Here are some tips for saving energy and money both at home and on the road. By following a few simple tips you can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat / cool—while you save money.

• Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s heating/drying cycle.

• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.

• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).

• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.

• Take short showers instead of baths.

• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.

• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.

• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

• Check for open fireplace dampers.

• Make sure your appliances and heating / cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner’s manuals for the recommended maintenance/cleaning.

• Study your family’s lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls—like occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers—to reduce lighting energy use, and replace standard (also
called incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.

• Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.

• Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.