Plant tall deciduous trees to the south of your home to screen 70-90% of the hot summer sun. Plant shrubs and trees, with crowns lower to the ground, on the west to shade from afternoon sun.
Wrap older water heaters with insulation jackets.
If your water heater shell is hot to touch, you may need to add an insulation jacket. Insulating older uninsulated water heaters will reduce heat loss by 25-45%, saving 4-9% in water heating costs.
Install DoorSweeps To BlockDrafts Under YourDoors
Conditioned air can escape through gaps under your doors. Door sweeps are effective in stopping these drafts and saving you money. You can purchase stationary door sweeps at most home improvement stores.
Install water-saving WaterSense® aerators.
Faucet aerators can reduce a sink's water flow by 30 percent or more, saving water and energy.
Install Electrical Outlet Gaskets
Energy loss occurs through light switch and outlet covers. To reduce these losses, install inexpensive gaskets underneath the covers. These gaskets are available at most home improvement stores.
Clean your refrigerator coils.
Cleaning the coils beneath or behind your refrigerator helps it operate more efficiently. Dust accumulation can block air flow and act as an insulator, preventing heat from dissipating. When coils are dirty, the refrigerator cycle runs longer and more often, requiring as much as 25% more energy.
Use caulk to seal air leaks.
Plug air leaks around windows and door frames with caulk to save 10% or more on your energy bill.
Change your heating and air filters quarterly.
Dirty filters restrict the airflow of your heating and cooling system, making your system run more often which increases energy consumption and wear and tear on your system.
Install advanced ("smart") power strips.
Many electronic devices, such as gaming systems, DVRs, computer monitors, and printers, consume power all the time, whether they're being used or not. Smart power strips help eliminate this "vampire power" load, while providing surge protection. When the main device (e.g., TV or computer) is shut off, the energy draw from connected equipment is also eliminated.
