25 Ways to Save Energy at Home

According to EnergyStar.com, the average US household spends nearly $2,100 per year on utility bills. Wouldn’t it be nice to cut that amount down and keep more money in your pockets? In addition to not only helping lower your utility bills, using smarter energy also helps cut down on your carbon footprint. Saving money and the environment at the same time? What’s not to like about that?!

We’ve compiled a handy list of 25 Ways to Save Energy at Home, as well as a smart product buyer’s guide, to help you start saving today! 

Tips 1-6: Household Power and Devices

1. Turn things off

Turning things off when you’re done with them is the easiest and most affordable way to save energy. Whether it’s a lamp, Bluetooth speaker, TV, or tablet, just remember to turn it off when it’s not in use. It’s a pretty simple yet great way to kick off our 25 Ways to Save Energy at Home list.

2. Use power strips

Have a lot of devices or lights in a particular room? Plug them all into a power strip so you can turn everything off with the flip of a single switch. It’s all about saving energy smarter – and using power strips is a simple and cost effective way to do so.

3. Unplug when not in use

Have a device that isn’t used regularly? Unplug it! Because the smallest devices can still draw current when turned off and that power can add up to a larger bill at the end of the year. Going on a trip or have a spare room with multiple powered devices? Unplug them until you’re ready to use them for maximum energy savings.

4. Focus on one screen at a time

Addicted to your phone? Hey, who isn’t? But putting down your phone when watching tv or using the computer means you’re using less battery across your devices and less battery means less charging, which means saving power and money. By focusing on one screen at a time you conserve energy, save a few pennies, and give your eyes a much needed rest. It’s a win-win!



5. Put devices to sleep

Some devices, like desktop computers or game consoles, have sleep mode where they power down but not off. Sleep mode can keep your device on and ready, but still saving energy while it’s in its low-power mode. Energy Star says that putting devices on sleep mode can save up to $30 per alone!

6. Lower your screen’s brightness

This one may seem trivial, but lowering the brightness on your various devices can help stretch battery life and conserve energy. Imagine if you and your family lowered the brightness on every device in the house? Darkening TV and phone screens, laptops, tablets, desktops, and gaming devices can help save energy during every use.

Tips 7-15: Household Appliances

7. Use appliances quickly

Did your parents ever scold you for keeping the fridge open for too long? Well, they had good reason to! Keeping the fridge door open for more than a few seconds lets precious cold air out and causes your fridge to run harder, and use more power, to make up for the lost air. The same goes for your oven – constantly opening your oven to check on your food lets warm air out and makes the oven work harder to make up for the lost warmth.

8. Clean your appliances

A clean appliance is a happy appliance! Cleaning appliances will help save energy by keeping them efficient and it can help extend their service life by years. Also be sure to regularly empty dryer lint traps, clean ovens and microwaves, and dust off light bulbs. Keep your toaster oven and toaster internals free of debris, and your water softeners clean and full of salt too. This will allow for more efficient use and longer life for your hard-working appliances.

9. Upgrade your appliances

Still clinging to that hand-me-down family heirloom washer and dryer? Time to thank them for their service and upgrade to new, more energy efficient models. Upgrading in general can save you money, but upgrading to an Energy Star rated appliance can save you as much as 50% over your old appliance! That is huge savings over the life of an appliance! While this is one of the more expensive 25 ways to save energy at home suggestions, it also has a high payoff.

10. Wash full loads only

Letting your laundry pile up isn’t always a bad thing! A full washer runs more efficiently and lets you get the most out of the water you’ll be using too. In addition, can take savings a step further and only wash with cold water, reserving warm water for disinfecting duty only. This move can save you over $50 a year on energy and is another one of the 25 Ways to Save Energy at Home that is free and simple to add to your daily routine.

11. Cook smarter

This suggestion expands on some previous points but is still important. Putting your blender, toaster, and microwave on a power strip and turning it off after each use helps save power, as does keeping your microwave, toaster, and Keurig cleaned and working properly helps them run more efficiently. Using your oven? Keep the oven light off except for when you sneak a peek at your meal’s progress. When preparing a meal, use a single trip to get refrigerator and freezer items instead of multiple mini trips to help keep the cool in. All this can help add up to big savings in the kitchen!

12. Replace filters on time

Replacing filters is one of the easiest ways to keep your appliances running efficiently. Everything from your furnace to shop vacs, dehumidifiers, window AC units, even water faucet filtration systems can benefit from regular filter changes. A cleaner breathing/flowing device means more efficient use and less energy wasted – which means a smaller energy bill. Filters not only help appliances work better, they can also keep allergens and dust out of the air, letting you and your family enjoy a healthier living environment.

13. Maintain your HVAC system

Maintaining your HVAC system is right up there with changing the oil in your car or getting an annual check-up. Clogged ducts and filters can cause you to use up to 30% more energy than needed. Therefore, by cleaning and sealing ducts, changing the furnace filter on time, and checking your A/C unit for refrigerant leaks, you can prolong the life of your HVAC system and save money on your monthly bills.

14. Adjust your thermostat

The US Department of Energy estimates that you’ll save around 1% of your utility bill for each degree of thermostat adjustment you make over an 8 hour period. Moreover, you can take that savings even further by installing a programmable thermostat or manually lowering your setting by 7-10 degrees. This is especially useful during the day when you’re not home, or during the night when temps may be cooler. Doing so can cut yearly costs by 10%!

15. Shower smarter

Showers can be a big draw on water and electricity if not limited to a reasonable amount of time. The US EPA states the average shower head uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute — which means a 10 minute shower requires power for your water heater to heat over 20 gallons of water. Likewise, shorter showers means less work for your water heater, bathroom fan and lights, which helps save water and power. You can also upgrade your shower head to a newer, more efficient model for some extra savings.

Tips 16-18: Household Lighting



16. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs

Another easy and cost effective way to make your home more efficient is to switch to LED light bulbs. LED bulbs give off a brighter light than traditional incandescent bulbs, use less power, and have a longer service life. Click the light bulb icon above to see more on how you can save on home lighting.

17. Use task lighting

Task lighting is exactly what it sounds like: specific lighting used during a particular task. This could be as simple as using a single bulb desk lamp while doing homework rather than a multiple bulb overhead light, or turning on that light above the oven over those tri-hanging lights in the kitchen. Task lighting allows you to complete a task using a less energy than normal, which means more money in your pocket when the monthly bill comes around.

18. Use timers for your lights

Putting timers on your lights is not only handy, it can help you save electricity and money by keeping lights off when they aren’t needed. Timers are especially good for outdoor lighting (like on your garage or porch) where you can utilize solar -powered timers for even more savings. Timing is everything!

Tips 19-21: Household Insulation

19. Step up your insulation game

Insulation plays a huge part of keeping your home’s conditioned air in and external air out. Properly insulated windows and attic space really help make the most out of your HVAC system. However, insulation isn’t just for walls — you can also insulate almost anything that may lose heat/cold such as pipes, water heaters, HVAC venting, or crawl spaces. According to Energy Star, your home can lose 20-30% of its conditioned air through leaking or improperly insulated ducting.

20. Seal up leaks

Leaks can cause issues in more ways than one! Leaky windows can not only leak water, they can also let outside air in and conditioned air out. This will increase your utility bills and cause your HVAC system to work harder than necessary. But windows aren’t the only culprit! Leaky exterior facing doors, air ducts, attics, and garages can all add up to big losses. In addition, be sure to seal up any leaks you find or call in professional help if the job is bigger than anticipated.

21. Keep your garage door closed

Keeping your garage door closed is another free and easy way to help regulate the temperature inside your home — and is a step that is often overlooked. Having your garage door open during the warm summer months allows waves of hot outside air to get closer to the interior walls of your house, heating up said walls and rooms above your garage. The same goes for winter — cold air let in through an open garage door can have a big impact on temperatures inside your house. In short, making sure to close your garage door quickly after each use can help keep your home better regulated.

Tips 22-24: Using the Elements

22. Utilize the elements

Humans have been using natural elements to help with tasks since the beginning of mankind and still do to this day. Why? Because they work! Not only is sun and wind power free, it’s sustainable and relatively reliable across most of the globe. Solar and wind can easily be integrated into your household energy plan too. Standard outdoor lighting needs wired to your house or another power source and more than likely requires expensive professional installation. Using solar powered outdoor lights along your driveway, porch, pool, or walkway, allows the sun to do all the hard work, saving you the need for professional wiring installation. Take it a step further and use the afternoon breeze to wind-dry your clothes on nice days instead of running your dryer.

23. Embrace nice weather

Who doesn’t love some fresh air and sunshine? Let mother nature help regulate your home on nice days by turning off the heat or air condition and opening up the windows. This allows your HVAC system to get a break and will cut your energy use in the process. Enjoying nice weather while saving money? This is one of the most enjoyable and affordable of the various 25 Ways to Save Energy at Home suggestions.

24. Utilize natural light

Just like using solar or wind to lower your bills on things like outdoor lighting and clothes drying, natural light can also do wonders to help lower your energy bill. By pulling back the curtains and rolling up the blinds, you can let nature’s natural light brighten up your home – and also bring some warmth in through the winter months. This will cut down on lamp or overhead light use and can help shave some dollars off your monthly energy bill.

Tip 25: Electricity and Natural Gas Deregulation

25. Use an energy broker

Due to utility deregulation, the energy market is now an open market where consumers get to choose who supplies their electricity or natural gas. In other words, this allows home owners and renters alike to shop around for the best energy rates. Brokers, like our partners at Gold Star Energy, shop dozens of energy suppliers in order to get you the best price. Think Trivago or Expedia but for electricity and natural gas.

By signing up for a Gold Star Energy plan, you can save up to 20% on your monthly utilities — which could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Getting a custom energy quote based on your individual usage takes less than five minutes, and you can be completely signed-up for a new low-cost plan and saving within 10 minutes. 

In short, switching to a low cost energy plan, and utilizing the tips from above, can really add some energy back into your budget!

Start saving today by visiting https://gseusa.com/ or by calling 937-429-9980. 


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Smart Product Buyer’s Guide

Navigating today’s vast online marketplace can be a bit overwhelming, so we’ve simplified your search by providing links to some of the highest-rated products available. Whether you’re looking for high-efficiency LED light bulbs, smarter power strips, or new filters for your home’s HVAC system, Go Save Energy USA has your back!

smart home graphic

Shop the Highest Rated Energy-Efficient Products:

MoLEKULE Professional Grade Air Purifiers

Smart Thermostats

HVAC Filters

Household LED lights

Household Solar Panel

Smart Light Timers

Household Powerstrips

Efficient Shower Heads