hire a qualified technician to conduct an energy audit and perform a blower door test, which can reveal the location of many smaller leaks. A complete energy audit will also help determine areas in your home that need more insulation.

• Caulk can seal air leaks around windows and doors
• Caulk can also prevent water damage around plumbing fixtures

Insulation

It’s a fact: more than 80 percent of homes built prior to 1980 lack adequate ceiling insulation. Any house without sufficient insulation can lose up to 40 percent of heated or cooled air. Adding insulation is one of the most effective ways to save on your electricity usage.

Insulation materials are rated in terms of their R-Value, which is their ability to resist the transfer of heat. The higher the R-Value, the more effective the insulation. R-30 is recommended for flat attic areas and R-22 for kneewalls or hot walls (walls with conditioned space on one side and attic space on the other side).

Blown-in or loose-fill insulation should be installed in uniform thickness across the entire ceiling surface area. The R-Value of both depends on proper application of the required quantity of material. This insulation should be kept at least three inches away from recessed light fixtures, unless the fixture is marked I.C. (insulated can). That’s because insulation placed over a non-rated fixture may cause it to overheat and ignite.

Finally, make sure that blown-in insulation does not block the flow of ventilated air of the soffit eave vents. Do-it-yourselfers should always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when installing blown insulation.

• If your home was built prior to 1980, it probably lacks adequate ceiling insulation
• Adding insulation is one of the most effective ways to save electricity

Windows

The placement, quantity and type of windows you have will significantly affect electricity usage in your home. Ordinary single-pane, non-tinted windows are poor insulators that allow the temperature inside a house to rise in summer and fall in winter, which puts additional strain on your HVAC system. If you’re thinking about replacing your windows, consider purchasing ENERGY STAR®–qualified windows, which use multiple panes and various coating technologies to reduce electricity costs and increase comfort inside your home.

If you want to keep your current windows and still cut electricity costs, you have options. On the interior, you can add blinds, shades or curtains to reduce the amount of solar heating during the summer months. Outside, assuming your neighborhood association doesn’t prohibit them, you can add reflective film or solar screens to existing windows. Solar screens can be removed during winter months to take advantage of natural solar heating.

Screens are generally more effective than solar film because they stop the solar heat before it gets into your home. Solar film is applied to the inside of the window, allowing the window to heat up before the radiant heat is reflected back outside. Make sure to target windows on the west and east sides of your home, where most of the solar heat gain occurs.

• Add blinds, shades or curtains to reduce solar heating during summer months
• Consider ENERGY STAR®-qualified windows if you’re remodeling

Lighting

Improvements to the lighting in your home can make a significant difference in your electricity bills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average household dedicates 10 percent of its electricity budget to lighting. The use of new lighting technologies can reduce the amount of electricity used for lighting in your home by an estimated 50 to 75 percent. Advances in lighting controls, such as timers and motion-sensing technology, offer further electricity savings by reducing the number of lights left on while not in use throughout your house.

Energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are the most affordable way to provide high-quality and high-efficiency lighting throughout your home. These fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs and typically last about six to 12 times longer. Although CFLs cost a bit more than incandescent bulbs initially, over their lifetime they are cheaper because of their efficiency.

Disposal of CFLs is a little more specialized than tossing them into your recycling bin, though. Because CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing, they require special handling once they’ve been used up. Many retailers offer free recycling services for consumers at their stores.

• The average home spends 10 percent of its electricity costs on lighting
• Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient CFLs

Lighting Tips

With 10 percent of your home’s electricity costs devoted to lighting, it makes sense to follow these practical tips for enhanced lighting efficiency. A few simple changes can mean big savings.

 

 

• Clean fixtures, lamps and lenses every six to 24 months by wiping off the dust. Note: Never clean an incandescent bulb with water or liquid solution while it is turned on. The cooling effect will shatter the hot bulb.
• Replace lenses if they appear yellow.
• Common lamps, especially incandescent and fluorescent lamps, lose 20 to 30 percent of their light output during their service life. Many lighting experts recommend replacing all the lamps in a lighting system at once. This saves labor, keeps illumination high and avoids stressing any ballasts with dying lamps.
• Clean fixtures, bulbs and lenses every six to 24 months for maximum brightness.
• Remember to clean these surfaces only when the lamp is off.

Cost-Effective Tips for a More Energy-Efficient Home

Making your home more energy-efficient doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out ordeal, and it doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. With these no-cost and low-cost ideas for saving electricity, you can start feeling the benefit to your budget sooner rather than later.

 

No-Cost Energy Savings

• Unplug non-essential items
• Check the furnace or AC filter monthly, and replace as recommended by your unit’s manufacturer
• Keep window coverings closed during hot months, and let the sun in during cold ones
• Activate the “sleep” mode or turn off computers and office equipment during periods of inactivity
• Keep the lids on pots when cooking, or use a microwave or slow cooker
• Dress appropriately for the weather, and put an extra blanket on your bed on cold nights
• Use fans whenever possible during hot months to circulate air and reduce AC use
• Use a fireplace or wood stove during cold months, if you have them
• Use glass doors on your fireplace and close the damper when not in use
• Take quick showers, and run the washing machine or dishwasher only with full loads
• Switch to cold water for doing laundry
• Use a clothesline to hang-dry laundry when feasible

Low-Cost Energy Savings

• Install low-flow showerheads to reduce hot water use
• Seal and weather-strip windows and doors
• Insulate your water tank and exposed pipes
• Seal and insulate exposed ducts in the attic, crawlspaces or basement
• Install plastic sheeting to the inside of single-paned windows
• Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label when replacing old appliances or halogen lamps
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent light  bulbs (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs)