FRONT
Front porch light/outdoor post light - Your front porch and outdoor post lights are often your most used lights, so they provide the perfect opportunity to be energy efficient. Consider putting compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in your existing light fixtures. Installing new energy star qualified outdoor fixtures with advanced CFL technology like motion sensors and photocells can also save energy.
Energy efficient windows - Air leaks and radiant heat transfer through and around your windows can cause drafts, heat loss or gain, and higher energy bills. Thermal or double-pane windows help keep your energy bills low during weather’s extremes by providing more insulation between harsh outside weather elements and your comfortable indoor environment.
Door/window weather stripping - Air leaks through and around your home’s doors and windows can cause you discomfort and result in high energy bills. Proper weather stripping around windows and outside doors will protect your home’s thermal boundary, also called its “envelope” or “shell,” keeping you more comfortable and helping save energy year-round.
Thermal boundary - Your home's thermal boundary, also called its 'envelope' or 'shell', consists of its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors and floors. Sealing your home's envelope reduces drafts and helps prevent moisture problems. It can save you up to 10% on your energy bill and keep you more comfortable during the hottest and coldest months of the year.
Heat pump - Heating and cooling costs make up more than 50% of your home’s total energy bill. A dependable, low maintenance heat pump is the most efficient way to keep your home comfortable year-round, and it can help you save hundreds of dollars on your yearly power bill.
LIVING ROOM
Heating and air conditioning system - More than 50% of your home’s total energy usage goes to heating and cooling. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, or your air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, consider replacing it with a more energy efficient and properly-sized system.
Table lamp - Save energy and money by changing a standard light bulb in your home to an energy star qualified compact fluorescent bulb. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save you up to $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
Power strip - Even when turned off, most electronic and computer equipment use a small amount of electricity. Using a power strip as a central “turning off” point for electronics, video games and computers allows you to completely disconnect the power supply from the power source. This can save you energy and extend the life of your equipment.
Dimmer switch - Certain energy star qualified CFLs are made to work with dimmer switches. Your local hardware store may not stock a wide variety of dimmable CFLs, so if you are looking for a specific wattage or bulb type, you may want to try to purchase it online.
Programmable thermostat - Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperature settings when you’re away or sleeping, and save up to $150 a year. To save energy with a manual thermostat, set it at 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter, then leave it alone. Constantly adjusting the temperature causes your system to work harder.
Fireplace damper - By design, a chimney removes unwanted by-products from a fire by creating a draft. But this draft can also pull heated or air-conditioned air from your home. Always close the flue damper tightly when the fireplace is not in use to keep conditioned air in your living space where it belongs.
Home theatre system - Home electronics play an increasingly larger role in your home's energy usage and can account for up to 15% of your total electricity use. Electronic equipment that has earned the energy star can help save energy even when turned off, while maintaining features like clock displays, channel settings, and remote-control functions.
KITCHEN
Microwave oven - You can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80% when using your microwave wisely. Using your microwave or toaster oven to reheat or cook small portions can help you save on summer air conditioning costs, since less heat is generated compared to your stove or oven.
Kitchen sink - Hot water leaking from a faucet at the rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year. This can cost you up to $35 on your power bill. Fixing kitchen faucet drips is a cost-effective and easy way to save energy and money.
Dishwasher - If you replace your dishwasher, choose an energy star qualified model and you will save over $25 a year in energy costs. Most dishwashers today can thoroughly clean dishes that have had food scraped, rather than rinsed off, so you can save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher.
Stove top range - Using the correct-sized pot on electric range stove burners can save about $36 annually. A 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes more than 40% of the burner's heat. Covering your pots and pans can also help you cook more efficiently. Your kitchen will stay cooler and more heat will stay in the pots.
Refrigerator - Replacing your older refrigerator with an energy star qualified model can save you $45 to $65 per year. If your current refrigerator was made before 1993, it uses twice as much energy as today's energy star qualified models. Using your old refrigerator for overflow storage can cost $90 or more per year to operate.
Recessed can light cfl’s - Replace all your home's recessed can lights with ENERGY STAR qualified lighting products to save energy and money. Certain energy star qualified CFLs are made to work with dimmer switches, but be sure to check the packaging for proper applications and to see if there are any restrictions on the CFL's use.
Light fixtures - Installing energy star qualified light fixtures in your kitchen or replacing standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can save you energy and money. Energy star qualified lighting fixtures are available in popular styles that may be just right for your kitchen, such as cabinet-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and recessed can models.
Range hood - energy star qualified range hoods (lighting models) use 65% less energy on average than standard range hoods. This can save you $120 in electricity costs over the life of the fan. Installing an energy star qualified kitchen range hood also helps you control moisture and remove cooking odors, and they are much quieter than standard models.
BEDROOM
Windows - Caulk and weather strip around window frames, and remember to switch screens for storm windows during the winter. If you are replacing windows, energy star qualified models designed for your area can save you $20–$95 each year in energy costs. They can also help improve your comfort, cut drafts, and reduce fading of interior furnishings.
Drapes/shades - Window shades help keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter, which helps you save energy. Close all window shades and drapes in warm weather to keep out the heat, and keep drapes open during daylight hours in the winter to take advantage of the sun's warmth.
Bedside lamp - Replacing your five most frequently used light fixtures, or the bulbs in them, with energy star qualified lights can save you more than $35 a year in energy costs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) provide high-quality light output, and they use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs.
Light switch - Turning off just one 60-watt incandescent bulb before you leave the house for the day can save about $15 per year in energy costs. Always turn off the lights when leaving a room. It's the easiest way to save energy and money.
Air vents - To maintain even temperatures throughout your home, keep air vents and registers clear of obstructions and do not close supply registers in unused areas of the home. This will allow air to flow freely throughout the room and house.
Ceiling fan with lighting - Ceiling fans provide comfort and help save money on your energy bill. Increase your thermostat's setting by two degrees and use your ceiling fan to lower energy costs by up to 14% over the course of the air conditioning season. Also, use low wattage CFLs in the ceiling fan light fixture for cooler light bulbs and more energy savings.
BACK OF THE HOUSE
Sliding door - Sliding doors are an easy place to save energy and money. Apply caulking around door frames and weather stripping around doors that do not close tightly. This can save on energy costs while improving your comfort and cutting drafts. If you replace your sliding doors, select energy star qualified doors instead of regular clear-glass double-paned doors.
Room air conditioner - Any room can be comfortable and energy efficient with an energy star qualified room air conditioner. They use at least 10% less energy than standard models. The unit should fit tightly in the window, keeping cooler air inside and hotter air outdoors. Larger window units should have a separate electrical circuit so the electric system isn’t overloaded.
Sealing plumbing - Your attic's plumbing stacks, vents and ductwork, and electrical wires often have gaps around them, allowing the conditioned air in your home to escape into the attic. This can cause air drafts and increase your energy bill. Use caulk and spray foam sealant to cover gaps, cracks and holes.
From : Mother Nature Network
