At Home

1. Load the washing machine to capacity. Washing one large load will take less energy than washing two loads on a low or medium setting. When you don’t have a full load, match the water level to the size of the load.
2. In good weather, consider hanging clothes outside to dry…it’s free!
3. Clean the dryer filter on clothes dryers after each use. A clogged filter will restrict airflow and reduce dryer performance.
4. Use cold water instead of warm water for washing laundry. Use warm or cold water for the wash cycle instead of hot (except for greasy stains), and only use cold for rinses. Use a detergent that works better with cold water. Try presoaking heavily soiled clothes so that a cooler wash temperature may be adequate. 
5. Make sure lamps and televisions are away from the air conditioner thermostat.
6. Take quick showers instead of baths. To make sure the amount of water used in a shower is less than a bath, put the plug in the bath next time you take a shower (but not a stand-alone shower as you might spill over the lower shower wall). At the end of your shower, if there is less water than you would usually have in a bath, then you will probably save money by taking a quick shower instead of a bath.
7. Install energy-saving showerheads in your home. You’ll reduce hot water use and cut water costs by 10 percent to 16 percent without affecting comfort.
8. Use a programmable thermostat which automatically adjusts temperature when no one is home.
9. Plant trees and use thick shades, blinds, curtains or drapes in the daytime summer hours. Sunlight shining in windows usually adds the largest amount of unwanted summertime heat.
10. During some of our hottest weather, it’s even helpful to keep the windows themselves closed to keep hot air from blowing into your home. In the evening and early in the morning, open windows to allow cooler air in.
11. Turn off your computer and monitor or activate “sleep” mode. Turn the monitor off if you aren't going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes. Turn both the CPU and monitor off if you're not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.
12. Make sure air filters of air conditioner are regularly checked. A clogged air filter can cause an air conditioner to use up to 5 percent more energy. Permanent filters should be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. Disposable filters should be replaced at least once at the beginning of the cooling season.
13. Make sure insulation is adequate in attic, walls, floors and crawl spaces. You can cut your heating costs up to 25 percent simply by installing proper ceiling insulation to at least R-30 standards.
14. Open refrigerator/freezer doors only when necessary.
15. Unplug and properly dispose of your extra refrigerator if it’s used mainly for occasional cold drinks or ice cubes. You could reduce your annual energy bill by as much as $160 by doing so.
16. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when purchasing lighting fixtures. These fixtures meet federal energy-efficiency and quality guidelines, without a sacrifice in performance. These lights also operate at cooler temperatures.
17. Use dimmer switches or timers on lights. Savings: 7-10 percent of lighting costs.
18. Keep light bulbs and fixtures clean. Dirt will absorb the light and reduce the efficiency.
19. In warmer weather, delay heat-producing tasks, such as dishwashing, baking, or doing laundry, until the cooler evening hours.
20. Keeping tires inflated to the recommended pressure and using the recommended grade of motor oil can improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent.
21. Repair all leaky faucets. One drop per second can waste as much as 10 gallons of water in a week.

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