Winter Tips
Close blinds/drapes at night, to keep heat in.
• Lower your thermostat by a few degrees. You’ll save about 2% for every degree lower you set your thermostat.
• Take your window AC out of the window so you can close it.
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Home Energy Tips
Saving energy means saving money and the environment. Most steps are easy and free and add up to a big difference on your monthly bill. You can also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the leading cause of global climate change. For more energy saving tips and resources, see the U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide.
Turn Things OFF
- Turn off your TV, stereo whenever you are not watching it.
- Turn off your computer if you will be away from it for more than an hour. Set it to hibernate, sleep, or stand by when you have not touched if for a few minutes.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room, and think about how many lights you really need on when you are in the room.
- Don't leave water running (esp. hot water) when you don't have to.
Turn Things DOWN
- Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees (warm)or lower.
- Wash your clothes in cold water.
- Line-dry some of your clothes.
- Use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers.
Maintain and Replace
- Regularly vacuum dust from refrigerator coils (every 4-6 months).
- If you have an older second frig/freezer, unplug it and have it removed (for free). Anything more than about 10 years old is using too much energy.
Purchase Efficient Products
- Switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs, starting with lights you use most often.
- When you buy a new appliance, select one with an EnergyStar rating. These are test and found to be energy efficient. They often don’t cost any more than an energy hog.
- High-definition (HD) and plasma TVs use much more energy than smaller, less advanced ones.
- Make your next car more energy efficient.
- Find rebates on energy-saving purchases, at:
Maintain or Upgrade Your Home
- Get a free home energy audit and find out how to save energy in your home (www.MassSave.com; 800-632-8300). You can do this once a year, and you usually get lots of free energy-saving items.
- Make certain energy improvements and get a federal tax credit through 2007 or 2008.
- If you do not have storm windows, install plastic interior film on windows during the winter, or add storm windows and make sure to close them in winter.
- Install reflective plastic on windows in summer to block sun and reduce heat gain.
- Caulk around windows/doors to reduce drafts and maintain more constant indoor temperature in any season.
- Wrap your hot water pipes to keep the heat in.
- Seal and insulate heating ducts.
- Install a programmable thermostat and set it to a maximum of 65-68 degrees during the day and 50-60 degrees at night in winter.
- Clean or replace filters in furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump.
- If your (esp. older) water heater doesn't have an insulating blanket, add one.
Install low-flow faucet and shower heads. They reduce water flow without affecting pressure.
- Add a timer to your electric hot water heater rather than running it 24 hours a day.
- Get your heating system tuned up annually to make sure it is running efficiently.
- Seal up the largest air leaks in your house. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors, but utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumping penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Plant trees around your house to provide cooling shade in summer.
- If you have a fireplace, close the damper when it’s not being used.
Insulate your home, especially the top floor or attic. This is probably the single most important step you can take to save money on energy.
- Install an Energy Star rated heating system (www.energystar.gov).
- Replace single-pane windows with double-pane windows.
- Consider changing from a standard water heater to an on-demand water heater.
- Plant trees near your house (particularly on the east and west sides) to shade it in summer.
- Install solar windows, skylights, and roof eaves on the south side of your home.
- Sign up for GreenUp and eliminate some or all of your household’s carbon emissions from electricity.
Choose Efficient Transportation
- Walk, bike, or take public transit sometimes instead of driving.
- Sign up for ZipCar rather than having a second or third car. This saves you a lot on insurance, car payments, and maintenance.
- Buy carbon offsets, especially when you travel
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