Room-by-Room Tips

Basement	Kitchen	Living Room	Office
Bathroom	Bedroom	Attic

Basement

In the deep, dark depths of the basement, energy efficiency can often be overlooked. While it seems obvious to replace an old, electricity-sucking refrigerator, there are ways to save energy before you even make it to the first floor.

Don't waste hot water by running your washing machine half-full. Run only full wash loads and use cold water when possible for additional savings.
Energy efficient clothes washers can save up to $110 annually on your utility bills.
Dry your laundry in consecutive loads – this way the dryer doesn't need to reheat each time.
Clean your dryer's air vent and lint screen regularly.
Use the moisture sensor option on your dryer, which automatically shuts off the machine when clothes are dry.
Air dry clothes whenever possible.
Clogged air filters in your furnace make it work harder, so be sure to replace air filters every three to six months.
Have your heating system inspected annually. A qualified contractor can inspect your furnace to ensure it is working properly.
Save energy dollars by replacing your old furnace with a new, highly-efficient version.
For a family of four, lowering the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F could reduce energy use by 15 percent – a savings of approximately $33 per year.
Natural gas water heaters can cut costs in half and heat water twice as fast as electric water heaters.
A 40-pint ENERGY STAR-qualified dehumidifier can save consumers roughly $20 per year. This can add up to $200 or more over the life of the unit. That's enough to pay for the dehumidifier!

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Kitchen

Your kitchen houses the majority of your home’s small appliances, as well as larger, energy-using appliances – like the refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove. Apart from replacing old appliances with new, ENERGY STAR-approved versions, there are many other simple steps you can take to make your kitchen more efficient.

Keep your refrigerator between 35°F and 38°F and your freezer at 0°F. And keep them full – refrigerators and freezers operate more efficiently when full.
New refrigerator units use half as much energy as those made 20 years ago, even if they are the same size, so consider replacing your old fridge.
Make sure the seal on your refrigerator door is tight – even a thin space can make a big difference in the refrigerator’s efficiency. And make sure to minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
Build-up of frost in your freezer makes it work harder – defrost freezers regularly to keep it efficient!
Use the self-cleaning oven feature right after you've baked – this way the oven doesn't need to re-heat.
Consider a natural gas range – it costs about half as much as the electric version.
Your range hood can drain your home of heated or cooled air in under an hour – remember to turn range hoods off.
Do laundry and dishes in the early morning or late evening.
Only run the dishwasher when full to save electricity and hot water.
Avoid using the heat-dry, rinse-hold, and pre-rinse features. Instead use your dishwasher's air dry option; it can cut energy use in half.

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Living Room

The living room is the heart of your home – it’s your place to relax and spend time with friends and family. You can improve the quality of your home, and the quantity in your pocketbook, by taking energy efficiency measures in your living room.

You can lose as much warm air through an open chimney flue as you can through an open window. When your fireplace isn't in use – close the chimney flue!
Close drapes or shades on the east, south, and west windows during the day to prevent the sun’s energy from heating the room unnecessarily.
If your windows are older, close your storm windows to keep heat from escaping in the colder months.
Save money on your electricity bill by shutting off or unplugging the TV, game consoles, and other electronics when not in use.
In the summer, set the thermostat between 74°F and 78°F and in the winter between 65°F and 68°F.
Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) instead of incandescent lighting. CFLs typically use a fraction of the wattage of a standard incandescent bulb and last years longer.
Install lighting control devices such as timers and sensors, which can save energy by turning lights off when not needed.
Change out old cooling and heating equipment with ENERGY STAR-qualified models. Doing this can cut your annual energy costs by 20 percent.
Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it’s best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall.

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Office

Your home office is primed for energy savings. From the family computer to the electric pencil sharpener, efficient practices make all the difference.

When purchasing office equipment such as computers, printers, and fax machines, look for ENERGY STAR-qualified products – they use less energy than their standard counterparts.
Purchase a multi-function device for your home office. A multi-function device combines several capabilities that are important for your home office – printing, faxing, copying, and scanning. Make sure you buy an ENERGY STAR-qualified device.
Unplug small devices, such as cell phone chargers, when they’re not in use – if they’re plugged in, these items will still consume energy even if not in use.
Cut energy costs by putting computers, monitors, and copiers on sleep mode when not in use.
You can save up to $80 a year by turning off one computer and monitor nightly and on weekends.
Purchase power strips for your home office. Since your home office has a lot of electronic devices, it's a good idea to use a power strip as a central "turn off" point for this equipment.

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Bathroom

It's likely the smallest room in your house, but that doesn't mean the bathroom can't make a big difference in the efficiency of your home.

To reduce the cost of heating water, replace your showerhead with one that saves water.
Your bathroom vent fan can drain the warm or cool air from your home – turn the vent fan off as soon as you’ve finished using it.
Showers save energy. A five minute shower uses less than 10 gallons of water, while a bath can use 15 to 25 gallons. Keep showers short and cool for additional savings.
Fix leaky faucets – not only can a faucet leak waste up to 3,000 gallons of water annually, but heating the water costs energy dollars.

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Bedroom

You probably wish you could spend more time there. Your life is busy – luckily there are very simple steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your bedroom and home.

Weatherize your room from hot and cold by use caulking, sealant, or weather-stripping on seams, cracks, and openings. Pay close attention to windows, doors, and baseboards.
Use fans to create a wind chill effect that will make your room more comfortable. A ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) instead of incandescent lighting. CFLs typically use a fraction of the wattage of a standard incandescent bulb and last years longer.
Make sure to keep vents and air registers clear to ensure the free flow of air in your bedroom. It will make your bedroom a lot more comfortable and help save you money.
Seal around drafty windows, baseboards, and floors in your bedroom to avoid common mold and moisture problems. Sealing the envelope of your home will help keep your heating and cooling bills down.

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Attic

You may only use it to store holiday decorations and lawn furniture, but your attic plays an integral role in the energy efficiency of your home.

Keep your attic properly ventilated by installing an attic fan – this can help regulate the temperature in your home, particularly in the warm summer months.
To reduce energy costs, add insulation – at least 12 inches.
Promptly repair a leaky roof to keep your insulation effective and your attic dry.
Up to 40 percent of your heated or cooled air can escape through leaky ductwork. Have ducts sealed by a professional HVAC contractor.

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Tips courtesy of:

http://www.nicor.com/en_us/residential/energy_efficiency_tips/tips_detail.htm

http://www.we-energies.com/residential/energyeff/101tips.htm

http://www.energystar.gov/

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