October Energy Saving Tip #6: Banish Drafts

Sealing unwanted air leaks and drafts in your house can be the most important first step toward energy efficiency. If you’re cold you would try zipping up your coat before putting on another coat, wouldn’t you? Air sealing can provide significant savings and increased comfort in your home. While a home energy assessment and professional whole-house air sealing done by a contractor are the best way to realize these savings, there are some simple, low-cost actions you can take to greatly reduce drafts in your home.

October Energy Saving Tip #5: Heat Wisely

The number one energy user in most households is the heating system. Although we live in a rather temperate climate, heating our living and work spaces is necessary for much of the year. By following a few simple guidelines you can stay comfortable while reducing your energy use and saving money on your bills.

October Energy Saving Tip #4: Switch to CFLs

Photo by AZAdam

 Switching from incandescent lighting to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) is one of the simplest and most cost effective ways to save energy in your home. The easiest way to make the change is to start by replacing incandescent bulbs in just the 5 most used fixtures in your home. This will save you $60 on your energy bills each year! As other bulbs burn out, replace them with CFLs as well for even more savings.

Not every CFL is perfect for every fixture, but by putting just a little bit of thought into how you use them and what type you purchase you can avoid the common complaints about CFLs and enjoy high quality lighting at a low cost.

October Energy Saving Tip #3: Hot Water (Part 2)

Because saving hot water is one of the easiest ways to save energy in your home, here are a few more tips for cutting back!

Wash Your Clothes in Cold

Most modern laundry detergents are made to work equally well in warm or cold water, so why not save yourself some money and set your washer to the cold/cold setting? You won’t notice any difference except on your energy bills, which could be as much as $70 lower per year. Save the warm wash for oily or extra stubborn stains and wash the rest in cold.

Take Shorter Showers

Showering can use more hot water than all other residential hot water uses combined and presents a major opportunity for savings. The average 10 minute shower can cost you between $0.60 to $1.50 depending on the heat of your water and the flow rate of your showerhead. That means that by only taking 5 minute showers you can save at least $80 per year.

Look for the ENERGY STAR Label

When you set out to buy a new water heater tank, dishwasher, or washing machine, be sure to pick a unit with the ENERGY STAR label showing that it is an efficient model. ENERGY STAR certified appliances perform just as well as their counterparts, and although they sometimes (though not always) cost a little more up front, over the lifetime of the unit they can save you big time on energy costs. This makes them not only the most sustainable choice, but the most cost effective as well.

October Energy Saving Tip #2: Hot Water (Part 1)

Photo by stevendepolo

Although water can seem like something we have a lot of in the Pacific Northwest, there are many good reasons to conserve it, not the least of which is the fact that hot water is the second highest energy cost for most households. This can easily add up to $200 to $500 per year for the average household! The good news is that there are many ways to use less hot water in your home without sacrificing convenience or comfort.

October Energy Saving Tip #1: Phantom Draw

Photo by grendelkhan

Did you know that many appliances still draw energy when they are turned off? This has several spooky names, including vampire draw or phantom load, and can account for up to 5-10% of your residential energy use.

Not all electronics fall into this category, but anything with an internal clock, timer, standby mode, memory, or a little light can be sucking power even when you aren't using it. In order to avoid this unwanted draw, you can unplug appliances when they aren't needed or put them on a power strip and turn off the red switch. Flipping the switch on a power strip breaks the circuit so no more energy is being drawn while simply turning the item off often still allows it to use power.

Kill the Chill: Winterize

At the Community Energy Challenge we care a lot about weatherization, or the practice of protecting a building from the elements in order to save energy and increase comfort for the occupants. As the weather turns chilly it’s time to think about another very important and closely related W-word: winterization. From simple measures such as programming your thermostat or putting weather stripping around your door, to getting a home energy assessment and investing in an insulation upgrade, taking specific steps to prepare your home for winter weather can save you big on energy costs and help you feel cozy even when it’s chilly out.

Click here to learn about 19 ways to make your home feel warmer without turning up the heat.